Problems · by component

2008 Nissan Pathfinder engine problems

61 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder cite engine, 19% of all 328 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
61
19% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Bought vehicle I’m second owner it was sold as is from a dealership with airbag lights on after a certain amount miles check engine light came on said I had e -regular voltage to fuel injectors 1 gear started slipping then loss of power when accelerating next revolutionary trans-sensor went and now when I start the vehicle the A/T ECU Fuse keeps blowing out and the radiator coolant has transmission fluid mixing into it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2022Power train, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11486041
“Contamination from the radiator mixed with the transmission cooler. The car is now inoperable due to this design flaw. This causes the transmission to be extremely sluggish and unresponsive when run, oftentimes the engine won't start or crank due to a blown fuse related to this issue. The slow acceleration causes safety issues when pulling out into traffic. The vehicle was inspected by a licensed Illinois auto rebuilder. The four-wheel-drive indicator is stuck to on although the vehicle is in two-wheel drive and service engine light appeared.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 1, 2022EngineODI 11445790
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PLACING HER VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT AND HER SON EXITED THE VEHICLE, TO MANUALLY STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACK AND HITTING A BUILDING. THE CONTACT THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE COIL BLOCK HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AT START-UP. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS, THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED A HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2021Power train, EngineODI 11415237
“FAULTY RADIATOR. LEAKING COOLANT INTO MY TRANSMISSION. NOTICED LOSING COOLANT AND SMELLED RADIATOR FLUID AFTER DRIVING. DID RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM WAS ABLE TO FIND THE FAULTY RADIATOR PART NUMBER WHICH HAPPENED TO MATCH THE ONE I HAD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2021Unknown or other, EngineODI 11407171
“I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY AND THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A WIERD NOISE AND THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE LOSING POWER AND SKIPPING GEARS, I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS A MIXTURE OF OF WATER AND SOMETHING ELSE, LOOKED LIKE MILK COMMING OUT THE RADAR AREA MY CAR ONLY HAS 153000 MILES”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2021Unknown or other, EngineODI 11395025
“PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, NO POWER NO LIGHTS. IT HAD SHUT OFF ON ME ABOUT 1 WEEK AGO IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2019Air bags, EngineODI 11277655

Showing 6 of 61 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.