IllustrationRADIATOR CRACKED AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION. I DID SOME RESEARCH, THIS HAPPENS TO ALL 2005-2010 PATHFINDERS. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
2005 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Pathfinder years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder are substantially higher than the model-year median of 97.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
260–25K
5625–50K
20650–75K
29075–100K
318100–150K
60150K+
956 reports with mileage · 94 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 585 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 290 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 186 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports6 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
1,050 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN MARCH OF 2011. HAD DONE GREAT FOR AWHILE. REPLACE A EXHAUST SENSOR IN AUGUST OF 2012. ALWAYS SMELLED HOT AFTER BEING DRIVEN, LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BUT COULD NEVER PINPOINT IT. THEN AROUND NOVEMBER 2012 NOTICED A DELAYED REACTION IN ENGAGING WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE AND A SLIGHT HESITAT…
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I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN MARCH OF 2011. HAD DONE GREAT FOR AWHILE. REPLACE A EXHAUST SENSOR IN AUGUST OF 2012. ALWAYS SMELLED HOT AFTER BEING DRIVEN, LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BUT COULD NEVER PINPOINT IT. THEN AROUND NOVEMBER 2012 NOTICED A DELAYED REACTION IN ENGAGING WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE AND A SLIGHT HESITATION COMING OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE. DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT AT TIME. BUT HAS SINCE GOTTEN WORSE, SHUTTERS FROM TIME TO TIME DRIVING, AND HESITATES MORE OFTEN. I CALLED THE LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT TODAY, JAN 24, THE MANAGER THERE TOLD ME I SHOULD CALL THE NISSAN CONSUMER OFFICE BECAUSE THE COMPANY WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. SO I DID. THE FIRST PERSON I STARTED TALKING TO HUNG UP ON ME AS SOON AS I MENTIONED MY VEHICLES MAKE AND MODEL. I CALLED BACK GOT SOMEONE ELSE, ALTHOUGH SHE DIDN'T HANG UP ON ME, SHE WAS NO HELP. SHE SAID BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS OVER 100000 MILES, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. SO I GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT FOR ME AS WELL. THIS IS WRONG THE WAY NISSAN IS TREATING PEOPLE. IF THEY TRULY WANTED GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY WOULD VOLUNTARILY RECALL THESE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND MAKE IT RIGHT. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN PRODUCT OR RECOMMEND THEM. *TR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. FAILURE FIRST APPEARED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH AND NOW EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE FROM 30 MPH TO 60 MPH. PATHFINDER NOW HAS 71560 MILES. *TR
ON 11/15/11 NISSAN FLUSHED THE RADIATOR. ON 7/11/12 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT DUE TO THE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE 100% RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS ISSUE. NISSAN HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS AND THEY EXTEND THE WARRANTIES TO THE MAX OF 100,000 MILES. MOST OF THESE ISSUES OCCUR AFTER 100,000…
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ON 11/15/11 NISSAN FLUSHED THE RADIATOR. ON 7/11/12 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT DUE TO THE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE 100% RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS ISSUE. NISSAN HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS AND THEY EXTEND THE WARRANTIES TO THE MAX OF 100,000 MILES. MOST OF THESE ISSUES OCCUR AFTER 100,000 MILES. NISSAN NEEDS TO REIMBURSE AND OR RECALL ALL 2005-2010 PATHFINDER'S, XTERRA'S AND FRONTIER'S AS THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. MY WIFE ALMOST GOT REARENDED BECAUSE THIS ISSUE. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED OF THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE ON MY VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING AFTER DECELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND ACCELERATION POWER DECREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID THAT IS LEAD THROUGH THE RADIATOR TO BE COOLED, ALLOWED WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING AFTER DECELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND ACCELERATION POWER DECREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID THAT IS LEAD THROUGH THE RADIATOR TO BE COOLED, ALLOWED WATER INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,916 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKED COOLANT IN TRANSMISSION AN TRANS STARTED SLIPPING NOW I NEED A TRANSMISSION. *TR
I OWN A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE ENGINE COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE AN INTERNAL PIECE BROKE. THE ONLY REASON I NOTICED ANY ISSUE IS THE REVERSE GEAR BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE ENGAGING. AFTER VISITING TWO MECHANICS, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RADIATOR/COOLANT SYSTEM AND PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALTHO…
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I OWN A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE ENGINE COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE AN INTERNAL PIECE BROKE. THE ONLY REASON I NOTICED ANY ISSUE IS THE REVERSE GEAR BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE ENGAGING. AFTER VISITING TWO MECHANICS, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RADIATOR/COOLANT SYSTEM AND PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALTHOUGH NISSAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THE SITUATION. ULTIMATELY, THIS REPAIR COST ME UPWARDS OF $6000.00 TO REPAIR. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING AT ALL SPEEDS. COOLANT WAS FOUND IN THE TRANS FLUID. THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD TO ALSO ADD A OIL COOLER AS A PRECAUTION. NOW 8K MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. BEST CASE SCENARIO IS A NEW TRANS VALVE ASSEMBL…
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THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING AT ALL SPEEDS. COOLANT WAS FOUND IN THE TRANS FLUID. THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD TO ALSO ADD A OIL COOLER AS A PRECAUTION. NOW 8K MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. BEST CASE SCENARIO IS A NEW TRANS VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR $1500 OR WORST CASE NEW TRANS FOR $6500. *TR
Official recalls
210V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Oct 28, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
08V690000 · Air Bags:frontal
Dec 29, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP12004 · Transmission Failures
Opened Jun 11, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2016
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train; Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm); Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines; Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Power Train
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.