RoadVitals

2007 Nissan Pathfinder Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
242
Latest Jul 17, 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 561 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.
3
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

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 242 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 242, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Jul 17, 2024

Ref. No. 11452064 dated May 12. 2023 After contacting the servicing dealership, a reply was received acknowledging coolant and transmission fluid cross-contamination was discovered. Along with the other complaints already received, I hope this is enough to proof to finally substantiate just remedies to all who purchased a defective product.

NHTSA ID
11603052
Incident
Mar 3, 2023
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 4, 2023

The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact noticed that there was unknown fluid leaking underneath the vehicle onto the ground. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact checked the radiator and noticed that the coolant was leaking from the radiator. An independent mechanic was contacted and stated that it sounded as if the transmission might have cracked; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 125,000. 02/09/2023 - NHTSA #23E-012 Recall #PC948 PTH FTR XTR AB EMB NTB-23-08 Status: Remedy Not Yet Available

NHTSA ID
11520401
Incident
Apr 27, 2023
Mileage
125,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 15, 2022

Defective radiator cross contaminated coolant and transmission fluid lines causing transmission failure and engine damage.

NHTSA ID
11452064
Incident
Nov 26, 2021
Engine
Filed Jun 13, 2021

The vehicle jolted without warning And would not move. The transmission cooling lines ruptured in the radiator causing a complete Destruction,pink fluid oozed out of the Radiator. This was due to a Nissan defect that Was NEVER informed us of this problem that could have caused our deaths and the safety of others on the roads.

NHTSA ID
11420785
Incident
Jun 3, 2021
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 17, 2020

TRANSMISSION COOLER BUSTED CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX WITH COOLANT

NHTSA ID
11339992
Incident
Jul 17, 2020
Mileage
88,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 22, 2019

WHILE DRIVING TODAY THE RPMS WENT CRAZY AND I ALMOST WRECKED . THE CAR WOULD SPUDDER AND THEN REV UP. ALSO, AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN TRYING TO GO THE CAR SEEMS TO BARELY MOVE AND ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING TO DIE. NOW WE HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR,HOSES, AND ALL FLUIDS IN TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR.

NHTSA ID
11270324
Incident
Sep 1, 2019
Mileage
109,780 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 11, 2019

I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE OFF OF EBAY FROM INDIVIDUALS IN NEW BRAUNFELS , TEXAS DROVE IT BACK TO AMARILLO , TEXAS. I WENT TO DROP A LOAD OF ITEMS OFF AT AMARILLO'S GIVING CLOSET FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. IT RAN PERFECT ON THE WAY OVER THERE. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF WHILE I WAS UNLOADING EVERYTHING. WHEN I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START ALTHOUGH THE LIGHTS AND THINGS WOULD COME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A SHOP AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BEING CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE CONTROL. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS MESSED UP ACTS IF THERE IS NO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR TAKING OFF IN 3RD GEAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SINCE THEN MY HUSBAND WAS PINNED UNDER A SEMINAR TRAILER HE WAS WORKING ON AND LOST HIS LEG. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP ME. I WAS JUST INFORMED OF A PROBLEM WITH NISSAN AND THIS.

NHTSA ID
11267899
Incident
Feb 12, 2019
Engine
Filed Oct 3, 2019

I WAS DRIVING AND SUDDENLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I DROVE HOME AND THE NEXT WEEK I WENT TO REPLACE MY BRAKES AND ASK THE WORKSHOP TO DO A SCAN TO LET ME KNOW WHY THE LIGHT IS ON, THEY DID AND 2 CODES CAME UP WHICH THE SHOP SAID THEY DID NOT SEE BEFORE SO THEY CLEARED THE SYSTEM AND SAID IF IT COMES ON AGAIN TO TAKE IT BACK SO THEY CAN FULLY INVESTIGATE. I WENT ON 9/28 TO ANOTHER WORKSHOP THEY DID A SCAN AND THE CODE P1772 CAME ON AFTER INSPECTING THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE RADIATOR CAP WITH SOME THICK GOOEY STUFF TELLING ME THE RADIATOR IS BAD AND THE COOLANT IS MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND VICE VERSA. BEFORE THIS THE CAR WOULD RUN AND WHEN I AT A STOP SIGN AND TRY TO MOVE IT WOULD REV TO 4-5 STALLS AND THEN MOVE, THEY ARE ALSO TIMES OF SUDDEN JERK AND ACCELERATION. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN TWICE WHEN I TRIED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE THEN RESTART BEFORE I COULD REVERSE.. DEFECTIVE RADIATOR CRACKS LEADING TO COOLANT MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID, NOW NEED TO REPLACE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID
11265869
Incident
Sep 2, 2019
Mileage
79,420 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 17, 2019

2007 PATHFINDER WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A CITY STREET AND STALLED WHILE IN MOTION. WAS ABLE TO STEER AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. STEERING WAS HARD TO MANEUVER. AFTER REPEATED TIMES OF CRANKING IT WOULD NOT START.. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OWNERS RESIDENCE. WHEN BEING DROPPED OFF OWNER STARTED VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT INTO DRIVEWAY. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OF ANY SORT WAS LIT. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AROUND THE BLOCK AND STALLED AGAIN. WAITED FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES TO COOL OFF AND ENGINE TURNED ON AGAIN BUT STALLED . AFTER A COUPLE OF REPEATED TRYS WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVEWAY. AGAIN NO CODES LIT.

NHTSA ID
11244712
Incident
Aug 7, 2019
Mileage
1 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 2019

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND WHEN I PULLED OVER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO MY HOUSE. I HAD A FAMILY MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THE RADIATOR CRACKED. I ORDERED A RADIATOR AND IT WAS PUT IT. THEN FOUND OUT THAT WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. WENT AND BOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID J SPECIFICALLY FOR NISSAN AND WAS GOING TO FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ADD MORE IT WAS THEN THAT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. WHERE I WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET IS CRACKED. I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND HAVE NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE TO WORK OR SCHOOL.

NHTSA ID
11243739
Incident
Jul 26, 2019
Mileage
108,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 3, 2019

RADIATOR CRACKED, LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE

NHTSA ID
11217621
Incident
May 27, 2019
Mileage
145,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 25, 2019

RADIATOR HAS CRACKED AND LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID
11191260
Incident
Mar 15, 2019
Engine
Filed Nov 12, 2018

COOLANT CONTAMINATION, GETTING MIX WITH TRANSMISSION OIL

NHTSA ID
11150892
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Mileage
110,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HERITAGE NISSAN (1500 VETERANS MEMORIAL HWY NE, ROME, GA 30161) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE COOLANT AND RADIATOR THAT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,859. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID
11101427
Incident
May 7, 2018
Mileage
107,859 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 3, 2018

THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING VERY ROUGHLY AND LOUDLY DURING ACCELERATION, THEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT ON A VERY BUSY FRONTAGE ROAD TO THE HIGHWAY. SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER IT ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE IT STOPPED COASTING; AND SEVERAL PEOPLE STOPPED TO HELP HER PUSH IT INTO SAFETY IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID HAD LEAKED THROUGH CRACKS INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, CAUSING IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, WE DISCOVERED THIS WAS A KNOWN AND ACKNOWEDGED PROBLEM WITH 2005-2010 NISSAN PATHFINDERS, BUT NEITHER A RECALL NOR A WARNING WAS EVER ISSUED. WE ARE NOW BEYOND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE IN TIME AND IN MILEAGE, SO NISSAN WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE EXPENSES TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
11091634
Incident
May 2, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS WITH FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOWELL MOTORS BUICK, GMC, NISSAN (1158 HIGHWAY 51-98 SUMMIT, MS 39666, (PHONE) 601-276-7711) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A RADIATOR LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED BY THE SAME DEALER IN 2015; HOWEVER, THE RADIATOR REPLACEMENT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID
11075954
Incident
Feb 1, 2017
Mileage
125,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 5, 2018

IN 2007, I PURCHASED A NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER, UNAWARE OF ANY DEFECTS. IN 2011, I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRUCK NOT PRODUCING HEAT WHILE IT WAS IDLE. NISSAN STATED THAT THE COOLANT LOOKED DARK AND ADVISED ME THAT THEIR WAS AIR IN THE LINE. ONCE AGAIN, I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE HEAT AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD THE TRANSMISSION AND COOLANT FLUIDS ARE INTERMIXED, AND THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $7 AND 8 THOUSAND DOLLARS BECAUSE I NEED TO REPLACE BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO NISSAN IN 2011, AND THEY KNEW THE COOLANT WAS DARK, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT WITH THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY BECAUSE MY ISSUES MOST LIKELY HAD ALREADY STARTED, AND NOW, IT'S GOTTEN WORSE. I WAS NEVER ADVISED OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL NOW.

NHTSA ID
11060811
Incident
Jan 4, 2018
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 20, 2017

I BOUGHT MY 07 PATHFINDER IN JULY AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD DONE REPAIR ON THE RADIATOR AT THEIR EXPENSE, AND REPLACED THE COOLANT AND TRANNY FLUIDS AND STATED THERE WAS NO CROSS CONTAMINATION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING PROPERLY AND WE COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS THE TRANNY, ABS, OR 4WD GETTING CAUGHT. AS OF YESTERDAY THE TRANNY WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. RESTARTING THE CAR HELPED. BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THERE IS NO HISTORY OF ANY OTHER WORK. ALL MAINTENANCE WAS KEPT UP WITH THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE VEHICLES LIFE. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT A STOP, AND MOVED TO ACCELERATE IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR/DRIVE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD ?CATCH? AND WOULD LAUNCH.

NHTSA ID
11055706
Incident
Dec 19, 2017
Mileage
107,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 31, 2017

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TEMPERATURE GAUGE PEGGED OUT AT THE HIGH SIDE AND THERE WAS A BURNING METAL SMELL. I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT NISSAN GAVE AND THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT THERE EVEN WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
11041669
Incident
Oct 2, 2017
Mileage
96,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 30, 2017

I BOUGHT A VEHICAL HAS BAD TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS LIGHTS ALWAYS ON I NEVER KNOW IF TIRES ARE REALLYHAVING AN ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11030654
Incident
Sep 20, 2017
Mileage
190,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 15, 2017

I HAD NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE FRONT /RIGHT PORTION OF MY VEHICLE AFTER I PARKED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE RESERVE CAP TO THE RADIATOR HAD COME LOOSE. AFTER LETTING MY VEHICLE COOL, I INSPECTED BOTH THE RESERVE TANK AND RADIATOR AND NOTICED THE FLUID WAS NOW A MILKY/FROTHY SUBSTANCE. AFTER SOME DETECTIVE WORK, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH PATHFINDERS FROM 2005- THROUGH 2010 THAT NISSAN HAS IGNORED TO FIX. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER IN THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY "FAILS" CAUSING CONTAMINATION TO THE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS ,AND DAMAGE TO THE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPUTER. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS UP TO OR JUST PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. AFTER CONTACTING NISSAN AND RECEIVING A DENIAL TO FIX OUR TRUCK UNDER A WARRANTY, I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE WITH SEVERAL "THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS" IN REPAIRS ALL DUE TO NISSAN IGNORING A KNOWN DEFECT AND NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON ALL VEHICLES IN THE "KNOWN" YEAR BRACKET WITH THESE ISSUES. I'M SURE NOTHING WILL BE DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE DUE TO THERE NOT BEING A MAJOR LOSS OF LIVES INVOLVED, I.E. TAKATA AIRBAGS,BUT I FIND IT IS MY DUTY TO ADD MY NAME TO AN ALREADY HEFTY LIST OF OTHER NISSAN PATHFINDER OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11015604
Incident
Aug 12, 2017
Mileage
110,003 mi
AirbagsEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 17, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED, IT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUID HAD MIXED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 10/18/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAGS. *TR

NHTSA ID
11005949
Incident
Jan 7, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 6, 2017

CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY,IT WOULTD NOT START

NHTSA ID
10993439
Incident
Jun 5, 2017
Mileage
96,300 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 4, 2017

TRANSMISSION OF MY NISSAN PATHFINDER 2007 FAILED. THE RADIATOR SPILLED THE COOLING LIQUID INTO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH THEN PROCEEDED TO CAUSE IRREPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID
10983516
Incident
Oct 22, 2014
Mileage
126,985 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 19, 2017

TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING INTO COOLANT.

NHTSA ID
10979409
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Mileage
92,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .