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

Unknown Or Other complaints

43 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2017

Unknown Or Other

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN COMING TO A STOP LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE HAS EITHER STALLED COMING TO THE LIGHT WHEN I DEPRESS THE BRAKE OR IT STALLS ONCE I AM SITTING WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK INTO THE IPDM ECM OR THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR PROBLEM AS STATED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS I WILL DO THAT THIS WEEK. IT HAS STALLED POSSIBLY 6 TO 7 TIMES NOW 2 TIMES EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND COMING TO THE STOP LIGHT AND OTHER TIMES ON CITY STREETS IN TRAFFIC ROLLING AND ATTEMPTED TO STALL OR COMING TO THE LIGHT INSTALLED ONCE I STOPPED OR COMING TO THE LIGHT

NHTSA ODI #10940369

103,000 miles · Dec 24, 2016

Power TrainUnknown Or Other

RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS MIXED CAUSING MASSIVE RADIATOR BLOW OUT AND REPLACEMENT. . COST OF $2000 THEN AFTER BEING TOLD THE TRANSMISSION SURVIDE AND LIMITED DRIVING NOW A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER AND ABOUT A YEAR LATER NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT NO REVERSE AND ONLY ONE FORWARD GEAR!

NHTSA ODI #10937316

140,000 miles · Sep 14, 2016

Power TrainUnknown Or Other

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IN 2012, SOON AFTER WE PURCHASED OUR USED 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER, WE KNEW IT WAS A MISTAKE. NOT ONLY DID THE FUEL INDICATOR NOT WORK (NOTICED THE DAY WE DROVE IT OFF THE LOT) THE SUV JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE FUEL INDICATOR SAYS I HAVE FUEL, BUT THE LIGHT WOULD IMMEDIATELY COME ON, AND THE CAR WOULD CUT OFF & LOCK UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT! FAST FORWARD TO LAST YEAR, 2015, WE STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK/DRIVE/REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND SOMETIMES WOULDN'T EVEN CHANGE GEARS, JUST KEEP REVVING UP THE ENGINE AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE. IT HAS LEFT MY CHILDREN AND ME STRANDED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE THEN. FINALLY, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, THE PATHFINDER DECIDED TO NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK AT ALL AFTER CRANKED. TODAY, 9/14/16, THE TRANSMISSION LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC. I BARELY HAD IT PULLED OFF THE ROAD WHEN I ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED! THE TRANSMISSION WON'T CHANGE GEARS, WON'T PROPEL THE CAR FORWARD (OR BACKWARDS) AND THE SHOP SAID IT NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION, AND MAYBE A NEW RADIATOR! I AM A STUDENT AND MY HUSBAND IS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT - WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA $4,000 LYING AROUND FOR REPAIRS TO A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED! SO, IT IS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, COMPLETELY IMMOBILE AND WE HAVE A CAR PAYMENT COMING UP NEXT WEEK (AND EVERY MONTH AFTERWARDS). WE ARE UNDERWATER, STILL OWING $8,000 FOR A CAR WE THOUGHT WE'D DRIVE FOREVER, THAT IS VALUED AT AROUND $4,000 ON A GOOD DAY WITH NO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE! NISSAN NEEDS TO REPAIR OUR CAR ASAP!

NHTSA ODI #10906738

98,389 miles · May 30, 2016

EngineUnknown Or Other

RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #10871485

49,257 miles · Apr 21, 2016

Unknown Or Other

TRANMISION AND RADIATOR

NHTSA ODI #10860680

160,000 miles · Apr 7, 2016

Unknown Or Other

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PURCHASED PATHFINDER IN 2013 WITH 140,000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP. AFTER LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND 20,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE AND IT WILL COST OVER 4,000 TO FIX WHILE I AM STILL FINANCING OVER 9,000 FOR IT. ALL EXTENDED WARRANTY DEADLINES AND LIMITATIONS HAVE EXPIRED BEFORE I HAD EVEN PURCHASED THE CAR. IT IS AMAZING THAT FOR SUCH A SEVERE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO MANY BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THAT NISSAN DOES NOT HAVE MORE REALISTIC AND HELPFUL WARRANTY STANDARDS. I AM NOT A LOSS AT WHAT TO DO AND NISSAN OR DEALERSHIP HAS OFFERED ANY HELP.

NHTSA ODI #10854018

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2016

Unknown Or Other

COOLANT IS MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IS CREATING THE CAR GETTING OVER HEATED, THE MIX IS GETTING DISCHARGE IN A FORMER OF A BROWN CHOCOLATE MIXTURE

NHTSA ODI #10850762

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2016

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

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TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED IN 2012 TO FIND OUT OUR VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THE INTERMIX THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION THEY GAVE US AN ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $10,000.00 STATED IT WAS NO GOOD AND TO TRADE IT IN ASAP SAID WE SHOULDNT DRIVE IT THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS SO WE PARKE DIT. I WAS DEVISTATED WE DID EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER MADE REPORTS CALLED EVERYONE POSSIBLE NOTHING! TRIED TO SUE HOWEVER I FELL ILL (CANCER) AND COULDN'T KEEP OUR HEARING APT HERE IN SACRAMENTO CA. ITS STILL PARKED IN OUR GARAGE.

NHTSA ODI #10837639

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2016

Power TrainUnknown Or Other

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER DUE TO A POOR ENGINEERING ISSUE FROM NISSAN. THIS PROBLEM IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME.

NHTSA ODI #10825031

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2016

Unknown Or Other

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I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED HUNDREDS OF TIMES. I HAVE OVER 100,000 MILES, AND WAS PUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TWO LANES AND INTO THE PATH OF ONCOMING VEHICLES, THE CAR STUTTERED, ALL OF THE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING, POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND THE GAS NOR BREAK WOULD WORK. I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH MY TURN WHEN I REALIZED MY PATHFINDER JUST SHUT DOWN-I HAD NO WARNINGS, OR TROUBLE WITH THE CAR COMING UP TO MAKING MY TURN. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE STREET I WAS TURNING ONTO IT WAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD I DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. COME TO FIND OUT THE RADIATOR LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING IT TO CONTAMINATE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ESSENTIALLY BLOW THE TRANSMISSION. REPAIR IS OVER $7000 FROM TWO DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS AS WELL AS A NISSAN CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER. I OF COURSE WAS NOT HAPPY WHEN I WAS TOLD MY MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. I WAS ALSO SAD TO FIND OUT NISSAN WASN'T DOING ANYTHING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS, DESPITE THE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST NISSAN WASN'T DOING ANYTHING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS, DESPITE THE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST THEM. THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT CONSUMER SAFETY'EVEN AFTER THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING WITH HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THEIR VEHICLES. I AM HOPING NISSAN WILL DO THE RIGHT THING, AND MAKE IT RIGHT. THEY SHOULDN'T BE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE TO MAKE A CHANGE. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T CARE TO DO ANYTHING AND LESS THERE IS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #10822772

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