I am reporting a serious safety defect with my 2005 Nissan Pathfinder (VIN: [XXX] ). My vehicle has an open recall for the airbag emblem (the federal safety agency #23E-012 / PC948), which is scheduled for inspection. However, I am writing today because I am also experiencing a repeated and dangerous malfunction that is unrelated to that recall: Total loss of dashboard lights and instruments while driving No throttle response even though the engine remains running Temporary function restored only by turning the vehicle off and restarting it on the roas This behavior matches known electrical failures in this model year, often related to the IPDM, ignition switch, or ECM communication. These are not cosmetic or maintenance issues—they are life-threatening. My vehicle has done this multiple times, including at highway speeds. When I contacted South Colorado Springs Nissan, I was told they would only inspect the airbag emblem and would not evaluate this issue unless I paid for diagnostics. I find this unacceptable given Nissan’s history with these failures and the high likelihood this is a known and unresolved defect. I am requesting: That this issue be escalated within Nissan North America That Nissan consider this under a goodwill safety repair, if not covered by existing recall or campaign That the vehicle be diagnosed immediately, and Nissan be held accountable for any known defects I am also reporting this to the federal safety agency as a safety concern. Please confirm receipt of this email and provide next steps. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2005 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission585
- Engine433
- Fuel system276
- Electrical66
- Acceleration31
- Airbags22
- Brakes18
- Body14
- Steering9
- Suspension9
- Visibility7
- Driver assistance4
- Locks3
- Tires3
- Seat belts2
- Seats2
- Wheels2
Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
Fuel gauge 214Transmission failure 144Check engine light 139Stalling 87Slipping 69Overheating 66Jerking 43Loss of power 34Hesitation 33Won't start 22Won't shift 21Grinding brakes 19Shudder 19Fuel pump 16Harsh shifting 11Airbag light 8Engine failure 8Fire or smoke 6Whining noise 6
Trouble codes owners of the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder mention
P0463 17P1754 3P1759 2
Recalls 2
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- Nissan is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 armada, titan, infiniti qx56 and model year 2005-2006 frontier, pathfinder and xterra vehicles. The intelligent power distribution module (ipdm) assembly contains an engine control module (ECM) relay that has a diode for electrical current noise reduction. The ECM relay may allow silicon vapor to form and, over time, the silicon evaporates from the diode molding which causes silicon oxide to develop on the ECM relay contact due to arcing.
- Risk
- This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the ECM relay inside the ipdm assembly. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 6, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 10V517000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- Nissan is recalling 242,720 my 2005-2009 pathfinder, frontier and xterra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. In those areas of the country which use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, a mixture of snow/water and salt can enter into the front crash zone sensor (czs) housing. If this occurs, the czs may internally rust resulting in a signal interruption. If this happens, the red air bag warning light will illuminate to alert the vehicle operator.
- Risk
- This issue could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the front czs with a redesigned sensor. The recall began on january 26, 2009. Owners in the other states will receive extended warranty coverage for the sensor to 10 years. These owners will be notified of the warranty extension by mail and will receive a sticker to place in their warranty booklet explaining the extended warranty coverage. Owners may contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 08V690000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
Defect investigations
Transmission Failures
On February 29, 2012 the federal safety agency received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.the federal safety agency conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
DP12004
Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder 92
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Wiring harness repair information
- Voluntary service campaign body control module sub-harness
- Certification label and VIN plate replacement service information
- VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2005-2013 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA; DRIVER AIR BAG COVER CAMPAIGN...
- CAN communication codes – diagnostic tips and guidelines
- CAN communication – network diagnostic flow chart
- Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
- Windshield cracking
- Removing foreign material from the window glass
- Window glass warranty information
2005 Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 14 | 21 | 17 |
| 4.0L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14 | 19 | 16 |
What 2005 Nissan Pathfinder owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed the front passenger’s side air bag was defective and needed to be replaced. The air bag was not replaced due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.
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.
The component that is malfunctioning is the emblem on the airbags. Nissan has known of this issue for a while. In the event of a crash, when the airbags deploy, the emblem will also explode with the airbags and send shrapnel from it flying towards the driver and nearby passengers. If the crash wouldn't kill the driver, then this issue could as it could hit the driver in a vital part. They are taking too long to fix this issue, as it is such a vital problem that can cost people their lives.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact received recall notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. The check engine warning light was illuminated along with other several unknown warning lights. Additionally, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Car stalled out and won't restart.
Air Bag Front Impact Sensor has failed due to road salt. Not covered under recall because someone doesn't think Virginia uses road salt.
I got this vehicle from my parents which they bought brand new . So no other owners . When I got it was acting up and took to repair . They said my radiator was bad and had leaked radiator fluid . They thought could replace radiator and flush the system . I started looking at issues online . I found so many people with the same problems . I also found that Nissan was aware of a faulty crack in radiator. Which is the exact problem I had . I already spent 1000 $ in repairs with radiator and flushing system . I Am now out that money and the transmission has been effected by this issue . Tried everything possible with flushing system . Unfortunately this crack was the problem that has now left me with a perfect car that needs a transmission. So disappointed that Nissan ignores all the issues that unfortunately happened after 100,000 miles . Especially when they claim to know the radiator crack is a faulty part . That crack destroyed a perfect vehicle . Nissan should be accountable of these issues especially when their faulty part not only needed a new radiator but leaked into transmission . I am still sitting with this car . Unsafe to drive and unsafe to sell .
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.
Compare the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
Is the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Owners have filed 1,050 complaints about the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder, 7.7 times a typical Pathfinder model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder year score?
The 2005 Nissan Pathfinder scores 5 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Nissan Pathfinder: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 585 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles. Next is engine (433).
How many recalls does the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder have?
2 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling and air bags.
What year does the Nissan Pathfinder have bad transmission?
The Nissan Pathfinder model years with the most transmission complaints are 2005 (585 complaints), 2006 (450 complaints) and 2013 (371 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder get?
Official estimates for the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder range from 16 to 17 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.0L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 14 city and 21 highway.
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