AI DamageNissan Pathfinder: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Nissan Pathfinder across 11 model years: 885 owner complaints and 316 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 24% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 7% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 215 complaints (24% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 21.
- Service brakes: 159 complaints (18% of all), 13 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 23.
- Electrical system: 142 complaints (16% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 359.
- Powertrain: 119 complaints (13% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 203.
- Forward collision avoidance: 59 complaints (7% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 21.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1987–1989
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1987–1995
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1996–2002
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2001–2026
- 4 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2005–2012
- 5.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl 2004–2012
- 2.5 L · hybrid · turbo · 4 cyl 2014–2015
- automatic, 3-speed 1987
- automatic, 4-speed 1988–2004
- automatic, 5-speed 2004–2012
- automatic, 9-speed 2022–2026
- CVT 2013–2020named in 18 complaints
- manual, 5-speed 1987–2003
Drive: AWD, RWD, 4WD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 885 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 215 | 4 | 21 |
| Service brakes | 159 | 13 | 23 |
| Electrical system | 142 | 3 | 359 |
| Powertrain | 119 | 5 | 203 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 59 | 6 | 21 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 49 | 0 | 8 |
| Vehicle speed control | 47 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 46 | 1 | 59 |
| Air bags | 46 | 9 | 28 |
| Structure | 35 | 1 | 93 |
| Seats | 27 | 2 | 22 |
| Backover prevention | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering | 23 | 2 | 17 |
| Wheels | 16 | 3 | 14 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was involved in a collision, and despite the force of the impact, the vehicle's airbags failed to deploy.Following the accident, the main dashboard SRS airbag indicator light began flashing.
Passenger side captain seat frame has too much play causing shaking and noise in the seat when passenger is in seat. Frame was replaced 05/2024 and same issue has occurred less than a year later. After accident on 10/17/2025, sound has gotten worse in seat and inspection shows frame to be critical.
The airbags did not deploy. My nose gushed blood for about 1 hour. I have included photos of my swollen and bruised face to show the after effects of the wreck day of and the next day.
The contact stated that the ABS warning light had illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS system needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact believed that the ABS system was not calibrated due to the ABS warning light re-illuminated.
The air bag warning light was illuminated before the collision. The contact stated that the trailer’s brake lights were not illuminated. The Forward Collision Avoidance feature failed to alert the driver that there was a vehicle ahead on the road.
Finally, the brakes the driver stated their foot was all the way to the floor attempting to break and the passenger front side also heard a severe grinding noise. No warning, lights or lamps appeared during the accident. In addition no warning lights were visible within the app post accident.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- QUALITY ACTION CAMPAIGN BULLETIN Spare Tire Label Campaign ID
- AEB WARNING WITH ONE OR MORE CURRENT DTCS STORED IN THE ADAS CONTROL UNIT 2, AND/OR THE LASER/RADAR…
- FUEL FILLER TUBE LOWER SEAL IS LEAKING AND DTC P0456 IS STORED IN THE ECM This bulletin is no longer active
- CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other…
- CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other…
- CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other…
- TELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION HINT
- VENT CONTROL VALVE IN ACTIVE TEST INOPERATIVE IN CONSULT 4 SERVICE INFORMATION An issue in CONSULT 4 has…
- METAL TICKING NOISE AT B-PILLAR IF YOU CONFIRM A metallic ticking noise is coming from the driver (LH)…
- FUEL FILLER TUBE LOWER SEAL IS LEAKING AND DTC P0456 IS STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM The vehicle has a…
- STEERING WHEEL SWITCH BUTTONS INOPERATIVE, STICKING, OR NOT CLICKING WHEN PRESSED IF YOU CONFIRM The…
- ACTION Date
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
- Get your 2026 Pathfinder before this deal expires on Halloween amount per author: 5,000 UNSPECIFIED_DOLLAR
- Rebuilding a wrecked 2016 Nissan Pathfinder.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.