2007 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

What owners report

Complaints on the 2007 Pathfinder center on one pattern: coolant from the radiator's internal transmission cooler mixing with automatic transmission fluid, followed by slipping, shuddering, hard shifting or total loss of drive, usually between roughly 70,000 and 150,000 miles. A second cluster covers an inaccurate or inoperative fuel gauge and sending unit, often reported under 80,000 miles, and a smaller group describes timing chain area noises and several electrical and climate control faults. Many owners say dealers quoted radiator-plus-transmission repairs in the thousands of dollars and that coverage was declined because of mileage.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Coolant mixing into transmission fluid (failed radiator

   • 326 complaints (58%)
   • median 107,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (292 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,950 (median of 98 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2024

   Owners describe the engine coolant and automatic transmission fluid mixing, leaving the transmission fluid a milky or 'strawberry milkshake' color. Symptoms before failure include shuddering or vibration around 40-50 mph, slipping between gears, hard or delayed shifting, clunking into gear and, in some cases, the vehicle refusing to move or losing power while driving; several also mention transmission control module damage or a no-start. According to the complaints, dealers and independent shops usually diagnosed a cracked or leaking transmission cooler inside the radiator and recommended replacing both the radiator and the transmission, with quoted costs commonly between $3,500 and $10,000, and owners report being told warranty or program coverage did not apply because of vehicle mileage or because the vehicle was bought used. Spread fairly evenly from about 70,000 to 150,000 miles, with a few reports at lower mileage after a prior radiator repair.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the transmission fluid for a milky or pinkish-frothy appearance and the radiator for a coolant smell or oily film, and ask whether the radiator or transmission has been replaced. Ask for any records tied to Nissan's extended radiator warranty coverage for this symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Pathfinder started hesitating at 40 MPH regardless of city or highway driving, had transmission fluid changed and was advised by my mechanic there is a leak from radiator into transmission line, have since then seen transmission fluid a milky color and I cannot drive vehicle with overdrive on, when it drove with od on at about 40 MPH there is no shifting of gears.”

   NHTSA complaint #10490111, filed 2012-12, 90,000 miles

   “My Pathfinder was should have been slowing from the speed of as I was braking and letting off the gas, but it kept moving forward and shaking. If there was a car in front of me I would have hit them hard. My transmission would not shift down to slow down, due to radiator leaking into transmission. The cost of my repair of both radiator and transmission is over $5000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10474441, filed 2012-09, 160,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel gauge reads wrong or stays on empty

   • 119 complaints (21%)
   • median 61,390 mi at 3.9 yrs old (108 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 17 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2021

   Owners report that after refueling the gauge stays on empty or moves erratically between full and empty while the tank is actually full, and that the check engine light comes on with fuel level sensor codes. Complaints describe dealers replacing the fuel level sending unit, sometimes with a diagnostic charge and no lasting fix, and several owners note their vehicle was not included in the fuel sending unit recall covering other model years while showing the same symptom. Some describe stalling or running out of fuel when the gauge showed fuel remaining. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 80,000 miles, with some reports at higher mileage.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Fill the tank and watch whether the gauge climbs to full and stays there; ask whether the fuel level sending unit has been replaced and whether any recall or service campaign applies to the vehicle's identification number.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “(2007 Pathfinder) the fuel sending unit failed and the fuel gauge LED me to believe I had gas when in fact I was empty. I ran out of gas in a busy intersection and I was almost hit by a large dump truck. My 5 year old and my 4 month old were in the 2007 Pathfinder. Would if the dump truck driver was not paying attention, me and my children would definitely be dead.”

   NHTSA complaint #10455650, filed 2012-04, 79,000 miles

   “2007 Nissan Pathfinder has a recall on their fuel sending unit but only on certain VIN numbers. They truly have a problem with their fuel sending unit why don't they cover all bad fuel sending units? This is a safety problem that Nissan should take care of as soon as possible! My 2007 Pathfinder has this problem but is not covered by their recall - I believe Nissan has a problem!”

   NHTSA complaint #10348825, filed 2010-08, 55,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Timing chain area whine or rattle

   • 23 complaints (4%)
   • median 80,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners describe a high-pitched whine or buzzing noise from under the hood near the front of the engine, sometimes with a rattle at start-up, and report being told the timing chain tensioners or chains needed replacement. Complaints mention that the vehicle was described as safe to keep driving at the time of diagnosis, and some owners say the work was quoted outside warranty coverage. Reported in the 70,000 to 80,000 mile range in the sample.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for a whine or buzz from the front of the engine at idle and on light revving, and ask whether the timing chains, tensioners or guides have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dealership reported timing system is faulty, class action lawsuit has been filed in california and washington. Fuel gauge will not read correctly and I was informed that the recall does not include my specific vehicle however all problems and year/make match recalled vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10947023, filed 2017-01, 120,000 miles

   “A high pitched whining noise from under the hood on a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. Took the car to the dealership in modesto california and my wife was told that it would cost 1,300 to replace the timing chain tensioners or more if the timing chain(s) were bad. The car has 71, 000 miles and I was told that it would not be covered under the warranty. My wife was told the car was safe to drive and was told that there was no risk of further damage to vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10406166, filed 2011-06, 71,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Heater and blower motor faults

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the heater or air conditioner blower not working, no heat from the rear vents, and unusual noises or vibration from under the hood while driving. Some complaints also mention a speedometer that stopped registering. Reported between about 60,000 and 110,000 miles in the sample.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Run the blower on every fan speed and check for heat from both front and rear vents; ask whether the blower motor or its wiring has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Enjoying our Pathfinder one afternoon and went to pass a car and it would not kick inot passing gear. When we stopped I could smell that it was hot, but could not find a leak. After letting it cool, I checked the coolant level and found that grey froth in the radiator. A quick check on the internet lead me to me worst fear. I am still in the process of flushing radiator and getting quotes. Local aamco guy said that transmission is doomed, and they see a lot of these. $4,000 - 4500 to rebuild. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10903417, filed 2016-09, 152,380 miles

   “After a 90k mile check-up and full service in spring 2012, I understood that my Pathfinder was running well. Never was there a mention of issues with the radiator / transmission, nor was the connection between these elements replaced to prevent an issue (to my knowledge.) at 101k miles, the heat went out in the rear section of the car (I did not realize this until two months had gone by and I was arguing with my freezing child in the back seat that I had his heat as hot as it would go - he was clearly correct and the rear blowers were …”

   NHTSA complaint #10510001, filed 2013-04, 106,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying illuminated after starting the vehicle, with a diagnostic scan failing to identify a cause at an independent shop. Complaints describe the vehicle being left unrepaired. Reported at high mileage, around 150,000 miles in the sample.

   Recall 08V690000

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light comes on and goes out at start-up; if it stays lit, ask for the stored airbag codes and whether the frontal airbag recall work was completed for the states listed in that campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife was driving with kids in the vehicle when power in the transmission when to nothing then sporadically started working and not. She intelligently was able to avoid an accident and get the vehicle to a side road in a boat ramp parking area where the vehicle would not run in any gear. I was called and made aware of the situation and called my parents to pick then up for this was our only vehicle of transportation. After work my dad, uncle and I had the vehicle towed to our home where it has set since. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10557102, filed 2013-12, 138,000 miles

   “Transmission of my Nissan Pathfinder 2007 failed. The radiator spilled the cooling liquid into the transmission, which then proceeded to cause irrepairable damage to the transmission. Transmission replaced with a rebuilt transmission”

   NHTSA complaint #10983516, filed 2017-05, 126,985 miles

Buying note. This model year draws repeated reports of coolant contaminating the transmission fluid and of fuel gauge sending unit faults, so a pre-purchase inspection should include the transmission fluid color and radiator condition plus a gauge check after refueling. Service records showing radiator or transmission replacement, and confirmation of any open recall work, are worth asking for before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.