2011 Nissan Pathfinder Reliability
The 2011 Nissan Pathfinder has 45 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with other Pathfinder model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Pathfinder's typical year, while the 2013 drew 891 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
45
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
0
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2011 Nissan Pathfinder complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 model year, filed between 2010 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 12 | 27% |
| Engine | 10 | 22% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 7 | 16% |
| Suspension | 6 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 9% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 7% |
2011 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2011 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V592000 | Dec 19, 2011 | Engine & cooling | Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 infiniti fx, model year 2012 infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 Nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 Nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 Nissan Pathfinder, and model year 2012 Nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts… |
| 23V067000 | Feb 10, 2023 | 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 deployment. |
How the 2011 compares with nearby Pathfinder years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Pathfinder analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 37 | 4 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2010 | 40 | 5 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2011 (this page) | 45 | 2 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2012 | 23 | 2 | Suspension | Better year |
| 2013 | 891 | 11 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- 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.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2011 Nissan Pathfinder can be better or worse than its model year. 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.
2011 Nissan Pathfinder reliability FAQ
Is the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
The 2011 Nissan Pathfinder has 45 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with other Pathfinder model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Pathfinder's typical year, while the 2013 drew 891 complaints.
What are the most common 2011 Nissan Pathfinder problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder are air bags (12), engine (10), powertrain / transmission (7), suspension (6). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder, including 11V592000 (engine & cooling) and 23V067000 (air bags — frontal). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder compare with the 2010 and 2012 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 40 complaints and 5 recalls (solid); the 2012 has 23 complaints and 2 recalls (better year). The 2011 has 45 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2011 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.
More Nissan Pathfinder research
Other Nissan Pathfinder model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2011 Pathfinder, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.