2008 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Pathfinder most often describe transmission trouble that traces back to the radiator, where coolant and automatic transmission fluid mix and the transmission then stops shifting or fails outright. Fuel gauge readings that drop to empty or stop at a quarter tank, air bag warning lights with lost horn and steering wheel controls, and starting or stalling problems are the other themes in this sample. Most reports come in well past 80,000 miles, and several owners mention being told the vehicle was outside a warranty or recall by the time it happened.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Coolant mixing into transmission fluid (radiator failure)

   • 155 complaints (47%)
   • median 115,337 mi at 8.1 yrs old (136 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,182 (median of 46 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners describe shuddering, slipping or a clunk around 40 mph that develops into no forward gears at all, sometimes with the check engine or 4WD light on. Mechanics and dealers told them coolant from a cracked or leaking radiator had entered the transmission fluid, and in most cases both the radiator and the transmission needed replacement or a rebuild. Several complaints also mention a transmission control module that failed or had to be replaced and reprogrammed, and some owners say a radiator bypass was fitted afterward. Mostly reported between roughly 85,000 and 180,000 miles, often shortly after a fluid service or on a highway drive.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the radiator has ever been replaced or the transmission cooler bypassed, and check the transmission fluid for a milky or discolored look or a coolant smell. A pre-purchase fluid and cooling system inspection is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I noticed a shudder when the car shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear but seem to drive normal otherwise. I contacted Nissan service department and scheduled the first available appointment, which took exactly 1 week from date first symptom. On the morning of my appointment, my car would not shift gears at all once I got on the highway, causing very dangerous situation for both myself and other drivers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10761734, filed 2015-09, 109,000 miles

   “I started feeling my car slip gears when it reached certain speeds, as well as the vdc, slip and engine lights came on. Within the next few days, as I was driving, my car overheated and the antifreeze poured out of it. The radiator was cracked and had leaked into the transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10618008, filed 2014-07, 103,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light, horn and steering wheel buttons out

   • 40 complaints (12%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2023

   Owners report the air bag warning light staying on or flashing, often alongside a non-working horn and dead steering wheel controls, traced by dealers to a failed clockspring assembly or front crash zone sensor. Some owners describe the passenger seat sensor lighting the air bag off indicator with an adult seated. Several were told their vehicle was not included in the air bag recall campaigns. Spread from very low mileage up to about 175,000 miles, with many reports past 100,000 miles.

   Recall 23V067000Recall 08V6900001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the air bag light goes out after the self-test, then check the horn and steering wheel buttons. Ask whether the open air bag recalls were completed for the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Airbag light had come on indicating an issue, but also light and controls on the steering wheel are failing. Vehicle has never been in an accident and there is no reason for this failure. Abs brakes activate randomly without warning preventing and causing the inability to stop. Abs can not be stopped unless I stop and turn off my vehicle and start again. Very dangerous. Cant stop when I need to. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407169, filed 2021-04, 168,000 miles

   “I purchased my 2008 Nissan Pathfinder in early january 2009. Early february 2009 my friend sat in the passenger seat and the airbag light came on indicating that it was not on. She is at least 5 feet 8 inches and 135 pounds. I am also the same height and weight and it didn't work for me when I sat in the passenger seat as well. This occurs every time someone lighter than 160lbs sits in the passenger seat. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10260679, filed 2009-03, 1,500 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel gauge reads empty or sticks at a quarter tank

   • 73 complaints (22%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (65 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2025

   Complaints describe the gauge suddenly dropping to empty or refusing to go below roughly a quarter tank even with fuel in the tank, and sometimes reading empty right after a fill-up. Dealers diagnosed a failed fuel level sending unit or fuel tank level sensor, and some owners mention the check engine light coming on. Several owners say they were told their vehicle was not covered by the fuel system recall on this model. Reported from about 34,000 to 180,000 miles, with several cases under 90,000 miles.

   Recall 10V0750003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Fill the tank and watch whether the gauge climbs to full promptly, and note any reading that stops near a quarter tank. Ask whether the fuel sending unit has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Pathfinder vehicles. The molded fuel tank shells can deform, causing the fuel sender float arm to contact an embossment molded into the tank shell causing the instrument panel fuel gauge to show that the vehicle has approximately one quarter tank when the fuel tank is empty. I have stalled in traffic three times . The vehicle loses all control of power steering, power brakes and ceases to move suddenly in the middle of the road. This is a very dangerous situation for myself and other motor vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10348636, filed 2010-08, 34,300 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that when refueling to full capacity, the fuel gauge would erroneously display one quarter of a tank as being full. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 10v075000 (fuel system, gasoline) however the vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10497914, filed 2013-02, 78,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   No-crank, stalling and blown ECM fuse

   • 41 complaints (13%)
   • median 113,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,841 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2022

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out while driving or refusing to crank with no warning, leaving the vehicle stranded. Some owners report a repeatedly blowing ECM fuse or a failed transmission control module and had sensors replaced while the cause remained unclear. Others describe stalling after being driven a short distance, with restart sometimes possible. Reported from about 10,000 up to 160,000 miles, including a few very low-mileage cases.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check for stored diagnostic codes and ask whether the ECM fuse or transmission control module has been replaced. Start the engine cold and warm and watch for any stumble or no-crank.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My ECM fuse keeps blowing. Now it want start or do anything. I was sitting still at a pharmacy when I tried to tab tge gas at the drive through to pull up at the window when I notice my truck wouldn't go then I cut it off and try to start it back up and notice it wouldn't start so than I chane my ECM fuse amd notice it keep blowing”

   NHTSA complaint #11363879, filed 2020-10, 22,500 miles

   “While driving, the vehicle started to stumble for a second, then all of a sudden felt like it had almost no power. Wouldnt accelerate well, didnt shift normally, and didnt feel like it was running as well as normal. When we parked the vehicle, I turned it off to hopefully reset whatever may have malfunctioned. When I tried to restart the vehicle, it wouldnt start. The starter wouldnt even try to start the motor, like it wasnt even getting power. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11340525, filed 2020-07, 183,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Vibration or shudder while driving

   • 28 complaints (9%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $4,500 (median of 12 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2023

   Some owners describe the vehicle shaking or shuddering at highway speed or during gearshifts, sometimes with a rumble or vibration felt through the cabin. Diagnostics pointed to transmission or torque converter problems in several cases, and in others to the radiator leaking into the transmission. A few reports describe the vibration persisting after calipers or a transmission were replaced. Typically reported from about 40,000 to 150,000 miles, often while cruising or accelerating.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at steady highway speed and at light throttle from a stop to feel for shudder or vibration, and have the transmission fluid checked for contamination before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle trying to lunge forward while stopped at redlight, stopsign, or in traffic. Transmission vibration at low speeds when going into overdrive. Engine revs during travel, without accelerator being pressed. As well as apparent malfunction, there are too many instances of safety issue with no control over when it happens, and we now understand the complexity of the problem with Nissan and the recall that should have been. We dont remember being notified of an extended warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10492407, filed 2013-01, 40,000 miles

   “My 2008 Nissan Pathfinder had transmission issues and was replaced twice in 2017. I brought to the Nissan authorized dealer first for a thumbing sound when pushing gas pedal after taking the foot off. When it worsened they said it was the calipers and changed my calipers for $2000. But the thumbing sound persisted. After a few months they said it was transmission issue and they changed the transmission twice. The thumbing sound persisted whenever the vehicle was driven above 40 MPH. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11252224, filed 2019-08, 65,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2008 Pathfinder inspected for radiator-to-transmission coolant mixing and for the condition of the transmission fluid, and confirm which open recalls and any extended warranty coverage apply to the VIN. Records of radiator replacement or a transmission cooler bypass are worth asking about.

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.