NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
128 reportsClear category filter156,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
RADIATOR FLUID MIXED WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID, MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW AS THE RPM'S WERE INCREASING. THE VEHICLE THEN SLOWED TO ONLY 40MPH, AND WE BARELY GOT THE CAR OFF THE HWY. THEN, EVENTHOUGH IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE; LIKE IT WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL. LOOKED UP ISSUE ONLI…
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RADIATOR FLUID MIXED WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID, MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW AS THE RPM'S WERE INCREASING. THE VEHICLE THEN SLOWED TO ONLY 40MPH, AND WE BARELY GOT THE CAR OFF THE HWY. THEN, EVENTHOUGH IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE; LIKE IT WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL. LOOKED UP ISSUE ONLINE, AND IT IS ANOTHER KNOWN NISSAN RECALL; BUT THEY LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF MILES THAT YOU CAN HAVE TO RECEIVE ANY REIMBURSEMENT. BASICALLY, I WILL GET NO RELIEF FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. I DID GET A RECALL NOTICE BUT MY VEHICLE WAS HAVING NO ISSUES AT THAT TIME, AND NOW AT 18 MONTHS LATER MY VEHICLE IS TOAST. I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10598717
86,687 miles · Jun 9, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD SEEM LIKE IT UPSHIFTED TO A VERY HIGH GEAR AND THEN START TO VIBRATE REAL BAD. WE TOOK IT IN FOR AN ANALYSIS AND THEY TOLD US IMMEDIATELY THAT THE TWO FLUIDS HAD MIXED (TRANS AND COOLANT). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10597234
106,000 miles · May 26, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire
THE COOLANT HAS MIXED UP WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND IT IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING. I DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE,AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH NISSAN AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IT SAYS THAT THERE A HOSE LEAK ISSUE INTO THE TRANSMISSION. NOW M CAR IS SITTING I N MY DRIVEWAY,DEAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10594092
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND VICE VERSA. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MY PARTICULAR MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10593761
82,500 miles · May 10, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSION FLUID IS MIXING WITH RADIATOR FLUID. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587619
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I PURCHASED A USED 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MY DAUGHTER ON 12/28/13. LAST WEEK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE MADE AN APPOINTMENT, ARRIVED EARLY AND 5 HOURS LATER WAS TOLD THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SUGGESTED THAT SHE TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AS THEY HAD EQUIPMENT SPECIFIC TO NISSAN V…
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I PURCHASED A USED 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MY DAUGHTER ON 12/28/13. LAST WEEK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE MADE AN APPOINTMENT, ARRIVED EARLY AND 5 HOURS LATER WAS TOLD THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SUGGESTED THAT SHE TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AS THEY HAD EQUIPMENT SPECIFIC TO NISSAN VEHICLES AND HER WARRANTY COVERS THE WORK AT ANY DEALERSHIP. SHE ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS TOLD YES. SHE DROVE TWO MILES TO A NISSAN DEALER SPENT ANOTHER 2 HOURS THERE WHILE THEY RAN THEIR OWN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS CROSS CONTAMINATION IN THE RADIATOR. NOT ONLY DID HER RADIATOR NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT SO DID HER TRANSMISSION. SHE WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT HER VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CALLED THE WARRANTY COMPANY WHO INDICATED THAT THE RADIATOR WASN'T COVERED AND THEREFORE THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T COVERED AS IT WAS CAUSED BY THE RADIATOR. MY DAUGHTER DROVE BACK TO AUTO NATION AGAIN AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE GENERAL MANAGER. SHE WAS TOLD HE WASN'T IN AND THE USED CAR SALES MANAGER WOULD SPEAK TO HER. I LEFT WORK AND WENT OVER TO HELP HER. I ALSO ASKED FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER, WAS ASKED WHAT IT WAS ABOUT, I SAID I WOULD PREFER SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE GM AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING AS MY DAUGHTER. THE USED CAR SALES MANAGER RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION TWICE HE INDICATED THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SHE PICKED UP THE SUV TODAY AND 2 BLOCKS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE WENT BACK TO AUTO NATION AND WAS TOLD BY THE USED CAR MANAGER THAT THERE WAS NO WAY HE WAS PAYING $3500 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HE TOLD HER TO JUST DRIVE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THIS IS SO WRONG! TO SEND A 22 YEAR OLD OFF IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THIS WAS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE ON THIS MAKE/MODEL & YEAR. NISSAN EVEN EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587164
115,000 miles · Apr 25, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
RADIATOR TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILURE ALLOWED CROSS CONTAMINATION BETWEEN TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ANTIFREEZE.THE RESULTING LACK OF LUBRICATION AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF ANTIFREEZE CAUSED ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10584798
140,654 miles · Apr 19, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSION WAS SHUTTERING AFTER INSPECTION THERE WAS WATER IN TRANSMISSION FROM LEAKING RADIATOR THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT BUT DIDN'T WARN CONSUMERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10583705
125,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
THE FLUIDS OF THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION MIXED. 3 MECHANICS AND A NISSAN DEALER SAID ITS A KNOWN ISSUE BETWEEN 2005~2007. AND NO RECALLS WE'RE BEING ISSUED. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE AT ANTWERPEN NISSAN DONE WHEN MY PATHFINDER WAS RUNNING. I HAVE HAD A 95 SENTRY, I HAVE A 09 VERSA, I HAVE TALKED MY MOTHER IN LAW INTO A…
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THE FLUIDS OF THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION MIXED. 3 MECHANICS AND A NISSAN DEALER SAID ITS A KNOWN ISSUE BETWEEN 2005~2007. AND NO RECALLS WE'RE BEING ISSUED. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE AT ANTWERPEN NISSAN DONE WHEN MY PATHFINDER WAS RUNNING. I HAVE HAD A 95 SENTRY, I HAVE A 09 VERSA, I HAVE TALKED MY MOTHER IN LAW INTO A NISSAN ALTIMA, AS WELL AS MY STEP MOM. MY HUSBAND HAS TALKED A COUPLE OF HIS CO WORKERS INTO A NISSAN ALSO. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ON A "WELL KEPT SECRET" AS THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10576907
120,000 miles · Mar 31, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
VEHICLE STRUGGLING TO SHIFT. DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INTO THE RADIATOR. REPLACED RADIATOR DRAINED AND REPLACED ALL FLUIDS, STILL STRUGGLING TO SHIFT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10576029
Official recalls
1Dec 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.
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