AI Damage2023 Nissan Pathfinder: common problems
Owners of the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder filed 107 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and service brakes. The maker issued 87 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 107
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 87
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 21% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 20% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 7% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- 8 Backover prevention 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 24 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 42.
- Service brakes: 22 complaints (21% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 21 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Engine: 15 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Powertrain: 13 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 9-speed
Drive: FWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 107 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 24 | 1 | 42 |
| Service brakes | 22 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 21 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine | 15 | 0 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 13 | 1 | 7 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| Backover prevention | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Lane departure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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 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.
I engage the Parking Botton on shifter, & the vehicle still rolled away from me after I got out of Vehicle
At a [XXX] rest area, the vehicle failed to start after being parked approximately 15 minutes. Dashboard lights illuminated, but the engine would not crank, and subsequent attempts became progressively weaker. A tow truck operator jump-started the vehicle, which then restarted successfully several times.
The check engine, seat belt, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle briefly experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed.
Rear camera and camera functionality just stopped working. The OVM is functioning with everything else just not the camera! Yet, diagnostics state that it is an OVM issue and cost $2,500.00 to fix. Safety concerns of no camera and unable to view pedestrians.
On July 20, 2026, my 2023 Nissan Pathfinder failed to accelerate after stopping at a red light. The engine did not rev, and the vehicle barely moved despite accelerator input. After 40 seconds the car start moving normally. I got the car towed to the dealership.
My car only has 64000 miles on it and the back up camera module went out, I have had same issue with a 2019 model I had, and I have seen online where others have had the same issues.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 549 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Pathfinder has 81 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 107, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- AEB WARNING WITH ONE OR MORE CURRENT DTCS STORED IN THE ADAS CONTROL UNIT 2, AND/OR THE LASER/RADAR…
AEB WARNING WITH ONE OR MORE CURRENT DTCS STORED IN THE ADAS CONTROL UNIT 2, AND/OR THE LASER/RADAR CONTROL UNIT IF YOU CONFIRM The front radar is inoperative, the AEB warning is displayed, and one or more of the…
- FUEL FILLER TUBE LOWER SEAL IS LEAKING AND DTC P0456 IS STORED IN THE ECM This bulletin is no longer active
Please discard previous versions of NTB26-006.
- 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 vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label =…
- FUEL FILLER TUBE LOWER SEAL IS LEAKING AND DTC P0456 IS STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM The vehicle has a…
FUEL FILLER TUBE LOWER SEAL IS LEAKING AND DTC P0456 IS STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM The vehicle has a visible leak with a smoke machine test coming from the fuel filler tube lower seal, AND DTC P0456 is stored as…
- STEERING WHEEL SWITCH BUTTONS INOPERATIVE, STICKING, OR NOT CLICKING WHEN PRESSED IF YOU CONFIRM The…
STEERING WHEEL SWITCH BUTTONS INOPERATIVE, STICKING, OR NOT CLICKING WHEN PRESSED IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states that any of the steering wheel switch buttons are inoperative, sticking, or not clicking when…
- EXCESS DUST ENTERING CABIN WHILE DRIVING ON DIRT ROADS IF YOU CONFIRM That while driving on dirt roads…
EXCESS DUST ENTERING CABIN WHILE DRIVING ON DIRT ROADS IF YOU CONFIRM That while driving on dirt roads with all doors and windows closed, that there is excessive dust intrusion into the vehicle’s cabin that is settling…
- DRIVABILITY CONCERNS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ON INCLINES IF YOU CONFIRM A lugging / shutter / judder at…
DRIVABILITY CONCERNS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ON INCLINES IF YOU CONFIRM A lugging / shutter / judder at highway speeds, especially on slight inclines, ACTION Reprogram the Engine Control Module (ECM).
- AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS
Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and…
- INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED…
INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a…
- DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended
See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed…
- VIBRATION AND/OR NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE APPLIED VEHICLES
2022-2024 Pathfinder (R53) APPLIED DATES: Built on or before February 28, 2024 APPLIED DRIVETRAINS: AWD IF YOU CONFIRM A binding feeling, vibration, and/or noise coming from the rear end when turning at low speed or…
- DTC P161F FOR IMMOBILIZER CODE STORED IN ECM WITH VEHICLE NO-START CONDITION APPLIED VEHICLES
APPLIED DATES: 2022-2023 Pathfinder (R53) Built on or before October 17, 2022 IF YOU CONFIRM The vehicle cranks but will not start, and DTC P161F for “IMMOBILIZER” is stored in the ECM. ACTION Follow the SERVICE…
NHTSA lists 87 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, service brakes, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 107. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (15%), warning lights, check engine (14%), windows, sunroof (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA lists 87 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2023 Nissan Pathfinder from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2023 models
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.