VehicleVerdict

2005 Nissan Pathfinder problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,560 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 12.5 times the median Pathfinder year — the 2005 model ranks #1 of 40 Pathfinder years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include one death and 18 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Transmission leads the complaint categories with 591 reports (38% of the total).

1,560

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

1

Investigations

21

Crash-involved

11

Fires reported

18

Injuries

1

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2005 compare to other Pathfinder years?

See all Pathfinder years to avoid →

What are the most common 2005 Nissan Pathfinder problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission59138%
Engine43828%
Fuel System28318%
Electrical System735%
Other483%
Speed Control312%
Airbags231%
Brakes201%
Body & Structure151%
Suspension91%
Steering91%
Visibility & Wipers70%
Tires & Wheels60%
Latches & Locks30%
Seats20%
Seat Belts20%

Does the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

10V517000EngineOctober 28, 2010 · 747,480 units

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.

Consequence

THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10E019000SuspensionMay 20, 2010 · 1,873 units

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence

IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

08V690000AirbagsDecember 29, 2008 · 242,720 units

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.

Consequence

THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

07E046000OtherJuly 3, 2007 · 3,500 units

Defect

CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.

Consequence

THIS HARNESS WOULD RESULT IN POWER FROM THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GOING TO THE TOWING VEHICLE DASH LIGHT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN THE TRAILER BRAKES. THIS RESULT WOULD BE THE LACK OF TRAILER BRAKING WHEN THE TOWING VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE TOWING VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER BRAKE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED ABILITY TO STOP AND CONTRIBUTE TO A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy

HOPKINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HARNESS WITH A REVISED HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT HOPKINS AT 800-835-0129.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE COOLENT IN MY TRANSMISSION DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE CAUSING MY TRANSMISSION TO SLIP CAUSING MY CAR TO CRASH INTO MY HOUSE IN MY CARPORT THE REPAIR FOR THE TRANSMISSION IS $3800 AND I'M ON A FIX INCOME

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · September 12, 2016 · crash

A CAR RAN INTO OUR LANE MADE A SUDDEN STOP IN FRONT OF ME, TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR I TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A BRICK BUILDING. MY AIR BAG DEPLOY ON THE DRIVER SIDE BUT NOT THE PASSENGER SIDE. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION SHE HAD HER SEATBELT ON. HER FACE WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 6, 2015 · crash

2005 PATHFINDER SE- WITH 52K MILES VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED (70MPH) ON FREEWAY- ALL POWER CONTROLS FAILED PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED TO BE WITH A FAILURE OF THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR- REPORTS ACQUIRED INDICATE THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS UNIT ON…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · February 21, 2010 · crash

2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING. HIS WIFE FELT A JERKING MOTION WHEN SHE PUSHED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. HIS WIFE PULLED OVER, WHEN SUDDENLY ANOTHER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · October 17, 2012 · fire

VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE, THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOTAL LOSS 7/12/2020. NOT AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · July 12, 2020 · fire

2005 Nissan Pathfinder — common questions

Is the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,560 complaints put the 2005 model at #1 of 40 Pathfinder years. It is one of the Pathfinder years to avoid.

What are the most common 2005 Pathfinder problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (591 complaints), engine (438 complaints), fuel system (283 complaints).

Does the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Nissan Pathfinder years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Pathfinder years to avoid are 2005, 2006, 2013, 2007, 2014, 2008, 2015, 2001, 1997, 2017, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2022, 1998, 2003, 2004. The cleanest record among Pathfinder years belongs to 1986.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.