Per nissan dealership diagnosis: technician found anti-freeze/transmission fluid mix in both radiator and transmission (failure in radiator cooler) trans (TCM); no communication with other vehicle ecms catastrophic transmission failure. Dealer recommendation: replace transmission and radiator. Full transmission fluid and radiator flush of systems.
2005 Nissan Pathfinder engine complaints
Page 10 of 16: complaints 251 to 280 of 433, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The transmission started slipping/not responding/hesitation/car 'shaking' when shifting, etc so we took it to a nissan dealer to ask what happened. They said the radiator fluid leaked into the transmission and pretty much destroyed it. I asked if they had seen this before or if there was a recall for it and they said they had not seen it nor was there a recall. I then called another non-dealer transmission center and they knew what the issue was before I even finished explaining. They said they get 2005 pathfinders about 1 per week and currently had two on the lot -- all with the exact same issue. I called the dealership back with this info and they tried to act surprised but I could tell they knew exactly what was going on here. Here is a full (and better) description from a pending lawsuit on this problem with the vehicles like we (and so many others) experienced: "transmission failure caused by cracked radiators - faulty radiators are causing coolant to leak into and destroy the transmission. An alarming number of nissan xterra, pathfinder and frontier owners are stepping forward with stories about their cracked radiators which are causing coolant to leak into the transmission. Once mixed with the transmission fluid this lethal combination kills the valves, seals and torque converter -- rendering your entire transmission useless. This issue is currently contained to the 2005 model year, but we're keeping our eyes open for reports from other years. What's even more troubling is owners who have already had their transmissions "repaired" by an authorized nissan dealer are still reporting catastrophic transmission failure. Through no fault of their own, nissan owners who are out of warranty are left to cover the hefty repair bill, which can be over $4,500 when all is said and done."
Experienced problems with the engine, the check light was on and the gears seemed to be shifting hard and engine running rough as it was in second gear. The recommendation was to first flush the transmission and apply an exterior coolant on to the radiator because of known issues with the radiator leaking into the transmission. This was a temporary band aid because the next time I was going on a long trip, the vehicle shifted hard while driving, jerked and when into 4wd automatically without me touching anything and the check engine light is on again. When you drive over 60 miles an hour the rpms tack up super high and the engine runs with a roar. Had the transmission diagnosed again and the fault codes show a p1754, p1759, p1764,01731, p0102....basically they are telling me I need a new transmission or a rebuilt one to the tune of 4-5000 dollars, the source of the issue is the faulty radiator which leaked water into the transmission. This is a catastrophic issue to me both safety wise and financially wise and I'm not alone--there are pages and pages of complaints for this same problem you can find all over the internet. I wish I would have known before buying the vehicle but that's water under the bridge. Nissan extending a warranty upto 80,000 miles is a mute point when most of these issues happens after that mileage, to me it's just ridiculous to have such a huge design/component flaw that can cause such a high dollar damage to the vehicle and not have it recognized by nissan as a recall.
2005 nissan pathfinder...radiator cracked leaked coolant into transmission. Common problem nissan will do nothing about.
My 2005 pathfinder was running fine until it started developing a case of thermostat fluctuation; it would almost go into the red and then drop all the way back down to the normal level. I took it to precision tune and they replaced the radiator hose assembly. A few weeks after that, the tranny started slipping. As I had already read from other consumers, I knew what was happening to my truck, and because the truck already had 120k + miles on it, I knew what nissan would likely say. Sure enough, one afternoon, I got in the truck and it wouldn't accelerate forward. I immediately had it towed to nissan in april and began the fight to get it fixed; they quoted me $5100 to replace the tranny and radiator due to coolant leaking into the transmission case and transmission fluid leaking into the radiator. I contacted their consumer affairs, and not only did they tell me they wouldn't cover it, but referred me to the bbb (a very brazen move in my mind, to have a company refer you to them about them). They already knew the bbb wouldn't help because it was outside of the warranty. Nearly four months later, it still sits at the dealer, because I can't afford to pay the repair cost (I still owe for two years on the vehicle), and nissan refuses to fix it, although they know the problem exists. Someone has to die, I guess, before they pull their vehicles off the road and fix the problem.
Coolant leaked from the radiator into the transmission causing the transmission to go out (not an uncommon problem from what I have heard from my mechanic and have seen online after researching the problem).
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle but the vehicle would not move. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.
I noticed a consistent vibration when the automatic transmission shifted around 40 MPH. An initial flush of the fluid temporarily corrected the problem, but it reappeared several months later and progressively worsened. The transmission is now erratic at almost every shifting juncture and is pronounced at high speeds. An inspection at a nissan service center confirmed that the problem is due to radiator fluid leaking into the transmission. This is a well documented nissan design flaw that nissan will not take responsibility for. The vehicle is to the point where it is unsafe to drive, especially at highway speeds.
Going up a street with a low hill and the transmission didn't engage to gear making the vehicle to lose power and the was traffic in back of me, I was lucky enough to get room to pull to the side of the road.
Car either stalls out, turns off, or rapidly decelerates at random times. Transmission not shifting or staying in gear properly causing near collisions on several accounts, stalling in the middle of intersections, etc... Mechanic said coolant in transmission and transmission fluid in coolant system. Seems to be triggering multiple mechanical failures codes from transmission, to misfires, to o2 sensors. Afraid to drive. It's been sitting parked for multiple months very dangerous!
In 2009, at 74,000 miles, I noticed the car "bucking" when driving. Started doing research and found that the radiator coolant leaks into the transmission cooler destroying the transmission. Nissan offered no help or recalls despite the fact that hundreds of the same vehicle were experiencing the same thing. Shortly after my vehicle passed 80,000 miles, nissan issued a recall on only the radiator which doesn't help me. I immediately flushed the transmission and radiator to try to avoid complete failure of the transmission, bypassing the transmission cooler part of the radiator. The vehicle drove but the transmission constantly slipped in and out of gear at random times throughout the next 30,000 miles. Last week, the transmission finally quit in the middle of a busy intersection. I had to push the car into the nearest parking lot. Now the car is sitting in my driveway because it will cost me $6,000 to repair the transmission and radiator. Nissan needs to step up and admit that this should be a recall. I love nissans (this is my 3rd) but after this problem I may never buy another one.
Our radiator in our vehicle began mixing fluid with the transmission fluid. This caused erratic driving while on the highway and poor and very shaky acceleration. We were lucky to not have had the transmission seize on the highway causing a major accident. We brought the vehicle to the dealer where this was diagnosed and they told us the entire radiator and transmission had to be replaced. We filed a claim with nissan USA, but it was denied. The time frame for the warranty was covered, but we had slightly exceeded the mileage warranty. This has happened with multiple vehicles of the same type and a class action lawsuit is currently pending. I would like to make aware that this should be a recall by nissan for the problem as this is an extreme safety hazard.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 nissan pathfinder. While driving up an incline approximately 25 MPH, the transmission began to slip with extreme hesitation and the rpms increased rapidly. The failure occurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized however the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated there was a crack in the radiator which caused damage to the transmission. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
I was traveling on interstate I-95-n near exit 7 at a high rate of speed, my transmission failed due to a crack(fault )in the radiator assembly unit. As I attempted to exit the interstate while losing speed, I was almost rear ended by a tractor trailer and hit by another car. Eventually, after coasting down hill to an intersection of center of new england/ new london turnpike, had to get out and push the vehicle with help from other persons to nearest service station. Nissan extended warranty on radiator assembly unit to 8yr/80,000. I have 6yrs+/92000, took extremely good care of this vehicle and am now being told I need to pay $6,500.00 to fix vehicle (while I still owe $12,000.00). Should have been a recall before someone gets killed (if not already) and /or the warranty should be offered for at least 120,000 miles. What a poor attempt to cover up an obvious design flaw, while trying to hide from their obvious liabilities for this situation.
Internal failure of cam/crankshaft sensor causing car to shut up without warning in rush hour traffic; car maintained speed; prayer to avoid crashing.
Radiator leaked into transmission fluid.
Radiator can fail and allow transmission fluid to mix eventually destroy the transmission. Ive checked the coolant and it has turned a milky pink color. Appearently, there are alot of owners with the same problem.
Radiator crack and leaked coolant into the transmission causing damage. This problem is well known to nissan.
Radiator coolant leaked into my transmission, with cross contamination into the radiator at 96,000 miles. There is a known defect of radiators failing from the inside, leaking coolant, thus ruining the transmission. Nissan extended radiator warranty to 80,000 miles but most failure is between 80k-120k. I had radiator replaced and a transmission flush for $900. I fear the transmission is ruined. Nissan should have notified all owners of this potential problem rather than ignoring it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 nissan pathfinder.while examining the vehicle, the contact noticed that the radiator transmission coolant line was cracked. Th vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the part needed to be replaced, however the vehicle was not serviced.the current mileage was 94,000 and the failure mileage was 48,000.
I have a 2005 nissan pathfinder and my transmission oil leaked into my radiator causing me to have to totally replace my radiator and I had to have my transmission flushed but it still damaged my transmission. This was a manufacture error but nissan refused to pay because it had over 80,000 miles. I have three nissan in our family but I will never buy another. I also am having trouble with the heating and air conditioner controls in both my 2005 and 2006 nissan pathfinders. The control quit working in both!!!! So disappointed with nissan!!!!
I began to have trouble when attempting to accelerate, the car appeared to stay in low gear. Took it to nissan they recommended to replace the radiator and transmission for $5,000! I bought this car on good faith knowing nissan is a quality product and this is now happening. Nissan apparently knows about the issues with a leak starting in the radiator, and leaking fluids into the transmission, which causes the transmission to go out. Nissan extended the warranty on the radiator till 80,000 miles knowing about this problem, but after doing research everyone having the problem is over 80,000 miles! Nissan will not do a recall! This is unbelievable. I paid very good money for this car, and now have to spend another $5,000 to repair, with a known problem that nissan will not cover. I will never purchase another nissan vehicle, since they do not apparently care about their customers.
2005 nissan pathfinder. Took off out of parking garage, car lost power (wouldn't accelerate) and the service engine soon light came on. Took car to independent shop who advised that the computer code they were receiving from the car was a manufacturer code and I would have to take it to the dealer. Took car to dealer and was told that radiator had failed and caused the coolant and transmission fluids to mix, resulting in damage to the transmission. Recommended repair was replacement of radiator and transmission with an estimate of $5,200. I bought car at 48,000 miles from the dealership as a nissan-certified pre-owned vehicle. I've had multiple problems including replacing the fuel sending unit as well as a catalytic converter. The car had 115,000 miles at the time of the incident and I contacted nissan to request assistance with the cost of the repairs but was denied any help.
The check engine light came on in the vehicle and the car stalled or wouldn't accelerate after the gas pedal was pushed. We took the vehicle to the nissan dealership and were told that there was a crack in the radiator and were advised to have it replaced and also flush the transmission to remove any radiator fluid. Paid over $1000 for the replacement. Picked up the vehicle on 4/11/12. On the evening of 4/12/12 the car stalled and wouldn't accelerate again while in drive, check engine light came back on. We had the car towed to the dealership and now we have been advised to replace the transmission ($4700 repair). Have not moved forward with the repair but found that other owners have experienced the same problem. Hoping to participate in a lawsuit to avoid this issue for other owners in the future. On march 26 approx. We took the car to the dealership to address an issue we were having when we started the car. Sometimes the car would jump at the start as if it were in drive. The issue couldn't be found by he service tech so they advised us to get a tune up. We paid over $500 that week for a tune up. The car was inspected at that service visit but nothing was mentioned or noticed about the radiator. We wondered how this catastrophic breakdown could appear out of nowhere. The problem happened a few days after the car was serviced and inspected.
My wife noticed acceleration decreasing and then when she change the gear to drive the car didn't move. Then, it finally went into drive. We took it to dealership and they stated the radiator and transmission will have to be replaced due to radiator fluid leaking into the transmission. We heard about this issue happening frequently with other nissan pathfinders. Therefore, we contacted 1-800-nissan1 to see if we could get some kind of help. I talked to a representative named [xxx] from a company that creates a case with the hope that nissan will cover the costs. After two and half weeks a decision was made not to cover the cost of repair due to the car was bought used and it is over the 80,000 mile extended warranty. If it is a defect, isn't the manufacturer responsible. This is not caused by the consumer and is not wear and tear. I have a nissan altima with over 230,000 miles and the transmission is still producing. I loved nissan cars up until this very moment. I have been researching to purchase another nissan, but after this my mind has changed. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that when driving 40 MPH or above, the engine would flood, causing the vehicle to hesitate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was advised to the contact that radiator fluid was leaking into the transmission and causing the transmission to fail. The dealer stated this is a known problem, but the manufacturer was not going to cover the cost of the repair unless the vehicle had been serviced by a dealer for all maintenance issues in the past. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 110,000.
Transmission gave out on me while traveling with family on highway. The problem was due to faulty parts nissan has placed on the pathfinder. My finding to the problems not only included transmissions problems not covered under warranty but also other defects in which they are unwilling to pay for. I hope it doesn't take for someone to die for them to get this is a serious problem. Americans are in danger due to this company and it's cars!
While driving vehicle stalls and shuts down without warning . Vdc off and slip lights come on in dash board has happened multiple time in last four weeks . Nissan dealership had vehicle for nine days and could not recreate problem when picked up from dealership vehicle died on way home .contacted dealership said nothing they can do without them witness the problem. Now vehicle sits useless in carport.
Tuesday morning after dropping my children off at school, I had just made a left hand turn through an intersection in heavy traffic. I was traveling approx. 45 MPH when bam!....my car all but stalled and would not accelerate. The car behind me almost hit me, I could barely get the car to steer and had trouble getting enough juice to pull it over safely to the side of the road. After much research, I see that nissan radiators are defective; they rupture and allow the coolant to spill over into the coolant system in transmission, contaminating both and ruining both radiator and transmission. There are countless stories of people stalling in traffic or completely losing enough acceleration power in a very abrupt manner that someone is going to get very hurt, if not die. What if my kids had been in the car with me? What if we would have been in heavier traffic in different circumstances? The thought of this makes me sick to my stomach. I was very lucky not to have been hurt or hurt someone else after what happened. Nissan and you all need to acknowledge that a real safety risk exists here. A recall must be done! Sickens me to think of those who will eventually lose their lives. How can going from a full functioning speed to no speed at all in the most abrupt, nerve-jarring manner possible in heavy traffic and not being able to maneuver your vehicle not be a safety issue? Please explain this to me. Oh, and as if it isn't enough that nissan obviously has no regard for their consumer's safety, they are limiting the warranties in such an unrealistic manner that the consumer is forced to foot $6,000-$8,000 to fix the issue that they clearly knew about and could have prevented from the get-go.
The transmission is starting to slip. Sometimes when I'm coming to a stop I'll jump forward. The dealer said the radiator and transmission needs to be replaced. Why would do radiator affect a transmission. Nissan know there is a problem with the transmission and a radiator leak inside transmission. They should recall and fix this problem. The estimate I got to repair is $5200 dollars.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2005 Nissan Pathfinder?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history