TRANSMISSON INNER COOLER TANK IN RADIATOR LEAKS , GETTING WATER IN TRANSMISSON. RUINING TRANSMISSION /COMPUTER ETC. HAD TO BE REBUIT. NISSAN WANTED OVER $5,OOO. GOT IT REPAIRED AT OTHER SHOP OVER $3,000 WITH STILL HAVING TO GET IT PROGRAMMED AT NISSAN. POOR DESIGN AND FAULTY TANKS IN RADIATOR. I HAD SHOP PLACE EXTERNAL TRANSMISSON RADIATOR AND NEW RADIATOR TO NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. NISSAN…
2008 Nissan Pathfinder powertrain problems
moderate 133 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
133
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
AT JUST OVER 100K MILES (101406) MY RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND RUINED THE TRANSMISSION. NISSAN WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR AT ALL BECAUSE I AM 1406 OUT OF THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. SPEAKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALER THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE FROM THE SERVICE SIDE TO PREVENT IT.
CAR BEGAN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING. REPAIR SHOP REPORTS TRANSMISSION FLUID AND COOLANT INTERMIXING, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF BOTH THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION.
RADIATOR LEAKED AND MIXED WITH TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION OIL LOOKS LIKE STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE. GEARS NOW GRIND WHEN SHIFTING DURING NORMAL DRIVING.
TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING IN FIRST GEAR. HAS WHEN INTO LIMP MODE MANY TIMES. HAVE HAD THE FLUID CHANGE A COUPLE TIMES. ONCE IT WAS SLIPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. HAD IT REMOVE AND REBUILT. ANTIFREEZE WAS FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION. HOW MANY REPORTS BEFORE THEY RECALL THESE VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE GEARS WERE SLIPPING AND NOT CHANGING NORMALLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH PROVIDED A TEMPORARY REMEDY. A SECOND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND INSTALLED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT C…
STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE-LIKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR INFILTRATED THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING CATATROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM WAS WIDELY PUBLICIZED IN OTHER STATES BUT NOT CALIFORNIA. I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE CAR'S FAILURE TO ACCELERATE WHILE ENTERING ONTO THE FREEWAY. SHAME ON NISSAN NOT TO EXTEND WARNINGS NATIONWIDE.
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THE RADIATOR FLUID IS MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE, AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
MY RADITOR LEAKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND A WEEK LATER I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE MADE A VIBRATING MOTION. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ONTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 133 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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