Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Nissan Pathfinder owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. While the vehicle was at a stop sign with the brake pedal depressed, the engine revved and the vehicle accelerated forward into traffic and suddenly stopped. The maintenance, 4wd, and check engine warning indicators illuminated. Also, the gear shifter symbols were blank. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the transmission fluid had a burning odor. The transmission was replaced, but the failure recurred two days later. Additionally, while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle became stuck in first gear. The vehicle was towed to the same independent mechanic. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 131,000.
I bought the vehicle having no idea of this issue, I didn't investigate because this is our 7th Nissan and they have been good cars. I was driving 75 MPH to work at rush hour and the trans started letting loose and shuddering so bad I had to pull over onto the should and that's just as safe as driving this thing. Paid a lot of money to have it sitting in the driveway. But everyone that asks why I tell them because Nissan doesn't care about their loyal customers. We intended for our 14 y/o to drive it but no way in the world would I let that happen
I started having trouble with my car exceeding as I would push the gas petal. This started happening around 140,000 miles on the vehicle. I took in to a mechanic who stated that it May be the radiator. I purchased a new radiator and as he put it in he said it looked as if the fluids were mixed. I put all new fluids in the car. Still I couldn't get the car to exceed past 30 MPH. I parked the car because of the cost in repair. I finally took it to the Nissan dealer who confirmed that it was my transmission that was gone in the car.
I began to hear a noise and hesitation in gear change. Told tires but continue to hear. Had a oil change at twin city Nissan. Rep advice coolant in transmission would charge $3000 to repair and warranty on radiator expires soon. Radiator and transmission and fluids flushed for $3000 cost to me. Contact 1800 Nissan 1 and told over 368 complaints its manufacturing defect he advice can't. Help.
It all started with the radiator and the only reason I even knew something was wrong was that my gears were switching weird. I took the car into the dealership, they told me that I needed to get a new radiator and transmission b/c my radiator fluid was leaking into my transmission. They quoted me at $6000. I then took my car to get a new radiator and transmission flush, it helped a little. My car finally gave out 2 weeks ago. While driving down a side street, thenall of a sudden the transmission wouldn't switch gears. I tried pressing the gas to go and the transmission would not go. The car was still running, however I couldn't grab any gears to go. I got it towed to a transmission shop, they told me that my radiator fluid is leaking into my transmission which made my transmission lock up. …
I purchased my 2005 Nissan Pathfinder in March of 2011. Had done great for awhile. Replace a exhaust sensor in August of 2012. Always smelled hot after being driven, like something electrical but could never pinpoint it. Then around November 2012 noticed a delayed reaction in engaging when going into reverse and a slight hesitation coming out of park into drive. Didn't think much about it at time. But has since gotten worse, shutters from time to time driving, and hesitates more often. I called the local Nissan service department today, jan 24, the manager there told me I should call the Nissan consumer office because the company was aware of the issue. So I did. The first person I started talking to hung up on me as soon as I mentioned my vehicles make and model. I called back got someone else, although she didn't hang up on me, she was no help. …
All of my experience with my transmission failure took place on the road while in heavy traffic which was unsafe and scary July 2014 - present. First, the truck developed a "bucking" movement whenever it was driven. The bucking movement is similar to a car that is trying to shift gears like a manual car, but the transition between gears was not smooth. Gradually and unexpectedly, while driving, the car started making revving noises like a race car, while the speed is only 20mph. The speed dropped and would not accelerate regardless of how hard you are pressing on the gas. To decrease the revving noise you cannot drive above 40mph. As always I rely on the dealership to service my car, and at first the diagnostic test did not show the coolant leaking into the transmission. …
The 2005 Nissan Pathfinder was going down the road and it began to hard shift. The revs would go high and then the car would shift very hard. Then while going down the road at about 55mph the car shifted into neutral. The car would not engage any gears and I had to pull of the road. Once the vehicle was stopped it would not engage any gears. I tried to reset from park and still nothing. I turned off the car and then back on,then I placed the car into "d" drive at which time it had a long delay before engaging the gear hard. Then I rolled off slowly and again, it reved up high before going into the next gear. As soon as I got to about 20 MPH it shifted into neutral before coasting to a stop. I had to repeat the off/on procedure and keep it under 20 MPH before I got to a safe place. The car continue to go down the road between 15-20 MPH at high revs in order to get it to a mechanic shop. …
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 slowly made my way off the expressway onto state road 50 then the vehicle would not go at all. I called my husband and he told me to put my hazard lights on turn the vehicle off and then try again. This worked but I was only able to go 20 MPH, however the speed limit was 50 MPH. At one point I was on a hill and the vehicle began rolling backwards almost crashing into the vehicle behind me. I was able to make it to the nursing home where I parked the vehicle then my husband came and towed it back home where it now sits, we have to hold Nissan responsible for their flaws. …
Suddenly the car no longer accelerated. Nothing was coming or showing me that something was wrong. Stopped at a gas station and turned off the engine and on again then the "service engine soon" light came on. Tried to accelerate but nothing, everything was running smoothly but the car was just not accelerating. Suddenly it started going really slow but 500 feet on the road I had to pull over since the speed went no more than 20mph on a 40mph road. I tried pushing the gas pedal to the limit but nothing. The day before I went to Nissan dealership for a diagnostics which I was charged $105 for. They tried to get me to trade in my car for a new one. They recommended I get the oil pressure switch repair as well as something with the coolant flush and transmission flush. I was going go take it tomorrow but this happened I don't know what to do. …
Acceleration complaints in other Pathfinder years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder, 3% of the model year's 1,050 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2005 Nissan Pathfinder acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Nissan Pathfinder acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 106,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.