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Nissan
Pathfinder
R51·
2005-2013
suv-4wd
Caution
Price (AUD)
$6k-$22k
Body styles
5-door wagon (7-seat)
Drivetrain
Part-time 4WD (All-Mode 4x4, dual-range), Rear-wheel drive (some early base grades)
Origin
Japan
Built in
Japan
Overview
The R51 is the last 'proper' body-on-frame Pathfinder, sharing its ladder chassis and engines with the D40 Navara, and sold here as ST, ST-L and Ti with seven seats and dual-range part-time 4WD. It is a genuinely capable, roomy and good-value tourer, but its reputation is dominated by driveline reliability worries rather than the chassis. The volume-selling 2.5L YD25DDTi diesel is plagued by a simplex (single-row) fuel-pump timing chain that can stretch or snap surprisingly early, plus dual-mass-flywheel rattle and an EGR cooler that can crack and push coolant into the engine. The 4.0L VQ40DE petrol V6 is the mechanically tough but very thirsty choice, while the later (2010+) 3.0L V9X V6 turbo-diesel adds big torque and a 7-speed auto but is expensive to fix and not immune to chain and emissions gremlins. The other R51 bogey is transmission/radiator coolant cross-contamination ('strawberry milkshake') that can destroy the auto. Buy on documented chain, flywheel, EGR and transmission history - a well-maintained example is fine, a neglected one is a money pit.
Engines & variants
2.5L YD25DDTi turbo diesel
Engine
2.5L DOHC 16v common-rail turbo-diesel I4 (shared with D40 Navara)
Config
I4 turbo
Displacement
2488cc
Power
126kW @ 4000rpm (early) - 140kW (later 'high-output')
Torque
403Nm @ 2000rpm (early) - 450Nm (later auto)
Drivetrain
Part-time 4WD (All-Mode, dual-range)
Economy
9-11 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
3000kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
6MT, 5AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven (duplex camshaft chain + a separate simplex fuel-pump/balance chain that is the weak point)
Pros
- Strong low-down torque and good economy for a 7-seat 4WD
- Big parts/aftermarket support via the shared D40 Navara
- Capable dual-range part-time 4WD
- Cheap to buy if you accept the known-issue risk
Cons
- Notorious simplex fuel-pump timing chain that can fail early
- Dual-mass flywheel rattle/failure, especially if towed hard
- EGR cooler can crack and leak coolant (often blamed as a 'cracked head')
- Auto can be killed by radiator coolant contaminating the trans fluid
Known problems
high
Simplex fuel-pump timing chain stretch / failure
The camshaft chain is duplex (double-row, rated ~300,000km), but the separate single-row simplex chain driving the high-pressure fuel/vacuum pump stretches, and its tensioner and guides wear and break, letting the chain slap. It can fail unpredictably early with a rattle on start-up/idle and, if it lets go, do major valve and piston damage.
Fix: Inspect chain and tensioner from ~80,000km and every 20k-40k thereafter; replace with an upgraded chain/tensioner kit (some fit a duplex conversion). Treat a cold-start rattle as urgent.
high
Dual-mass flywheel rattle / collapse
High torque under towing and heavy acceleration collapses the dual-mass flywheel damper springs, producing a characteristic 'click-clack' rattle when lightly accelerating then backing off. Manuals also go through clutches.
Fix: Replace the dual-mass flywheel and clutch; many owners fit a solid-mass flywheel + clutch upgrade for towing duty.
high
EGR cooler crack / coolant leak (mistaken for cracked head)
The EGR cooler can corrode or split internally, leaking coolant that evaporates in the exhaust heat - giving mystery coolant loss, white smoke and combustion gases in the coolant that mimic a cracked head/blown head gasket.
Fix: Pressure-test the EGR cooler before condemning the head; replace the EGR cooler (and EGR valve) and clean the intake.
high
Auto transmission / radiator coolant cross-contamination
The auto's fluid is cooled in the radiator; an internal failure lets coolant and ATF mix ('strawberry milkshake'), wrecking the gearbox. A long-standing R51/Navara complaint.
Fix: Fit an external transmission cooler and isolate the radiator cooler; check fluid condition pre-purchase; rebuild/replace transmission if contaminated.
medium
Injector and EGR/intake soot at higher km
Common-rail injectors wear and the EGR/intake carbons up, causing rough running, smoke and lost power.
Fix: Injector test/replacement by a diesel specialist; intake and EGR clean; catch-can helps.
4.0L VQ40DE V6 petrol
Engine
4.0L DOHC 24v VVT V6 (shared with D40 Navara/Xterra)
Config
V6 NA
Displacement
3954cc
Power
198kW @ 5600rpm
Torque
385Nm @ 4000rpm
Drivetrain
Part-time 4WD (All-Mode, dual-range)
Economy
13-16 L/100km real world
Tow (braked)
3000kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven
Pros
- Mechanically the toughest R51 engine - no diesel chain/flywheel saga
- Smooth, strong and willing performance
- Cheapest R51 to buy because petrol scares buyers off
- No DPF/EGR diesel emissions complexity
Cons
- Very thirsty, especially loaded or towing
- Poor touring range from the standard tank
- Much weaker resale than the diesels
- Still shares the radiator/auto cooler contamination risk
Known problems
low
Fuel thirst
Real-world 13-16 L/100km (worse towing). Not a fault but the main reason these are cheap.
Fix: Accept the fuel bill, fit LPG, or buy the diesel if economy matters.
high
Auto transmission / radiator coolant cross-contamination
Like the diesel, the auto fluid is cooled in the radiator and a failure can mix coolant and ATF, destroying the gearbox.
Fix: Fit an external trans cooler bypassing the radiator; check fluid condition before buying.
medium
Timing chain / VVT rattle at high km
The VQ40 is durable but its chains, tensioners and VVT solenoids can rattle and wear at very high km if oil changes were neglected.
Fix: Strict oil-change discipline; replace chains/tensioners/solenoids if rattling.
3.0L V9X V6 turbo diesel
Engine
3.0L DOHC 24v common-rail turbo-diesel V6 (Ti 550, Renault-derived)
Config
V6 turbo
Displacement
2993cc
Power
170kW @ 3750rpm
Torque
550Nm @ 1750rpm
Drivetrain
Part-time 4WD (All-Mode, dual-range)
Economy
9.3-11 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
3000kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
7AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven
Pros
- Big 550Nm of torque - effortless touring and towing
- Smooth, modern 7-speed auto
- Much more refined than the 2.5 four-cylinder diesel
- No dual-mass flywheel manual driveline to worry about
Cons
- Introduced only on the pricey 2010+ Ti 550, so examples are scarce
- Expensive, specialist-only repairs when it does go wrong
- Common-rail injector, turbo and emissions costs can be steep
- Still shares R51 cooling/transmission contamination risk
Known problems
medium
Injector and turbo wear (high repair cost)
The V9X common-rail injectors and turbo are durable but expensive; faults cause rough running, smoke, hard starting or boost issues, and parts/labour are dearer than the four-cylinder.
Fix: Diesel-specialist injector test/replacement and turbo service; use quality fuel and filtration.
medium
EGR / intake soot and emissions faults
EGR and intake carbon build-up cause rough running and limp mode; emissions sensors/valves are a common fault source on this engine.
Fix: EGR/intake clean, replace faulty sensors/valves; regular highway running.
high
Auto transmission / radiator coolant cross-contamination
The 7-speed auto, like the rest of the range, can suffer coolant/ATF cross-contamination from a radiator cooler failure - very costly on this gearbox.
Fix: Fit/verify an external trans cooler; inspect fluid pre-purchase; rebuild/replace if contaminated.
Common problems (all variants)
low
Cracked dashboard / interior trim (heat/UV)
R51 dash tops are well known for cracking and warping under sustained Australian sun, plus general trim and switch wear.
Fix: Dash cap or replacement; not structural - factor it into the price.
medium
Front suspension / lower-arm bushes and ball joints
The independent front end wears lower control-arm bushes, ball joints and links, giving clunks, uneven tyre wear and wander.
Fix: Replace worn bushes/ball joints; do a full front-end refresh and wheel alignment.
low
Electrical gremlins (sensors, alternator, battery)
Owners report alternator, battery and assorted sensor failures, plus occasional dash/electrical niggles with age.
Fix: Standard age-related electrical maintenance; diagnose with a scan tool.
low
Brake wear (heavy 7-seat 4WD)
A heavy seven-seat 4WD chews pads and rotors, especially when towing or loaded.
Fix: Quality pads/rotors; towing-spec pads if used for towing.
low
Coastal / underbody rust
Beach and coastal examples can develop underbody, chassis and tailgate rust.
Fix: Underbody inspection pre-purchase; wash down after beach use; favour dry-climate cars.