Used 2005 Nissan Pathfinder Consumer Reviews
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Transmission Problems
kano1017, 04/16/2012
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
108 of 111 people found this review helpful
After reading all this reviews I decided not to wait and / or pay a lot of $$ to get this fix, so what we came up with is totally different cost effective and it works great, I know that this is a problem with the Nissan design but I bought it so now is my problem here goes, we cancel the lines that go thru the radiator and put an independent oil cooler to the side of the radiator with this little gadget you can be sure that you will never ever have this problem again and the transmission oil will be more cooler with this modification so the tranny will work better, cost to do this = 60 buck for the oil cooler, 15 buck to add transmission oil to the oil cooler and that's it well + what you
10 year review!
Mike C., 04/07/2018
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
22 of 22 people found this review helpful
This was my third Pathfinder. I owned it for 10 years and sold it with 165,000 miles on it. It has been extremely reliable and rock solid. I sold it because it had high miles, and I needed something newer to travel with. This year Pathfinder did have problems with the radiator leaking into the transmission and destroying it. Chances are if you buy one now, either it was already changed under warranty, or not affected. I had the radiator changed under warranty but no transmission issues. It is based on the truck platform so the ride is not as smooth as the car based SUV'S, but it has more room, and can handle carrying heavier items. I owned the LE with full leather, navigation, rear entertainment, etc..Everything still worked perfectly when I sold the car. Great workhorse, in style. The only issue is the heat. When the car is idling normally, it doesn't heat up the car. Almost like it doesn't push enough antifreeze through the heater core unless the engine is running over 2000 rpm. The seriously sucks when you're trying to warm the car because it just doesn't at idle. Once your driving the heat works fine.
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Best of the best
Erick, 10/25/2015
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
30 of 31 people found this review helpful
Got my pathfinder back in 05, never had any problems with the the truck. Its been to texas and back many times. Like couple years back when we got that horrible winter storm here in chicago it handle the road like nothing. The best suv out there for the heavy snow. RWD with the 4x4 option. all i got to say its that its the best and knkw that its 10 years old still runs like new.
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Don't Buy 2005-2006 Pathfinders
runnermcm, 11/17/2010
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I am having the same problems that others have noted here and on the Edmunds discussion board about the radiator and the transmission. The tranny is failing, but Nissan of Omaha says they can't find anything wrong despite riding with me and it slipping (acts as if it is in neutral) - goes to 6 RPM and you say at 40 mph for a while - just one example. Woodhouse Nissan confirmed my problem but Nissan of Omaha has to be the one to fix it and so far they won't. The radiator was replaced after it flooded the tranny and they flushed it, but that didn't solve it. There are at least 3 class action lawsuits. I'm not letting it end here. I will keep all boards I post on updated with progress/advice.
Good Car
kano1017, 01/30/2013
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
21 of 23 people found this review helpful
I got my Path used 3 years ago it's a 2005, I'm very happy with it then I started reading the reviews and got concern I know that this is a Nissan design issues but I was not going to wait till I have to pay a lot of $$ to get the radiator and tranny fix so my friend and me started looking for some options and we found the solution so we cancel the lines that go thru the radiator to cool the tranny oil and put an independent oil cooler so now I will never need to be concern on this issue, cost to do this 70 buck's for the oil cooler + what you mechanic charges you. Good luck
How to love your Pathfinder
pfluvr, 08/28/2013
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
40 of 46 people found this review helpful
Step 1 - Have your transmission cooling lines disconnected from the radiator! There is an external auxiliary transmission cooler that does the job already. The only problem you may encounter is hard shifting in extreme cold. You can, if you want put another auxiliary cooler on the truck, but unless you're maxing the towing capacity every day you will not need it. The stock cooler is very large. Step 2 - You've basically now cured the only problem you will ever encounter, except for some little maintenancy things. Enjoy!
Don't be Fooled by the Appearance. Don't Buy Nissan!!!!!!!
byebyenissan, 04/26/2012
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
We had the same leaking radiator problem like many people with our 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. The vehicle was 2000 km over the extended warranty limit. We would bring the vehicle to Nissan dealership if we were made aware of the defect sooner. We asked Nissan for assistance. After many phone calls, emails, time spent collect past maintenance record requested by Nissan Canada and months of waiting, we finally got a reply. Below is my response to their reply. "Thank you [Nissan Customer Service rep] for passing the news that Nissan would not do anything for our loss and their defective automobile, and for wasting our time. I can assure you we will spread our words about the quality of Nissan vehicle, so less people will experience what we have experienced. I am happy to report that after this incident we have traded in our Nissan for a Toyota which we have been very happy with, and my dad has sold his Nissan for a Lexus. Even though the resale Nissan worths less than other vehicle of similar type and age, it's wonderful to got rid of our headache and future headaches. I will look forward to the day Nissan disappear from this world. Best of luck to all of you working for Nissan." We traded in the Nissan after replaced the radiator. Transmission was still working at the time, but we didn't want to take a chance of keeping a time bomb. The problem is well known among dealships of other car makers, so we got only $8000 for the trade in, but this is better than having to pay $5000 later on repairs. We had so many problems with this vehicle since we purchased it new from a dealership - noises, signal problem, gauge problem, etc. - and spent a lot of money fixing them including getting scammed by dealership (asked to pay for an item under warranty). What we experienced with Nissan is bad vehicle, bad service and ignorance. This is our one time experience with Nissan. Lesson learnt.
Transmission / Radiator issue must be addressed
john534, 08/04/2011
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Very unreliable and very poor powertrain and electronic system design. Started experiencing shudder at 89K miles when the automatic transmission moved between 1st and 2nd gear. Symptom did not occur over two day period until driving on third day where the issue worsened rapidly until transmission became inoperable above 10 mph. I investigated the issue and learned that this is a well known issue with the Pathfinder where the radiator fluid fails into the transmission, causing both the radiator and transmission to fail... great design! My transmission and radiator are shot at 89,000 miles. Looking at $6000 repair bill that I will not pay.
Coolant fluid leaking into transmission!
Faith Q, 04/20/2016
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
22 of 25 people found this review helpful
It would have been really nice to have gotten a heads up on a defective part in the radiator that will eventually kill your transmission and your radiator. We bought our Pathfinder brand new in 2005. We have never had it serviced anywhere other than the dealership. My theory was that it would be better to have our Nissan maintained at the dealership so we wouldn't have any issues with things coming up that other mechanics may not know about, well that backfired! We never received a letter that some have stated that they received telling them about the potential destruction of their vehicles transmission and radiator do to the defective part. My Pathfinder is now sitting in our driveway while we try to figure out what to do..... This is frustrating to say the least. We have always maintained this vehicle per the dealership and the only thing we were told was it wasn't a problem or it would have been recalled!!!
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Coolant leaking into transmission fluid
clausl, 09/06/2012
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
16 of 18 people found this review helpful
This is a known issue with Nissan 2005 and 2006 vehicles. (Currently the subject of a class action lawsuit.) Coolant leaking into Transmission destroys transmission, computer controlling transmission and radiator. Average cost for fix is ~$7,500 warranty extension offered by Nissan doesn't cover many drivers as the issue seems to often extend beyond the extended warranty of 8yrs / 130,000km. Some vehicles are not covered despite being within these two parameters. Nissan refuses to say why some vehicles of that year/type are excluded.
By far WORST Car I've ever owned in my life!
nissansux3, 02/15/2012
2005 Nissan Pathfinder XE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Just read all the post on Coolant leaking into Transmission. Happened to me at 75K miles. We bought the car brand new and spent THOUSANDS on repairs and it was never without problems. Amazing how a company could keep selling a vehicle with SOOOOO many problems and then not do right by their customers.
I am torn on this review...am I one of the lucky ones?
andybisnut, 04/25/2014
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Off Road 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I love this truck but I am torn on the review. I had the issue where the transmission cooling lines failed, causing coolant to get into the transmission. The car would "rumble" when the torque converter engaged. Installed new radiator and flushed the heck out of the transmission. 30,000 miles later, fingers crossed, the tranny is still OK. I haven't had to replace it. Otherwise, the Patfhfinder has been virtually bullet-proof. It's been our go-to road trip car and it's survived many brutal MN winters. Great truck. If the tranny issue didn't exist it would get a perfect score. Seriously powerful engine with lots of sound and fury. :) MPG isn't great...maybe 17-18 MPG on average.
Has Been Excellent, but...
06/05/2012
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
We bought our 2005 Pathfinder LE 4x4 automatic new in January of 2006. It has been a great vehicle in every way, including reliability. The MPG has been between 8 off road in 4x4, 12 durring the worst winter driving around town in AWD, to 22 on high speed freeways in 2WD, to 24 on moderate speed county highways in 2WD.
Is It a Good One?
jaredsalinger, 03/07/2011
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Recently, Nissan mailed me a warranty extensions on the radiator, because it might fail and leak coolant. Some 2005 Pathfinder owners have had the radiator fail, causing coolant to leak into the transmission and ruin it. I contacted my Nissan dealerships (2 in my area), and they tell me that there is no fix, and that the radiator has to fail before they can replace it. Really, Nissan?! Well then, I'm sorry, but I cannot support an automaker who engages in such practices. Ironically, my Pathfinder has been a great vehicle. So now, I'm left wondering if I got a good one, or if it's just a ticking time bomb.
I love this truck. Its perfect for me
kbstone@gmail.com, 02/05/2018
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
There are a few quality issues but overall a great truck all around. Tows well, can hold a lot of folks. I am a mechanically inclined person so did the transmission cooler bypass and timing chain repairs myself. I put a small 2 inch lift and its a beast. I bought it with 100K miles and have put another 40K on it with no problems other than little stuff - I replaced the fuel pump to fix the known gas gauge problem and you have to take the car mostly apart to put a set of spark plugs in but that's most cars these days. The truck is comfortable, reliable and has a massive amount of utility. With the right tires and a small lift, theres almost nowhere it cant go and that's a big deal as we spend a lot of time of very remote places. I originally got an xterra and after 200K plus miles decided that Nissans were for me. If you take good care of this car, you will have it a long time.
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If I Could Turn Back Time
mommaT, 09/24/2010
2005 Nissan Pathfinder XE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I really enjoyed driving this car, right up until the transmission blew. Our gas gauge hadn't worked in a long, long time. No big deal, I just reset the mile ticker each time I filled up. But what I will NEVER understand is how a 5 year old vehicle we bought NEW at the local dealer could be worthless. We did all the scheduled maintenance, used synthetic oil, treated her well. A 5 yr old car should not need 6,000+ dollars worth of work done. This is a design flaw in the coolant system and we should NOT be on the hook for it. Nissan should be ashamed! This was the only car we had that could haul our 2 small kids and now it's junk! I don't have money to fix it, and a new car is not the budget!
More of the same!
Scott, 01/27/2016
2005 Nissan Pathfinder XE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
13 of 17 people found this review helpful
Bought this vehicle in December of 2009 with 44K miles on it. It was a great looking SUV and was a good SUV for a while. I guess I can say I was lucky because I didn't have any problems until it reached about 100K miles. Once it hit that milestone, it started having all the same problems that everyone else has been saying. Fuel sensor unit, check engine light going on, tire sensors going on, 2 valve jobs, coolant sending issue, etc. During a drive across town one day in June of 2015 and with only 122K miles on it, I felt a knock underneath the vehicle. Shortly afterward, it wouldn't engage in reverse and then quit engaging in forward after that before it completely crapped out and stranded me in the hood. I knew from reading all these forums what it was. You are right; it was the transmission. 2 months, 2 stints in the repair shop during those 2 months, other repairs needed, and a new transmission, it was finally back on the road $3200 later. Nissan wouldn't do anything and the dealership told me not to waste my time. Like a girl who has cheated on you many times, I couldn't trust it. Needless to say, it was on Craigslist the moment it was out of the shop. I did get rid of it and bought a Toyota SUV. No more Nissans from now on. Would have been a different story if Nissan would have taken responsibility and owned up to this problem and issues. Just from reading these forums, it looks like I am not the only one who will never buy another Nissan again.
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STAY AWAY!!!!
abradach, 12/19/2011
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Do not buy this car, i got mine a year ago from a nissan dealership and now i have the problem everybody else has with this car: the radiator coolant leaking into the transmission. now the radiator has to be replace along with the transmission. (thousands of dollars). they extended the warranty up to 80,000 miles, but this problem usually happens around 85,000 like mine. this was figured out only after spending about $1000 on useless repairs the nissan mechanics kept guessing at. This car has drained me and i will NEVER buy anything from Nissan again!!!
Watch out on transmissions!!!!
Joe, 10/21/2009
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
My 2005 just went dead with only 50K miles on it and the dealer says the transmission is done and needs to be replaced out of warranty at a cost of $5K!!!! What kind of a car is this??? Do I have any chance of getting this replaced by Nissan at their cost? Last time I buy a lemon from this company!!
2005 Pathfinder
maximus18, 10/30/2004
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
overall, this suv is great. the exterior is awesome; it really looks rugged and heavy. the interior is also good. all the nissans have the sporty- looking steering wheels.
Problems solved, hopefully
dargon, 12/12/2010
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Purchased in July, 2010 with 82k miles on it from dealership without knowing what issues the vehicle had. After reading all the reviews I took preemptive measures and replaced the radiator myself, $200. Evap code tripped on the way home from dealership same day of purchase. Took evap canister out, found out a tab holding the evap valve in place was insufficient and zip tied the crud out of it and haven't had a problems with it. According to carfax report the fuel sender had already been replaced. Haven't had an issue with it since, but transmission has always made a small clacking noise when it makes its first shift after start-up, hope this is normal.
Buy this SUV!
Yinka Ajelabi, 06/07/2005
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My wife and I got this car 5 months ago and we just love it! The exterior projects strength and confidence and the V6 270 horsepower engine sure backs it up. The interior is spacious and very well designed. the best part for is how well it handles in the city...really smoothly. You will definitely get THE bang for your buck, we definitely did.
Not Sure what to think anymore
Hextreme2000, 02/06/2010
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Off Road 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Well at only 61K barely out of powertrain warranty my engine needed to be replaced. First was the catalytic converter. Replaced under warranty, got the truck back and started burning oil, NIssan 23 in NJ where I bought it, worst customer service and would never buy or service any car there, they said I needed new engine $7k repair. Called Nissan corporate and they have been helpful and covered the repair at another dealer since I have been a loyal customer for years. No complains about Nissan corporate and their service but still I don't feel confident that I won't have more problems with my Pathy. I love Nissans and I def love my Pathfinder but have not had good luck with its reliability
Performance Rules
hilljo, 11/11/2004
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Performance is King, and this Pathfinder rules. The most horsepower in its class equals a happy camper. Traded an Acura MDX, and it feels really good to be back in a truck SUV and away from a car SUV. The ride is very, very good for a truck SUV. The extra horsepower offsets any and all negatives, plus it just plain looks great. The Bose sound system with 9 speakers is also nice. Laying down all of the rear seats is slightly cumbersome.
BAD RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION
Trina , 05/29/2009
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Purchased in 2005 at 110,000 miles the radiator fluid leak into the transmission without any warning nor is it included in the service repair to change. To no end Nissan will not accept responsibility of a faulty radiator design. I am not the first and the last with this same problem. I will never buy another Nissan! Consumer relations stated they will not accept responsibility and states the warranty of their radiators go out at 36,000 miles.
Nissan quality sinks
welshy, 11/24/2010
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Extremely problematic and the reviews don't tell the issues that this generation is experiencing. Problems to date at mile occurred Fuel sending unit 57K Front U -Joint 57k Catalytic converters (all) 71K Engine 75k (due to converter failure, pieces got into the engine) transmission failure do to design issue with radiator (class action lawsuit pending, I have luckily not had this issue to date)
Stay Away from these SUVs
Icewarped, 07/01/2009
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I purchased the pathfinder based on previous years reliability. Google "Pathfinder Transmission" or search Edmunds discussion groups. The transmission cooler in the radiator will leak, causing anti- freeze to enter into your transmission fluid. With 70,000 miles I need a new radiator and transmission. (Warranty good up til 60K) Interior plastic is very cheap (rear cupholders broke). Squeeks everywhere Just a poorly engineered and built vehicle. Whoever the engineering team is responsible for this transmission cooler design should be beaten with blunt instruments. This will be my last nissan product. I'm selling this to purchase an older american made truck (2002-2004).
Crap, it happened to mine also!
Paul, 12/01/2010
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Ok, I just bought this pathfinder and traded my other 2 decent vehicles in on it thinking that since this is a Nissan it would last forever and it was newer than my other 2/well as soon as I bought it it started jerking bad and come to find out it is of course the trans and radiator/and as of right this minute it has been in shop for over a week having trans rebuilt and radiator replaced at the expense of the car dealership luckily. I love this vehicle but Nissan needs to step up to the plate and fix their junky parts! Once the radiator leaks antifreeze in trans it is messed up. Good luck and hopefully mine will be like new now
Great Truck
Ace Dude, 07/14/2008
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Off Road Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I use my Pathfinder for business and drive about 20K miles per year, mostly on highway. The Pathfinder is comfortable, reliable, and a great all around truck. I occasionally pull a cargo trailer and have no problems. This truck has a great engine! It has more power than my V8 Ford Expedition had. Highly recommended. As for the fuel mileage, it's a truck! I have almost 50K miles on it now with NO PROBLEMS!
Radiator Assembly Problem
cookdough, 04/15/2012
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2005 Pathfinder used in October 2008. It now has 74,500 miles. I read all the horror stories about the radiator assembly so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I had the dealer replace it before the extended warranty even expired. I had no evidence of any problem but did not want to risk ruining the transmission. Woodbury Nissan in NJ charged $843 (parts & labor) to replace the radiator assembly, but the piece of mind was worth it. Maybe if Nissan ever decides to recall, I'll be reimbursed. I'm not holding my breath. And yes... I'll never buy another Nissan.
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.
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...
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,
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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.
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
Wouldn't drive if it was free
crynuno, 06/07/2011
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is by far the worst vehicle I have ever owned. Think twice before ever buying one! My tranny recently went out for no apparent reason. The dealer said it had nothing to do with the radiator coolant because they are not connected. I ask then why would the tranny fail at only 83,000 miles?? Since I could not get an answer, I assume it is because it is a piece of garbage. I am trading in asap. Willing to take the hit on it just to get rid of it! I don't care to put up with the headache anymore.
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!
Great SUV - Only a few negatives
Good SUV, 02/21/2007
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Off Road 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This SUV was purchased for towing a closed 6' X 10' trailer with DJ gear and the ability to haul extra people. The engine is powerful enough. I would go to a larger SUV for larger boats and trailers. I have had no mechanical problems. There is no point in complaining about gas mileage. All mid-size and larger SUVs need a lot of gas, especially if working hard. This six-cylinder is no different. This is a nice looking truck that stands out in the crowd of Trailblazers and Explorers. I didn't test drive Explorers (not a Ford fan), but the Trailblazer handled like a sponge compared to the Nissan and the Trailblazer seats felt like you were sitting on a soft mound - ready to roll off.
Pathfinder LE 2 WD drive
Charles Bosworth, 03/19/2005
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Car handles well, more like a car than a truck. Appointments are luxurious. Even the basic LE model has all the bells and whistles except navigation and DVD systems. A standard 1st aid kit is nice. No available rear window deflector is a turn off. Two glove boxes is different. This is a new version of the old pathfinder. It has 3rd row fold down seats. Because it is newly redesigned it might be hard to get a good deal (no specials). Bose speaker system, multi-control AC and memory system for drivers seat, mirror and pedal height are all nice touchs. There is a big difference, appointment/accesory-wise between LE and other models (SE, etc..). We had a 2002 LE. Not much interior storage space.
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.
not a good start
Dave, 01/29/2005
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
powerful if noisy engine. transmission is silky smooth. drives like a car, no binding, or scrubbing in tight corners. full of rattles, squeaks, vibrations. rear quarter window rattles. lots of plastic shakes over rough roads. i have owned 5 new Nissans in 14 years. never had trouble before.
If you THINK you want it - get it!
SoCal Roy, 03/31/2005
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE Off Road Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Wife's lovin it. First-time Nissan owner - but Pathfinder's great history. Strong resale, LOTS of power, great ride/handling, smooth/quiet. Have an 18ft I/O boat, so needed a family vehicle to tow WITH EASE while not being cumbersome hard-to-park the rest of year and contrary to others I think the mileage is just fine for this type vehicle (ave. 20 mpg on last hiway trip - my best hiway Dodge Club Ram ave.15) You do NOT "require" premium gas - perfect on 87 octane. Much roomier than the Pilot. Use the internet to purchase - fight for invoice pricing!!!
Best Pathfinder Yet
Gary Ferrero, 12/03/2004
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Coming off previous model as well as two Grand Cherokees, this is by far the best mid sized SUV value out there. The stroked VQ engine is awesome, power at all RPM ranges and noticeably more torque than its predecesor. Ride is firmer but the truck is quieter and although a bit choppier still a great pleasure to drive. Added heft is definitely a plus on slippery roads and this combined with addition of the AUTO mode make truck more surefooted. Build quality is, as with all Nissans, incredible as this is a real truck that doesn't really know it. Not one shake rattle or roll from this baby, rock solid. Kudos to Nissan for upgrading and improving an already great vehicle.
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.
Timing ch./tensioner
Phil, 06/04/2008
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
1) Master switch out at 30k. 2) piece from roof rack blew away. 3) tensioner causing timing cha. to make engine noises. Warranty covered this at 59k because I bought extra warranty. It took Team Nissan 1, and 1/2 to complete job. Does this mean that I will have the same proble at 100k miles? 4) noisy sun roof at speeds over 70 miles/hr
They Don't Make 'em Like They Used To!
Fetts, 06/18/2008
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this truck 4 years ago new with all the options. Interior/exterior is good and the engine is surprisingly fast (60,000 miles). I passed on the MBZ ML back in '05 and wish I hadn't. The engine light has come on serveral times, each time costing me around $300-$400. The driver's side window consistently pops out of the slide and leaves the truck unprotected. The rear windows stopped rolling up/down and the truck randomly locks when the keys are inside. There has been a rattle in the dash from the start, and the rear shocks went out at 50,000 miles. Worst of all, the dealer just told me the timing chain tension is bad and needs replacement. Cost? $4,000. Huh, time to sell.
Transmissions
PRDR, 11/23/2010
2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Same problem radiator fluid leaked into the transmission. This is my second Nissan I love my 92 Nissan SE, and I still have it, so it is why I brought the second Nissan Pathfinder 2005 SE 6CL 4WD, but I will never buy another Nissan again. Not only that the electrical modular that controls the car went, it shuts down the car down completely, which cost a pretty penny to fix. Now I see they have a recall on that starting in December 2010. They need to do the right thing and recall these particular Makes and Models fix their issues and any revert of those issues. Come now Nissan do the right thing and keep loyal customers. Oh heat shields rattle like mad. Same problem on 1992 model too.
Careful of the Pathfinder
Bigboy, 07/10/2009
2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Leased after much research, beautiful black on black. Very disappointed this is the first "foreign" vehicle I owned. Replaced under warranty, rad, ac condenser, transfer case, various fluid seals multiple times. Replaced out of warranty- ABS sensor, fuel delivery system(fuel pump), belt tensioner, heat shield clamp etc All this with leass than 60,000 miles. Dealer now chasing to lease another....... I am tempted but need to look at all of the other options out there