Nissan Pathfinder Reliability
Quick answer
The Nissan Pathfinder has 1.98 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 26 SUVs by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Pathfinder places 8th: a lower complaint rate than most. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 3,180 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the transmission and the engine, and NHTSA lists 36 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2008, 2013–2015, 2017 and 2022–2024 as years to avoid and rates 2011, 2012 and 2020 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
1.98
Complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022)
3,180
NHTSA owner complaints (2008–2026)
36
Recall campaigns
8
Years to avoid
Most-reported Nissan Pathfinder problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2007–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 972 | 31% | 15 | 1 | 6 |
| Engine | 548 | 17% | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Air bags | 452 | 14% | 41 | 2 | 30 |
| Service brakes | 323 | 10% | 37 | 0 | 11 |
| Electrical system | 288 | 9% | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| Body structure | 187 | 6% | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| Visibility / wipers | 179 | 6% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Speed control / throttle | 162 | 5% | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Of all 3,180 complaints, 101 (3%) report a crash, 11 (0%) a fire and 61 (2%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (461 complaints), the most-reported areas are the brakes (105), the electrical system (82), the engine (78), the transmission (60).
Nissan Pathfinder complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each Pathfinder model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 328 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2009 | 37 | 4 | Air bags | — |
| 2010 | 40 | 5 | Air bags | — |
| 2011 | 45 | 2 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2012 | 23 | 2 | Suspension | Better year |
| 2013 | 891 | 11 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2014 | 585 | 12 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2015 | 321 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2016 | 107 | 2 | Engine | — |
| 2017 | 188 | 2 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2018 | 78 | 3 | Service brakes | — |
| 2019 | 76 | 2 | Engine | — |
| 2020 | 53 | 0 | Engine | Better year |
| 2022 | 137 | 5 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2023 | 107 | 1 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2024(new) | 87 | 2 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2025(new) | 62 | 1 | Service brakes | — |
| 2026(new) | 15 | 0 | Powertrain / transmission | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Nissan Pathfinder recalls
NHTSA lists 36 recall campaigns across Nissan Pathfinder model years 2008–2026. The ones below cover the most model years (campaigns with a park advisory first). Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V807000Nov 8, 2019 | 2017–2019 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 18V601000Sep 7, 2018 | 2017 and 2018 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 23V067000Feb 10, 2023 | 2008–2011 | Air bags — frontal | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag… |
| 22V420000Jun 13, 2022 | 2013–2016 | Latches, locks & linkages — hood / latch | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed. |
| 16V244000Apr 26, 2016 | 2013–2016 | Air bags — sensor / occupant classification | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017… |
Best and worst Pathfinder years
- Years to avoid: 2008, 2013–2015, 2017 and 2022–2024.
- Better years: 2011, 2012 and 2020.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Nissan Pathfinder
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Nissan Pathfinder can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Nissan Pathfinder reliability FAQ
Is the Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
The Nissan Pathfinder has 1.98 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold across the 2015–2022 model years. In CarWhere's ranking of 26 SUVs by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Pathfinder places 8th: a lower complaint rate than most. Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 3,180 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the transmission and the engine, and NHTSA lists 36 recall campaigns. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2008, 2013–2015, 2017 and 2022–2024 as years to avoid and rates 2011, 2012 and 2020 as better years. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Nissan Pathfinder problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, the most-reported areas are the transmission (972), the engine (548), air bags (452) and the brakes (323). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are the brakes, the electrical system and the engine. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Nissan Pathfinder should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2008, 2013–2015, 2017 and 2022–2024 as years to avoid and rates 2011, 2012 and 2020 as better years. Each model year is compared only with other Pathfinder years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Nissan Pathfinder last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 1.6% of 15,113 used Pathfinder listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 7.3% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 9.8% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Nissan Pathfinder have?
NHTSA lists 36 recall campaigns covering Nissan Pathfinder model years 2008–2026. The one covering the most model years is 19V807000 (service brakes, 2017–2019). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Nissan Pathfinder?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure Pathfinder reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Nissan Pathfinder, model years 2008–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Complaints per 1,000 sold divides the 960 complaints for the 2015–2022 model years by 484,489 vehicles sold in the US in those calendar years (published sales figures), times 1,000.
- The SUVs ranking uses the same complaints and sales, weights serious complaints double and adjusts for vehicle age, then compares 26 models. See the full ranking.
- Year flags compare each Pathfinder model year only with other Pathfinder years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the Pathfinder compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.
More Nissan Pathfinder research
Nissan Pathfinder reliability by model year: