RoadVitals

2010 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.
10
Latest Sep 17, 2022
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.
25%
of 40 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.
0
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 2010 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 17, 2022

I was traveling at approx. 35 mph when the car shuddered violently for a second or two, all panel lights lit up and everything completely shut down while going through a very busy 6-lane intersection. All steering, brakes, and maneuverability were lost. I was lucky to coast to a safe spot and if this had happened on an interstate it may have easily been catastrophic. The dealer found a failed cam shaft sensors (their verbiage on the bill). Replaced both and the crank sensor.

NHTSA ID
11484939
Incident
Oct 13, 2020
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 25, 2022

Coolant leaked into transmission causing transmission failure . Car maker will not acknowledge the problem. Car towed to repair shop. Told $6000.00 for new radiator and transmission.Thank God I was only going 35-40 miles an hour.

NHTSA ID
11466139
Incident
Apr 16, 2022
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 15, 2019

DEFECTIVE FACTORY RADIATOR LED TO MIXING OF TRANS FLUID AND COOLANT CAUSING CONTAMINATION AND VEHICLE FAILURE. PROBLEM INITIALLY EXPOSED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AT 50MPH. VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT THIS SPEED. HAD I BEEN AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, LIKE MANY OUT THERE, THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH, OF MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN, AS WELL AS, OTHER DRIVERS OF THE HIGHWAY! THIS WAS THE FIRST INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. ALL MAINTENANCE WAS, AND IS, UP TO DATE. ALL FLUIDS ARE ROUTINELY CHECKED WITH NO INDICATION OF LEAKS. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT IT IS EXTREMELY COMMON IN VARIOUS MODELS OF NISSAN BETWEEN YEARS OF 2005-2015! HOW HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED YET, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT NHTSA HAS ALREADY INVESTIGATED IT? IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT ALL OF THESE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM! MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN. $5086 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR, AND HOOK THE SAME DEFECTIVE SYSTEM BACK UP TO INEVITABLY FAIL AGAIN. WITH NO DOUBT THAT IT WILL OCCUR AFTER THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP CONSUMERS SAFE FROM THE CORNER-CUTTING, COST-CUTTING COMPANIES. THIS FAULTY RADIATOR IS CAUSING SERIOUS PROBLEMS. NOT ONLY DOES IT COST THOUSANDS TO FIX TEMPORARILY, BUT IT IS ENDANGERING LIVES. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE, AND RECALLED? OR, IS NISSAN PAYING YOU MORE THAN THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS YOU FACE WHEN SOMEONE IS BADLY INJURED OR KILLED?

NHTSA ID
11186969
Incident
Feb 14, 2019
Mileage
148,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 20, 2019

MILKY FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE COOLANT AREA. I HAD BOTH THE COOLANT & RADIATOR FLUID DRAINED AND REPLACED FOR PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. NOW WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE AND I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, IT REVS HIGH BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR. IT DOES THIS ESPECIALLY AFTER I REVERSE OUT BEFORE PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE WHICH PUTS ME IN DANGER BECAUSE IT TAKES AWHILE TO GO INTO GEAR AND IF A CAR IS COMING, I COULD BE HIT.

NHTSA ID
11181303
Incident
Feb 12, 2019
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 21, 2018

ENGINE COOLANT (ANTIFREEZE) IS MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. WHEN GOING TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CHECKING ALL OTHER FLUIDS, I REALIZED THAT THE RADIATOR IS FILLED WITH A YELLOW MILKY COLORED SLUDGE, AND MY TRANSMISSION FLUID IS BONE DRY. FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THIS PROBLEM REVEALED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR IN 2005-2010 PATHFINDERS.

NHTSA ID
11130683
Incident
Sep 20, 2018
Mileage
180,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 6, 2018

RADIATOR LEAKED FOR AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME CROSS CONTAMINATING FLUID WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REPLACED RADIATOR, AND FLUSHED ALL FLUIDS, BUT TRANSMISSION IS NOW RUINED.

NHTSA ID
11100302
Incident
May 30, 2018
Mileage
152,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 22, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL"; WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS IN LOS ANGELES, CA THE POWER TRAIN (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) FAILED AND THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE GASKET IN THE RADIATOR THAT SEPARATES THE OIL AND WATER FAILED IN THE RADIATOR WHILE THESE FLUIDS ARE COOLED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. ONCE THIS GASKET FAILED, THE WATER AND OIL MIXED TOGETHER. SENDING WATER MIXED WITH OIL INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE WATER IN THE TRANSMISSION RUINS THE TRANSMISSION VALUE BODY, ELECTRICAL PARTS & GEARS ALSO OVER HEATS THE VEHICLE ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACE, THE RADIATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACE, FLUSH OF COOLANT SYSTEM, FLUSH OF TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE ALL FLUIDS (TRANSMISSION OIL & COOLANT FLUID). I REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION OR REBUILD. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AT A COST $3000.00 PLUS A RADIATOR AND FLUIDS/OIL AT A COST $500.00 FOR TOTAL $3500.00.

NHTSA ID
11035544
Incident
Jan 13, 2016
Mileage
109,577 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 8, 2017

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2010. WE ARE A VERY TYPICAL USERS WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR (CURRENTLY WITH ABOUT 120K MILES). I'VE HAD REGULAR PROBLEMS (SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD TURN ON). STARTED WITH SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT A FEW TIMES, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT, AND NOW LATEST ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I'VE ALREADY SPENT MORE THAN $6K OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ON THESE ISSUES. THE DEALER IS NOW QUOTING $12K FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THIS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW RIGHT AWAY WHAT OPTIONS I CAN PURSUE (INCLUDING A LEMON LAWYER, ETC.).

NHTSA ID
10984387
Incident
May 7, 2017
Mileage
120,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 28, 2017

TRANSMISSION FLUID MIXED INTO RADIATOR. VEHICLE STALLS, OVERHEATS, VIBRATES, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT FUNCTION RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON CITY STREET.

NHTSA ID
10981243
Incident
Apr 21, 2017
Mileage
153,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 14, 2012

NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED TO DATE. HOWEVER, I ALSO DO NOT LIKE GAMBLING WITH MY FAMILY AND THEIR LIVES. OUR 2010 NISSAN PATHFINDER IS THE PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILY. THE REPORTED ISSUES WITH FAILING RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION MUST BE ADDRESSED TO PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE. NISSAN RECOGNIZES THE ISSUE AND THE BEST THEY COULD DO TO DATE IS TO ISSUE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. PLEASE STEP IN AND ENFORCE A SAFETY RECALL ON THOSE VEHICLES. PREVENTION IS CALLED FOR IN THIS INSTANCE. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH NISSAN CORPORATE AND LOGGED A CASE NUMBER WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10488773
Incident
Dec 14, 2012

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 .