Power Train. Review the 450 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 185 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 147 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports

Equipment complaints

5 reports

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50,000 miles · Jun 14, 2010

EquipmentPower Train

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE GAS GAUGE GOING CRAZY FROM EMPTY TO FULL. THEY REPLACED SENSOR AFTER HAVING TO BEG (COST WOULD HAVE BEEN 700 DOLLARS). THIS WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE A FUEL SENDING SENSOR WHICH COST ME 300 DOLLARS WHEN IT WAS IN FOR THAT I NEEDED BOTH U JOINTS REPLACED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAR WOBBLED HORRIBLY WHEN HITTING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR. THIS WOBBLE WAS HORRIBLE AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES.. THEN HAD TO REPLACE TWO U JOINTS ( SECOND TIME SINCE OWNING THIS 2006 PATHFINDER).. I WISH NISSAN WOULD STEP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THE SENSORS AND U JOINTS.. ITS LIKE EVERYTHING HAPPENS JUST MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. PROBABLY LAST NISSAN I WILL BUY BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336117

50,000 miles · Jun 16, 2009

EquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS STOPPED 3 TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, CAR WILL NOT RE-START, HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP ALL 3 TIMES. FUEL SENSOR REPLACED, IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THE THIRD TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273935

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2009

Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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I PURCHASED AN AFTER-MARKET ENGINE COLD AIR INTAKE FOR MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AFTER I INSTALLED THE INTAKE A PIECE OF METAL FROM THE INTAKE BROKE OF AND GOT LODGED IN THE THROTTLE OF MY VEHICLE DURING A TRIP TO LOS ANGELES, CA. THE METAL PIECE CAUSED MY CAR'S ENGINE TO STALL THE DIE COMPLETELY ON THE FREEWAY WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC IN BARSTOW, CA WHO REMOVED THE METAL DEBRIS FROM THE THROTTLE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE METAL HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM INSIDE THE INTAKE. WHEN I REMOVED THE INTAKE AND EXAMINED THE INSIDE I FOUND MORE PIECES OF METAL READY TO BREAK FREE. THE METAL FRAGMENTS WERE LEFT HANGING AND CLEANED UP AFTER THE METAL WAS CUT AND THE O2 SENSOR FITTING WAS WELDED ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258253

70,900 miles · Dec 12, 2008

EquipmentFuel System, OtherTires

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SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT POPPED ON. READ OWNERS MANUAL. ADVISED TO OPEN AND RE-CLOSE GAS CAP. DID THAT. LIGHT DID NOT GO OUT. DECEMBER 10, GAS GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY. DTE LIGHT APPEARED ------. FILLED UP. GAS GAUGE DIDN'T MOVE. THEN, DECEMBER 12, 2008 GAS GAUGE SUDDENLY ROSE TO A LITTLE OVER HALF TANK. DTE ODOMETER DISPLAY SHOWS 78 MILES TO EMPTY WITH OVER HALF TANK. LOOKED UP PROBLEM ONLINE. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM IN PATHFINDERS AND X-TERRAS. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY 2006 PATHFINDER HAS 71K ON IT. NISSAN SAYS $600 TO REPAIR. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A PRODUCT/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251599

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2007

EquipmentSuspension

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FOR ALL THOSE REPORTING THE SWAYING ASSOCIATED WITH THE 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, I HAVE A NISSAN TERRANO WHICH LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE THE PATHFINDER. I EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SWAYING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 40 MPH. I HAVE TRIED EVERY MECHANIC I KNOW, CHANGED MY SHOCKS, AND YOU NAME IT...LATELY, I WOULD HEAR A THUMP IN THE REAR WHEN I PULLED OFF FROM STOP POSITION. THE THUMP ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I RUN OVER A SHORT SPEED BUMP. WHEN I CAME HOME ONE EVENING, I WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO CONDUCT A VISUAL INSPECTION TO SEE IF I WILL FIND ANYTHING. LO AND BEHOLD, I FOUND OUT THAT THE BUSHINGS OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN OUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE BREAKING UP(THE BUSHINGS) WHICH ALLOWS METAL TO RUB OR HIT ANOTHER METAL AND THAT EXPLAINS THE THUMP THAT I WILL USUALLY HEAR. IN MY OPINION THE WORN OUT BUSHINGS ALSO EXPLAIN THE SWAYING THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE REAR BECAUSE JUST FIGURE IT OUT, THE BUSHINGS OF THE ARMS THAT LINK THE REAR AXLE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE ARE WEAK, BUT THIS WILL NOT CAUSE SWAYING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN IF IT DID IT WILL BE UN-NOTICEABLE. THIS SWAYING AT HIGH SPEEDS IS DIFFICULT TO TELL SOMETIMES IF IT IS COMING FROM THE REAR OR FRONT. MY ADVISE IS TO CHANGE ESPECIALLY THE BUSHINGS OF THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS, THERE SHOULD BE FOUR OF THEM, TWO LONG ONES AND TWO SHORT ONES. IT MAKES SENSE TO ME AFTER ALL THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD! ALSO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THOSE CONTROL ARMS ARE BENT. FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A QUICK EMAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188498

Official recalls

10V517000 · 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.

10V075000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank

Mar 3, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 AND MODEL YEAR 2008 FRONTIER, XTERRA AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE MOLDED FUEL TANK SHELLS CAN DEFORM, CAUSING THE FUEL SENDER FLOAT ARM TO CONTACT AN EMBOSSMENT MOLDED INTO THE TANK SHELL CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE TO SHOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER TANK WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS A MODIFIED FLOAT ARM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 22, 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

DP12004 · 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)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Power Train:automatic Transmission

Power Train:automatic Transmission:torque Converter

Power Train