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2005 Nissan Pathfinder Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,050 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder, most often about the transmission (56% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Pathfinder model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2005 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Transmission
585 complaints · 56%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive), driveline.
While driving our 2005 Pathfinder on the hwy I noticed smoke ( a lot)coming from the back of the vehicle. The car was also losing rpms (like the tranny was slipping) the shop said the radiator leaked into the transmission and fried the transmission ($7000).Nissan here locally stated they have seen this problem before…
1) car started to stutter at first, then kick, then buck when hitting 60mph. Then it started doing it at 30mph, 45mph and again at 60mph. 2) it won't automatically shift (yes it is an automatic) in 3 or more gears once the car has been warmed up 3) car was taken to dealer for diagnostic (at their request) and they…
Engine
433 complaints · 41%Half of these problems showed up before 99,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine, exhaust system.
While driving our 2005 Pathfinder on the hwy I noticed smoke ( a lot)coming from the back of the vehicle. The car was also losing rpms (like the tranny was slipping) the shop said the radiator leaked into the transmission and fried the transmission ($7000).Nissan here locally stated they have seen this problem before…
My 2005 Nissan Pathfinder is having the same transmission problems that so many others are having. It seems that Nissan had a defective batch of radiators that has let coolant leak into the transmission causing vibrations, hesitation and eventually failure.we have three foster children and one of them is an infant…
Fuel system
276 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
2005 Nissan Pathfinder. Fuel gauge reads zero, half tank or somewhere in-between when the tank is full. Service engine light comes on and will not go out unless the fuel gauge starts reading correctly (which it sometimes does). This is a known problem. Nissan has even come out with a service bulletin ntb07-069a that…
My fuel gage is not working and it is estimated to me that it will cost $600 to get it fixed and the real bummer of it is that I cannot get my new tag registration while my check engine light is on. I can keep up with the mileage but it is a real pain in the neck. I have several friends that have pathfinders and…
Electrical
66 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
My 2005 Nissan Pathfinder shuttered excessively when decelerating from the interstate and from that point forward had difficulty shifting into higher gears. I immediately took it to a mechanic and was told the transmission had gone bad. In the process of replacing the transmission, they discovered the radiator leaking…
Car either stalls out, turns off, or rapidly decelerates at random times. Transmission not shifting or staying in gear properly causing near collisions on several accounts, stalling in the middle of intersections, etc... Mechanic said coolant in transmission and transmission fluid in coolant system. Seems to be…
Other or unspecified
40 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 111,000 miles.
Radiator can fail and allow transmission fluid to mix eventually destroy the transmission. Ive checked the coolant and it has turned a milky pink color. Appearently, there are alot of owners with the same problem.
Was exiting a side street onto a high traffic road turning left, crossing oncoming traffic. Vehicle lurched forward then lost all forward acceleration. Leaving me in oncoming traffic lane. A separate vehicle nearly impacted the front driver door of my vehicle, sliding to a stop. Upon vehicle inspection at the local…
Speed control
31 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 106,000 miles.
I was driving with my 15 year old daughter from my home in sanford, fl to clermont, fl to visit my mom at the nursing home. While I was on the expressway 408 the vehicle began to stall and bog down causing the vehicles behind me to slowed down abruptly almost causing a chain reaction accident. I was terrified. I…
Vehicle revved erratically, then jerked then cut off . Took vehicle to dealer who diagnosed the problem as "radiator full of oil and transmission fluid and smells burnt-fluids mixing-need transmission.
Air bags
22 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 117,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the front driver side curtain air bag inadvertently deployed. After the failure occurred, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was driven with caution to the destination. There was one injry that did not require medical…
The supplemental front air bag warning light stays on after 7sec when the car is started. The front passenger air bag status light stays off even when there is a passenger occupying the seat. Will have this check out at a Nissan dealership but would like to have this year model included in the recent recall.
Brakes
17 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
While driving on a snow in 4WD covered secondary road I applied my brakes and they locked up and never released, leaving the car stranded in the travel lane. I did try to force the car over to the shoulder and ended up breaking my front driveshaft and differential. The problem was a failed ABS actuator that the dealer…
Tl contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving at speeds of 45 MPH the vehicle began vibrating abnormally and shaking violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the failure was due to a defective ABS sensor which was replaced. While the vehicle was in possession of the dealer, the vehicle…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ECM relay inside the ipdm assembly. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 6, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: This issue could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front czs with a redesigned sensor. The recall began on january 26, 2009. Owners in the other states will receive extended warranty coverage for the sensor to 10 years. These owners will be notified of the warranty extension by mail and will receive a sticker to place in their warranty booklet explaining the extended warranty coverage. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling 242,720 my 2005-2009 pathfinder, frontier and xterra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. In those areas of the country which use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, a mixture of snow/water and salt can enter into the front crash zone sensor (czs) housing. If this occurs, the czs may internally rust resulting in a signal interruption. If this happens, the red air bag warning light will illuminate to alert the vehicle operator.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Transmission failures
Summary
On february 29, 2012 the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into my 2005-2010 nissan pathfinder, frontier, and xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.it will also be published in the federal register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfa
Questions about the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (585 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); engine (433 complaints, typically around 99,000 miles); fuel system (276 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 28, 2010 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Nissan Pathfinder?
- It is the most complained-about Pathfinder model year since 2000, with 1,050 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.