Nissan Pathfinder: Radiator Plastic End-Tank Crack Causing Coolant-CVT Fluid Cross-Contamination

The OEM aluminium core / plastic end-tank radiator has documented cracking at the crimped seam of the lower end tanks, particularly on the transmission cooler side. Because the CVT fluid cooler runs as an internal circuit inside the radiator core, a tank failure allows engine coolant and CVT fluid to mix under pressure. The resulting milky, emulsified fluid destroys CVT clutch packs and seals within kilometres of continued driving. A class-action lawsuit (US) and extended warranty bulletins confirm this as a widespread production defect.

• CVT fluid appears milky pink or strawberry-coloured on the dipstick
• Coolant level dropping without visible external leak
• CVT shudder or limp mode appearing suddenly with no prior transmission symptoms
• Visible staining or weeping at the lower radiator end-tank crimp seam
• Overheating or coolant warning combined with immediate CVT fault codes

1. 1

   Inspect the radiator lower end tanks for cracks, staining, or weeping at the crimp seams.

2. 2

   Check the coolant recovery bottle for an oily film on the surface.

3. 3

   Ask whether the vehicle has been used for towing (increases thermal stress on the radiator end tanks).

4. 4

   Remove the CVT fluid dipstick and inspect fluid on a white cloth — any milky, strawberry-milkshake colour indicates coolant contamination and the CVT is likely destroyed.

Parts involved: Radiator.

$4,500 to $16,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “Has the radiator ever been replaced, and was the CVT fluid inspected at the same time?”
• “Has the vehicle ever shown a CVT fault light shortly after a coolant warning or overheating event?”
• “Is this vehicle still within the Nissan extended coverage period for the CVT/radiator fault?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.