Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ANOTHER CAR STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. UPON INSPECTION AFTER THE ACCIDENT I SAW THAT BOTH BOLTS HOLDING THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE VACUUM CANISTER WERE BROKEN, (PULLED APART).
GOOD DAY! MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I AM WRITING REGARDING A POTENTIAL LETHAL INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. DURING MY LUNCH BREAK ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2015 APPROXIMATELY 12:30PM, I WAS WAITING (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NO INKLING OF A PROBLEM) TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A PLAZA PARKING LOT. WHEN I WENT TO PROCEED INTO THE PARKING SPACE, MY FOOT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS A LADY WHO CAME TO CHECK ON ME, SHE WAS THE CAR NEXT TO ME ON THE RIGHT WHO HAD HER DOOR OPEN AND I WAS WAITING ON IN ORDER TO PULL INTO THE DESIRED PARKING SPOT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY TRUCK TO ASSESS THE DAMAGES WE BOTH DISCOVERED AT THAT TIME THE WHOLE BRAKE ARM HAD COME DETACHED AND WAS LYING ON MY DRIVER FLOOR! PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTO. I AM INQUIRING TO ANY PRODUCT LIABILITIES AND ANY OTHER POTENTIAL DETRIMENTAL THREATS OF THIS NATURE TO ANY OTHER NISSAN OWNERS. CURRENTLY THE AUTOMOBILE IS AT THE DEALER'S. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN A AUTOMOBILE THAT THE BRAKE FALLS OFF AND HAVE MANY RESERVATIONS ABOUT EVEN GETTING THIS TRUCK REPAIRED. ANY ASSISTANCE IN GETTING ANY RESOLUTION TO THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. MY CONTACT INFO IS AS FOLLOWS: [XXX] SINCEREST GRATITUDE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL SORTS OF ISSUES STARTING WITH THE BRAKES WHEN ONE BRAKE SHOE TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED AND EVIDENTLY RUPTURED BRAKE LINES AT AROUND 61,000 MILES. NEW BRAKE REPLACEMENT ALMOST $900. SINCE THAT TIME (THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 75000 MILES) THE TRANSMISSION HAS CONTINUALLY SLIPPED, THE GAS GAUGES AND ALL OTHER GAUGES WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE EMISSIONS TEST LAST MONTH SHOWED POSSIBLE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES (THERE ARE EVIDENTLY TWO). WHEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED I GET RID OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOTORIOUS FOR CROSS CONTAMINATION OF COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. CONTINUING TO DRIVE IT WOULD EVENTUALLY DESTROY THE TRANSMISSION, AND EVEN NOW MAY HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE. WHEN CONTACTING NISSAN ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALLS AND THE SUPPOSED SETTLED CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION CONTAMINATION, I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED DOCUMENTATION OF ALL SERVICE DONE TO THE VEHICLE TO RECEIVE $800 TOWARD THE NECESSARY $3800 REPAIR COST JUST FOR THE CONTAMINATION LEAK. IF ANYONE IS CONSIDERING PURCHASING THIS OR ANY OTHER NISSAN PRODUCT, I WOULD AVOID IT AT ALL COST.
ME AND MY 6 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WAS LIKE IT HAD BEEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. MY BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING PROPERLY BUT I GOT US OFF THE ROAD AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. AFTER OUR REPAIR GUY CHECKED ALL THE WIRING AND RAN TEST AND PULLED THE TRANSMISSION PAN OFF THE RADIATOR COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FULL RESULTING IN THE GEARS MESSING UP AND THE ENTIRE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. WE KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAD CONTACTED NISSAN 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO CHECK THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN FIXED....OBVIOUSLY NOT. IF IT HAD BEEN FIXED IT WASN'T FIXED PROPERLY OR IT WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AGAIN MANY TRIPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN SINCE THEN AND NOW WE ARE OVER 100,000 MILES AND IT'S A $3800 FIX BECAUSE NISSAN EITHER LIED AND IT WAS NEVER FIXED TO START WITH OR DIDN'T CORRECTLY FIX IT THE FIRST TIME. *TR
AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR REPLACED TWICE (3/12 AND 10/12) AS I WAS DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD CAME ON, CAR DIED. I HAD NO POWER AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY SLOWING FOR THE LENGTH BETWEEN TWO EXITS UNTIL I COULD STEER INTO GUARDRAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CAR WAS SMOKING, COOLANT SYSTEM MECHANIC THINKS LET GO AND ENGINE CRACKED, NISSAN REFUSES TO BUY BACK CAR THAT WAS A LEMON IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THEY DID NOT FIX. *TR
I HAVE CHANGED 2 CEPAIRATLOTAY COVERTER AT 8600 THEN 6 MOS LATER MY TARMISSIONS NEED TO BE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED
WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE I HAD TO STOP ABRUPTLY AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND I HAD TO PRESS IT EXTREMELY HARD FOR THEM TO RESPOND THEY MADE A WEIRD SOUND AND ALSO WHEN I CHANGED FROM PARKING TO DRIVE, IT MADE A STRONG NOISE AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE ACTUATOR OF THE ANTI-SKID ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,900. UPDATED 10/5/11 *CN ALSO, THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/04/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF HER GARAGE, THE BRAKES FAILED AND TO STOP SHE WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
IN MARCH 2010 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONING. THE PROBLEMS DISCOVERED WERE A FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILURE AND AN EVAP AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILURE. ESTIMATED REPAIRS COST AROUND $1300. WE WERE TOLD THE FUEL SENDING ISSUE DID NOT EFFECT FUEL DELIVERY SO WE ELECTED TO WAIT AND SAVE UP FOR THE COSTLY REPAIR. ON OCT. 23, 2010 WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES STIFFENED AND THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE CROSSING TRAFFIC LEAVING A STOP SIGN. IT STARTED ROUGH AND WE PROCEEDED TO A FUEL STATION THINKING THE BROKEN FUEL GAUGE REPORTED FUEL IN AN EMPTY TANK. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO FUEL THE VEHICLE IT ONLY TOOK ABOUT 4 GALLONS. THE TANK HAD PLENTY OF FUEL. THIS STALLING AND DIEING THEN HAPPENED MORE TIMES IN TRAFFIC CAUSING US TO BARELY MANEUVER OUT OF THE LANE TO SAFETY. EACH TIME IT DIED IT WAS ROUGH TO START, BUT STARTED. WE MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR NOV. 12, 2010 TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT AND GET THE FUEL SENDING UNIT REPAIRED UNDER THE NEW WARRANTY EXTENSION (THANK YOU NISSAN!). ON NOV 11, 2010 AFTER PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE DIED AGAIN AND THIS TIME WOULD NOT START. AS A RESULT OF OUR LOCATION (NO LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP), WE THEN HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED (AT OUR EXPENSE) 38 MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALER TO LOOK AT IT. WE ALSO HAD TO CANCEL OUR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED US THAT THE NEW NON-STARTING AND STALLING PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY IGNITION POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM). THIS IPDM IS A KNOWN RECALL ISSUE IN OTHER 2004-06 NISSANS BUT PATHFINDER WAS NOT LISTED. OUR NEW ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE IPDM SO IT WILL START AND RUN IS APPROXIMATELY $700. THE IPDM FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS, STALLING IN TRAFFIC. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT NISSAN USED A DIFFERENT IPDM IN JUST THE PATHFINDER AND WILL OWN-UP AND RECALL THEIR MISTAKE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING ABNORMALLY AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ABS SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN POSSESSION OF THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR THAT ALSO CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON A SNOW IN 4WD COVERED SECONDARY ROAD I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP AND NEVER RELEASED, LEAVING THE CAR STRANDED IN THE TRAVEL LANE. I DID TRY TO FORCE THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND ENDED UP BREAKING MY FRONT DRIVESHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL. THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED ABS ACTUATOR THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT GET IT TO RELEASE THE BRAKES EVEN WITH THE CAR OFF AND KEY OUT. MY CONCERN IS IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN FOR WORSE. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS IN FULL. NISSAN N.A. DID CONTACT ME TO SAY THERE WOULD BE NO MORE GOODWILL AND CLAIMED THEY NEVER SOW THIS BEFORE. I HAVE SEEN ON MAXIMA AND MURANO FORUMS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ABS FAILURES. FOR THE RECORD MY OTHER TO OUT OF WARRANTY ISSUES WAS A PAINT PEELING ON THE ROOF AND A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR THAT RUINED THE TRANSMISSION(NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THE FAULTY RADIATORS). *TR
VEHICLE ABS SYSTEM ELECTRONIC SENSOR TOLD THE CAR THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN, VIBRATE, OVERHEAT. EVENTUALLY IT RUINED MY ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. NISSAN STATED THE PRESSURE SENSOR AND ACTUATOR ROD FELL OUT OF RANGE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HIT FROM BEHIND ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. NOT SURE HOW THIS IMPORTANT COMPONENT CAN MALFUNCTION TO THE LEVEL OF THINKING SOMEONE IS SLAMMING DOWN ON THE BRAKES. *TR
COURTESY COPY OF A LETTER FROM CONSUMERS WRITTEN TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA RE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD A WHISTLE UP SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE TIRES WERE FEATHERED AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED, THE DOOR PANELS CREAKED, THE BRAKES MADE A CLICKING NOISE, THE DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF A NOISE THE CONSUMER HEARD, THE PLASTIC FINISHER ON THE RUNNING BOARDS KEPT POPPING OFF, THE STRUT ON THE REAR HATCH LEAKED DUE TO A POOR SEAL, THE TRANSFER CASE LEAKED, THERE WAS HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE DEALER STATED IT FAILED DUE TO INTERNAL FAILURE. THE REAR SHOCKS LEAKED, THE FRONT PINION SEAL AND OIL PINION SEAL WERE REPLACED AND THE REAR HATCH WINDOW LEAKED. *JB UPDATED 04/06/10.*JB
2005 PATHFINDER HAD PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATIONS/PINGING NOISE. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE VEHICLE IN WET CONDITION ROAD CONDITIONS. *JB
SINCE PURCHASE WE HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THE BRAKES SQUEAKING VERY LOUDLY EVERY MORNING WHEN IN REVERSE. DURING MY VISIT THIS WEEK, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (SERVICEMAN STATED HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM), BUT THE BRAKES ARE PERFECTLY FINE. THE BRAKES DO INDEED WORK, BUT I AM GETTING NEIGHBOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VERY LOUD SQUEALING WHEN I PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING (SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN THE MORNING AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A WHILE)! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT NISSAN PLANS TO DO TO CORRECT THIS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED 2 TO 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS APPARENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE OR THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WOULD BE A NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BROKEN IN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES, AND ON THE FINAL TIME A PAD KIT WAS REPLACED. THE NOISE CAME BACK APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK LATER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BELOW 25 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION TWICE. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD THE SAME LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A SINCE THE FIRST DAY AN INTERMITTENT NOISE LIKE A SCRAPPING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT IDLE SPEED. THE NOISE DISAPPEARED BY APPLYING GENTLE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND WOULD REAPPEAR AAIN WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE. AFTER 500 MILES THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE INVOICE LABELED THE PROBLEM AS A BAFFLE PLATE RUBBING AGAINST THE ROTOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE STILL HAS TEMPORARY TAGS ON HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP LOST THE ORIGINAL PAPERWORK. WHEN THE VEHICLE TIRE CAME OFF 4 OF THE 6 WHEEL MOUNTING STUDS WERE MISSING AND THE TWO THAT WERE PRESENT WERE LOOSE. THE BRAKE DRUM WAS MOVING AND THE FENDER WAS DENTED. *TC
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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