The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While the gear lever was in reverse, the transmission failed to operate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the radiator connector hose leaked fluid into the transmission. The contamination caused internal damage to the transmission. The radiator and transmission were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000. Consumer stated while driving up a hill she acceleration and could not make it up the hill and made it to her job. Consumer attempted to put the vehicle in reverse and would not go in reverse. Car was towed, aamaco diagnosis was coolant had leaked into the transmission causing transmission to fail. Updated 6/13/18

- Festus, MO, USA

My vehicle had problems in 2011 when a "warranty notice" was sent regarding a radiator problem. I took the car in and they found that it was a timing belt and did not change my radiator while it was under the extended warranty and had approximatey 70,000 miles. I now have 160,000 miles and my car is acting up again and the dealership advised me the radiator is cracked and leaking coolant into the transmission so I need both repaired or my car will get worse and can cause an accident. To me it appears that this defect with the car was from the inception and it should have been recalled because it was bound to fail and it should be fixed at Nissan's cost. My vehicle is still pretty good looking but I feel it is only a shell that I am driving because of the interior radiator flaw. They indicate that since no recalls were made I have to pay the total out of pocket. I missed the lawsuit in 2013 but am willing to file another class action lawsuit if a lawyer is willing to accept it. The vehicle was shaking when I was driving it on the freeway mainly and it felt like it was not in gear and pulling. These were also my concerns in 2011 when I took it in to be repaired and fixed, but they said I had no problems. Well I do now and I wouldn't have if they had fixed the defective radiator.

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Driving home after the car has been warmed up for quite some time it started jerking shuttering violently and whining extremely loud upon acceleration it continued to worsen we checked radiator and transmission fluids there was atf fluid in the radiator and in the reservoir of radiator fluid it was thick frothy and almost a tannish color that like of strawberry milk. We were only about a half a block from home when this occurred and it frightened our children in the backseat thankful we were not on the interstate the shuttering was extremely bad

- Northfield, NH, USA

The transmission fluid was contaminated because there was a hole in the radiator. The radiator and transmission need to be replaced. I have 112,781 miles. This is a known problem with Nissan Pathfinders. Nissan extended coverage up to 100,000 miles. The radiator should have been recalled and all owners should have been notified.

- Allen, TX, USA

Nissan has an issue with the radiator leaking into the transmission, causing the car to shutter while driving.the transmission will go eventually!! Nissan is totally aware of the issue, and if you have an extended warranty for the powertrain it is not covered, because they do not consider the radiator, part of the powertrain!!I it will just be a matter of time before it leaves me sitting along the road! I hope I can get off the road and not cause an accident! Nissan really need to fix this!! thankfully no incident has happened, but I thought this should be told!

- Birdsboro, PA, USA

On highway driving home from work when transmission suddenly failed, causing a dangerous situation for myself and fellow drivers. It was a very harrowing experience, to say the least. It now sits with the mechanic, who informs me that the dreaded engine coolant/transmission contamination issue has occurred...unfortunately, my vehicle is over 10 years old and over 145,000 miles, so the recall notice does not apply...I now have to come up with $5,000 for repairs...how can Nissan ignore this issue and neglect their customers?

- Brick, NJ, USA

On the second day of owning my Pathfinder I noticed a vibration when I was driving around 40 mph. I took it into the shop less than a week later to have the transmission flushed and to disconnect the radiator from the transmission (did this due to research we found on the internet). The mechanic did see that my transmission fluid was cloudy meaning the coolant was leaking into the transmission. My vehicle was working great for about two weeks until one day I noticed a jerky feeling when driving my vehicle on a city street. That jerky feeling shortly turned into the vehicle shaking when shifting, which turned into not shifting at all after stopping at a red light. My vehicle would barely accelerate, mostly engine revving, luckily I was on a hill where I could coast to the side of the road. This occurred within 5-10 minutes, very quick, little warning. This could have been a very dangerous situation and could have ended worse than it did!!!

- Madison, WI, USA

Check engine light came on, diagnostic for auto trans sensor. Mechanic flushed transmission then couldn't replace sensor due to on going problem with radiator leaking coolant to transmission

- Florence, SC, USA

Coolant leaked into transmission, destroying the transmission, and rendering vehicle useless without thousands in repairs

- Port Orange, FL, USA

Transmission needs to be replaced due to coolant from the radiator leaking into transmission.

- Jackson, TN, USA

Car shakes violently when accelerating and jerks. Have been told I probably have a crack in raidiator and fluids leaked in transmission will be thousands to fix. After looking on internet. I see many people with problem and Nissan is not covering costs.

- Steger, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving various speeds, the transmission began to slip gears without warning. The intermittent failure recurred and became progressively worse. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the radiator coolant leaked into the transmission fluid, which caused internal damage to the transmission. The mechanic stated that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 25 IN SOUTH DENVER, MY PATHFINDER BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND STALL. THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AS I PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION ABOUT TWO MILES AWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AUTO IN PARKER COLORADO. A RADIATOR PART BLEW, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE STEAM FROM THE PLASTIC RADIATOR PART ALSO DAMAGED THE MAIN COMPUTER. IT WAS CLOSE TO $10,000 FOR ALL REPAIRS RELATED TO THE RADIATOR PART FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES LATER, MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING ON I-70 NEAR THE VAIL, COLORADO EXIT, AND THE PATHFINDER STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SCARY EXPERIENCE FOR US BOTH. THIS HAPPENED TODAY, 03/24/2016. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO AVON AUTO IN AVON COLORADO. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK INTO IT FURTHER. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME WITH FURTHER QUESTIONS. [XXX] OR [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Vail, CO, USA

Coolant from a faulty radiator leaked into the transmission. Ruining the transmission requiring a total replacement.

- Elizabeth City, NC, USA

Total transmission & radiator failure due to coolant leaking into the transmission.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle was constantly remaining stuck in first gear and in reverse. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then taken to a dealer for diagnosis. The vehicle was also inspected and diagnosed by more than one independent mechanic. The mechanics all informed that there was a failure in the transmission due to the radiator having an internal premature fracture, which caused the coolant to leak into the transmission. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the radiator and the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,320.

- El Paso, TX, USA

Known problem by Nissan where radiator fluid leaks into transmission and ruins transmission. Repair cost of $3900. No recall.

- Sanford, FL, USA

The transmission failed on my 2006 Nissan Pathfinder due to a poor engineering issue from Nissan. This problem is a very dangerous problem. Transmission can fail at anytime.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

Driving down the road the transmission started slipping and quite pulling in traffic and was almost hit from rear on the interstate. Found out radiator failed and filled transmission full of coolant and caused complete failure of both systems.

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder. While attempting to complete a left turn, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the radiator hose cracked and leaked fluid into the transmission, which contaminated the transmission. It was diagnosed that a component within the steering column fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,000.

- Atlanta, GA, USA