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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Diego, Cali. baby!!!
Posts: 3,790
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2005 Pathfinder, same transmission issue
May 30, 2009 (8:06 am)
You can add yet another to the long list of Pathfinder owners who have a radiator leaking into the transmission. My tranny started to shudder at higher speeds on the highway, and occaisionally I would lose 1st gear, I'd have to rev up the engine until I reached about 20 mph, then it would work ok. (Just hated to hit a red light) Brought it in to the dealer, "the warning light isn't on now, so we think it is a solinoid, keep your eye on it." It kept happening, brought it back again and they tell me the great news of radiator leaking in transmission, so need to replace radiator, flush it very well, may have to replace all hoses as they are now contaminated, (I guess oil weakens and breaks down rubber over time), flush the transmission 2-3 times, and they said there is no guarantee that I won't have to replace the transmission also. Total cost for all - $7,000 - $8,000. Nissan won't come to the table, I'm only 4 years in on this vehicle but have 80,000 miles on it. I will never purchase another Nissan. This should have been a recall, but I guess it would to massive of a hit to the Nissan Corp.
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [fthevision]
May 21, 2009 (1:41 pm)
Add me too this list...
Got a 2005 Pathfinder (Canada), Started to feel a vibration at certain speeds and rev (clearly to do with shifting), so took it in for an inspection (which I had to pay for), and said I think there is a transmission problem getting worse, but was told this is normal... Just watch how you use overdrive (stupid comment and idea from the senior technician). Two weeks later I took it back again and said no this is a problem so what is it? again told it is normal for these cars. Well 4 weeks after the second visit to the dealer I went to the airport then got home and I looked under the car, sure enough liquid on the floor. Looking in the radiator & header tank and pink scum every where (not in the engine - dip stick though). Had it towed in to a different dealer (not going back to the first one after their help?!), and was told the radiator had leaked into the transmission but also the transmission had gone into the radiator. Third Pathfinder they had seen do this. I Called Nissan Canada and they said tough over warranty? With this Pathfinder I have also had two u-joints replaced and cam shaft tightner belt done and now this and only 100,000km?s on the clock. This was my 3rd Nissan, I am now done with NISSAN cars. Mazda here I come.
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [dansc]
Apr 18, 2009 (8:23 pm)
Well add me to your list we have just been told by a Nissan dealer in TN. that we have a crack in the radiator and it went into the transmission. To make a long story short we need a new radiator and transmission to cost us 5000.00. Nissan needs to do a recall and suck up the costs! This is crazy.
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [medusan]
Apr 14, 2009 (12:23 pm)
Sorry to hear about your Pathfinder. I was Not covered under warranty because I was at 92,000 miles. I believe that this problem is just starting to occur to most Pathfinder owners. It seems the radiators are breaking down at or near 80,000. I would fight with Nissan about having yours covered. The problems probably started before your warranty was up and since there was no way of knowing that there was a problem until it was to late you might be able to get it covered. Tell them that this is a problems that is starting to occur to a lot of 2005 Pathfinder owners. Good luck.
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [esks]
Apr 13, 2009 (7:29 pm)
we have just had this occur with our 2005 Pathfinder. I was wondering how you managed to get the transmission replaced under warranty. Ours has just hit 61000 miles, was yours under the 60000 mile warranty limit ?
Shame our Nissan Main Dealer did not know about this - they just spent $1400 on changing the rad and fluid, then found out the reverse did not work - they contacted the Nissan Central Tech Specialist who told them it needed a new transmission - another $4000 - interestingly we also had the fuel gauge sender unit replaced which i noticed is another common problem on 05's !
Would really like to see if we can get the transmission done under warranty - anything you can provide to help us out will be greatly appreciated.
Should something like this not be covered under a recall ?
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [buynamericnnow]
Apr 10, 2009 (7:10 pm)
To add another statistic to your wife's case, I too had an identical problem. The only symptom was a subtle shuddering sound at 40 & at 60 MPH. My 05 Pathfinder had only 65000 miles my dealer confirmed that the radiator had leaked coolant into the transmission. My choices were $5400 to replace radiator and transmission, or $1000 to replace radiator and flush transmission, with no guarantee that the transmission would last very long. My dealer made promises to help out, but the help was weak, at best. After a painful, weeklong round of voice mail messages with a Nissan North America "Regional Specialist", whom I was never able to speak directly with, the verdict came back "NO" to any financial help. The best they would do is a extended warranty service plan if I purchased a new Nissan.
Needless to say, after owning 4 Nissans, I have moved on. I traded the Pathfinder at a $6000 loss, and would find it difficult to ever buy another!
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [xtierra]
Mar 18, 2009 (10:27 am)
How did you hear that there was a problem with a batch of radiators installed on 2005 models? I would love to get this information to see if I can pursue any kind of refund from Nissan. I'm replacing my transmission and radiator for a cost of $3,700 on my 2005 Pathfinder for fluid leaking from the radiator into the transmission. Rusted the wrong thing. No warning signs this was even happening until it was to late.
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [buynamericnnow]
Mar 18, 2009 (10:21 am)
I'm with you! Thought Nissans were supposed to last! I have a 2005 Pathfinder, 93,000. Currently in the shop. Just found out that radiator fluid leaked into the transmission. Since it was internal there were no warning signs that anything was wrong. Transmission rusted out. Now I am replacing the transmission and radiator at a cost of $3,7000.
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [Tarped]
Mar 16, 2009 (12:31 pm)
I just got my quote back from Nissan for $4,500.00 for a new tranny + tax and labor of course. 3 months ago I had the radiator replaced for around $1,000.00. It is the '05 Pathfinder with just over 104,000 on it. So much for thinking that I would get 200K out of it without any problems. It was making the same studdering and shifting vibrations prior to replacing the radiator that others have described in here to the T. We also had the tranny flushed and all fluids replaced. Nissan dealer recommended another round of cleansing if we noticed it again.
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [esks]
Jan 25, 2009 (6:56 pm)
thanks for posting your problem... this will help other owners check their tranny fluid all the time to avoid going thorugh that problem.... dealer should have re-funded all of your money since its a problem with a batch of radiators that where installed on the 2005 models.... you might want to write a letter to nissan and see what they say... remember .. they are not going to offer any re-fund untill they get a certified notarized letter that will cause them to want to avoid any legal matters in court....
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [esks]
Dec 19, 2008 (8:19 pm)
This also just happened to my 2005 Pathfinder with 50k mi. I'm having the transmission rebuilt and radiator replaced for almost $3000. Dealer said not under warrenty and wanted $6-8K to replace transmission. Icalled Nissan USA and after making me wait 2 days, they said I was SOL. Earlier this year I had to have the fuel sensor in the gas tank replaced too. Total piece of crap. My first and last Nissan.
Re: Radiator leaking into Transmission [esks]
Dec 01, 2008 (12:07 am)
same thing happened, supposedly changed transmission, but now 25K miles later at a small local shop in Los angeles, california, tranny shifts are into 2nd into 1st, some times get stuck in 3rd/ 4th gear..
also when i restart, it shifts normal for a day or 2...
i had the IDPM controller changed right after this, nothing but trouble, warranyts out,
$700, caused the car not to start or stall after 5 mins
i ihave over 112k miles.. bullshit..
Oct 20, 2008 (4:04 pm)
Have a 2005 automatic pathfinder,97000Klm it seemed to be missing at about 80KPH or chugging when shifting into 4th gear. I just went to dealer and found out that the radiator is leaking into my transmission causing the trany to slip and I will have to replace rad and flush trany with Nissan J Matic fluid (no other type will work- very expensive) possibly up to 3 times Bill C$2000+. Has anyone else run into this problem and is there any other solutions less costly. Is there any possibility that once fixed the trany could be damaged and I will then have to spend additional $$ to replace?
Thanks
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