Nissan Pathfinder 2005–2012 problems by year and mileage
3rd generation (R51)
NHTSA data through 18 October 20262,921 complaints, 2,568 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 200590kmedian
- 200693kmedian
- 200799kmedian
- 2008107kmedian
- 2009—too few
- 2010—too few
- 201146kmedian
- 2012—too few
The 2005 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 90,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,050
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2005
- Transmission and driveline585 reports · median 100,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system290 reports · median 92,000 mi
- Fuel system186 reports · median 64,000 mi
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling · Air bags — frontal
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2006 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 93,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 837
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2006
- Transmission and driveline450 reports · median 102,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system185 reports · median 100,000 mi
- Engine147 reports · median 108,000 mi
Recall areas Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline — storage · Air bags — frontal
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 99,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 561
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2007
- Transmission and driveline337 reports · median 107,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system128 reports · median 102,000 mi
- Engine114 reports · median 105,000 mi
Recall areas Air bags — frontal
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 107,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 328
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2008
- Transmission and driveline155 reports · median 113,000 mi
- Engine61 reports · median 110,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system51 reports · median 97,000 mi
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Equipment — electrical · Fuel system, gasoline — storage
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 37
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2009
- Airbag system11 reports
- Transmission and driveline8 reports
- Engine7 reports
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Equipment — electrical
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 40
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2010
- Airbag system11 reports
- Transmission and driveline11 reports
- Engine6 reports
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Equipment — electrical · Suspension — front
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 46,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 45
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2011
- Airbag system12 reports
- Engine10 reports
- Transmission and driveline7 reports
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Engine and engine cooling
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 23
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2012
- Engine5 reports
- Suspension5 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise5 reports
Recall areas Suspension — front · Engine and engine cooling
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2008; earliest: the 2011, and the 2008 is 3 years older (part of the gap is age). 3 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2005–2012 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 95,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 143,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 2,568
- Recalls
- 9
Most reported
- Transmission and driveline53.2% of complaints · median 103,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system21.7% of complaints · median 99,000 mi
- Engine16.9% of complaints · median 107,000 mi
Documented problems
- Radiator / Transmission2005–2010
- Engine (timing Chain)2005–2012
- Exhaust / Emissions2005–2012
Owners filed 2,921 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005–2012 Nissan Pathfinder; the transmission and driveline leads with 53.2% of them, and half of the 2,568 that record an odometer reading came by 95,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 71,000 to 120,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2005–2012 Nissan Pathfinder last?
On the 2005–2012 Nissan Pathfinder, half of the 2,568 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 95,000 miles and 90% by 143,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
199 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 20 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Pathfinder reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Nissan Pathfinder 2005–2012 · 2,568 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
5,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 166 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 20 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 48,000
- 25%
- 71,000
- Median
- 95,000
- 75%
- 120,000
- 90%
- 143,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 36 | 1.4% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 14 | 0.5% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 22 | 0.9% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 10 | 0.4% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 16 | 0.6% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 9 | 0.4% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 20 | 0.8% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 36 | 1.4% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 55 | 2.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 60 | 2.3% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 85 | 3.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 72 | 2.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 87 | 3.4% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 76 | 3.0% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 101 | 3.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 114 | 4.4% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 158 | 6.2% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 148 | 5.8% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 166 | 6.5% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 139 | 5.4% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 165 | 6.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 113 | 4.4% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 118 | 4.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 107 | 4.2% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 116 | 4.5% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 77 | 3.0% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 83 | 3.2% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 63 | 2.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 53 | 2.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 50 | 1.9% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 40 | 1.6% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 35 | 1.4% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 17 | 0.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 19 | 0.7% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 15 | 0.6% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 18 | 0.7% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 18 | 0.7% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 7 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 6 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 20 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Pathfinder problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Nissan Pathfinder 2005–2012
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Fuel system419 reportsmedian 60,000middle half 48,000–80,000
- Electrical system159 reportsmedian 90,000middle half 65,000–119,000
- Fuel and propulsion system197 reportsmedian 98,000middle half 76,000–120,000
- Engine and its cooling system633 reportsmedian 99,000middle half 81,000–119,000
- Transmission and driveline1,555 reportsmedian 103,000middle half 87,000–124,000
- Engine494 reportsmedian 107,000middle half 91,000–130,000
- Problems owners could not categorise155 reportsmedian 110,000middle half 90,000–129,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 1,555 | 53.2% | 103,000 | 87,000–124,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 633 | 21.7% | 99,000 | 81,000–119,000 |
| Engine | 494 | 16.9% | 107,000 | 91,000–130,000 |
| Fuel system | 419 | 14.3% | 60,000 | 48,000–80,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 197 | 6.7% | 98,000 | 76,000–120,000 |
| Electrical system | 159 | 5.4% | 90,000 | 65,000–119,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 155 | 5.3% | 110,000 | 90,000–129,000 |
| Airbag system | 138 | 4.7% | 102,000 | 53,000–141,000 |
| Fuel system, other | 105 | 3.6% | 59,000 | 49,000–75,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 86 | 2.9% | 110,000 | 91,000–131,000 |
Known problems with the 2005–2012 Pathfinder
Radiator / Transmission 2005–2010
The internal transmission fluid cooler inside the radiator can fail, allowing engine coolant to mix with automatic transmission fluid. The resulting emulsion (widely called the 'strawberry milkshake of death') destroys the transmission. Subject of a class action settlement and Nissan warranty extension covering the affected Pathfinder/Xterra/Frontier population.
Engine (timing Chain) 2005–2012
VQ40DE timing chain guide and tensioner wear producing a cold-start rattle and, if ignored, chain skip.
Exhaust / Emissions 2005–2012
Exhaust manifold and catalytic converter failure on the VQ40DE.
Before you buy a 2005–2012 Pathfinder: the 3-minute check
Generated from 2,568 mileage-tagged complaints, 9 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 9 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check radiator / transmission on 2005–2010 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check engine (timing chain) on 2005–2012 cars.
- Check exhaust / emissions on 2005–2012 cars.
- Years differ here: from 23 to 1,050 complaints a year — compare them by model year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Pathfinder problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi17% below | At 90k mi44% below | At 120k mi75% below | At 150k mi92% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 87,000–124,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 81,000–119,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 91,000–130,000 | later | later | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel system | 48,000–80,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 76,000–120,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 65,000–119,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 90,000–129,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Nissan Pathfinder 2005–2012 · 2,568 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 17% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 44% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 75% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 92% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2005–2012 Nissan Pathfinder recalls (9)
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (3), the suspension (2), the engine and its cooling system (2) (why one area can repeat).
Feb 2023 · 2008–2011 · Air BagsA detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
What can happen. A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944…
Sep 2012 · 2012 · SuspensionIf the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Xterra two-wheel drive vehicles manufactured from June 19, 2012, through July 12, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with front wheel hubs that may not meet the design hardness…
What can happen. If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replaced the left and right side front wheel hub assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on October 22, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer…
Dec 2011 · 2011–2012 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the…
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 Infiniti fx, model year 2012 Infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 Nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 Nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 Nissan Pathfinder, and model year 2012 Nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts…
What can happen. If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Oct 2010 · 2005–2006 · Engine and Engine CoolingThis could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
The free 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.
Sep 2010 · 2008–2010 · EquipmentOverheated batteries could result in a fire.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain vehicles that were equipped with a garmin nuvi model 750 navigation system. The batteries contained in the affected gps units can overheat.
What can happen. Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on…
May 2010 · 2010 · SuspensionIf the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 titan, armada, qx56, frontier, xterra, and Pathfinder vehicles manufactured from november 19, 2009 through march 3, 2010. The lower control link assembly has two cylindrical collars forming the inboard attachment…
What can happen. If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on may 20, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Mar 2010 · 2010 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash, the passenger front air bag deployment trajectory might be affected.
The defect. Nissan has notified NHTSA of a defect in certain model year 2010 frontier, Pathfinder, and xterra vehicles manufactured from february 22, 2010 to march 13, 2010. On some of the potentially affected vehicles, the fasteners securing the passenger front air bag…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, the passenger front air bag deployment trajectory might be affected. The fasteners could possibly come out of the steering column positioning bracket increasing the risk of a…
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the steering column and the passenger front air bag fasteners and any missing fasteners will be replaced and all loose fasteners will be retightened to the proper torque…
Mar 2010 · 2006, 2008 · Fuel System, GasolineThis could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2006 and model year 2008 frontier, xterra and Pathfinder vehicles. The molded fuel tank shells can deform, causing the fuel sender float arm to contact an embossment molded into the tank shell causing the instrument…
What can happen. This could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel level sending unit inside the fuel tank with a new one that has a modified float arm. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to…
Dec 2008 · 2005–2009 · Air BagsThis issue could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in a crash…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. 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.
The free 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…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 2,921 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 49 (1.7%)
- Fires
- 10
- Injury reports
- 28
- Fatality reports
- 1
Pathfinder problems by model year
The 2005 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,050, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2012 the fewest, 23. A typical year drew about 186.
That makes the 2005 stand out at roughly 5.6 times a typical year (what a yearly count can and cannot say).
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,050 | 954 | 90,000 | Transmission and driveline (585) | 2 |
| 2006 | 837 | 741 | 93,000 | Transmission and driveline (450) | 3 |
| 2007 | 561 | 498 | 99,000 | Transmission and driveline (337) | 1 |
| 2008 | 328 | 277 | 107,000 | Transmission and driveline (155) | 4 |
| 2009 | 37 | 29 | under 30 reports | Airbag system (11) | 3 |
| 2010 | 40 | 26 | under 30 reports | Airbag system (11) | 4 |
| 2011 | 45 | 31 | 46,000 | Airbag system (12) | 2 |
| 2012 | 23 | 12 | under 30 reports | Engine (5) | 2 |
What Pathfinder owners reported
The contact stated that the company owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the fuel gauge displayed a full tank, then suddenly displayed that the fuel was empty, improperly displaying the fuel level. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that the fuel level sensor was high causing the fuel…
2006 · 130,000 miles · Fuel system
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of transmission failure during the gear shifting. The contact stated that the gear shifter would remain in neutral. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an…
2006 · 128,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he noticed that the rear tires were abnormally damaged. The contact stated that upon further inspection, he noticed that the subframe was severely corroded and fractured. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided…
2012 · 133,000 miles · Body structure
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed the front passenger’s side air bag was defective and needed to be replaced. The air bag was not replaced due to the…
2005 · 175,000 miles · Airbag system
Built from 2,568 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Pathfinder generations
- Pathfinder 1996–2004 713 reports with mileage, most about the suspension
- Pathfinder 2013–2020 1,520 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline