RoadVitals

2005 Nissan Pathfinder Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
451
Latest Jan 30, 2024
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.
43%
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.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 451 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 powertrain

The 25 most recent of 451, in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 30, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to immediately restart. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The dynamic control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Voluntary Recall Campaign: PC068. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.

NHTSA ID
11568803
Incident
Jan 30, 2024
Mileage
170,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 24, 2021

While driving on US 95 in DC, MD and NJ, when the traffic became stop and go, my SUV could not get into 1st gear to go. The engine revved, the car shook and made noises. Several times I came close to being rear-ended. This problem also occurs when starting after a red light, when accelerating on a highway (usually 3rd or 4th gear), and when turning left on a green arrow. Not only has it caused many close calls with being rear-ended, but it has also incited road rage in people who are driving behind me. Now I'm told I need a new transmission and also a new coolant system which leaks due to a fault in the system known by Nissan, and pollutes the transmission. This is a terrible safety threat and Nissan should own up to it and pay for the repairs.

NHTSA ID
11426303
Incident
Mar 9, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 17, 2021

Transmission began to fail suddenly, resulting in a situation where the car would not accelerate in busy traffic.

NHTSA ID
11417518
Incident
May 15, 2021
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
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 14, 2021

AL ENCENDER EL CARRO Y CALENTAR PARA SALIR EL VEHCULO ENCIENDE UNA LUZ Y EN MARCHA EL SOLO SE APAGA EN MEDIO DE LAS CALLES O CARRETERAS. LOS MECANISMOS LO CHEQUEO Y JUNTO AL SERVICIO DE SEGURO ELLOS SACARON LA CONCLUSIN LA TRANSMISIN CALIENTA LOS CABLES QUE VAN AL MOTOR QUE ESTO ES UN PROBLEMA DE FBRICA Y POR ESTO YO TUVE QUE REBELDA LA TRANSMISIN POR $4.000.00 Y EL SEGURO ME AUMENTO DE $1000S A $ 4000S. NO PUEDO USA MI CARRO QUE PAGUE $20.000. FUI AL DILER DE LA NISSAN Y ELLOS ME DIJERON TENGO QUE PAGAR $165.00 PARA EMPEZAR Y DESPUS ME DIRN E CUANTO ME CUENTA EL TOTAL DEL ARREGLO. NO OBSTANTE CON EL DIAGNSTICO DEL INGENIERO DE MECNICA DEL SEGURO STATE FARM Y LOS 3 MECANISMOS QUE ESTUVIERON EN ARREGLO 1 DE MOTOR Y ELCTRICO Y TRANSMISIN. HE GASTADO MUCHO DINERO Y NO PUEDEN HACER NADA NI USAR MI VEHICULO. EN QUE USTEDES ME PUEDEN AYUDAR POR AMOR A DIOS?

NHTSA ID
11388135
Incident
Jul 5, 2013
Mileage
98,800 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 28, 2020

OVER HEATS, COOLENT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT

NHTSA ID
11385330
Incident
Nov 5, 2020
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 4, 2020

STARTED UP DROVE FINE THEN WHEN I STOPPED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TURNED OFF WENT THROUGH GEARS COUPLE TIMES AND HAD TO DO THAT 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD ACCELERATE AND SHIFT. I DROVE 50 MILES HOME NEXT DAY IT DID SAME THING AFTER DRIVING 1/2 MILE. GOES INTO REVERSE BUT WILL NOT GO OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR MOVING FORWARD.

NHTSA ID
11377874
Incident
Sep 7, 2020
Mileage
180,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 19, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE MAINTENANCE, 4WD, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFTER SYMBOLS WERE BLANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD A BURNING ODOR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ID
11290040
Incident
Nov 20, 2019
Mileage
131,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 31, 2019

RADIATOR INTERNALLY FAILED CAUSING FLUIDS TO MIX. COOLANT WAS RUN THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING IT TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID
11252586
Incident
Aug 26, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed May 16, 2019

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE HAVING NO IDEA OF THIS ISSUE, I DIDN'T INVESTIGATE BECAUSE THIS IS OUR 7TH NISSAN AND THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD CARS. I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH TO WORK AT RUSH HOUR AND THE TRANS STARTED LETTING LOOSE AND SHUDDERING SO BAD I HAD TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULD AND THAT'S JUST AS SAFE AS DRIVING THIS THING. PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. BUT EVERYONE THAT ASKS WHY I TELL THEM BECAUSE NISSAN DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. WE INTENDED FOR OUR 14 Y/O TO DRIVE IT BUT NO WAY IN THE WORLD WOULD I LET THAT HAPPEN

NHTSA ID
11208144
Incident
May 14, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 19, 2019

COMPLETE LOSS POWER AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SHOP, THE DIAGNOSE WAS A FAILED TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER INTEGRATED INTO THE RADIATOR THAT ALLOWED ENGINE COOLANT TO MIX WITH AND CONTAMINATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE DID NOT REPORT ANY WARNING SIGNS BEFORE THE FAILURES OTHER THAN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ABILITY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. MY PATHFINDER IS 2005 WITH ONLY 81000 BECAUSE I AM IN THE MILITARY AND I DID NOT DRIVE IT, AND I HAVE NO REPORT OF A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11189952
Incident
Mar 11, 2019
Mileage
80,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 22, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (MELLOY NISSAN, 7707 LOMAS BLVD NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87110, (505) 545-6420) FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND INQUIRED ABOUT FAILURES WITH THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE DEALER FOUND NO FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND THE FLUID SEEPED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE REPAIR COST WOULD EXCEED $5,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,957.

NHTSA ID
11121669
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Mileage
81,957 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 14, 2018

COOLANT DAMAGE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR LOST POWER IN MOTION

NHTSA ID
11119915
Incident
Aug 12, 2018
Mileage
199,924 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 1, 2018

KNOWN TO NISSAN CORP, A DESIGN DEFECT MAKES THE ENGINE RADIATOR RUST AND LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND I JUS TOOK IT TO PERFORM THE 90,000 MILES SERVICE. COOLANT FLUID WAS FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION OIL AND DEALER QUOTED ME $6,884.59. AFTER A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT I JUST LEARNED ABOUT, NISSAN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY WITH PARTIAL COPAY UP TO 10YEARS/100,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. MY VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS SOMETHING UNACCEPTABLE AND NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FIX IT FOR FREE FOR LIFE.

NHTSA ID
11115187
Incident
Jul 26, 2018
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 15, 2018

WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT ON THE WAY TO WORK. LIGHT TURNS GREEN TRIES TO ACCELERATE AND HARDLY ANYTHING HAPPENS BESIDES A WHINING NOISE. RADIATOR FLUID HAS LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION FLUID CAUSING A MILKSHAKE LIKE FLUID MIX. NOW NISSAN DEALER WANTS ME TO REPLACE RADIATOR, AND TRANSMISSION ON MY ON DIME. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE. NOW NISSAN HAS NOT RECALLED THIS VEHICLE FOR ANY SAFETY FIXES OF THE NATURE.

NHTSA ID
11102152
Incident
Jun 15, 2018
Mileage
175,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 9, 2018

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 2005. IN 2017 TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WITH PROBLEM OF LOSS OF POWER TO TRANSMISSION ON FREEWAY WHILE MY DAUGHTER NEEDED TO PULL OVER DUE TO PROBLEM. PROBLEM OF NOISE IN ENGINE TIMING BELT WAS ALSO TOLD OF AT DEALERSHIP. WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 10YRS./100,000MI. THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT LIABLE & NEEDED $6971.28 TO REPAIR. VEHICLE HAD 80,825 MILES ON IT BUT WAS TWO YEARS OUT OF COVERAGE. AFTER FINDING OUT IN 2013 A LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY MENDELSOHN AND MAZIE SLATER KATZ & FREEMAN FOR KNOWN DEFECT TO NISSAN, PROBLEM WAS NEVER CONTACTED TO ME FOR SOME REASON? WAS JUST INFORMED BY FALCO V. NISSAN NOTICE ADMINISTRATOR TO FILE PAPERWORK ON KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ENGINE TIMING BELT FOR POSSIBLE 20% RETURN OF PAYMENT MADE TO REPAIR OF DEFECTIVE TENSIONER ASSEMBLY. WHY FOUR YEARS AGO WAS I NOT INFORMED OF RADIATOR LEAK CAUSING POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE & POSSIBLE INJURY TO DRIVER?

NHTSA ID
11084201
Incident
Mar 30, 2017
Mileage
80,825 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 4, 2018

MY VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED STATING THAT THE RADIATOR HAD LEAKED FLUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD COST $6,200 TO REPAIR. MY VEHICLE HAS 85,000 MILES. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I COULD HAVE HAD IT CHECKED (THE DEALERSHIP DID REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ONCE SO THE ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF THEN WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY). THERE IS A VIBRATION WHEN THE RPMS SETTLE AROUND 1000-1500 AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP. IT IS INTERMITTENT, BUT WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE NISSAN DEALER MECHANIC AS THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11083293
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
85,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 19, 2018

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, RADIATOR FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE NOT ONLY THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE RADIATOR, HOSES, ETC.

NHTSA ID
11080155
Incident
Mar 16, 2018
Mileage
126,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 15, 2018

RADIATOR FLUID HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE TRANSMISSION. I FEEL A SHUDDER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HITS 40 MPH - 60 MPH.

NHTSA ID
11079596
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Mileage
82,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 9, 2018

THE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE BEGAN AT 133834 MILES. WHEN DRIVING, AT TIMES IT WOULD VIBRATE OUT OF NOWHERE. AFTER A STOP, IT WOULD SHIFT UP HARD OR FAIL TO DOWNSHIFT AND THEN HIT HARD WHEN IT FINALLY WOULD GO IN TO GEAR. ONCE I TOOK IT IN TO A MECHANIC, THE FOLLOWING CODES CAME UP: P1731 - 1ST GEAR LOGIC ERROR, P0430- CAT EFFICIENCY BANK 2, P0455- EVAP SYSTEM LEAK LARGE. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS "TEAR DOWN". IN THE END, I HAD TO REPLACE MY: TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODY, VALVE BODY SOLENOIDS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER BANK 2, EXHAUST GASKETS, OIL PRESSURE SENSOR, AND OXYGEN SENSOR. WITH A TOTAL COST OF $4,824.65. I WILL UPLOAD THE SERVICES MY NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD TO HAVE.

NHTSA ID
11078404
Incident
Oct 5, 2017
Mileage
133,657 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 23, 2018

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE SUV. I HAD ONLY HAD THE SUV FOR 4-6 MONTHS. TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT . SHORTLY AFTER THE RADIATOR NEEDED REPAIR. IT WAS REPAIRED, AND NISSAN HELPED WITH PARTIAL COST. RECENTLY (02/19/2018)TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN WHILE YIELDING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A SECOND TIME ON 02/22/2018 AGAIN. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I BEGAN TO PUSH ON THE GAS TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND ONCE AGAIN, THE SUV ONLY COASTED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT, PAID 110.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS INFORMED ONCE AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A 6,000.00$ JOB. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ONLY BEEN ABOUT 4-5 YEARS OLD PRESENTLY. I AM OUT OF A VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11074560
Incident
Feb 22, 2018
Mileage
165,400 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 23, 2017

TRAQNSMITTION OIL IN COOLANT HAD TO HAVE SHOP FLUSH OUT RAIADIATOR AND COOLANT SYSTEM AND REPLACE OIL COOLER TRANSMITION SEEMS TO BE SLIPING

NHTSA ID
11035832
Incident
Oct 20, 2017
Mileage
14,556 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 11, 2017

TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS REPEATEDLY WHILE PICKING UP SPEED. IT IS INCREASINGLY GETTING WORSE. NOW, ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVING AWHILE- THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND DOESN'T WANT TO GO PAST 20 MPH ONCE YOU STOP AND THEN GO AGAIN. IT SOUNDS LIKE I AM IN NEUTRAL WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ONCE IT COOLS, THE PROCESS STARTS OVER.

NHTSA ID
11014775
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Mileage
127,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 27, 2017

CAR HAS EXPERIENCED LEAKAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION COOLER RADIATOR TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. WE WILL NEED TO HAVE IT REBUILT, WHICH WILL COST US $4,500+. WE MAY ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED. NISSAN KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO. THEY DIDN'T DO A RECALL OR ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES, WHICH IS UNCONSCIONABLE BEHAVIOR.

NHTSA ID
11011172
Incident
Jul 26, 2017
Mileage
132,975 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 5, 2017

THE RADIATOR CRACKED WHERE THE TRANSMISSION LINE RUNS THROUGH IT. THIS CAUSED THE TRANNY FLUID AND COOLANT TO MIX AND RUIN THE TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED A SEVERE VIBRATION AT 40-60 MPH WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS ISSUE AND MAY LEAD TO SEVERE ACCIDENTS. THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
10958707
Incident
Mar 4, 2017
Mileage
105,000 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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .