Problems · by component
2005 Nissan Pathfinder engine problems
144 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder cite engine, 14% of all 1,050 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
144
14% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. The check engine warning light was illuminated along with other several unknown warning lights. Additionally, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
“While driving on US 95 in DC, MD and NJ, when the traffic became stop and go, my SUV could not get into 1st gear to go. The engine revved, the car shook and made noises. Several times I came close to being rear-ended. This problem also occurs when starting after a red light, when accelerating on a highway (usually 3rd or 4th gear), and when turning left on a green arrow. Not only has it caused many close calls with being rear-ended, but it has also incited road rage in people who are driving behind me. Now I'm told I need a new transmission and also a new coolant system which leaks due to a fault in the system known by Nissan, and pollutes the transmission. This is a terrible safety threat and Nissan should own up to it and pay for the repairs.”
“IN THE LAST 4 YEARS I'VE REPLACED EMISSIONS SYSTEM BRAKES ROTORS AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM EXHAUST SYSTEM RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS VIBRATING SHAKING CUTTING OUT LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES AND EMISSIONS SYSTEM FAILED.”
“AL ENCENDER EL CARRO Y CALENTAR PARA SALIR EL VEHCULO ENCIENDE UNA LUZ Y EN MARCHA EL SOLO SE APAGA EN MEDIO DE LAS CALLES O CARRETERAS. LOS MECANISMOS LO CHEQUEO Y JUNTO AL SERVICIO DE SEGURO ELLOS SACARON LA CONCLUSIN LA TRANSMISIN CALIENTA LOS CABLES QUE VAN AL MOTOR QUE ESTO ES UN PROBLEMA DE FBRICA Y POR ESTO YO TUVE QUE REBELDA LA TRANSMISIN POR $4.000.00 Y EL SEGURO ME AUMENTO DE $1000S A $ 4000S. NO PUEDO USA MI CARRO QUE PAGUE $20.000. FUI AL DILER DE LA NISSAN Y ELLOS ME DIJERON TENGO QUE PAGAR $165.00 PARA EMPEZAR Y DESPUS ME DIRN E CUANTO ME CUENTA EL TOTAL DEL ARREGLO. NO OBSTANTE CON EL DIAGNSTICO DEL INGENIERO DE MECNICA DEL SEGURO STATE FARM Y LOS 3 MECANISMOS QUE ESTUVIERON EN ARREGLO 1 DE MOTOR Y ELCTRICO Y TRANSMISIN. HE GASTADO MUCHO DINERO Y NO PUEDEN HACER NADA NI USAR MI VEHICULO. EN QUE USTEDES ME PUEDEN AYUDAR POR AMOR A DIOS?”
“VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO FROM TIME TO TIME, WILL HESITATE OR REFUSE TO CRANK/START. NOTICED A RECALL IN 2010 FOR ECM, WHICH IS DOCUMENTED TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN 2014. HOWEVER THESE EXACT SAME ISSUES ARE TAKING PLACE WITH THE VEHICLE NOW IN 2020, DOES THIS MEAN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED WITH YET ANOTHER FAULTY ECM. THIS VEHICLE PLACES MY FAMILY IN DANGER WHILE DRIVING.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKE LINES. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEAK DAMAGED THE BATTERY. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED BRAKE LINE AND REPLACED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SECOND FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO ANDERSON NISSAN (3842 AZ-95, LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ 86404) WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A LOOSE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH THE BATTERY RELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO THE CONTACT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT DAY. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED ONCE AGAIN HOWEVER, THE BATTERY FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY DISCOVERED A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DIAGNOSED WITH ENGINE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS…”
Showing 6 of 144 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.