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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

16 reports

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82,000 miles · May 5, 2013

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO SHAKE AND LOSE POWER AT EXACTLY 43 MILES PER HOUR. TO ADJUST, YOU WOULD HAVE TO RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL, SLOW DOWN AND THEN PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CLEARLY THIS CAUSES HIGHWAY ISSUES WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING ON RAMPS OR STREETS THAT HAVE A POSTING OF 40 TO 45MPH. NOT HAVING THE POWER TO ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE, PUTS NOT ONLY MY FAMILY AT RISK, BUT THOSE AROUND US AS WELL! WHEN THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUE INVOLVING THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE HAS 82000 MILES (2000 MILES OVER, WHICH WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED FOR FREE SERVICE) WHICH MEANT THAT I WAS NOW LIABLE FOR THE $2500 DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE FOR THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510672

104,100 miles · Sep 4, 2012

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUST HIGHWAY TOWING OUR 3000 LB BOAT OUR SUV BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND SLOW DOWN SWIFTLY CAUSING TRAFFIC TO SWERVE DANGEROUSLY AROUND OUR BOAT AND CAR AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A MAJOR PILE UP. APPARENTLY, THE DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION LINES CAUSED THE FLUIDS TO MIX, OVERHEATING AND DAMAGING OUR TRANSMISSION. WE WERE UNAWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN A PRIVATE SALE 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. LUCKILY A CRISIS WAS AVERTED, HOWEVER IT HAD THE POTENTIAL FOR A CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT TOUCHING BRAKES THEREFORE NOT SIGNALING TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES THAT WE WERE INDEED SLOWING RAPIDLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473688

120,000 miles · Apr 27, 2012

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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VEHICLE PROBLEM STARTED WITH ECM/IPDM POWER TRAIN WHICH STOOL ON ME. REPLACE FOR A COST OF $17-1800. I PAID ABOUT $1500-$1800 TO GET THE ECM FIXED AND IPDM REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED 2FRONT CONVERTERS FOR A COST OF $2500. I CONTACTED NISSAN MANUFACTURERS AND EXPRESSES MY CONCERNED. NISSAN MANUFACTURERS DID NOT WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO MY CONCERNS, BUT AFTER ABOUT 3-5MONTHS OF NON STOP COMPLAINING, NISSAN MANUFACTURERS ISSUED A RECALLED ON THE ECM AND REFUNDED MY MONEY, BUT REFUSES TO FIX MY CONVERTERS. IN MARCH 2011, I GOT A RECALLED NOTICED FROM NISSAN MANUFACTURERS ABOUT A LEAK OF COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION, SO I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DO THE REQUIRED INSPECTION AND CLAIMED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD MORE MILES THAN THE MANUFACTURERS REQUIRED MILE; AND YES, MY VEHICLE AT THAT TIME WAS NOT 5YEARS. TWO WEEKS LATER MY TRANSMISSION WENT INTO HEAVY SMOKE WITH A STRONG ROTTEN EGG ODOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THAT VALVE BODY INSIDE MY VEHICLE TRANSMISSION IS BURNED AND TO REPLACE IT FOR A COST OF ABOUT $3000+, AND SENSOR NEED TO BE REPLACE AS WELL AND THE 2 CONVERTERS. NISSAN GAVE ME A BILL OF OVER $5000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456698

100,400 miles · Apr 16, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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I PURCHASED MY "CERTIFIED PRE-OWN" 2006 PATHFINDER WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES ON IT AND I PROPERLY MAINTAINED IT. DECEMBER 2010 I NOTICED THAT MY TRUCK WOULD LOSE POWER AND SPUTTER WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MPH, AND THAT IT WOULD ALSO "TREMBLE OR SHAKE" WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT SERVICED AND TUNED UP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE BOTH REPLACED. I COULDN'T SEE STRAIGHT! I ASKED THE SERVICE TECH WHY IN THE HELL I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION ON A VEHICLE WITH JUST OVER 100,000 MILES AND THAT I'M STILL PAYING FOR NO LESS. THE TECH SUGGESTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE "SAVED" AND I WOULD STILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW RADIATOR AND OTHER PARTS. A YEAR LATER- 03/12 MY TRUCK IS BEHAVING THE SAME WAY SO INSTEAD OF RETURNING TO THE DEALER I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. WHEN I INFORMED HIM OF MY PROBLEM HE ASKED IF I HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIATOR, AS A MATTER A FACT I TOLD HIM I HAD IT REPLACED A YEAR AGO BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. HE INFORMED ME THAT HE'S HAD A NUMBER OF PATHFINDER OWNERS COMING TO HIS SHOP ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM, AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST NISSAN. I FOUND THE LAWSUIT ON THE WEB AGAINST NISSAN AND SINCE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY AND JOINED IN THE LAW SUIT. UP UNTIL THE MOMENT I HAD THIS PROBLEM I WAS A LOYAL NISSAN OWNER, EVEN BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN MY FATHER OWNED A DATSUN AND IT BECAME MY FIRST CAR. IT'S ONE THING TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION SIMPLY DUE TO NORMAL WEAR, IT'S ANOTHER TO HAVE CONSUMERS DO SO BECAUSE OF FAULTY DESIGN FROM THE DEALER. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT NISSAN WOULD TREAT AND HANDLE THEIR CUSTOMERS THIS WAY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10455412

121,000 miles · Sep 12, 2011

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FAMILY ON A FOUR LANE FREEWAY, TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IMMEDIATE LOSS OF SPEED IN A RAIN STORM. NO WARNING OR SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. NISSAN ASSIST WAS NO HELP. COST TO REPAIR QUOTED AT $5700. NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THREE WEEKS DUE TO HIGH DEMAND. WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT IT WAS VERY DISTURBING TO MAKE IT OFF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND IN THE RAIN. MY WIFE'S VEHICLE AND SHE WAS VERY THANKFUL SHE WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425120

83,000 miles · Sep 6, 2009

Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

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I HAVE A NISSAN PATHFINDER (2006) AND AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG AROUND 50MPH, EVERYTHING DIED. THE GAUGES, BLINKERS, LIGHTS, ETC WENT DEAD. THE MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO COAST OFF OF THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN, EVERY TIME I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES. THERE IS ALSO A BURNING ODOR AND WHEN EVERYTHING DIES, THERE IS A HIGH-PITCHED STATIC SOUND THAT COMES THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. THE SCARY PART IS, I LOOSE ALL POWER FROM THE VEHICLE AND IF I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE OR TURNING IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, IT COULD BE FATAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282999

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