TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON I95 IN CONNECTICUT ,10PM AT NIGHT, AT 55MPH , WITH FAMILY IN CAR. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOT CONTACT VEHICLE OWNERS TO WARN OF THE PROBLEM OR OFFER SUGGESTED REPAIR. REPLACING THE RADIATOR WOULD HAVE BEEN A $300.00 FIX. INSTEAD NISSAN OFFERED NO WARNING AND THE EXTREMELY DANGE…
2006 nissan Pathfinder powertrain problems
moderate 285 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
285
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUIDS ARE INTERMINGLING AND HAS CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. IT HAS RUINED THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL.
THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FLUID MIXING AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I SEE THAT YOU HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND YOU CHOOSE NOT TO HELP THE CONSUMERS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CONTINUING PROBLEM AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISN'T FAIR TO THE CONSUMER BECAUSE THIS IS A FAULTY ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR.
ON AUGUST 19TH WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO SMOKE COMING FROM MY ENGINE AND NOTICED MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE READING THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND OBSERVED, WHAT I NOW KNOW WAS, COOLANT VAPORIZING FROM MY ENGINE. AT THIS TIME ALL THE MECHANICS I CALLED WHERE WRAPPING UP FOR THE DAY, SO I HAD IT TOWED AND TAKEN TO A LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE TH…
WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GROWLING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT 60+ MPH HAD DIFFICULTY AVOIDING MY AUTOMOBILE. *TR
I BROUGHT MY 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO CHECK OUT A COMPLETELY UNRELATED ISSUE WHEN I WAS MADE AWARE THAT MY CAR HAD THE PROBLEM OF A CRACKED RADIATOR THAT CONTAMINATES THE TRANSMISSION FLUID THAT COULD LEAD TO MAJOR PROBLEMS IF NOT CORRECTED. SINCE I HAVE LESS THAN 90,000 MILES, I'D HAVE TO PAY A CO-PAY OF $2500 OUT OF POCKET. EVIDENTLY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISS…
THE ENGINE STARTS UP BUT WILL NOT SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR. *TR
RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS MIXED CAUSING MASSIVE RADIATOR BLOW OUT AND REPLACEMENT. . COST OF $2000 THEN AFTER BEING TOLD THE TRANSMISSION SURVIDE AND LIMITED DRIVING NOW A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER AND ABOUT A YEAR LATER NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT NO REVERSE AND ONLY ONE FORWARD GEAR!
WHILE IN GEAR, TRAVELING APPROX. 40MPH, VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING WITHOUT WARNING (NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO OVERHEATING) AND HAD TO COAST DURING HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC, WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES TO SUDDENLY SLOW OR STOP. CAR WAS TOWED & CODE EVALUATION WAS PERFORMED. RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR WHICH LEAKED COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION FOR $5347.52.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2006 nissan Pathfinder?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 285 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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