NHTSA Complaint #10462423 — 2007 NISSAN PATHFINDER

MY PATHFINDER RECENTLY STARTED GRINDING INTO 4TH GEAR AROUND 40 MPH AND IS NOW LURCHING FORWARD (AS IF HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME ENGAGING IN 1ST GEAR) AFTER BEIN STOPPED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, MY ISSUE EXACTLY FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF SCORES OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS FROM PATHFINDER OWNERS OF 2005-07 MODELS WHO HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURERS' DEFECT OF A COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I CALLED THE NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO INQUIRE ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS AND REGISTER MY OWN, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTICS TEST I ORDER TO REGISTER THE COMPLAINT FURTHER. I WAS TRANSFERRED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE RESEARCH: IF MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS MILKY REDDISH IN COLOR (WHICH IT IS), THEN RADIATOR FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO TO TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS LIKELY ( FROM THIS SERVICE REP'S EXPERIENCE) THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3500-$8000. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF THIS PROBLEM AT HIS DEALERSHIP, HE WAS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE BUT BECAUSE OF THE PERCENTAGE OF CARS AFFECTED THAT IS KNOWN IS SMALL IN COMPARISON TO THE NUMBER SOLD IN THOSE YEARS, A RECALL WAS UNLIKELY. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE (107000) MADE IT EVEN MORE UNLIKELY THAT NISSAN WOULD COVER THE REPAIRS. *JS