2006 Nissan Pathfinder: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Mar 8, 2020 · Transmission · 145,000 miles · WI

I have a 2006 nissan pathfinder and I was driving to the doctor and there was a shudder. I didn't know exactly what it was until I did some research which explains there are a lot of problems with nissan transmissions in general. I can't afford to fix it due to being on a fixed income. I'm paying payments on it and also insurance which I can't even drive it. I need my vehicle to get places I need to get. I'm not sure what to do. I really believe nissan should recall transmissions and fix them.

Filed Jun 13, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 96,000 miles · WA

I was driving on an interstate at normal highway speed when the car shuddered as if going over rough pavement. The engine started racing, but the car gradually lost forward propulsion. I steered to the emergency lane and stopped. After a minute, the car regained just enough forward motion to get me to the next exit, across an intersection (where the light just happened to be green, thank goodness), and into the parking lot of a large grocery store before the vehicle lost all propulsion. We pushed the car the last few feet into a parking spot. It was towed to a nissan dealership. I was told the next day that the transmission warmer had failed, allowing radiator coolant to leak into the transmission, which ruined the transmission. The repair would cost $6000. I cannot put another $6000 into a 13-year-old vehicle, even though I've only had it for five months, so now I've lost the money I put into it and will have to start over with another vehicle.

Filed May 13, 2016 · Engine · 130,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced shuddering and jerking. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the vehicle's radiator cracked which resulted in damaged a transmission. The timing chain, the radiator, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Dec 15, 2015 · Transmission · 129,000 miles · ME

While driving on turnpike at 75mph transmission slipped gear started shuddering whole truck and lost speed. Attempted to step on gas to get to shoulder of road and rpms just went up but wheels did not move. Almost was hit by multiple vehicles. Attempted to manually shift vehicle to get it to shoulder and had vehicle towed. Transmission is junk due to coolant leaking.

Filed Jul 9, 2015 · Transmission · 84,500 miles · NJ

I am in the middle of a road trip with my children and suddenly my pathfinder would not accelerate going uphill. I thankfully made it up the hill and onto a highway on ramp. The grace of god is all that kept me from being struck by a tractor trailer taking the same exit. The pathfinder shuddered and I pulled into the shoulder (a blessing that there was just enough space for one) and it turned off right there. Not even 85,000 miles on an '06 pathfinder and I had to have the steering column replaced after something broke it in it 2 yrs ago, now this. I had it towed to the closest nissan dealer, 35 miles from where it stopped and hundreds of miles from home. The dealer told me it was the known issue with the cheap plastic radiators and transmission. I am now in a rental car, looking online for a hotel (I was planning on driving up to canada and an now stuck in ohio), and have to pay $3,000 to get this fixed because of the age of the car. Nevermind that it is a known issue!!

Filed Feb 18, 2015 · Transmission · 120,145 miles · PA

On saturday, february 14, 2015, my 2006 nissan pathfinder started to shudder at 45-50 MPH. After taking it to aamco transmission specialists, I was told that the radiator cooling fluid had leaked into the transmission and was causing it to fail. After researching this problem, I found that this is a known problem with nissan transmissions and usually occurs after high mileage (100,000) and the warranty on the pathfinders had been extended to 80,000 to 100,000 miles. However, my pathfinder currently has over 120,000 miles on it so nissan will probably not pay for any of the repairs. If this problem doesn't occur until after 100,000 miles, why didn't nissan extend the warranty over 100,000? There are thousands of complaints on the internet from people who are in the same situation as I am right now and have spent $5,000+ to fix something that nissan knows is defective on their suvs from 2005 to present.

Filed Dec 3, 2014 · Transmission · 101,000 miles · CA

A faulty radiator caused fluid to leak into my transmission, causing major damage to the transmission and the computer inside of it. The issue was initially noticed on a drive up into the mountains (although at the time we did not what it was). As we were climbing uphill we noticed a shuddering and it felt as though the transmission was slipping a bit. We made it back home safely, but on two subsequent trips on the highway the same thing happened as well as it overheating on one occasion. I also noticed that while driving in town, the transmission would jump a bit upon putting it into gear and there was also another occasion of it overheating. Thank goodness we were never put in a dangerous situation due to this issue, although that probably has a lot to do with the fact that we limited driving on the freeway after first noticing the problem, as it was more noticeable when driving at a higher rate of speed.

Filed Oct 13, 2014 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · OH

While driving my 06 nissan pathfinder with 82000 miles on the car, it would began to shudder and shake as if running over rumble strips and temporarily lose power that nearly caused me to get in to an accident. As I was merging on to a highway when this shudder and power lose occurred. I later learned how many years of nissans were having these same issues, from transmission fluid and radiator fluid mixing due to faulty lines causing transmission problems like mine. I am writing this complaint in hopes of making this issue aware so it can be corrected before someone loses their life. As I researched this matter I learned that if your coolant overflow appears to be a milky color than that's a sigh of contamination and of course after my near life experience mine too was contaminated. After reading so many stories of how this same experience happened to so many people, how is this issue being over looked? I got lucky I just have to replace my transmission and radiator, at least I still have my life , iam just fearful that if no action is taken the next person in a nissan wont be as lucky.

Filed Jul 14, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 108,000 miles · NJ

I have heard that several people are having problems with their transmission fluid getting radiator fluid in it. The classic signs and symptoms that have started with my 2006 nissan pathfinder are: 1. Horrendous shuddering when pressing on the gas to increase my speed, 2. Occasional banging when my automatic car shifts into gear, 3. Delay in speed when I attempt to pass. Since all of this had started right after 100,000 miles a new transmission is not covered. I am a single mom who is a hospice nurse, I drive all day, having a reliable car puts food on the table for my kids. I don't have $3,000 to fix this problem. I could cry, I don't know what I am going to do. Right now I just keep driving it knowing it is going to break down any day. I was informed by so many people that nissan was a great company and manufactured a great vehicle when I decided to by this pathfinder. I am soooo disappointed!!! I will never buy another nissan vehicle, I'm sorry, for the amount that I originally paid for this vehicle, it should not start falling apart at 108,000 miles.

Filed Jul 3, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 104,000 miles · NC

The transmission shudders when changing gears.

Filed Jun 29, 2014 · Transmission · 95,319 miles · NC

While driving approximately 60-65 MPH on the highway during a family trip, the car began to shudder. The shudder returned several times over the next few hours, but we made it safely to our destination. Had to bring into the shop where I learned the defective radiator on 06' pathfinder causes it to mix transmission fluid with coolant. This caused damage throughout the transmission resulting in a hefty bill ($4774). I learned there was a class action suite against nissan for this problem, but it closed last year. Hoping to find information on perhaps another settlement.

Filed Jun 5, 2014 · Transmission · 11,000 miles · RI

I noticed a shudder when the car was shifting, my mechanic test drove it and sent me to the transmission shop. The gentleman there told me that it was a transmission problem. He also said that this was a common problem with this year pathfinder. He thought that since this was a common problem that nissan had extended the warranty. I later found that the warranty had been extended but not enough to include my truck. Very disappointed in nissan, I have owned 4 pathfinders and several other cars made by nissan. I thought they would take better care of loyal customers.