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2005 Nissan Pathfinder Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
276
Latest Apr 30, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 1,050 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 276 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.

Owner reports naming fuel system

The 25 most recent of 276, in the owner's own words

EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 30, 2021

IN THE LAST 4 YEARS I'VE REPLACED EMISSIONS SYSTEM BRAKES ROTORS AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM EXHAUST SYSTEM RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS VIBRATING SHAKING CUTTING OUT LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES AND EMISSIONS SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA ID
11414577
Incident
May 15, 2018
Mileage
126,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 4, 2020

I HAS TO REPLACE THE 2 GASKETS ON THE OIL GALLEY GASKET IN THE TIMING COVER. IT COAT ME OVER 1000 DOLLARS AND I HAD A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA THAT HAD 5HE SAME PROBLEM AND IT COST BE THOUSANDS TO FIX AND I HAD TO JUNK IT BECAUSE IT SMOKED SO MUCH THEN VALVE TRAIN GOT F RIED..

NHTSA ID
11297144
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Mileage
125,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 11, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT FUEL MILEAGE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF DUE TO NO FUEL BEING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ID
11185771
Incident
Mar 6, 2019
Mileage
115,000 mi
ElectricalFuel systemInterior & seats
Filed Feb 19, 2018

MY NISSAN CRANKS BUT DON'T START, DON'T KNOW WAS WRONG.

NHTSA ID
11073737
Incident
Feb 2, 2018
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 5, 2017

FUEL GAUGE IS FAULTY. FUEL LEVEL WILL READ 1/2 FULL AND YET APPROACH EMPTY. THE VEHICLE HAS RUN OUT OF GAS FOUR TIMES, PUTTING THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS IN A DANGEROUS POSITION.

NHTSA ID
11021407
Incident
Sep 15, 2016
Mileage
138,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 21, 2017

FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT, SHOWS FUEL TANK EMPTY WHEN IS FULL

NHTSA ID
11016532
Incident
Jan 1, 2012
EngineFuel system
Filed May 15, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. AFTER THE CONTACT PLACED FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED EMPTY THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CONTACT NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,377. UPDATED 07/11/17*LJ *AS

NHTSA ID
10985739
Incident
May 13, 2017
Mileage
92,377 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 26, 2016

I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I FIND OUT IT IS THE "INTERMIX" BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FROM NISSAN, BUT NOW UNDERSTAND IT WAS A KNOWN AND FREQUENT FAILURE - BY DESIGN. ESSENTIALLY, AFTER 90,000 MILE, THE CAR IS WORTHLESS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. AFTER PAYING $5,000 FOR THE REPAIR, I DROVE OFF THE LOT ONLY TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP FAIL. LITERALLY, I DROVE OFF THE LOT AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MISFIRING. UNBELIEVABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10919161
Incident
Oct 14, 2016
Mileage
116,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 12, 2016

FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SENSOR: DTE GAUGE DOES NOT RESET. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT

NHTSA ID
10884288
Incident
Jun 6, 2016
Mileage
156,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE FUEL GAGE INDICATOR FAILED TO DISPLAY THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM STORAGE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ID
10855118
Incident
Dec 9, 2014
Mileage
101,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 6, 2016

MY DAUGHTER TOOK OUR BABY TO THE DAYCARE AND WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE BITTER COLD IN OHIO AS SHE RAN OUT GAS. SHE CALLED AAA WHO SHOWED 2 HOURS LATER. IN THE MEANTIME SHE WAS WITHOUT ANY HEAT ON THE HIGHWAY IN12 TEMP. ALTHOUGH THE GAUGE SHOWED 1/2 OF TANK OF GAS, THE CAR WAS EMPTY. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH MY TO NJ COUNTING THE MILES SO I WOULD NOT RAN OUT OF GAS. I HAD IT FIXED AT THE WINDSOR NISSAN. THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I PAID $500+ FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED. THIS HAS BEEN PUBLISHED EVEN BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN. WROTE A LETTER (I CAN PROVIDE) ON MARCH 3 2010, INFORMING NISSAN OF THE DANGER OF THIS ISSUE. THE REF NUMBER IS 10V-075 SUBJECT FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE STORAGE AUXILIARY TANK. THE LETTER GOES TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUE WHICH COVERS MY CAR AND SAYS "THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. ANOTHER REF NUMBER REGARDING THE NISSAN FUEL GASOLINE SYSTEM NUMBER- 10V-075000, AND ANOTHER SERVICE BULLETIN NTB-07-069C, ALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE ABOUT THE GAUGE BEING FAULTY AND READING THAT THE CAR HAS GAS WHEN IT DOESN'T. MY DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY THAT SHE HAD JUST DROPPED OFF THE BABY AND WHEN THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, BEING PUT THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN OHIO IN WINTER WITHOUT HEAT IN A COLD CAR FOR 2 HOURS IS UNFORGIVABLE!! ALTHOUGH, I CALLED HEADQUARTER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY ACTED LIKE THEY DID NOT NOT ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND REFUSED TO REFUND MY MONEY BACK. I HAVE ALL THE SERVICES BULLETIN AND WILL BE MORE THEN HAPPY TO SHARE, ALTHOUGH NISSAN CAN CALL US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.PRODUCT_OR_SERVICE: HAD WORK DONE TO FUEL SYSTEM. I FILLED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB#91355526 FOR NOTHING. PLS HELP!!

NHTSA ID
10840107
Incident
Mar 7, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 2, 2016

ECM REPLACED UNDER RECALL. RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION REPLACED @ 96K MILES UNDER "EXTENDED WARRANTY." TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2ND TIME 1 YEAR LATER. TRANSMISSION HOSES REPLACED TWICE (DURING SAME TIME PERIOD). NOW - 103K MILES - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON: VIAS SOLENOID VALVE, BANK 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTER, & OIL PRESSURE SENSOR SWITCH ALL NEED REPLACED (POSSIBLY RELATED TO ECM RELAY ISSUE)

NHTSA ID
10823715
Incident
Jan 31, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 22, 2015

AS I BEGAN TO PULL OUT AT AN INTERSECTION ON MY WAY TO WORK I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND MY CAR WAS BARELY MOVING. I NEARLY GOT HIT BY ANOTHER DRIVER. I CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 16 MONTHS AGO AND HAD IT TAKEN TO THEM. THEY CALLED ME WITH THE NEWS THAT THE RADIATOR COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH PARTS, THEREFORE BOTH ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. GIVEN THE FACT THAT I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE TO PUT $5,200 INTO A FIX THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED I AM AT A COMPLETE LOSS. I STILL OWE $7,000+ ON THIS VEHICLE'S LOAN. I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT'S FAULTY MANUFACTURING, HOWEVER I ALSO FEEL THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE HELD PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE AS WELL. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND WE TAKE THIS VEHICLE ON VACATION, I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF ANY ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AT THE TIME OF THIS. I AM IN CONTACT WITH AN ATTORNEY AND WITH NISSAN, BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING ME THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT TRULY CORRECTING THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE EXISTENT.

NHTSA ID
10767280
Incident
Sep 14, 2015
Mileage
112,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 7, 2015

WHEN I WENT TO PUT GAS IN MY CAR, AFTER I GOT IN AND STARTED THE CAR THE GAS GAGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO EMPTY AND STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I COULDN'T TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAD IN THE CAR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. AFTER ABOUT 5 HOURS IT ALL WENT BACK TO NORMAL UNTIL I PUT GAS IN THE CAR AGAIN AND IT DID IT ALL OVER AGAIN BUT THIS TIME NEVER STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN READING ON LINE ALL THE OTHER NISSIAN SAID WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND THE REPAIR IS OVER $700.00. TOO MANY CARS AFFECTED WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE AROUND NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH GAS IS IN YOUR CAR THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL AND HELP PAY THAT HUGE EXPENSE!

NHTSA ID
10747068
Incident
Jul 22, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 14, 2015

HAVE PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705708
Incident
Jun 18, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 13, 2014

FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING.... YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE TANK... MY FAMILY WAS STUCK THINKING THAT THERE WAS GAS IN THE TANK WHILE GOING 55 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10664046
Incident
Jun 10, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 11, 2014

RAN OUT OF GAS B/C FUEL GAUGE KEEPS SHOWING EMPTY EVEN WHEN IT IS FULL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10663628
Incident
Dec 11, 2014
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 17, 2014

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MECHANIC SAID O2 SENSORS WERE BAD, & REPLACE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF FOR A FEW DAYS. CAME BACK ON. THEN SUV STARTED RUNNING ROUGHLY, LOSING POWER. VDC/SLIP LIGHT CAME ON, TRUCK WAS DIFFICULT TO START, THEN IT CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC A FEW DAYS LATER. FOUND RESEARCH ON ECM RELAY. HAD IT REPLACED,TRUCK STILL HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING. TODAY IT CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC AGAIN. MECHANIC SAID CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CMP BANK 1 BAD, CATALYTIC CONVERTER BANK 1 & 2 BAD. FUEL SYSTEM FAULTY AND IGNITION SYSTEM FAULTY. STILL PAYING ON TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10633863
Incident
Sep 12, 2014
Mileage
132,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 10, 2014

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS FAILED. MY SON WAS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON A BUSY STREET AND THIS PROBLEM JEOPARDIZED HIS LIFE.THE VEHICLE BASICALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET. THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR BREAKDOWN IS A SERIOUS SITUATION AND A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. MY RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND FAILED. THE AMOUNT TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AND MAKE THIS A SAFE VEHICLE IS MORE THAN WE CAN AFFORD....APPROXIMATELY $5300 BECAUSE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ALSO FAILED!! I FEEL THIS FAULTY PRODUCT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND NECESSARY REPAIRS MADE OR A REIMBURSEMENT MADE BY NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10632221
Incident
Aug 30, 2014
Mileage
167,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jul 22, 2014

I'M ONE OF MANY VICTIMS THAT HAVE ENDURED FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNITS AND INACCURATE GAS GAUGES THAT CAUSE ME TO RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WITH SUCH A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, IT IS A PURE SCAM THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. NISSAN SIMPLY EXTENDS THE WARRANTY TO 72,000 MILES, WHICH DOES NOTHING TO HELP THE THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS WITH MORE MILEAGE. JUST AS THEY DID WITH THE RADIATOR DEFECT THAT CONTAMINATED THE TRANSMISSION, NISSAN IS GETTING AWAY WITH OFFERING HELP UP ONLY TO THE POINT WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGINS TO APPEAR. THIS MAKES THEM APPEAR THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING, BUT THEY ARE DOING NOTHING FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF VICTIMS. HOW CAN YOU LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS APPROACH? IT LEAVES VICTIMS WITHOUT HELP, AND LEAVES OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE CARS ON THE ROAD. IT'S DANGEROUS TO RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LIVE IN COLD CLIMATES AND HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10615501
Incident
Nov 12, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 22, 2014

CAR WOULD JUST DIE WHILE DRIVING. THE GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY EVEN WITH A HALF TANK OR MORE OF GAS, I ALSO CALLED NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO CHECK ON RECALL OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL. SO I STARTED DOING THE WORK MYSELF, GOT HALFWAY DONE AND ASKED A BUDDY FOR HELP AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A RECALL ON THAT PART. SO I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD A RECALL AND DID THE WORK FOR FREE. SINCE THEN (BEFORE) 100,000 MILES, MY RADIATOR FLUID FILLED MY TRANSMISSION AND RUINED IT, AND MY TRANSMISSION FLUID FILLED MY RADIATOR AND RUINED IT TOO. SO OUT OF POCKET FOR TRANSMISSION REBUILD AND REROUTING OF THE COOLANT LINE ($3000). NOW I JUST DRIVE BECAUSE I HAVE TOO, ANYTIME I STOP I HAVE TO KILL IT TO KEEP IT FROM OVERHEATING. BUT I HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE SO NOTHING I CAN DO. NISSAN CONTINUES TO JUST NOT CARE AT ALL. I WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER NISSAN. YOU COULD GIVE ME A NISSAN FOR FREE AND I WOULDN'T TOUCH IT. STRAIGHT GARBAGE COMPANY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10584345
Incident
May 17, 2013
Mileage
62,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 14, 2014

I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO DRIVERS WHO HAD THE SAME MODEL. AND HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE GAS ALWAYS ON EMPTY EVEN IF THEY ALWAYS PUT GAS ON IT . FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. I'VE VISITED THE EDMUNDS.COM AND MOST THE COMPLAINTS ARE ABOUT THIS. SINCE ITS A COMMON PROBLEM IF ITS POSSIBLE TO MAKE A RECALL ABOUT THIS PARTS THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564419
Incident
Feb 7, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 4, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS MALFUNCTIONING, SHOWING AN ERRONEOUS FUEL LEVEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10562853
Incident
Aug 8, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 7, 2014

THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR HAS GONE UP IN MY TRUCK. IT HAPPENED IN DECEMBER 2012. I CANNOT TELL WHETHER I HAVE GAS IN THE TRUCK OR NOT. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED AS I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER 2005 PATHFINDER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558797
Incident
Dec 1, 2012
Fuel system
Filed Dec 9, 2013

THE FUEL GAUGE IS SAYING "EMPTY TANK" EVEN THOUGH I PUMPED $50 WORTH OF GAS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555290
Incident
Nov 25, 2013
Mileage
135,000 mi

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .