IllustrationTRANSMISSION FLUID IS MILKY COLORED. LOSS OF COOLANT. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. SOMEHOW COOLANT IN TRANSMISSION FLUID. *TR
2007 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Pathfinder years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder are substantially higher than the model-year median of 97.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
210–25K
4125–50K
5750–75K
13375–100K
216100–150K
32150K+
500 reports with mileage · 61 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 337 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 128 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 114 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
128 reportsTHE TRUCK BEGAN SHIFTING GEARS VERY ROUGHLY AND SLOWLY WITH A STRONG JERKING MOTION TO THE TRUCK. WHEN TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT WERE MIXING DUE TO A FAULTY RADIATOR AND THUS GOT INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR, FLUSHING OF FLUID LINES AND TRANSMISSION REP…
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THE TRUCK BEGAN SHIFTING GEARS VERY ROUGHLY AND SLOWLY WITH A STRONG JERKING MOTION TO THE TRUCK. WHEN TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT WERE MIXING DUE TO A FAULTY RADIATOR AND THUS GOT INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR, FLUSHING OF FLUID LINES AND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT APPROX. COST $6000. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I SEE MULTITUDES OF OTHER NISSAN CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE ON ROADS. MY CAR FALLS OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GIVEN DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, IF MY PATHFINDER DID FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY, NISSAN ONLY ASSISTS WITH PAYMENT TO REPLACE RADIATOR NOT THE DAMAGE DONE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY RADIATOR. THIS ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER! *TR
MY VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS OR PREVIOUS ISSUES. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE RADIATOR HAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT ALLOWED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE RADIATOR CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION THAT NISSAN WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILI…
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MY VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS OR PREVIOUS ISSUES. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE RADIATOR HAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT ALLOWED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE RADIATOR CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO MY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION THAT NISSAN WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND WILL COST ME UPWARDS OF $5,200.00 AT LEAST. *TR
VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AT SPEEDS OF APPROX 45 MPH. OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE CONDITION WORSENED - THE VIBRATIONS BECAME MORE AGGRESSIVE AND BEGAN TO OCCUR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. AFTER INVESTIGATION BY NISSAN, THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE RADIATOR AND POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION THAT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY …
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VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AT SPEEDS OF APPROX 45 MPH. OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE CONDITION WORSENED - THE VIBRATIONS BECAME MORE AGGRESSIVE AND BEGAN TO OCCUR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. AFTER INVESTIGATION BY NISSAN, THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE RADIATOR AND POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION THAT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE 100,000 MILE LIMIT. THE COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER LINE AND ULTIMATELY RIGHT INTO THE TRANSMISSION, THEREBY CAUSING DAMAGE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE REPAIRED WITH A NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND NISSAN NEGLECTED TO ALERT CONSUMERS. AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE. *TR
NISSAN REFUSES TO FULLY COVER THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF A FAULTY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. NISSAN IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR THIS NEGLECT AND IS STALLING ON RECALLING THE VEHICLES. NISSAN EXTENDED A WARRANTY LEAVING THE BURDEN OF $3,000 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER. THIS IS AN APPALLING AND SAD EXCUSE OF CUSTOMER SE…
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NISSAN REFUSES TO FULLY COVER THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF A FAULTY RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. NISSAN IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR THIS NEGLECT AND IS STALLING ON RECALLING THE VEHICLES. NISSAN EXTENDED A WARRANTY LEAVING THE BURDEN OF $3,000 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER. THIS IS AN APPALLING AND SAD EXCUSE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE - THE VEHICLES DID NOT MEET QUALITY CONTROL AND IT IS DISGUSTING TO HAVE THE CUSTOMER PUT OUT THAT MUCH MONEY FOR A PROBLEM THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE VEHICLE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN WARMING UP FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS ANYTHING SERIOUS, THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A HEATING COIL OR SOMETHING, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 1/3/14 TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND THE TECHNICIAN CAME BACK AND SAID "OH YOU NEED A TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR BRING THE CAR BACK ON T…
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VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN WARMING UP FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS ANYTHING SERIOUS, THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A HEATING COIL OR SOMETHING, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 1/3/14 TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND THE TECHNICIAN CAME BACK AND SAID "OH YOU NEED A TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR BRING THE CAR BACK ON TUESDAY" LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING COMMON. JUST LOOKED INTO THE COMPLAINTS DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES, NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WILL BE MY LAST NISSAN. I PURCHASED A EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH THEY DID ASK ME, HOWEVER I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT WOULD HAVE COVERED THE ISSUE UNTIL TODAY 1/8/14. *TR
I WAS ON EXPRESSWAY, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MILES PER HOUR AND WITHOUT WARNING CAR LOST ALL ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED. CAR ENGINE WOULD REV WHEN YOU PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND. VEHICLES BEHIND ME HAD TO HIT ON THERE BRAKES AND GO AROUND ME AS I ATTEMPTED TO STEER VEHICLE TO TH…
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I WAS ON EXPRESSWAY, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MILES PER HOUR AND WITHOUT WARNING CAR LOST ALL ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED. CAR ENGINE WOULD REV WHEN YOU PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND. VEHICLES BEHIND ME HAD TO HIT ON THERE BRAKES AND GO AROUND ME AS I ATTEMPTED TO STEER VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. ONCE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR LEAVING ME STRANDED. I HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOME. I WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN THAT ENGINE COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND RUINED MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON NISSAN PATHFINDERS AND THE COST TO REPAIR VEHICLE IS BETWEEN 4 AND 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS. *TR
THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHUTTERED AND CEASED TO MOVE. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND LUCKILY HAD A PLACE TO PULL OVER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. AFTER A DISCUSSION AND DIAGNOSIS BY THE TECHNICIAN AND SHOP FOREMAN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR HAD CROSSED CONTAMINATION OF FLUIDS R…
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THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHUTTERED AND CEASED TO MOVE. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND LUCKILY HAD A PLACE TO PULL OVER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. AFTER A DISCUSSION AND DIAGNOSIS BY THE TECHNICIAN AND SHOP FOREMAN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR HAD CROSSED CONTAMINATION OF FLUIDS RESULTING IN THE TRANSMISSION BECOMING INOPERABLE AND REQUIRING THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR BE REPLACED. THE SHOP FOREMAN STATED THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR AND THE RESULTING PROBLEMS. I AM WAITING TO FIND OUT IF NISSAN WILL HELP WITH REPAIR COST. I WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP FOREMAN THAT THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $8,000.00. . *TR
CRACKED RADIATOR ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION SO NOT KNOWING NISSAN WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM WE HAD A NEW RADIATOR INSTALLED AND THE COOLING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION FLUSHED OUT MILEAGE AT THIS TIME WAS 79290 NOW 4 MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEED A NEW ONE MILEAGE NOW 83158 SINCE THE MILEAGE IS ABOVE 8…
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CRACKED RADIATOR ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO TRANSMISSION SO NOT KNOWING NISSAN WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM WE HAD A NEW RADIATOR INSTALLED AND THE COOLING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION FLUSHED OUT MILEAGE AT THIS TIME WAS 79290 NOW 4 MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEED A NEW ONE MILEAGE NOW 83158 SINCE THE MILEAGE IS ABOVE 80000 NISSAN WILL NOT FIX THE CAR UNDER THERE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WANTS ME TO DOLE OUT 2500.00$. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN NISSAN WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THERE TRANSMISSIONS I WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A NISSAN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER THE FIRST TIME. *TR
RADIATOR FAILED (PRODUCT DEFECT, NO ACCIDENT OR EXTERNAL CAUSES) AND LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, EFFECTIVELY DESTROYING IT. HAD TO GET BOTH RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED. SYMPTOMS STARTED WITH SHUDDERING DURING SHIFTING, WHICH LED TO ROUGH SHIFTING, GEAR SLIPPAGE, CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT, AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR NOT EVEN STAR…
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RADIATOR FAILED (PRODUCT DEFECT, NO ACCIDENT OR EXTERNAL CAUSES) AND LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, EFFECTIVELY DESTROYING IT. HAD TO GET BOTH RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED. SYMPTOMS STARTED WITH SHUDDERING DURING SHIFTING, WHICH LED TO ROUGH SHIFTING, GEAR SLIPPAGE, CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT, AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR NOT EVEN STARTING. *TR
Official recalls
108V690000 · 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
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.