IllustrationTHE RADIATOR LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION RENDERING IT USELESS. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE 2007 NISSAN. *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
What owners actually said
561 reportsI PURCHASED MY 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER BRAND NEW.. I JUST PAID IT OFF LAST YEAR.. I'VE BEEN FEELING LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SHIFTING FOR SOME TIME.. BUT NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING... WELL AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT JUST DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT.. STARTING HEATING WHEN I WENT OVER 60 MPH. I TOOK IT TO A SPECIALIST AN…
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I PURCHASED MY 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER BRAND NEW.. I JUST PAID IT OFF LAST YEAR.. I'VE BEEN FEELING LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SHIFTING FOR SOME TIME.. BUT NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING... WELL AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT JUST DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT.. STARTING HEATING WHEN I WENT OVER 60 MPH. I TOOK IT TO A SPECIALIST AND COME TO FIND OUT THE RADIATOR IS LEAKING COOLANT INTO MY TRANSMISSION.. IM AT 3500.00 IN JUST PARTS RIGHT NOW.. THAN I GO ONLINE AND SEE ALL THESE OTHER POOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN.. ALL NISSAN HAD TO DO WAS LET US KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LEAKAGE.. THIS MAKES ME SICK.. I WORKED HARD TO PAY THIS VEHICLE OFF.. NOW INSTEAD OF TAKING MY KIDS ON VACATION I WILL BE PAYING FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED.. NISSAN TOTALLY DENIES ANY PROBLEM, HOWEVER WHEN YOU CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY WILL TRY AND SELL YOU AN UPDATED RADIATOR.. WHY DOES IT NEED TO BE UPDATED IF THEY ARE SAYING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE OLD ONE?? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE PUT OUR TRUST IN A PRODUCT AND IT FAILED US AND NOW THEY WANT MORE MONEY FROM US.. THIS IS WRONG.. I BEG FOR ANY ASSISTANCE AND THAT SOMEONE STEP IN AND MAKE NISSAN PAY FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO PEOPLE.. FAMILIES WORK TO HARD FOR THEIR PRODUCTS TO HAVE TO BE TREATED THE WAY NISSAN IS TREATING US.. AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE LISTENING... I WANT ANSWERS.. IF I SOLD A PRODUCT AND THERE WAS A DEFECT I WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM,... NOT TRY AND COVER IT UP WITH MAKING MY CONSUMER BY ANOTHER PART FROM ME... *TR
THE RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AT A CRITICAL OPERATIONAL POINT. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, BUCKED SHARPLY AND NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. THE VEHICLES WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE WITHIN 8 MONTHS. NISSAN IS …
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THE RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AT A CRITICAL OPERATIONAL POINT. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, BUCKED SHARPLY AND NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. THE VEHICLES WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE WITHIN 8 MONTHS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF SUBSTANDARD DEIGN, PARTS, AND CRAFTSMANSHIP IN THE 2007 PATHFINDER THAT RENDER THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE ROADWAYS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEFORE THERE ARE SERIOUS INJURIES RELATED TO THESE DEFECTIVE DRIVETRAINS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID AND TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD MIXED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID AND TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD MIXED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DUE TO CROSS CONTAMINATION OF COOLANT FLUID INTO TRANSMISSION. *TR
THE RADIATOR HAS LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW THE TRUCK DOESN'T START. THE TRANSMISSION NO LONGER WORKS AND NEITHER DOES THE RADIATOR DUE TO A FAULTY WIRE BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. NISSAN KNOWS ALL ABOUT THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO RECALL IT. *TR
WAS TOLD THAT RADIATOR COOLANT WAS MIXING WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID. I NOTICED FIRST THAT THE HEATER WASN'T GETTING VERY HOT A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT SINCE I LIVE IN TEXAS, THIS WASN'T A HUGE DEAL FOR ME SINCE IT'S NOT THAT COLD AND SO I WAS GOING TO HAVE IT SERVICED AT MY NEXT REGULAR OIL CHANGE. HOWEVER, THEN JUST A COUPLE OF DA…
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WAS TOLD THAT RADIATOR COOLANT WAS MIXING WITH MY TRANSMISSION FLUID. I NOTICED FIRST THAT THE HEATER WASN'T GETTING VERY HOT A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT SINCE I LIVE IN TEXAS, THIS WASN'T A HUGE DEAL FOR ME SINCE IT'S NOT THAT COLD AND SO I WAS GOING TO HAVE IT SERVICED AT MY NEXT REGULAR OIL CHANGE. HOWEVER, THEN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER AROUND 45 - 50 MPH SO I TOOK IT IN IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING A KNOWN DEFECT OF NISSAN'S BUILT BETWEEN 2005 - 2010. IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO (ABOUT THE TIME I STARTED NOTICING THE HEATER ISSUE) I WOULD'VE BEEN FULLY COVERED UNDER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 80,000 MILES FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT. BUT I'M AT 84,000 AND THEREFORE HAVE TO PAY $2500 OUT OF POCKET FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD STILL BE COVERED SINCE I STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUES BEFORE 80,000 MILES BUT I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WOULD BE SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM THAT WOULD REQUIRE A NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR ON A CAR THAT IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD... *TR
HIT DEAR WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR, DAMAGED FOG LIGHT AND FENDER AND STARTED TO MAKE NOISE AFTER STARTED BACK DRIVING AND HIT 40 MPH. *TR
THE ISSUE IS WITH A 2007 PATHFINDER. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE STARTS TO RACE AND THERE IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. TWICE I HAVE INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IF A STATIONARY OBJECT HAD NOT BEEN IN THE WAY (POLES), THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO PLOW FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON …
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THE ISSUE IS WITH A 2007 PATHFINDER. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE STARTS TO RACE AND THERE IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. TWICE I HAVE INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. IF A STATIONARY OBJECT HAD NOT BEEN IN THE WAY (POLES), THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO PLOW FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN BOTH INSTANCES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED FORWARD WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RACING (SOUNDED LIKE YOUR FOOT WAS ACTUALLY ON HE GAS PEDAL AND PURPOSELY RACING THE CAR). MY NISSAN SERVICE PERSONNEL SAID THEY COULD NOT DETECT ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE WENT HEY CHECKED IT THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED, I GOT RID OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. HAPPENING ONCE WAS ENOUGH, BUT TWICE? IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, I HAVE ALSO NOTICED WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, I COULD FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVING CLOSER TO THE FLOOR LIKE THE SYSTEM WAS LOSING PRESSURE. *TR
TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHUTTERING, NOT UP SHIFTING AND LIMITED ACCELERATION AND SPEED ON FREEWAY AT 55MPH. TURNS OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES HAD BEEN LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE INTO TRANSMISSION AND DESTROYED IT. MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED WITH SAME COOLER AND REBUILT (NOT NEW) TRANSMISSION. ISSUE STILL EXISTS INTERMITTENTLY.…
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TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHUTTERING, NOT UP SHIFTING AND LIMITED ACCELERATION AND SPEED ON FREEWAY AT 55MPH. TURNS OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES HAD BEEN LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE INTO TRANSMISSION AND DESTROYED IT. MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED WITH SAME COOLER AND REBUILT (NOT NEW) TRANSMISSION. ISSUE STILL EXISTS INTERMITTENTLY. NEEDS RECALL ENFORCED. MANUFACTURER IS PRICING SAME COOLER AND REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT OVER $7000. THEN AGREEING TO ONLY CHARGE $2500 - $3000 PER CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT REPAIRS QUOTED AT $350 FOR COOLER AND LESS THAN $2000 FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSION. GOV.'T RECALL SHOULD COVER ALL NEW AND RE-DESIGNED PARTS. FAILURES WILL AND ARE OCCURRING AGAIN. CAN RESULT IN ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEEDS. *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.