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

What owners actually said

837 reports

127,315 miles · Jul 6, 2015

Unknown Or Other

TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING ON THE WAY TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO GET IT LOOKED AT. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, IT REFUSED TO GO INTO GEAR AND CAUSED ME TO SLOW DOWN CONSIDERABLY, RESULTING IN A NEAR ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME AND THE CAR GOING AROUND ME. THE RADIATOR HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THIS…

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NHTSA ODI #10732248

107,000 miles · Jun 30, 2015

Power TrainUnknown Or Other

THE TRANSMISSION OF MY PATHFINDER WENT BAD BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE RADIATOR. IT MIXED TRANSMISSION OIL AND ANTIFREEZE IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WILL COST ME 6K+ TO REPAIR. I READ A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I WANT NISSAN TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #10731193

110,000 miles · Jun 24, 2015

Fuel/propulsion System

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WHILE RESEARCHING A TRANSMISSION ISSUE ON MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER, MY HUSBAND CAME ACROSS RECALL #10V075000 FOR THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR FOR 2006 PATHFINDERS. AFTER ALL THE TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED (ANOTHER ISSUE THAT NISSAN WAS WELL AWARE OF BUT HAS NOT REMEDIED) MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THE CODE READ. THEY PUT IT ON A CODE READER AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO BRING MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH MY VIN AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF MY POCKET. I THEN CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WHERE I WAS TOLD TO TAKE MY CAR INTO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP: 1) ASK FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CODE ON THE PART 2) GET THE NAME OF THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND DEALERSHIP 3) GET AN ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT AND I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND HAD ALL OF THOSE THINGS ACCOMPLISHED. I THEN CALLED BACK AND GAVE NISSAN ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK WITH A DECISION. 2 DAYS LATER SOMEONE FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE MY VIN IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THAT PERSONS SUPERVISOR AND WAS TOLD THAT SUPERVISORS DID NOT HAVE CUSTOMER CONTACT..SO MUCH FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!! I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT MY CAR IS SHOWING ALL OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT GO ALONG WITH THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING; MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, THE COMPUTER SHOWING THE CODE FOR THE ISSUE, MY DIGITAL GAS GAUGE NOT READING CORRECTLY, MY REGULAR GAS GAUGE NOT GOING BELOW TANK, AND ALMOST RUNNING OUT OF GAS WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME. . I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RELY ON MY ODOMETER TO INDICATE WHEN I SHOULD REFILL MY GAS TANK.

NHTSA ODI #10730242

84,501 miles · Jun 6, 2015

Unknown Or Other

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I WAS DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE THEN BEGAN TO REV AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN ALL AVAILABLE GEARS INCLUDING REVERSE AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND I WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY PASSING VEHICLES MULTIPLE TIMES. AFTER 55 MINUTES THE POLICE ARRIVED AND REQUESTED AN EXPEDITED TOW. VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED FROM THE ROADWAY. AFTER PAYING THE $135.00 TOW BILL TO THE LOCAL TOW YARD I WAS ABLE TO CALL AAA AND HAVE THEM TOW ME THE ALMOST 90 MILES BACK TO MY HOME IN NJ. THIS WAS OF COURSE THE SATURDAY OF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SO NOTHING WAS GOING TO BE OPEN UNTIL TUESDAY MORNING. TUESDAY MORNING I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL, REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION PLACE. ULTIMATELY THEY TOLD ME THAT WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD COST $3,188.60 TO FIX. THE TRANSMISSION PLACE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY NISSANS WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. AFTER GOING HOME AND GOOGLING NISSAN PATHFINDER TRANSMISSION I WAS APPALLED TO SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT NISSAN PATHFINDER (AND OTHER MODEL NISSANS) TRANSMISSIONS. I WAS LITERALLY TAKEN BACK BY IT AND COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. I THEN CONTACTED MY NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BEFORE NOVEMBER 14, 2014 OR IF I HAD LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. MY TRUCK HAD JUST OVER 84,000 MILES. I THEN CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA. THEY ADVISED ME THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WOULD COVER ANY OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM I WOULD I HAVE TO TOW MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ONCE COMPLETED WITH THAT, THEY WOULD SUBMIT A REPORT TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY OR ALL OF THE INCURRED EXPENSES WOULD BE COVERED...POTENTIALLY TAKING SEVERAL WEEKS OR MONTHS WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT ANYTHING WOULD BE COVERED.

NHTSA ODI #10723740

75,000 miles · Jun 4, 2015

Power Train

AS I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER HESITATED TO MOVE AS I PULLED OVER I NOTICED LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH MY TRUCK. I OPEN UP THE RADIATOR CAP NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE RADIATOR FLUID HAS MIXED

NHTSA ODI #10723386

90,150 miles · Jun 2, 2015

EnginePower Train

I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND WENT TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE. WHEN I GOT IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID THAT THE RADIATOR HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED IT TO RUIN THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10722997

81,000 miles · May 27, 2015

Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS SHAKY AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING, APPARENTLY NISSAN KNEW ABOUT RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION LINE!!!

NHTSA ODI #10721809

138,544 miles · May 21, 2015

Power Train

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JUST AFTER EXITING FREEWAY, VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE IN ANY FORWARD GEARS. THIS CAUSED FORWARD MOVEMENT TO REDUCE TO EXTREMELY SLOW MOTION. IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, AND IF A DRIVER PANICKED, NOT IMMEDIATELY MOVING OFF TO THE SIDE, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH POTENTIALLY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDELY KNOWN AND HAS BEEN DEALT WITH TO A LIMITED EXTENT. DON'T SEE A PLACE ON THIS COMPLAINT FORM TO INDICATE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. TRANSMISSION WAS CONTAMINATED WITH COOLANT DUE TO LOWER TRANS LINE IN RADIATOR'S LOWER TANK BEING RUPTURED. RADIATOR WAS ALSO CROSS CONTAMINATED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS COMMON PROBLEM IN CERTAIN MODEL 2005 - 2007 NISSAN'S IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL (IT SHOULD BE), AND THE LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY IN THE NISSAN SETTLEMENT OFFERS NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLES HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH OVER 100,000 MILES, AS IS THE CASE WITH MOST OF US. I HOPE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS, AND THE THOUSANDS MORE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THE YEARS TO COME.

NHTSA ODI #10717881

102,000 miles · May 21, 2015

EngineStructureUnknown Or Other

RADIATOR FLUID HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING IT TO FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ISSUED A FIX WHERE THE RADIATOR COOLANT IS BYPASSED FROM THE TRANSMISSION BUT THEN THAT HAS NOT HELPED. THE FIX WAS FOR $500+ THE REPAIRS FOR THE TRANSMISSION ARE AT $4700/- NOW. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THE AMOUNT OF REPAIRS IS MORE THAN THE COST O…

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NHTSA ODI #10717611

129,000 miles · May 18, 2015

Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO DISPLAY THE CORRECT READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10717062

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