Nissan Pathfinder problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 7 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 566 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls for the Nissan Pathfinder. That averages 20.1 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.48 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #3 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across seven model years from 2018 to 2025, NHTSA has logged 566 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls for the Nissan Pathfinder, averaging 20.1 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.48 against all tracked vehicles. Although the overall trend is worsening with the 2025 model year showing the highest rate of 29.3 complaints per year and the last 12 months seeing a rising pace of 179 complaints versus 103 in the previous year, the 2024 model generated the most recent reports totaling 49. The most common problem areas are Engine at 18.2% of complaints, followed by Brakes at 17.5% and Electrical at 16.3%, with recurring terms including "rear brakes", "pads", "rotors", "neutral" and "front". Owners report 14 injuries and 0 deaths across all model years, while 20 complaints or 3.5% describe a crash or fire, and half of all reported incidents occur within 24 months of the model year's start.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 135% above the 2018 and 2019 models (44 early complaints per model year versus 21).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (29.3 complaints per year) and the 2020 model year the lowest (7.8). Model years 2018, 2019 and 2020 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (18.2% of complaints), followed by Brakes (17.5%) and Electrical (16.3%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “rear brakes”, “pads”, “rotors”, “neutral” and “front”. 20 complaints (3.5%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 14 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 179 complaints versus 103 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2024 model year generated the most recent reports (49). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 24 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 12 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2021 (3), 2 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning, 1 fixable over the air. No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango and Honda Passport; Kia Sorento, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota Highlander have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 77 | 8.9 | 0.21 | 30 | 0.34 | 8 | 3 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 | 75 | 9.8 | 0.23 | 12 | 0.15 | 10 | 2 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2020 Fewest complaints | 52 | 7.8 | 0.19 | 5 | 0.09 | 13 | 0 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 135 | 28.9 | 0.69 | 64 | 0.87 | 26 | 5 | Brakes | View › |
| 2023 | 103 | 28.0 | 0.67 | 57 | 0.69 | 35 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 75 | 28.0 | 0.67 | 32 | 0.46 | 49 | 2 | Brakes | View › |
| 2025 | 49 | 29.3 | 0.7 | — | — | 38 | 1 | Body & structure | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 179 · Previous 12 months: 103 Rising
Problem areas
Interior & equipment ›
61 · 10.8% · 1.2 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- sunroof16
- glass11
- exploded8
- shattered8
Transmission / powertrain ›
51 · 9.0% · 0.77 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- transmission26
- stuck8
- cvt4
- neutral7
Other
28 · 4.9% · 2.73 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- passenger seat13
- seat low4
- adjust6
- seat people3
Airbags & seat belts
22 · 3.9% · 1.02 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- seatbelt7
- buckled4
- airbag6
- occupants4
Driver-assist systems
21 · 3.7% · 0.65 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- control11
- cruise7
- automatic emergency4
- aeb3
Fuel system
20 · 3.5% · 0.82 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel12
- pump7
- stalled5
- tank3
Wheels, tires & suspension
13 · 2.3% · 0.92 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tires6
- side7
- wear3
- defect4
Steering
6 · 1.1% · 0.16 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
3 · 0.5% · 0.34 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- rear brakes31
- pads34
- rotors24
- neutral41
- front103
- wear30
- sunroof34
- worn17
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 24 months
What owners report
I bought my 2025 Pathfinder in November 2025. In early December, the automatic emergency braking symbol started flashing; I took it to the Nissan dealership in Downey, and they told me that unless there was a permanent error code, they couldn't do anything.
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH and attempting to come to a stop, the vehicle failed to decelerate sufficiently, resulting in a rear-end collision.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety concern involving my 2024 Nissan Pathfinder, which has approximately 19,000 miles on the vehicle. The rear brake pads were found to be excessively worn and required replacement at only 19,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle previously received a repair on the rear brakes at approximately 30,000 miles; however, the vehicle recently received an oil change at an independent mechanic, and it was…
The car is sending off the alarm for the back seat not being buckled when there is no one back there and there is nothing on the seats, it is now also doing it where it does that but shows one of them as buckled when there’s no one in the seats
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Durango | 752 | 15.2 | 0.36 | Improving | Steady | 18 | Lighting |
| 2 | Honda Passport | 652 | 17.6 | 0.42 | Improving | Rising | 16 | Engine |
| 3 | Nissan Pathfinder | 566 | 20.1 | 0.48 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 4 | Kia Sorento | 1,382 | 36.2 | 0.86 | Stable | Rising | 17 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford Edge | 2,164 | 43.6 | 1.04 | Improving | Steady | 20 | Engine |
| 6 | Chevrolet Traverse | 1,657 | 43.8 | 1.04 | Stable | Steady | 13 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Toyota Highlander | 2,062 | 44.5 | 1.06 | Improving | Rising | 21 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 8 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 1,968 | 58.3 | 1.38 | Worsening | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 9 | Ford Explorer | 3,122 | 65.6 | 1.56 | Improving | Steady | 70 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 10 | Honda Pilot | 2,824 | 67.4 | 1.6 | Stable | Steady | 26 | Engine |
| 11 | Kia Telluride | 1,945 | 73.6 | 1.75 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Body & structure |
| 12 | Subaru Outback | 3,749 | 77.0 | 1.83 | Improving | Steady | 15 | Body & structure |
| 13 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3,335 | 85.9 | 2.04 | Worsening | Rising | 49 | Electrical |
| 14 | Hyundai Palisade | 2,277 | 102.2 | 2.43 | Worsening | Steady | 13 | Airbags & seat belts |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 12
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 2
- Over-the-air fix: 1
Safety recalls: 2018 (3) · 2019 (2) · 2020 (0) · 2022 (5) · 2023 (1) · 2024 (2) · 2025 (1)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Pathfinder model year has the most complaints?
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (29.3 complaints per year) and the 2020 model year the lowest (7.8).
Is the Nissan Pathfinder getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 135% above the 2018 and 2019 models (44 early complaints per model year versus 21). In the last 12 months owners filed 179 complaints versus 103 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Nissan Pathfinder problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (18.2% of complaints), followed by Brakes (17.5%) and Electrical (16.3%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “rear brakes”, “pads”, “rotors”, “neutral” and “front”.
How does the Nissan Pathfinder compare with other Midsize SUVs?
Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #3 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango and Honda Passport; Kia Sorento, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota Highlander have more.
Does the Nissan Pathfinder have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 12 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2021 (3), 2 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning, 1 fixable over the air. No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.