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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

2 reports

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33,392 miles · Mar 22, 2010

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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AT 33,392 MILES, I WENT TO HAVE MY BRAKES INSPECTED AT MY LOCAL SERVICE SHOP DUE TO A SLIGHT SQUEAKING WHEN IN REVERSE. THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE ROTORS WERE SMOOTH SO I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BRAKE DUST BUILD UP. UPON INSPECTION AT THE SHOP, THE INSIDE SURFACE OF BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE BADLY RUSTED AND THE BRAKE PAD THAT PRESSES AGAINST THE INSIDE SURFACES WERE PARTIALLY GOUGED. BOTH ROTORS COULD NOT BE RESURFACED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE RUST AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. AND EVEN THOUGH THE OUTER PADS WERE STILL AN OK THICKNESS AND THE OUTER ROTOR SURFACE WAS SMOOTH, THEY ALL NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE BADLY RUSTED ROTORS! AFTER TAKING THE PARTS TO MY NISSAN DEALER TO SHOW THEM THE RUSTED ROTOR SURFACES, THEY SUSPECTED THAT THE INSIDE-CALIPER SLIDING PINS HAD RUSTED INHIBITING THE PAD FROM CONTACTING THE INSIDE ROTOR SURFACE, BUT STILL WOULDN'T PAY FOR MY REPLACEMENT SINCE "RUST" WASN'T COVERED! THE KICKER IS THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED DURING A "COMPLIMENTARY MULTI-POINT CHECK" ONLY ONE YEAR PRIOR WITH NO PROBLEM REPORTED. CONSIDERING I DRIVE THE VEHICLE EVERY DAY TO WORK, IF THE CALIPERS WERE SLIDING AND GRABBING THE ROTORS PROPERLY THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO RUST BUILD UP AT ALL. BUT APPARENTLY THE INSIDE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT MAKING CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR SURFACE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION HAD I NEEDED TO BRAKE HARD IN AN EMERGENCY. I STILL HAVE ALL DAMAGED PARTS, RECEIPTS, AND PAPERWORK (AND PICTURES OF ALL TOO) FOR ANYONE WISHING TO INSPECT THEM. CHECK IT OUT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! *DT

NHTSA ODI #10321470

21,650 miles · Feb 7, 2009

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE BRAKING FROM A SPEED OF 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE CAR CONTINUED FORWARD 8-10 FEET FROM WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE STOPPED. SAME SYMPTOM HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, IN MY DRIVEWAY, ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. NISSAN DEALER CAN FIND NO CAUSE OTHER THAN A WEAK BATTERY, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE CAUSE OF MY BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257814

Official recalls

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