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 reports

52,000 miles · Mar 6, 2007

Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

Read full complaint

NISSAN 2003 PATHFINDER LE I WAS ALLOWING MY PATHFINDER TO WARM, THE TEMPERATURE WAS LOW THAT MORNING. DEPRESSING THE BRAKE I MOVED TO THE FIRST GEAR WHICH IS REVERSE NEEDING TO PUT IT IN DRIVE, WHICH IS THE THIRD GEAR DOWN. AS IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE STARTING TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY I TRIED TO PUT IT INTO PARK AGAIN AND THE GEAR WOULD NOT MOVE I LET OFF THE BRAKE A LITTLE TO SEE IF IT WOULD RELIEVE THE SHAKING AND VIBRATION. AND THAT'S WHEN MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY STILL IN REVERSE. I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE AND IT WOULD NOT STOP IN INSTINCT I DIDN'T WANT TO HIT A BIG TREE SO I STEERED INTO A GROUP OF SMALL TREES HITTING A TREE THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WITH THE VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATING FORWARD IN REVERSE GEAR. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HITTING ME IN THE FACE AND RIGHT SIDE AND THE CAR QUIT RUNNING. MY HUSBAND WAS UNSURE AND NOT CONVINCED OF MY ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL MY BROTHER-IN-LAW TOLD HIM THAT THE PATHFINDER WAS STILL IN REVERSE GEAR THAT WHILE REMOVING THE THINGS OUT MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS BEING TAKEN CARE OF. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $12,00.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MEDICAL BILLS FOR X-RAYS, CT SCANS FOR DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT SIDE. WE HAVE NOT SETTLED AND WILL NOT UNTIL WE FIND OUT WHAT WENT WRONG. I AM SCARED TO BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AUTO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184320

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