2008 Nissan Pathfinder: engine overheating

Filed May 5, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · 93,500 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that upon placing her vehicle into reverse, the vehicle shut-off without warning. The vehicle started rolling backwards. The contact and her son exited the vehicle, to manually stop the vehicle from rolling back and hitting a building. The contact then had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic, where the mechanic replaced the engine coil block however, the vehicle started to overheat at start-up. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was white smoke coming from the engine while the temperature gauge showed a high engine temperature. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 93,500.

Filed Apr 9, 2021 · Engine · 159,000 miles · MI

Faulty radiator. Leaking coolant into my transmission. Noticed losing coolant and smelled radiator fluid after driving. Did research on the problem was able to find the faulty radiator part number which happened to match the one I had.

Filed Aug 20, 2020 · Transmission · 163,000 miles · TN

Transmission overheating, tool to mtn view nissan chattanooga ten & they replaced the fluid & anti freeze fluid. I mentioned that I had read of this type vehicle having these issues with the radiator coolant getting into the transmission fluid & causing this problem. The service rep told me that my vehicle was not designed like that & just the fluid needed changed. I had them do that & the next day driving it overheated again. I took the vehicle to east ridge transmission & they told me that the transmission fluid contained radiator fluid & that the transmission, radiator & fluids all needed replaced. I had them do that & it did repair the problem. Nissan knows of this defect & should reimburse me for it.

Filed Aug 1, 2017 · Engine · 104,000 miles · AK

Radiator coolant leaking into transmission, causing transmission failure. Dealership has informed me because I am over 100,000 miles there is no coverage and will cost me upto 8,000. My current mileage at diagnostic was 104,000 miles. My pathfinder is in great shape and has a lot of driving left in it. I feel let down by nissan that they have known about this defect and will not stand by the fault to keep customer loyalty and satisfaction. I do not trust nissan and never will again, they have proven to me they do not care about their customers and do not stand behind their product. I am in a position as a single mother with 3 kids that I cannot afford 8,000 dollars to fix this known problem. I could not believe that they were prepared to do nothing.......

Filed Jun 21, 2017 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · TX

I just learned of an issue with the radiators failing on the model I have causing coolant to leak into the transmission and thus causing damage to the transmission. After further investigation I found that I would have to pay a $3000 co-pay due to the milege and age of my vehicle. Discovering that nissan had know of the issue since 2007 and I purchased the vehicle in 2010 I am quite unhappy with level of customer service to take care of this issue properly. If feel that nissan has not done enough to remedy these issue for consumers. I was driving my vehicle to pickup my children when the incident occured without any warning. The vehicle began to overheat spilling coolant mixed with transmission fluid onto the street. I might as well buy and install the transmission and radiator myself with the co-pay that nissan wants to charge. Very unhappy with what nissan is offering to fix this problem.

Filed Nov 14, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 94,550 miles · KS

Takata recall ?? The 2008 nissan pathfinder radiator and transmission failure and breakdown due to coolant leak into the transmission. Purchased pre-owned with nothing listed on car facts (carfax), or with any advisement to the issues with radiator coolant leaking into transmission. After a $1,017 bill from aamco for a diagnostic to find the issue, (in which they had to pull the tranny and inspect it was damaged due to fluid from radiator getting inside compromising transmission seals) I discovered, online, this ongoing well know problem..called nissan north america and discovered my vehicle was covered under the 100k mileage (94955 actual) and good through 8-2017, from a previous filed complaint or class action, not sure which. However, apparently I only qualify for a co/pay of $3,000 on a vehicle valued at tops, $7,500. Needless to say I would have never purchased this vehicle, had I known this was an issue. I have been in touch with my bank, the dealership I purchased it from, and nissan north america and no one is willing to assist. I suppose I will contact my attorney at this point (lemon law, tort laws, something) because I cant' seem to find anyone understanding to me, the consumer, whom is not at fault on this deal for help. I am extremely unhappy that nissan has allowed this to happen. They should at least put a carfax warning or something to notify potential buyers or owners of this problem. I understand that parts get worn and go bad, however, this in not something that I have neglected to fix, maintain, check, or anything. This is a bad part/design flaw in the coolant system and should in all rights be fixed at 100% by nissan. Beware.

Filed Oct 17, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 100,000 miles · TX

My only one family vehicle suffered the now known 2008 nissan pathfinder radiator and transmission failure and breakdown due to coolant leak into the transmission. I've purchased this vehicle pre-owned from np mazda in san antonio texas. They did not inform me of this known issue which involved several year models for the pathfinder. I've spent a little over $5k of loaned money to have this resolve via independent transmission specialist as gunn nissan presented me with a much higher price quote. I recently found out from a local nissan service specialist that my vehicle currently have an extended warranty designed specifically for this and as a result of october 2012 class action lawsuit settled by court and nissan corp. I am attempting to have nissan help me with some of recently mentioned financial impact regarding their well known defect.

Filed Aug 17, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 155,000 miles · IL

2008 nissan pathfinder. Transmission failed due to radiator failure which caused contamination of the cooling and transmission fluids. Engine overheated due to contamination. Entire cooling system had to be flushed several times after repairs. Repairs were over $4000. Nissan refused to address issue because of pending class action suit. I wish to be added to class action process to recoup expenses.

Filed Jul 28, 2016 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · MA

Coolant leaked into the engine compartment causing significant transmission issues. The problem was supposed to resolved as we had it cleaned up...the vehicle worked ok for a couple of days and the problem reappeared getting worse and worse...the vehicle is undrivable at this point. This is not the first time I've heard of this issue with this make and model.

Filed Jun 27, 2016 · Transmission · 115,000 miles · WV

Engine coolant leaked into transmission destroying transmission and radiator requiring replacement of transmission and cooling system. Vehicle odometer is at 115,000. Estimated repair is $3000-4800+

Filed Feb 28, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 145,000 miles · MA

Catastrophic cooling/transmission failure. Traveling east on a heavily traveled single lane highway with no breakdown lane. Sudden noise from the engine compartment, sounding like liquids being expelled. Check engine light comes on. Engine temperature gauge pegs to high. Limped along the highway until I could reach a safe point to pull the overheating vehicle off road. Arranged for a tow and had the vehicle inspected. The inspection revealed failure of the radiator. After further inspection and with some research, it was discovered that nissan has a known design flaw that contributes to the eventual failure, in a catastrophic event, of the cooling and transmission components. My vehicle was mixing engine coolant and transmission fluid together. The sudden failure of the radiator, expelled engine cooling and transmission fluid in a sudden and rapid event. This is a known and documented event that nissan is fully aware of. A sudden failure of these components poses a safety risk for the owner, occupant, public and environment.

Filed Jul 31, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 103,000 miles · NJ

I started feeling my car slip gears when it reached certain speeds, as well as the vdc, slip and engine lights came on. Within the next few days, as I was driving, my car overheated and the antifreeze poured out of it. The radiator was cracked and had leaked into the transmission. When my husband called nissan and told them our issue, and that our mileage was 103,000, they said we were no longer under warranty and it would cost approximately $6,000 (obviously knowing what the issue was from all the other transmissions that were ruined from their error). My husband's friend, who is mechanic, replaced the radiator and flushed the transmission fluid. It seemed to run fine for the next few months, with the occasional flush of the transmission fluid. Within the last week, the car began slipping again. By yesterday, it would not come out of second gear. My transmission is shot and needs to be replaced. I am extremely disappointed with nissan, as we have been loyal customers for the last 14 years. I loved my pathfinder, and would think that after spending $36,000 on a car, it would hold up longer than 6 years. It is absolutely unacceptable that nissan will not take responsibility for their manufacturing error and that they do not stand behind their product. I am so disappointed and disgusted, I will never buy another nissan.