Problems · by component

2005 Nissan Pathfinder engine and engine cooling problems

290 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder cite engine and engine cooling, 28% of all 1,050 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
290
28% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (MELLOY NISSAN, 7707 LOMAS BLVD NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87110, (505) 545-6420) FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND INQUIRED ABOUT FAILURES WITH THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE DEALER FOUND NO FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED AND THE FLUID SEEPED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE REPAIR COST WOULD EXCEED $5,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,957.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2018Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 11121669
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE RPMS ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, BUT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLOODED WITH WATER AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10938586
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO PENETRATE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTED RADIATOR REPLACEMENT PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE RADIATOR COOLANT PENETRATED THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10896222
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000. UPDATED 12/01/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10895012
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION, AND TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10825882
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10794699

Showing 6 of 290 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.

Engine and engine coolingReported Oct 28, 2010NHTSA 10V517000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 5, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.