IllustrationFOUND OUT THAT MY RADIATOR HAD A FAILURE AND A TRANSMISSION HOSE CRACKED INSIDE THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL MIXED UP TO INVADED BOTH THE MOTOR COOLING SYSTEM AND THE TRANSMISSION.. DONT WANT TO GO IN GEAR WHEN TURNING AND IT MAKE THIS RUMBLING NOSE WHEN YOU DRIVING IT
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
Power Train complaints
337 reportsI WAS DRIVING TO WORK TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK STARTED TO OVER HEAT AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP OUT OF OVER DRIVE. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE. I PULLED THE TRANSMISSION DIP STICK. IT WAS MILKY. I ALSO FOUND THE COOLANT OVERFLOW WAS BUBBLING OUT A…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK STARTED TO OVER HEAT AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP OUT OF OVER DRIVE. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE. I PULLED THE TRANSMISSION DIP STICK. IT WAS MILKY. I ALSO FOUND THE COOLANT OVERFLOW WAS BUBBLING OUT A MIX OF MILKY FLUIDS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. THE RADIATOR HAD FAILED AND BLEW APART INSIDE, WHICH CREATED AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION LINE INSIDE THE RADIATOR. THE COOLANT MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS COST ME $650. THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T RIGHT FROM THIS POINT ON. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR THIS TIME MYSELF AND TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. AT THIS POINT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO EVERY GEAR AND WILL CONTINUOUSLY SLIP IF ITS IN OVERDRIVE. THE CAR IS UN DRIVABLE AND HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW. TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS CAR ARE OVER $2500 AND I JUST CANT AFFORD TO PUT ONE INTO IT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED SEVERE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MECHANIC RECO…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED SEVERE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION. HAD MY WHOLE FAMILY WHEN TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT DON'T WANT TO IMAGE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS GOING FASTER THAN 35 MPH. COST TO REPAIR $5800. DANGEROUSLY UNACCEPTABLE.
AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IT STARTED TO SHUDDER AND SHAKE AND THEN FINALLY COMPLETELY TURNED OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. ONCE I GOT IT STARTED AGAIN IT WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 20MPH I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY. ONCE WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD US THAT THE RADIATOR HAD LEAKED IN…
Read full complaint
AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IT STARTED TO SHUDDER AND SHAKE AND THEN FINALLY COMPLETELY TURNED OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. ONCE I GOT IT STARTED AGAIN IT WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 20MPH I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND EXIT THE HIGHWAY. ONCE WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD US THAT THE RADIATOR HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND ALSO THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE TWO CATALYCTIC CONVERTERS. THE TOTAL REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS WOULD COST ME $8000 AS I WOULD ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. WE REPLACED THE RADIATOR BUT OF COURSE THAT IS ONLY HALF THE PROBLEM. I STILL OWE ABOUT $13K ON THE VEHICLE, HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR 8 MONTHS AND AM NOW STUCK BECAUSE I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND I CANT GET RID OF THE TRUCK KNOWING THIS PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
I WAS JUST INFORMED BY A FELLOW NISSAN OWNER ABOUT HER TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. WHY WAS I NOT NOTIFIED BY NISSAN THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE? NO CARD, LETTER... NOTHING! I WOULD HAVE HAD MY CAR INSPECTED FOR DEFECT IF I KNEW!!
WE PURCHASED OUR 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER ON MAY 21 OF THIS YEAR. TODAY MAKES 39 DAYS WE'VE HAD IT. ON THE 32 DAY WE NOTICED IT WAS HAVING SOME ROUGHNESS IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN CHANGING GEARS. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE RUNNING OVER REALLY ROUGH ROADS OR RUMBLE STRIPS. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE THE LONGER WE DROVE IT. THEN AROUND …
Read full complaint
WE PURCHASED OUR 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER ON MAY 21 OF THIS YEAR. TODAY MAKES 39 DAYS WE'VE HAD IT. ON THE 32 DAY WE NOTICED IT WAS HAVING SOME ROUGHNESS IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN CHANGING GEARS. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE RUNNING OVER REALLY ROUGH ROADS OR RUMBLE STRIPS. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE THE LONGER WE DROVE IT. THEN AROUND A WEEK AGO I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE HOME TO INFORM MY HUSBAND. WHEN HE CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IT APPEARED TO BE EMPTY. WHEN HE FURTHER CHECKED IT AND CLEANED THE DIP STICK IT WAS A TANISH COLORED LIQUID THAT WAS SHOWING UP. I WENT TO GOOGLE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME OR SIMILAR VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A LEAK IN A RADIATOR HOSE THAT RUNS THRU THE TRANSMISSION AND LEAKS FLUIDS BACK AND FORTH. MY HUSBAND WENT TO CHECK THE RADIATOR AND SURE ENOUGH THERE IS TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE RADIATOR AND IT APPEARED IN THE ENGINE AS WELL. SO NOW WE HAVE TRANSMISSION FLUID, WATER, AND ANTIFREEZE IN OUR TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR AND ENGINE. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. ITS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A FLAW IN THEIR WORKMANSHIP. WE WERE TOLD BY NISSAN TO BRING OUR PATHFINDER IN FOR AN EVALUATION AND BE PREPARED TO PAY 2,500.00 DOLLARS. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE ARE PAYING A PAYMENT ALREADY ON A VEHICLE WE HAVE HAD FOR ONE MONTH. WE CANT AFFORD THIS KIND OF REPAIR. SO NOW WERE STUCK WITH A CAR WE CANT EVEN DRIVE.....UPDATED 09/03/15 *BF
TOWED MY CAR TO THE LOCAL SHOP AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RADIATOR HAS AN INTERNAL CRACK AND LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. BURNED OUT THE TCM AND NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN $5000 TO GET IT FIXED. CALLED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS AT ALL.
2007 NISSIAN PATHFINDER -RADIATOR LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION, CAUSING FAILURE TO TRANSMISSION. REPLACED RADIATOR, ALL FLUIDS AND FLUSHED OUT SECONDARY RADIATOR AND RESERVOUR AND NEW THERMOSTAT, FLUSHED OUT TRANSMISSION FLUIDS. NOW NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF THE JOB!
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.