Nissan / Pathfinder / 2005
2005 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Owners have filed 1,560 complaints about the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 37.9% of them — the clear leader, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 18.8%.
Complaints1,560
Crashes21
Fires11
Injuries18
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Power train 37.9% · 591
Engine and engine cooling 18.8% · 294
Fuel system, gasoline 12.2% · 191
Engine 9.2% · 144
Electrical system 4.2% · 66
Fuel system, other 3.9% · 61
Unknown or other 2.6% · 40
Vehicle speed control 2.0% · 31
Severity
Of those complaints, 21 describe a crash, 11 describe a fire, 18 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 24 model years of the Nissan Pathfinder in this data, 2005 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 21 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 93,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Transmission shaking at 40-45 mph. Is constant until transmission changes gears. Nissan replaced the transmission for a fee. After replacement the new transmission experiences the same symptoms. Took it in again and they said the radiator is leaking into the transmission. Pathfinder is in service and I have to pay for the parts and labor. Reading the complaints this is a known issue and should be a recall. Power train · reported at 62,500 miles
My 2005 Nissan Pathfinder suffered a radiator leak which leaked fluid into the transmission. While driving the car the engine started running at a high rpm while the vehicle suddenly lost the ability to drive despite the car running and the gas pedal being depressed. Then the transmission "kicked in" and the car lurched forward until the issue happened again and the car completely broke down on the road. Power train · reported at 98,000 miles
Apparently Nissan has a faulty radiator which in turn ruined my transmission. My vehicle has been serviced only at Nissan, and I have taken very good care of it. There was no warning, no indication that something was wrong until it started giving me problems shifting gears. I had it towed to Nissan just to find out that the radiator ruined my transmission and now will cost close to 6,000 dollars in repair. Power train · reported at 91,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…