Ten problems related to automatic transmission torque converter have been reported for the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder based on all problems reported for the 2005 Pathfinder.
The issues with the vehicle began at 133834 miles. When driving, at times it would vibrate out of nowhere. After a stop, it would shift up hard or fail to downshift and then hit hard when it finally would go in to gear. Once I took it in to a mechanic, the following codes came p1731 - 1st gear logic error, p0430- cat efficiency bank 2, p0455- evap system leak large. The recommendation was "tear down". In the end, I had to replace transmission, radiator, torque converter, valve body, valve body solenoids, catalytic converter bank 2, exhaust gaskets, oil pressure sensor, and oxygen sensor. With a total cost of $4,824. 65. I will upload the services my Nissan Pathfinder had to have.
Issues with the transmission. Began with radiator issues. Come to find out, there has been many issues with coolant mixing into places it shouldn't. Then the torque converter went out, and now the safety neutral switch and valve body. Very short engineering and problem after problem obviously known to Nissan but no recalls reported.
Having the same problem that the Nissan put out a recall for. An alarming number of Nissan xterra, Pathfinder and frontier owners are stepping forward with stories about their cracked radiators which are causing coolant to leak into the transmission. Once mixed with the transmission fluid this lethal combination kills the valves, seals and torque converter -- rendering your entire transmission useless. This issue is currently contained to the 2005 - 2007 model years, but we're keeping our eyes open for reports from other years.
The transmission started slipping/not responding/hesitation/car 'shaking' when shifting, etc so we took it to a Nissan dealer to ask what happened. They said the radiator fluid leaked into the transmission and pretty much destroyed it. I asked if they had seen this before or if there was a recall for it and they said they had not seen it nor was there a recall. I then called another non-dealer transmission center and they knew what the issue was before I even finished explaining. They said they get 2005 Pathfinders about 1 per week and currently had two on the lot -- all with the exact same issue. I called the dealership back with this info and they tried to act surprised but I could tell they knew exactly what was going on here. Here is a full (and better) description from a pending lawsuit on this problem with the vehicles like we (and so many others) experienced: "transmission failure caused by cracked radiators - faulty radiators are causing coolant to leak into and destroy the transmission. An alarming number of Nissan xterra, Pathfinder and frontier owners are stepping forward with stories about their cracked radiators which are causing coolant to leak into the transmission. Once mixed with the transmission fluid this lethal combination kills the valves, seals and torque converter -- rendering your entire transmission useless. This issue is currently contained to the 2005 model year, but we're keeping our eyes open for reports from other years. What's even more troubling is owners who have already had their transmissions "repaired" by an authorized Nissan dealer are still reporting catastrophic transmission failure. Through no fault of their own, Nissan owners who are out of warranty are left to cover the hefty repair bill, which can be over $4,500 when all is said and done. ".
There is a Nissan manufacturer defect of faulty radiators that are causing radiator coolant to leak into and destroy the transmission of the vehicles and ends up killing valves, seals and the torque converter on 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinders, Nissan xterras, and Nissan frontiers. This defect can cause an owners transmission to fail and lose forward propulsion on a highway and can cause catastrophic loss(ES).
On 2/1/12, I had one incident when my car was stopped and when I accelerated and it gave me a push/pull slow to move. On 2/2/12 the same thing occurred multiple times. My check engine light eventually came on and then my car eventually would not accelerate after being stopped. I towed it to midas, who said they were unable to fix it. I brought it to lee miles transmission and they told me the radiator fluid mixed with antifreeze fluid causing corrosion and contamination within the transmission. I picked it up on 2/6/12 and it was fine driving home. While on my work on 2/7/12, the same problem occurred in which I was not able to accelerate. I had it towed back to lee miles and it's possibly the torque converter that was replaced with the transmission.
A cracked radiator caused coolant to leak into the transmission and mix with the transmission fluid. Once the coolant (antifreeze) entered the transmission it killed the valves, seals and torque converter and rendered the entire transmission useless.
I took my Pathfinder to the dealer complaining of shifting problems to esserman Nissan in miami florida. The service manager opened the hood and after waiting over 1/2 hour removed the radiator cap to find water in the form of a cream ( took pictures). He stated that the engine coolant most likely had gone inside the transmission and created damage, but because my car was 82k miles there was nothing the dealer could do I called Nissan and filed a case, but it was useless. I took the car to a transmission shop where they charged me $700+tax to flush the transmission, change the torque converter and install an external oil radiator for the transmission. They stated that the damage was done and although the rough shifting will be a constant, that at least I will buy some time because a complete rebuilt was 3500usd. Finally the transmission gave up on the highway when my wife entered the highway but the car did not move pass second gear. She found the next exit and called me. She made it home on second gear and high rpm. I called back Nissan, they ask me to take the car to the dealer. The car was at home so before taking it I decided to pass by and talk to the manager. He stated that if Nissan did not help me at 82k miles what made me believe that they were going to help me at 120k. I left the car at home until further notice.
After transmission flush, transmission failed shortly thereafter. Replaced transmission June 2009. March 2010 had vibration problem and returned for transmission repair again. Second torque converter replaced. Within 1 week vibration issue returned. Dealer review confirmed that coolant from radiator had leaked into transmission and that radiator and transmission need to be replaced. This would be my second transmission, and third torque converter in less than a year, due to a faulty radiator used by Nissan in '05 & '06 models.
Several months ago, the Pathfinder started to pulsate while gaining speed. . . Dealer performed trans service, fixed problem for a few days. Pathfinder started pulsating again, even worse. Dealer advised torque converter was bad. . Second opinion mechanic advised radiator leaked into trans, and trans fluid leaked into coolant. Coolant destroyed transmission. Learned this has been a ongoing problem with Pathfinders for years, there is a weld inside the radiator that fails and the two liquids transfers. Why would the company design a radiator that has two liquids inside that can contaminate each other.