2008 Nissan Pathfinder — Known Issues & Recalls

Your 2008 Pathfinder's airbag warning light came on while you were driving. Nissan issued a recall for this issue, but the replacement parts haven't been made available yet, and the manufacturer has taken longer than reasonable to fix it. Your dealer confirmed the parts still aren't in stock, so your vehicle hasn't been repaired.

Your passenger airbag warning light is flashing and the passenger airbag status indicator shows the airbag is off, meaning it won't deploy in a crash. This problem started about 2 weeks ago. Additionally, your vehicle has an open recall for a component that could become a projectile if the airbag deploys, and Nissan has no fix available yet. The repair will likely require diagnostic testing of the airbag system and replacement of faulty airbag control module components.

Your SRS (airbag system) warning light started flashing on your dashboard. This indicates a problem with your airbag system that needs diagnosis. You'll need to have the system scanned with diagnostic equipment to identify the specific fault code causing the warning.

Your front airbag sensor may be malfunctioning. You checked whether this vehicle had the recall performed for this known issue and found that it appears to have already been done, as there are no open recalls showing.

Your airbag warning light came on and your horn stopped working. The dealer diagnosed a failed clockspring (the component that connects your steering wheel to the airbag and horn systems) and replaced it. The fix involves replacing the clockspring assembly to restore both the airbag system and horn functionality.

Your air bag warning light is on, and the buttons on your steering wheel (like cruise control and horn) don't work anymore. A mechanic diagnosed that the clockspring assembly — the part that connects these controls to your vehicle's electrical system — has failed. The dealer said your vehicle isn't covered under the recall for this issue, and you'd need to pay out-of-pocket to replace the clockspring.

A coolant hose developed a leak that allowed coolant to enter the transmission, which damaged the transmission control module (TCM) and caused complete transmission failure. This rendered your vehicle unable to operate.

Your radiator developed a crack, allowing coolant to leak into the transmission fluid. This contamination caused your transmission to fail while driving — the vehicle changed gears on its own, wouldn't shift properly, and the engine shut down. The radiator crack and transmission damage will need to be repaired or replaced.

While driving at 45 mph, your transmission unexpectedly downshifted on its own, and your check engine light came on. You were able to keep driving, but when you took it to mechanics, one said the transmission fluid needed changing while another said both the radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. The issue wasn't repaired, and your dealer wasn't contacted to diagnose the problem.

Your Pathfinder's rear suspension subframe is severely corroded, which is causing suspension components to break unexpectedly while driving. When these parts break, your vehicle swerves suddenly, creating a serious safety hazard. The fix will likely require replacing the corroded subframe and any damaged suspension components.

Your car is making a grinding sound from the front end while driving at various speeds, but no warning lights are on. A mechanic diagnosed the problem as worn tie rod ends and ball joints that need replacement. This suspension wear can affect how your car handles and steers, so it should be repaired soon. The fix will involve replacing the damaged tie rod ends and ball joints.

Your radiator and transmission cooler are contaminating each other, which has made your car inoperable. You may experience a sluggish transmission, difficulty starting the engine, blown fuses, and slow acceleration that creates safety hazards when merging into traffic. The four-wheel-drive indicator is stuck on even though you're in two-wheel drive, and your service engine light is on. The repair will likely involve flushing or replacing the radiator and transmission cooler system to prevent fluid cross-contamination.

Your engine oil is mixing with the antifreeze, indicating your radiator has a hole in it. This is the second time you've had to replace the radiator. The fix will involve replacing the radiator and flushing both the cooling system and engine oil to remove any contamination.

Your radiator is leaking coolant directly into your transmission, which you may notice by losing coolant levels and smelling radiator fluid after driving. This can cause serious damage to your transmission if not repaired promptly. The fix will likely involve replacing the faulty radiator with a new one.

While driving on the freeway, your engine made an unusual noise and seemed to lose power with rough gear shifts. When you pulled over, you noticed a milky white fluid leaking from the radar area of your vehicle. This mixture of water and other fluid suggests a potential coolant or transmission fluid leak that needs immediate inspection.

Your engine shut off without warning when you put the car in reverse, causing it to roll backward. After a mechanic replaced the engine coil block, your car began overheating at startup and producing white smoke from the engine while the temperature gauge read high. The manufacturer said your warranty had expired, so the vehicle was not repaired.

Your airbag warning light is on and the steering wheel controls are failing. More critically, your ABS brakes are activating randomly without warning, making it impossible to stop the vehicle during normal driving — you have to turn the car off and restart it to regain braking control. Your front differential has cracked and the pinion seal is leaking, your tire pressure monitoring system doesn't work reliably, and the steering feels unstable and sloppy over bumps, especially when turning at speed or on ramps. These issues require immediate professional diagnosis of the ABS system, steering components, and differential.

Your vehicle suddenly developed a loud whining noise along with shaking and scrubbing sounds while driving, even though it was working fine before. Multiple mechanics identified several loose parts underneath the vehicle that could be causing the issue, including the wheel bearing, ball joints, water pump, fan clutch, or brakes. The mechanics warned that these parts were loose and at risk of becoming further damaged or failing. A full inspection and tightening of suspension and brake components will likely be needed.

Your engine check light came on due to irregular voltage reaching the fuel injectors, and your transmission began slipping with power loss during acceleration. A transmission sensor failed, and now when you start the vehicle, the automatic transmission control fuse keeps blowing out. Additionally, transmission fluid is mixing into your radiator coolant, which suggests a transmission cooling system leak. This will likely require transmission diagnostics, sensor replacement, and repair of the transmission cooler to prevent fluid mixing.

Your car had a recall performed to fix a fuel gauge that wasn't working correctly, which involved replacing the sensor in the fuel tank. However, the same problem has returned and the fuel gauge is malfunctioning again. You're asking whether the dealer will replace it again at no cost under warranty.