TRANSMISSION FAILED AT INTERSECTION LEAVING VEHICLE UNABLE TO MOVE. PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY RADIATOR FLUID MIXING WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY DENIED ANY CLAIM FOR REPAIRS. NISSAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE AND SETTLED THE CLAIMS FOR A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE. THEY MADE IT BASICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOVER ANY DAMAGES BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE A DEDUCTIBLE OF $3000…
2005 nissan Pathfinder powertrain problems
moderate 369 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
369
Recalls
0
Crashes
5
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
OVER HEATS, COOLENT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT
TRANSMISSION FAILURE JUST BOUGHT TRUCK FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS FOR DAUGHTER NEVER DROVE IT FIRST PUTTING ON THE HIGHWAY TRUCK STOP MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IN THE FAST LANE CAUSE TWO ACCIDENT GET IT PULL HOME THEN FOUND OUT ITS THE TRANSMISSION AN ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ONCE IT COOLS OFF IT WILL DRIVE TILL THE TRANSMISSION GETS HOT THEN IT STOPS WORKING AGAIN
TRANSMISSION RADIATOR RUPTURED. COOLANT FLOODED TRANSMISSION AND DESTROYED TRANSMISSION. THIS RUPTURED OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE.
I OWN A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE ENGINE COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE AN INTERNAL PIECE BROKE. THE ONLY REASON I NOTICED ANY ISSUE IS THE REVERSE GEAR BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE ENGAGING. AFTER VISITING TWO MECHANICS, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RADIATOR/COOLANT SYSTEM AND PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALTHOUGH NISSAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, THEY REFUSED TO DO…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTU…
THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER SLIPS AND JERKS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SLIPPAGE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE IN TRAFFIC INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN ACCIDENT. THE RAPID JERKING OF THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL ON ITS OWN OR FRIGHTEN OR DISORIENT THE DRIVER CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
VIBRATION FROM REAR WHEEL BEGINS AT 40 MPH AND INCREASES WITH VEHICLE SPEED. TIRES AND U JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED - PROBLEM PERSISTS. IDENTICAL TO TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR ISSUES DESCRIBED IN SEVERAL CONSUMER FORUMS. I AM RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 nissan Pathfinder?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 369 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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