YearToAvoid

2005 Nissan Pathfinder Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

89/100

#3 most-complained of 20 Pathfinder years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Nissan Pathfinder has 1,050 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 89 out of 100 — #3 highest of 20 Pathfinder model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (585 complaints, 56% of the total). Complaints report 14 crashes, 6 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
1,050
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
14 / 6
Injuries / deaths
12 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16.5
14 city / 20 hwy

Top 2005 Nissan Pathfinder problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain585 (56%)
  2. Engine447 (43%)
  3. Fuel System276 (26%)
  4. Electrical System66 (6%)
  5. Other50 (5%)
  6. Airbags22 (2%)
  7. Brakes22 (2%)
  8. Structure & Body19 (2%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (1%)
  10. Steering9 (1%)
2005 Nissan Pathfinder complaints: complaints filed per quarter1052005 Q12007 Q32009 Q42012 Q12014 Q22016 Q32018 Q42021 Q1
1518 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q1 to 2025 Q3; peak 2010 Q2 (105).

2005 Nissan Pathfinder recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 10V517000Oct 28, 2010Engine747,480 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 08V690000Dec 29, 2008Airbags242,720 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2005 Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
16.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,925
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Pathfinder years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid891,050216.5
2006Avoid84837316.5
2007Avoid79561116.5

All Nissan Pathfinder years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder ranks #3 of 20 among Pathfinder model years (Complaint Index 89/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 1,050 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (585 complaints), engine (447 complaints), and fuel system (276 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 90,074 miles.
Does the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder, most recently reported 2010, covering engine and airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder?
EPA rates the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder at 16.5 MPG combined (14 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,925. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.