VEHICLE BROUGHT IN FOR OIL CHANGE AT THE NISSAN DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND SERVICED. TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS SUSPECT, MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CROSS CONTAMINATION OF COOLANT AND ATF. DEALER WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *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
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.
Power Train complaints
337 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HAD TO ACCELERATE AGAIN VERY SLOWLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HAD TO ACCELERATE AGAIN VERY SLOWLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS CROSS CONTAMINATION WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INTO THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT ENTERING THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND FLUSHED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE CONTINUOUSLY FLUSHED OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT ASKED THE DEALER IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V690000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NONEXISTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND THE RADIATOR FLUID OVERFLOW CANNISTER STARTED TO EXPEL A PURPLE LIQUID. CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACKED TRANSMISSION COOLING TUBE IN THE BASE OF THE RADIATOR AND THE ANTIFREEZE HAD MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. FOUND OUT ON LINE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT NISSAN REFUSES TO ACK…
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THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND THE RADIATOR FLUID OVERFLOW CANNISTER STARTED TO EXPEL A PURPLE LIQUID. CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACKED TRANSMISSION COOLING TUBE IN THE BASE OF THE RADIATOR AND THE ANTIFREEZE HAD MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. FOUND OUT ON LINE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A DEFECT. RADIATOR REPLACED AND COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED ALONG WITH THE REQUIRED TRANSMISSION FLUSHING AND FLUID REPLACEMENT. REPAIRS BECAME VERY EXPENSIVE. ONLY HOPE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T FAIL NEXT. *TR
TRANSMISSION ON THE PATHFINDER WAS VERY ROUGH SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. WE RETURNED IT TO A DEALER, WHO SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND IT SEEMED THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM THAN JUST HOPING THE NEWEST EXTENDED WARRANTIES RAN OUT BEFORE TH…
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TRANSMISSION ON THE PATHFINDER WAS VERY ROUGH SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. WE RETURNED IT TO A DEALER, WHO SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND IT SEEMED THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM THAN JUST HOPING THE NEWEST EXTENDED WARRANTIES RAN OUT BEFORE THE CARS NEEDED REPAIRS. *TR
DISCOVERED A SMALL POOL OF PURPLE LIQUID UNDER FRONT LEFT TIRE OF MY 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN THE GARAGE YESTERDAY. THOUGHT THAT MUST NOT BE GOOD, SO I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE. BEHOLD, DISCOVERED IT WAS MOST LIKELY A RADIATOR LEAK AND MOST LIKELY LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION AS WELL. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TODAY, AND MY …
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DISCOVERED A SMALL POOL OF PURPLE LIQUID UNDER FRONT LEFT TIRE OF MY 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN THE GARAGE YESTERDAY. THOUGHT THAT MUST NOT BE GOOD, SO I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE. BEHOLD, DISCOVERED IT WAS MOST LIKELY A RADIATOR LEAK AND MOST LIKELY LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION AS WELL. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TODAY, AND MY CONCERNS WERE CONFIRMED. RADIATOR REPLACEMENT = $800. TRANSMISSION IS WORKING NORMALLY RIGHT NOW, BUT FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THE DAMAGE MAY ALREADY BE DONE AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE +$4000. THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS NISSAN IS VERY AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, YET DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. ALL THEY DID WAS EXTEND RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE BEING OVER 100K MILES. ALL NISSAN HAD TO DO WAS ISSUE A RECALL, FIX THE DEFECTIVE RADIATOR (PROBABLY A $500 FIX FOR THEM) INSTEAD, THEY IGNORED IT, AND THE CUSTOMER IS STUCK WITH A $5000 FIX THEY DID NOT EVEN SEE COMING DUE TO THEM NOT NOTIFYING US ABOUT IT. I AM NOT PLEASED. *TR
FLUID LEAKED FROM THE RADIATOR INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WE WERE INTERMITTENTLY LOSING POWER IN THE MOUNTAINS LEADING TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS DUE TO MISMATCHED SPEEDS COMPARED TO THE SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. *TR
I HAVE A 2007 PATHFINDER WITH 79,541 MILE I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ALOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS SITE HAS WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A OIL CHANGE AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE A RADIATOR CREAK THAT LEAKING INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND ITS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE I CANT DRIVE IT AT ALL AND THEY HAVE…
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I HAVE A 2007 PATHFINDER WITH 79,541 MILE I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ALOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS SITE HAS WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A OIL CHANGE AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE A RADIATOR CREAK THAT LEAKING INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND ITS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE I CANT DRIVE IT AT ALL AND THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT HAS A MIX OF COLOR LIKE BROWN SO THEY TOLD ME THEY GOING TO ORDER THE PART I ASK THEM FOR A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE I WAS GOING ON VACATION UNTIL MY TRUCK GET FIX THEY SAID THEY WAS GOING TO TRY TO GET ME ONE THAT WAS ON JUNE 30TH AND ON THURSDAY JULY 3TH THEY CALL ME TO PICK UP MY TRUCK BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON SO THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THE ENGINE LIGHT GO ON, REMEMBER A FEW DAYS AGO THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE I THINK THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE SO IT CAN GO OVER THE 8 YEARS / 80,000 MILE WARRANTY AND PAY A COPAY OF $2,500 AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY AND I'M STILL PAYING FOR THE TRUCK THEY WANT ME TO TAKE IT OUT OF THEY DEALERSHIP LIKE THAT, I'M SCARE TO DRIVE IT I HAVE A DAUGHTER AND MY DOG I TAKE WITH ME AND SCARE SOMETHING ITS GOING TO HAPPEN TO US PLEASE HELP ME ANYONE THANK YOU *TR
I AM A VERY LOYAL NISSAN/PATHFINDER OWNER. I'M ON MY SECOND PATHFINDER AND ALWAYS HAVE MY BELOVED 2007 SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE PUYALLUP NISSAN DEALERSHIP. BECAUSE I RELY ON MY VEHICLE FOR WORK, I MAKE SURE TO KEEP IT CURRENT WITH ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICES OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. UNTIL RECENTLY, IVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY SATIS…
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I AM A VERY LOYAL NISSAN/PATHFINDER OWNER. I'M ON MY SECOND PATHFINDER AND ALWAYS HAVE MY BELOVED 2007 SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE PUYALLUP NISSAN DEALERSHIP. BECAUSE I RELY ON MY VEHICLE FOR WORK, I MAKE SURE TO KEEP IT CURRENT WITH ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICES OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. UNTIL RECENTLY, IVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY SATISFIED PATHFINDER OWNER. NOW, I AM QUITE UPSET THAT A KNOWN DEFECTIVE RADIATOR NOTICE I RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, ADVISED TO DO NOTHING IF EXPERIENCING NO PROBLEMS, BUT NOW THAT I'M OVER THE LIMIT OF 100K MILES (115K), AND EXPERIENCING THE KNOWN RADIATOR DEFECT ISSUE, I AM NOW ON THE HOOK FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR COST ($5000). I'VE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WHICH CAN BE SUMMARIZED AT HTTP://WWW.NISSANPROBLEMS.COM/PROBLEMS/TRANSMISSION.SHTML WHAT DOES THE MILES MATTER? DOES NISSAN'S OBLIGATION TO THEIR PRODUCT AND CUSTOMER DISAPPEAR AFTER 100K MILES? WHY DIDN'T NISSAN RECOMMEND REPLACING THE RADIATORS, AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE? FURTHER RESEARCH OF TESTIMONIALS FROM OTHER NISSAN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, SUGGESTS THAT THE RADIATOR PROBLEM SEEMED TO TYPICALLY OCCUR AFTER 100,000 MILES ANYWAYS. SO HOW IS IT THAT NISSAN IS OK WITH LEAVING THEIR CUSTOMER HOLDING ON TO THE (CRUD) END OF THE STICK? I SURE HOPE I AM REIMBURSED FOR THE HEFTY BILL SOME WAY SOME DAY. (I'VE NOT YET PULLED THE TRIGGER ON HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE, AS I HAVE BEEN CONTEMPLATING TRADING IN AND GIVING THE PROBLEM BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE TRADE IN VALUE, AND IF NISSAN'S PAST REPUTATION IS DIMINISHING, WHY DO I WANT TO TRADE IN FOR ANOTHER NISSAN. MY PASSION FOR PATHFINDERS HAS SUDDENLY DROPPED CONSIDERABLY...TIME FOR A NEW BRAND MAYBE.....:-((((( VERY DISGRUNTLED PATHFINDER OWNER, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHEN THE CAR REACHES SPEED OF 45 MPH, IT BEGINS TO JERK AND VIBRATE AND A LOUD NOISE STARTS. IF I PRESS THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF, THE CAR SMOOTHES OUT. IF I DO NOT TURN THE OVERDRIVE OFF, ONCE I LOWER SPEED OR ACCELERATE, IT STOPS VIBRATING. DIAGNOSIS FROM MECHANIC IS COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION FLUID. …
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WHEN THE CAR REACHES SPEED OF 45 MPH, IT BEGINS TO JERK AND VIBRATE AND A LOUD NOISE STARTS. IF I PRESS THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF, THE CAR SMOOTHES OUT. IF I DO NOT TURN THE OVERDRIVE OFF, ONCE I LOWER SPEED OR ACCELERATE, IT STOPS VIBRATING. DIAGNOSIS FROM MECHANIC IS COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION FLUID. CAR SHOULD HAVE NEW RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION PUT IN. *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.
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