There are 50 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2005 Nissan Pathfinderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I HAS TO REPLACE THE 2 GASKETS ON THE OIL GALLEY GASKET IN THE TIMING COVER. IT COAT ME OVER 1000 DOLLARS AND I HAD A 2005 NISSAN XTERRA THAT HAD 5HE SAME PROBLEM AND IT COST BE THOUSANDS TO FIX AND I HAD TO JUNK IT BECAUSE IT SMOKED SO MUCH THEN VALVE TRAIN GOT F RIED..
I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I FIND OUT IT IS THE "INTERMIX" BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FROM NISSAN, BUT NOW UNDERSTAND IT WAS A KNOWN AND FREQUENT FAILURE - BY DESIGN. ESSENTIALLY, AFTER 90,000 MILE, THE CAR IS WORTHLESS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. AFTER PAYING $5,000 FOR THE REPAIR, I DROVE OFF THE LOT ONLY TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP FAIL. LITERALLY, I DROVE OFF THE LOT AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MISFIRING. UNBELIEVABLE. *TR
FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SENSOR: DTE GAUGE DOES NOT RESET. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT
AS I BEGAN TO PULL OUT AT AN INTERSECTION ON MY WAY TO WORK I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND MY CAR WAS BARELY MOVING. I NEARLY GOT HIT BY ANOTHER DRIVER. I CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 16 MONTHS AGO AND HAD IT TAKEN TO THEM. THEY CALLED ME WITH THE NEWS THAT THE RADIATOR COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH PARTS, THEREFORE BOTH ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. GIVEN THE FACT THAT I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND NOW HAVE TO PUT $5,200 INTO A FIX THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED I AM AT A COMPLETE LOSS. I STILL OWE $7,000+ ON THIS VEHICLE'S LOAN. I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT'S FAULTY MANUFACTURING, HOWEVER I ALSO FEEL THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE HELD PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE AS WELL. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN AND WE TAKE THIS VEHICLE ON VACATION, I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF ANY ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AT THE TIME OF THIS. I AM IN CONTACT WITH AN ATTORNEY AND WITH NISSAN, BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING ME THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT TRULY CORRECTING THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE EXISTENT.
WHEN I WENT TO PUT GAS IN MY CAR, AFTER I GOT IN AND STARTED THE CAR THE GAS GAGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO EMPTY AND STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I COULDN'T TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAD IN THE CAR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. AFTER ABOUT 5 HOURS IT ALL WENT BACK TO NORMAL UNTIL I PUT GAS IN THE CAR AGAIN AND IT DID IT ALL OVER AGAIN BUT THIS TIME NEVER STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN READING ON LINE ALL THE OTHER NISSIAN SAID WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND THE REPAIR IS OVER $700.00. TOO MANY CARS AFFECTED WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE AROUND NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH GAS IS IN YOUR CAR THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL AND HELP PAY THAT HUGE EXPENSE!
MY DAUGHTER TOOK OUR BABY TO THE DAYCARE AND WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE BITTER COLD IN OHIO AS SHE RAN OUT GAS. SHE CALLED AAA WHO SHOWED 2 HOURS LATER. IN THE MEANTIME SHE WAS WITHOUT ANY HEAT ON THE HIGHWAY IN12 TEMP. ALTHOUGH THE GAUGE SHOWED 1/2 OF TANK OF GAS, THE CAR WAS EMPTY. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH MY TO NJ COUNTING THE MILES SO I WOULD NOT RAN OUT OF GAS. I HAD IT FIXED AT THE WINDSOR NISSAN. THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I PAID $500+ FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED. THIS HAS BEEN PUBLISHED EVEN BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN. WROTE A LETTER (I CAN PROVIDE) ON MARCH 3 2010, INFORMING NISSAN OF THE DANGER OF THIS ISSUE. THE REF NUMBER IS 10V-075 SUBJECT FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE STORAGE AUXILIARY TANK. THE LETTER GOES TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUE WHICH COVERS MY CAR AND SAYS "THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. ANOTHER REF NUMBER REGARDING THE NISSAN FUEL GASOLINE SYSTEM NUMBER- 10V-075000, AND ANOTHER SERVICE BULLETIN NTB-07-069C, ALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE ABOUT THE GAUGE BEING FAULTY AND READING THAT THE CAR HAS GAS WHEN IT DOESN'T. MY DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY THAT SHE HAD JUST DROPPED OFF THE BABY AND WHEN THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, BEING PUT THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN OHIO IN WINTER WITHOUT HEAT IN A COLD CAR FOR 2 HOURS IS UNFORGIVABLE!! ALTHOUGH, I CALLED HEADQUARTER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY ACTED LIKE THEY DID NOT NOT ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND REFUSED TO REFUND MY MONEY BACK. I HAVE ALL THE SERVICES BULLETIN AND WILL BE MORE THEN HAPPY TO SHARE, ALTHOUGH NISSAN CAN CALL US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.PRODUCT_OR_SERVICE: HAD WORK DONE TO FUEL SYSTEM. I FILLED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB#91355526 FOR NOTHING. PLS HELP!!
RAN OUT OF GAS B/C FUEL GAUGE KEEPS SHOWING EMPTY EVEN WHEN IT IS FULL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE FUEL GAGE INDICATOR FAILED TO DISPLAY THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM STORAGE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V075000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO DRIVERS WHO HAD THE SAME MODEL. AND HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE GAS ALWAYS ON EMPTY EVEN IF THEY ALWAYS PUT GAS ON IT . FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. I'VE VISITED THE EDMUNDS.COM AND MOST THE COMPLAINTS ARE ABOUT THIS. SINCE ITS A COMMON PROBLEM IF ITS POSSIBLE TO MAKE A RECALL ABOUT THIS PARTS THANK YOU. *TR
THE FUEL GAUGE IS SAYING "EMPTY TANK" EVEN THOUGH I PUMPED $50 WORTH OF GAS. *TR
I'M ONE OF MANY VICTIMS THAT HAVE ENDURED FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNITS AND INACCURATE GAS GAUGES THAT CAUSE ME TO RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WITH SUCH A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, IT IS A PURE SCAM THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. NISSAN SIMPLY EXTENDS THE WARRANTY TO 72,000 MILES, WHICH DOES NOTHING TO HELP THE THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS WITH MORE MILEAGE. JUST AS THEY DID WITH THE RADIATOR DEFECT THAT CONTAMINATED THE TRANSMISSION, NISSAN IS GETTING AWAY WITH OFFERING HELP UP ONLY TO THE POINT WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGINS TO APPEAR. THIS MAKES THEM APPEAR THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING, BUT THEY ARE DOING NOTHING FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF VICTIMS. HOW CAN YOU LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS APPROACH? IT LEAVES VICTIMS WITHOUT HELP, AND LEAVES OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE CARS ON THE ROAD. IT'S DANGEROUS TO RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LIVE IN COLD CLIMATES AND HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. HELP. *TR
AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE UP WITH GAS-THE FUEL GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I CHECKED THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY ON FUEL GAUGE IT SHOWED BLANKS. AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY STARTED TO INCREASE BUT THE FUEL GAUGE NEVER MOVED TO THE FULL POSITION AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. UPON STOPPING AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF THE FUEL GAUGE FINALLY MOVED INTO THE FULL POSITION. THE OWNERS MANUAL SAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOULD GO OFF BUT HAS NOT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OREILLYS AND HAD THEM RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT AND IT SHOWED TO BE THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WAS BAD. THE FUEL GAUGE IS STILL NOT WORKING AND THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND U JOINTS SEVERAL TIMES. THE NISSAN PATHFINDER IS A LEMON AND NISSAN REFUSES TO WORK WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS. I SUGGEST THAT NO ONE BUY A NISSAN PRODUCT. THE COMPANY IS A JOKE AND WILL TRY TO GET OUT OF WARRANTY WORK AND GET EVERY PENNY OUT OF YOU THAT THEY CAN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH , SHE NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED INCORRECTLY AFTER THE FUEL TANK HAD BEEN REFUELED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, JUST STOPPED RUNNING AND TURNED OFF. IT DOES THIS WHILE SITTING IDLE, SAY IN LINE. IT DOES THIS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. IT JUST TURNS OFF! NOW I'M HAVING TROUBLE RE-STARTING IT! *TR
THE DTE READ ------ .AND GAS GUAGE ON THE PATHFINDER READS A 1/4 TANK OF GAS, THIS COULD CAUSE A BIGGER PROBLEM LATER. *TR
2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RECOMMENDED THAT FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT BE REPLACED AND REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE WAS GIVING AN INCORRECT READING. HE EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWED THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY ONE-QUARTER TANK OF FUEL, WHEN IN FACT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. HE ALSO POINTED OUT TO THE MECHANIC, THAT DUE TO THE INACCURACY AND ERRATIC MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL GAUGE READING, IT COULD STALL, AT ANY TIME A RESENT AN UNSAFE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE AND COMPROMISE THE LIFE AND SAFETY OF HIS PASSENGERS. AFTER A CAREFUL REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BY THE NISSAN TECHNICIAN, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FUEL SENDING UNIT MALFUNCTIONING, WHICH WAS DISCOVERED EARLIER BY NISSAN, IN WHICH A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. NISSAN DENIED THE CONSUMERS REQUEST TO HAVE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER STATED NISSAN HAS SINCE ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND EXTENDED THE PRIMARY WARRANTY.
THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR HAS GONE UP IN MY TRUCK. IT HAPPENED IN DECEMBER 2012. I CANNOT TELL WHETHER I HAVE GAS IN THE TRUCK OR NOT. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED AS I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER 2005 PATHFINDER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
THE VEHICLE HAS FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SENSOR WHICH SEEMS TO BE A VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY SAID THAT I MUST PAY THAT OUT OF POCKET. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY DOES THE PATHFINDER HAVE THE PROBLEM BUT SO DOES THE XTERA. NISSAN IS VERY WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SO THEY SHOULD FIX IT. *TR
FILLED FUEL TANK, DROVE 3 MILES WHEN GAS GAUGE FELL TO 1/2 FULL. TURNED VEHICLE OFF ,RESTARTED FUEL STILL AT 1/2 FULL. THEN SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WAS MALFUNCTIONING, SHOWING AN ERRONEOUS FUEL LEVEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026