Wrench.Pro

2007 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2007 Nissan Pathfinder has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Radiator-transmission fluid cross-contamination.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder.

Reported to NHTSA

Radiator-transmission fluid cross-contamination

POWER TRAIN

120 NHTSA complaints · 2015-05 → 2024-07

“THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER RADIATOR FLUID MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. WE BECAME FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN MY DAUGHTER COULD NOT START THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11021014
“MY SUV WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR AND NOW HAS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION COOLER PIPES SPLITTING CAUSING CROSS CONTAMINATION BETWEEN THE RADIATOR COOLANT & TRANSMISSION FLUID. WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10745462
“THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 40-45 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10971537

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel gauge and sending unit inaccuracy

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

14 NHTSA complaints · 2015-11 → 2021-01

“FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR BECOMES ERRATIC, FUEL GAUGE SAYS FULL, SOMETIMES EMPTY, SOMETIMES HALF AND ENGINE MAINTENANCE LIGHTS UP, FUEL ERROR LIGHTS UP ON AND OFF. DEALER HAS TO REPLACE FUEL LEVEL SENDER UNIT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11078702
“MY FUEL TANK IS WARPED SO THE FUEL FLOAT SENSOR GETS STUCK MOSTLY ON EMPTY SO I CANT TELL HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE. EVEN AFTER I FILL THE FUEL TANK IT STILL TELLS ME I AM EMPTY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10970665
“CAR GAS GAGE IS STUCK ON EMPTY, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A FULL TANK OF GAS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. NISSAN SAYS I NEED A NEW FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10806531

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Timing chain failure

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2016-03 → 2017-03

“TIMING CHAIN TENSION SYSTEM FAILED AT 80,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10845827
“TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT 80,000 MILES WHICH SHOULD NOT HAPPEN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10840146
“I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS A BAD TIMING CHAIN - CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FINANCIALLY ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THERE APPEARS TO BE A CIVIL LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10894277

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag warning light illumination

AIR BAGS

11 NHTSA complaints · 2015-05 → 2023-03

“WHEN THE CAR ENGINE IS ON, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT DOESN'T GO OFF, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. THE OWNER MANUAL STATES NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE IT'S IN THIS STATE. TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY A NISSAN DEALER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11084761
“AIRBAG - MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE NISSAN DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11217548
“NOTICED THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME OF A RECALL NOTICE ON THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR AND ADVISED ME TO CONTACT MY DEALERSHIP. I'M WONDERING HOW TO PROCEED WITH REPAIR/REPLACEMENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10715544

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

35 crashes 1990–2024

How the 35 occupant deaths break down

24

driver deaths

11

passenger deaths

35

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

11

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →