2008 Nissan Pathfinder Problems: Transmission / driveline (325 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder is Transmission / driveline (38% of 325 owner reports). There are 5 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 325 complaints · 5 recalls

What problems show up on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder?

125 of 325 filings named Transmission / driveline (38% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Fuel system (69 reports).

There are 5 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Suspension, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2007 has 558 reports on file; this year has 325. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 5 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 125 complaints · 38.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 9
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 7
  • Deaths 0
All Nissan Pathfinder years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 125 of 325 owner complaints (38.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 125 complaints, 38.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 125 · 38.5% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 69 complaints, 21.2% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 69 · 21.2% Engine (ENGINE): 38 complaints, 11.7% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 38 · 11.7% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 31 complaints, 9.5% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 6 crash reports 31 · 9.5% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 10 complaints, 3.1% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 10 · 3.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 5 complaints, 1.5% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 · 1.5% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 5 complaints, 1.5% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 · 1.5% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 5 complaints, 1.5% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 crash reports 5 · 1.5% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 4 complaints, 1.2% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 4 · 1.2% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 72 complaints, 22.1% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 crash reports 72 · 22.1% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 125 38.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 69 21.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 38 11.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 31 9.5% 6 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 10 3.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 1.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 1.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 5 1.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 4 1.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 72 22.1% 3 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2007; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2008. 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2013-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2013-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2014-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2014-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2014-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2014-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2015-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2015-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2015-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2015-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2016-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2016-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2016-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2016-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2017-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2017-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2018-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2018-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2018-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2018-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2007 Jan 2025 Recall campaign 08V690000 ◆ Recall campaign 08V690000 Recall campaign 10V075000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V075000 Recall campaign 10E019000 ◆ Recall campaign 10E019000 Recall campaign 10V401000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V401000 Recall campaign 23V067000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V067000 Investigation DP12004 ● Investigation DP12004
  • Campaign 10V075000 was reported 295 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 10V401000 was reported 1,031 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V067000 was reported 5,133 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q2 Owner reports 1
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 2
2009-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 2
2010-Q3 Owner reports 5
2010-Q4 Owner reports 3
2011-Q1 Owner reports 2
2011-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 3
2012-Q2 Owner reports 2
2012-Q3 Owner reports 6
2012-Q4 Owner reports 2
2013-Q1 Owner reports 8
2013-Q2 Owner reports 5
2013-Q3 Owner reports 7
2013-Q4 Owner reports 6
2014-Q1 Owner reports 9
2014-Q2 Owner reports 9
2014-Q3 Owner reports 23
2014-Q4 Owner reports 5
2015-Q1 Owner reports 10
2015-Q2 Owner reports 14
2015-Q3 Owner reports 14
2015-Q4 Owner reports 12
2016-Q1 Owner reports 12
2016-Q2 Owner reports 18
2016-Q3 Owner reports 15
2016-Q4 Owner reports 5
2017-Q1 Owner reports 9
2017-Q2 Owner reports 9
2017-Q3 Owner reports 10
2017-Q4 Owner reports 8
2018-Q1 Owner reports 8
2018-Q2 Owner reports 8
2018-Q3 Owner reports 10
2018-Q4 Owner reports 3
2019-Q1 Owner reports 7
2019-Q2 Owner reports 5
2019-Q3 Owner reports 6
2019-Q4 Owner reports 5
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 2
2020-Q4 Owner reports 5
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 3
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 2
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 3
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 2
2023-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 2
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 08V690000
Recall campaign 1 10V075000
Recall campaign 1 10E019000
Recall campaign 1 10V401000
Recall campaign 1 23V067000
Defect investigation 1 DP12004
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (5)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Suspension, and Fuel system.

  1. Recall campaign 08V690000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 10E019000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 10V075000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS A MODIFIED FLOAT ARM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 10V401000

    Safety recall 10V401000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 23V067000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 325 complaints · page 1 of 13
2025-01-15Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11636189
CrashFireInjuryDeath
There was a recall concerning the fuel gauge not working correctly. The sensor in the tank needed replaced. Well my car had that recall fixed or so it says, but it is doing the same thing again. So are you gonna replace it again for no cost?
2024-06-01Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11591915
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The rear suspension subframe is completely corroded and causes vehicle suspension parts to break off unannounced and causes vehicle to swerve severely and most likely is going to cause and accident or death, Nissan has been informed of this issue and refuses to address a proper repair
2023-10-28Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11552425
CrashFireInjuryDeath
A coolant hose leaked in transmission and shorted tcm causing total transmission failure and totaling out vehicle
2023-10-06Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11548600
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V067000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was not made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,610. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2023-08-22Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11540217
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The passenger air bag warning light is flashing and the passenger air bag button that tells you that it is on and working when somebody gets in the car is off. Therefore the air bag will not deploy in a crash. The light just started flashing about 2 weeks ago approximately. There is also a recall on my vehicle for a component that could become a projectile in a crash if the air bag is deployed. This recall was made 02/09/23 and Nissan has no remedy for it. Therefore this problem is not repairable for almost 9 months. Then I have this new safety problem as well and I don't know why and I don't have the kind of money that would be charged to take it to the Nissan Dealership. I feel that this is one too many recalls on this vehicle there are 5 to be exact at this time. I want Nissan to replace my vehicle with something comparable and don't think that if the airbag is inoperable or that a component could kill somebody that this car should be driven on the roads. What are they going to do about this this is not a safety issue that should just be ignored. The car is paid for its still in very good condition but for me it is now unsafe to drive or to have a passenger in my vehicle. I want some remedy for this asap.
2023-06-26Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11528847
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Vehicle suddenly started having problems while driving. Loud whining noise and shaking and scrubbing sound while driving. Was driving fine before sudden issues. Quotes by three different mechanics stated possible issues that incuded wheel bearing, ball joints, water pump, fan clutch, and brakes. Was told that all parts under vehicle were loose and close to becoming unraveled.
2023-04-10Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11516231
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Front airbag sensor is bad. I checked it to see if this vehicle had its recall done for this known problem looks like it did because it don’t have a open recall for it.
2023-01-13Airbags (AIR BAGS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11501609
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle lost horn functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clockspring had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 150,785.
2022-11-02Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11491867
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Crack in defective radiator allowed coolant to mix in with transmission fluid. Coolant caused transmission to fail while driving it. transmission changed gears on its own and would not shift properly and engine just shut down
2022-09-23Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11486041
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Bought vehicle I’m second owner it was sold as is from a dealership with airbag lights on after a certain amount miles check engine light came on said I had e -regular voltage to fuel injectors 1 gear started slipping then loss of power when accelerating next revolutionary trans-sensor went and now when I start the vehicle the A/T ECU Fuse keeps blowing out and the radiator coolant has transmission fluid mixing into it.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 125 of 325 reports (38%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Suspension, and Fuel system. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources