Used 2005 Nissan Pathfinder Consumer Reviews
Used Pathfinder for sale
Beware! Engine Power Loss!
Disgruntled!, 07/22/2006
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
After testing driving 37 vehicles in search of the new family vehicle, we selected the Pathfinder. I regret that decision. Yesterday, my wife was traveling on a highway when the power to the engine went out!!!! She had to coast off the highway. I took it to the dealership this morning who did the diagnostics and said the accelerator pedal had failed and would need to be replaced. What if this had happened with an 18 wheeler barreling down behind her???? I will be filing a complaint with Nissan Motor Corps so they check into this, conduct a recall to ensure this does not happen to anyone else.
Transmission oil cooler
gowen1, 01/14/2014
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
22 of 41 people found this review helpful
I recently bought a 2005 Pathfinder at a mileage of 110k. After reading scary stories about radiator coolant mixing with trans oil, I decided to take a preemptive measure as suggested, i.e. disconnect coolant line from the radiator and add an external transmission cooler. I took my vehicle to Volksdoctor. David, the owner, is very nice man. When he was trying to find a spot for external cooler installation, he found there is a small cooler in the front of the radiator. Then he checked VIN online and found this vehicle has a separate trans cooler. I was so happy about it. Thus, check your vehicle before you add one, you might have it separated already.
2005 Nissan Pathfinder for sale near you
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Here's the thing...
depmodealex, 04/13/2012
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
8 of 15 people found this review helpful
People complain about reliability..here's what I do. The tranny/radiator problem? I spent $200 bucks and PREVENTED the $6,000 failure by replacing the radiator myself. The problem with the secondary timing chains making a LOUD whining noise when you accelerate? Rather than pay Nissan $2000 to fix it, I paid $110 AT the dealer for the parts (which they already have packaged together because it's such a common problem with their VQ engines...which are in over 10 million vehicles, so they're NEVER going to do a recall) and fixed it myself. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Spending $400 bucks is better than $7000. Maintain your cars people, don't [non-permissible content removed] when you can prevent this
this is a lemon...trying to make lemonade
autophitie, 09/07/2012
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
13 of 26 people found this review helpful
Please research this vehicle...read reviews..and purchase something else for the safety of yourself, your family and other drivers on the road. I had a 2005 Pathfinder, bought it used was happy driving it despite the finicky trans which always seemed okay as long as I continued my dutiful trips to the dealer for service...I had just purchased new tires and brakes for the vehicle which I paid cash for at the time and wham at just over 102K mi the transmission went. It was acting up for a few days with my kids in the car I only ventured to work and daycare ASAP got to to the shop..thankfully no one was injured when I was driving this vehicle...
Keep looking if you want Reliability
carbuyerone, 02/04/2011
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Off Road 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
The issue is quality and reliability. Our time owning this vehicle was beleaguered with numerous mechanical problems, break-downs, recalls and quality issues. The vehicle had chronic fuel pump and fuel sender failures (Google and read owner blogs). This resulted in the fuel gauge not working or fuel pump failing altogether. Fuel pump issues left us stranded twice (towed to dealer both times). We replaced the sender and fuel pump 3 times while owning. We had ball bearing and CV issues in the front end. We had the car battery explode once, leaving my wife stranded (towed to dealer again). We had the transmission slip out of drive a few times and one time out of 4WD while pulling the boat out on a ramp. The ECM (electronic control module) had to be fix/replace twice. The sliding moon roof rode off its track, became jammed and had to be completely replaced. The back lift gate pistons failed to keep the back gate open. The cargo board liner came undone (I fixed myself), passenger cup holders broke off (poorly placed by design). Styling molding covers on the roof rack came off on the highway. The banding on the exhaust heat shields rusted away resulting in a metallic rattle between the exhaust pipes and heat shielding which require re-banding (I fixed myself). The underbody shows far too much rust development for a modern make, this made me concerned about the vehicles long term handling of underbody rust. 2nd row passenger AC/heat control buttons kept coming off. The paint chips and scratches easily. The interior plastics are soft, also scratch easily and the lighter tone plastics are hard to clean. The font bumper cover cracked and tore pushing through a snow drift.
REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR STRUTS, SPRINGS, SHOCKS
Robert G, 06/17/2016
updated 12/18/2019
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
Hi, my Pathfinder has 116,000 miles and I am the type that will not replace anything until it absolutely need to be replaced minus 10%, this week I replaced the front struts/springs (Monroe had a $75.00 rebate on all 4) front strut/spring sets complete so no labor or additional parts needed, best way to go and save $$ plus the rear shocks, then with the $75.00 rebate I bought the rear moog springs for $63.00 plus $8,00 shipping and my mechanic charged $92.00 and a alignment and now the car rides like a dream, so beautiful that I should have done this at 70,000 miles, best investment I ever made in the Pathfinder, I highly recommend this, total cost $582, best ride, might even be better than brand new as the moog springs have 2 more coils but are the same height giving the body less sway and I love the way it now takes the highway at 65 mph, absolutely a real treat,
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
0-60 in 7.38s, 1/4 mile in 15.86s @ 89.2
tony22r, 08/04/2005
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
this is what you Won't find in the brochure.. pop the hood and you'll find: really BIG air filter, oil filter located in front (easy to service), check out those oil lines.. they go to Engine Oil Cooler!, look at passenger side of radiator, lines from tranny.. Transmission Oil Cooler! Check out the Variable Intake! Have your partner blip throttle while you stand near exhaust.. listen to that Throaty Exhaust sound, Oh Yeah! Whoever put this engine together Knew what they were doing! You can See the quality they put in every little detail. That tow hitch you see comes standard. Oh my favorite.. those Big Fat 265/70R16 Tires! ..monitored by low air pressure sensors (trust me This comes in handy
Back to Basics
Keith, 02/20/2005
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
First, some background. I had a '94 Pathfinder SE 4wd that I got rid of a few years back. Loved that truck because it was the original, reliable, Nissan hardbody SUV. Didn't care for the '96 - '04 design and the compromises in capability due to the unibody structure. The '05 Pathfinder gets this truck back on track. The power is superb and further reinforces that Nissan builds some of the best V6 engines. The engine's responsiveness is superior vs. the similar Toyota V6. The off-road capability is excellent and it does very well in deep snow/off road. The stiff structure makes it quiet and very assured both on and off road. Top it all off with actual 18/24 mileage.
Excellent for Families
2005 Pathfinder, 07/25/2005
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This SUV is really a godsend, I updated my 1999.5 Pathfinder to the 2005 and I have never been happier. The third row seat is excellent for carrying more passagers, and the design of the SUV allows for maximum comfort on long drives. The DVD player is awesome, mostly because I have gotten my readio back. The handling is great. The ride is quiet and it drives well. The engine is amazing. I really like that this vehicle is not a gas guzzler like my brothers Ford Expedition.
Stay Away from Nissan!
Mike, 07/22/2008
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Here is a list of the items you can expect. 1) A rattle from inside the dashboard from zero miles. 2) A loud squeaking sound from rear frame. 3) Back of seats tear when in the down position. 4) The in-dash CD changer will fail at 40,000 miles. 5) Drivers side window will disengage constantly. 6) The master window switch will fail at 40,000. 7) The memory seat settings will never work. 8) The rear shock absorbers will fail at 50,000 miles. 9) The check engine light will turn on every 10,000 miles. 10) Both secondary timing chains and camshaft secondary timing chain tensioners will fail. Cost: $2,148. Have fun!