Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Nissan Pathfinder owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact noticed that there was unknown fluid leaking underneath the vehicle onto the ground. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact checked the radiator and noticed that the coolant was leaking from the radiator. An independent mechanic was contacted and stated that it sounded as if the transmission might have cracked; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 125,000. 02/09/2023 - NHTSA #23E-012 Recall #PC948 PTH FTR XTR AB EMB NTB-23-08 Status: Remedy Not Yet Available
I request that the dot NHTSA investigate manufacturer defects in 2007 Nissan pathfinders cooling system and transmission as unexpected failure relates to driver safety. My 2007 Pathfinder with 90,000 miles caused a major collision with a deer as the transmission began to fail. Driving home, at around 40mph, up a hill (engine under load @ 2,200-2,500 RPM) the whole car began suddenly to "shudder"- similar to the feeling/ sound of riding over highway rumble strips. This resulted in a loss of control over the speed of the vehicle and a noticeable distraction leaving me unprepared as a large buck ran out from the tree line attempting to cross the road- the buck did not make it across. As I have found in my research afterwards, there is a widely known manufacturer defect in which engine coolant mixes with transmission fluid. …
We purchased our 2007 Nissan Pathfinder on May 21 of this year. Today makes 39 days we've had it. On the 32 day we noticed it was having some roughness in the transmission when changing gears. It felt like we were running over really rough roads or rumble strips. It continued to get worse the longer we drove it. Then around a week ago I put it in reverse and it continued to roll forward. I immediately drove home to inform my husband. When he checked the transmission fluid it appeared to be empty. When he further checked it and cleaned the dip stick it was a tanish colored liquid that was showing up. I went to google and found that many others with this same or similar vehicle was having the same problem, and that the problem was a leak in a radiator hose that runs thru the transmission and leaks fluids back and forth. …
I was driving my 2007 Pathfinder with my 3 children in the back when the tires suddenly seemed to be slipping. I wasn't sure what was going on until I was on a big hill and car suddenly wouldn't go into gear. The transmission had blown on me, almost instantaneoulsy with little to no warning signs. The car started rolling backwards on the hill and luckily nobody was behind us. I hit the breaks and stopped the car. It had to be towed and I was stunned when my mechanic said the transmission was dead and it would cost around 3K to fix! "there was only 85K miles on the car and the transmission just blows like that," I asked him? He told me that this was a problem very common with some Nissan cars. …
We purchased a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder from carmax in pompano beach fl in 2012, during that time the car had 55,000 miles on it. We ask for the history of the vehicle and was told that everything was good with no issues, however a few years later I was driving and my car became inoperable with my 3 children in the car when I took it to the mechanic he expressed to me that this was a common issue with this particular vehicle and that there was even a lawsuit, but the company is not going to do anything. When I researched this information, it was discovered that these particular vehicles had an extended warrant on them up to 100,000 mile for a faulty radiator that leaks into the transmission ultimately destroying the transmission which was the case with us. …
I had noticed fluid leaking from under the front /right portion of my vehicle after I parked. I opened the hood and the reserve cap to the radiator had come loose. After letting my vehicle cool, I inspected both the reserve tank and radiator and noticed the fluid was now a milky/frothy substance. After some detective work, I learned that this is a common issue with pathfinders from 2005- through 2010 that Nissan has ignored to fix. The transmission fluid cooler in the radiator assembly "fails" causing contamination to the internal transmission components ,and damage to the internal transmission computer. There are no warning signs up to or just prior to the failures. …
I started having the problem with my 2007 Nissan Pathfinder on April 6, 2017 while I was driving home from work. It was shuddering and it wouldn't move when I stepped on the accelerator or put it in reverse. There were no warning signs before. I had it towed to my mechanic 45 min. Away. Later that day I learned that the radiator had broken and the water and gone into the transmission and destroyed the transmission. Someone told me that they had that same problem with their Nissan so I looked online and lo and behold...this was a big issue with Nissan. The Nissan dealer referred me to consumer affairs for Nissan. They told me that I would have to have it towed from my repair person down to the Nissan dealership to be evaluated. …
Started hearing a loud knocking when putting my car in park or other gears. Took it in for my regular scheduled service and told the service writer at Nissan what was going on. He checked it and said he would not let me drive it and offered a rental , told me he would call. Well surprise $7600 price tag, said nothing about the recall, I found that myself. But he told me Nissan would pay part and my co-pay is $3000. He told me the inter cooler in the radiator had cracked and leaked, sending fluids into my transmission and killing it. On top of that they want to replace with a re-manufactured transmission. According to the extended warranty guidelines of the class action suit, my vehicle just turned 9 yrs. Approx. 3 weeks ago and only has 79,000 miles. You would think since it's only 3 weeks out of 8 yrs. And within the 80, 000 they would replace for free. …
I stopped at the gas station to get fuel. I turned the vehicle off and put gas in the vehicle. When I got back in the vehicle, it will not start.. I towed the vehicle to the Nissan dealership in elizabeth city north carolina. After my vehicle was diagnosed it was determined that the internal cooler in the radiator burst and leaked transmission fluid in the radiator and antifreeze had leaked into my transmission. The tech explained that the antifreeze have cause the internal computer in the transmission to not function properly. He stated that the fuse kept blowing out. After speaking with the dealership they wanted to charge me $3000.00 dollars to replace the radiator and transmission. I explained to them that I had no warning signs at all. I was told by the tech to call Nissan corporation for further detail. Once I called the corporation, an investigation claim was initiated. …
I was driving to work traveling on the highway going approximately 65 MPH when the truck started to over heat and the transmission started to slip out of over drive. I pulled off the highway and stopped at an auto parts store. I pulled the transmission dip stick. It was milky. I also found the coolant overflow was bubbling out a mix of milky fluids. I had the car towed to a local garage and they explained the issue. The radiator had failed and blew apart inside, which created an issue with the transmission line inside the radiator. The coolant mixed with the transmission fluid. The garage replaced the radiator and flushed the transmission fluid. This cost me $650. The transmission wasn't right from this point on. A few months later the same thing happened. I have replaced the radiator this time myself and took it to the garage to have the transmission flushed. …
NHTSA investigations
Transmission Failures
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.
Transmission complaints in other Pathfinder years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA has 337 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder, 60% of the model year's 561 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Nissan Pathfinder transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder, though it has 1 recall 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 2007 Nissan Pathfinder transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.