Nissan Pathfinder 2013–2020 problems by year and mileage
4th generation (R52)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20262,293 complaints, 1,520 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 201315kmedian
- 201447kmedian
- 201544kmedian
- 201649kmedian
- 201742k†median
- 201816k†median
- 201940k†median
- 2020—too few
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 15,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 890
- Recalls naming this year
- 11
Most reported on the 2013
- Transmission and driveline370 reports · median 5,000 mi
- Airbag system177 reports · median 10,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise110 reports · median 56,000 mi
11 recall campaigns name the 2013: Latches/locks/linkages — hood; Exterior lighting — brake lights; Air bags — sensor. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 47,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 584
- Recalls naming this year
- 12
Most reported on the 2014
- Transmission and driveline218 reports · median 42,000 mi
- Airbag system93 reports · median 10,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise88 reports · median 62,000 mi
12 recall campaigns name the 2014: Latches/locks/linkages — hood; Engine and engine cooling — engine; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 44,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 320
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2015
- Problems owners could not categorise79 reports · median 45,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline76 reports · median 42,000 mi
- Engine74 reports · median 49,000 mi
6 recall campaigns name the 2015: Latches/locks/linkages — hood; Engine and engine cooling — engine; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 49,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 107
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2016
- Engine27 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise21 reports
- Airbag system19 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2016: Latches/locks/linkages — hood; Air bags — sensor. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 42,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 186
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2017
- Engine83 reports · median 45,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise41 reports
- Transmission and driveline34 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2017: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 16,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 77
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2018
- Brakes19 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise17 reports
- Electrical system13 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2018: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Back over prevention — sensing system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- 40,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 76
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2019 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2019
- Problems owners could not categorise20 reports
- Engine15 reports
- Forward collision avoidance11 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2019: Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Back over prevention — sensing system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2020 Nissan Pathfinder
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 53
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2020
- Engine17 reports
- Electrical system12 reports
- Transmission and driveline9 reports
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2016 reports latest and the 2013 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2013 has had 3 more years on the road to accumulate mileage. 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2013–2020 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 35,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 96,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,520
- Recalls
- 18
Most reported
- Transmission and driveline32.1% of complaints · median 14,000 mi
- Engine17.4% of complaints · median 41,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise16.7% of complaints · median 48,000 mi
Documented problems
- Transmission (jatco CVT8/CVT8HT)2013–2018
- Hood Latch2013–2016
- ABS Actuator2015–2018
Owners filed 2,293 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2020 Nissan Pathfinder; the transmission and driveline leads with 32.1% of them, and half of the 1,520 that record an odometer reading came by 35,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
33% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 11.3 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2013–2020 Nissan Pathfinder last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2013–2020 Nissan Pathfinder, half of the 1,520 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 35,000 miles and 90% by 96,000 miles.
29 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 7 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Pathfinder reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Nissan Pathfinder 2013–2020 · 1,520 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 349 complaints.
- First 12,000 miles — 33% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 7 complaints (0.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 900
- 25%
- 6,000
- Median
- 34,775
- 75%
- 64,000
- 90%
- 96,120
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 349 | 23.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 112 | 7.4% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 80 | 5.3% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 56 | 3.7% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 60 | 3.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 51 | 3.4% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 52 | 3.4% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 71 | 4.7% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 66 | 4.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 69 | 4.5% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 66 | 4.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 58 | 3.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 60 | 3.9% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 47 | 3.1% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 46 | 3.0% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 33 | 2.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 26 | 1.7% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 29 | 1.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 32 | 2.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 18 | 1.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 24 | 1.6% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 14 | 0.9% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 15 | 1.0% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 9 | 0.6% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 14 | 0.9% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 8 | 0.5% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 8 | 0.5% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 7 | 0.5% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Pathfinder problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Nissan Pathfinder 2013–2020
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Airbag system360 reports12,0002,500–35,000Airbag system: 360 reports, median 12,000 miles, middle half 2,500 to 35,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline736 reports14,0002,000–67,000Transmission and driveline: 736 reports, median 14,000 miles, middle half 2,000 to 67,000 miles.
- Brakes180 reports26,0007,000–57,000Brakes: 180 reports, median 26,000 miles, middle half 7,000 to 57,000 miles.
- Electrical system183 reports40,00015,000–59,000Electrical system: 183 reports, median 40,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 59,000 miles.
- Engine398 reports41,00013,000–58,000Engine: 398 reports, median 41,000 miles, middle half 13,000 to 58,000 miles.
- Body structure161 reports45,00013,000–70,000Body structure: 161 reports, median 45,000 miles, middle half 13,000 to 70,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise384 reports48,00029,000–65,000Problems owners could not categorise: 384 reports, median 48,000 miles, middle half 29,000 to 65,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 736 | 32.1% | 14,000 | 2,000–67,000 |
| Engine | 398 | 17.4% | 41,000 | 13,000–58,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 384 | 16.7% | 48,000 | 29,000–65,000 |
| Airbag system | 360 | 15.7% | 12,000 | 2,500–35,000 |
| Electrical system | 183 | 8.0% | 40,000 | 15,000–59,000 |
| Brakes | 180 | 7.8% | 26,000 | 7,000–57,000 |
| Body structure | 161 | 7.0% | 45,000 | 13,000–70,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 125 | 5.5% | 44,000 | 29,000–62,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 123 | 5.4% | 33,000 | 4,000–57,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 60 | 2.6% | 37,000 | 10,000–62,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 35,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 32.1% of complaints (736 reports, 527 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 14,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,000 and 67,000 miles.
A single system taking 32.1% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The engine accounts for 17.4% of complaints (398 reports, 269 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 41,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 13,000 and 58,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 16.7% of complaints (384 reports, 210 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 48,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 29,000 and 65,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 15.7% of complaints (360 reports, 229 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 12,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,500 and 35,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.0% of complaints (183 reports, 105 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 40,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 59,000 miles.
The brakes account for 7.8% of complaints (180 reports, 122 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 26,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 57,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2013–2020 Pathfinder
Transmission (jatco CVT8/CVT8HT) 2013–2018
CVT belt slip condition producing shudder, judder, hesitation, overheating and sudden loss of motive power. Two separate class actions: one covering 2013-2014 vehicles (settled with a warranty extension and purchase coupons) and a later settlement covering 2015-2018 Pathfinder alongside 2014-2018 Rogue and 2015-2018 QX60, approved March 2022. This is the generation's defining failure mode and drives most of its complaint volume.
Hood Latch 2013–2016
Secondary hood latch can corrode and fail to hold, allowing the hood to fly open while driving; NHTSA recall.
ABS Actuator 2015–2018
Brake fluid can leak from the ABS actuator pump onto the circuit board, creating a short and fire risk; recall issued for affected Nissan models including the Pathfinder.
Before you buy a 2013–2020 Pathfinder: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,520 mileage-tagged complaints, 18 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 18 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for airbag system repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 12,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Check transmission (jatco CVT8/CVT8HT) on 2013–2018 (litigated); complaints continue 2019–2020 cars. CVT belt slip condition producing shudder, judder, hesitation, overheating and sudden loss of motive power. Two separate class actions: one covering 2013-2014 vehicles (settled with a warranty extension and purchase…
- Check hood latch on 2013–2016 cars. Secondary hood latch can corrode and fail to hold, allowing the hood to fly open while driving; NHTSA recall.
- Check ABS actuator on 2015–2018 cars. Brake fluid can leak from the ABS actuator pump onto the circuit board, creating a short and fire risk; recall issued for affected Nissan models including the Pathfinder.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 33% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 14,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Pathfinder problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi72% below | At 90k mi88% below | At 120k mi95% below | At 150k mi98% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 2,000–67,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 13,000–58,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 29,000–65,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 2,500–35,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 15,000–59,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Brakes | 7,000–57,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 13,000–70,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Nissan Pathfinder 2013–2020 · 1,520 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 72% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 88% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 95% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 100%: the remaining 0.5% of reports (7) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2013–2020 Nissan Pathfinder recalls (18)
NHTSA records 18 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
2 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (4), the exterior lighting (2), the hydraulic brake circuit (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Jun 2022 · 2013–2016 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesAn unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall…
Oct 2021 · 2014–2015 · Engine and Engine CoolingA loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, 2015-2016 Murano Hybrid, and 2014-2017 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may shut down the hybrid system and the…
What can happen. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will reprogram the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or Infiniti customer…
Jan 2021 · 2013–2015 · Exterior LightingContinual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The location of the brake light switch may cause the brake light switch relay to repeatedly open and close. Overtime, this can cause the relay to stick in the "ON"…
What can happen. Continual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash. With the brake override activated, the driver…
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, either re-install the brake light switch or swap positions with the Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD) switch; depending on…
Nov 2019 · 2017–2019 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic park outsideA brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. 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 determined to not…
What can happen. A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer…
Sep 2019 · 2018–2019 · Back Over PreventionThe lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti…
What can happen. The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners…
Sep 2018 · 2017–2018 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic park outsideA brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. 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 onto an internal…
What can happen. A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan…
May 2016 · 2013–2014 · Exterior LightingIf the brake override is activated, the driver will not be accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to June 13, 2013. The brake light switch may have been installed incorrectly causing the relay to make intermittent contact and…
What can happen. If the brake override is activated, the driver will not be accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. If the brake lights remain illuminated, other drivers may fail to stop when the vehicle…
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake light switch and, as necessary, replace the relay, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer…
Apr 2016 · 2013–2016 · Air BagsIf the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an…
The defect. 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 Nissan Rogue and…
What can happen. If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
The free fix. Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in…
Oct 2015 · 2013–2015 · Air BagsIf the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected…
What can happen. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is…
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Jan 2015 · 2013–2014 · StructureIf the primary hood latch is released and the secondary latch fails during operation of the vehicle, it could…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to November 18, 2013, 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid vehicles manufactured July 18, 2013, to November 18, 2013, 2013 Infiniti…
What can happen. If the primary hood latch is released and the secondary latch fails during operation of the vehicle, it could cause the hood to open during vehicle operation impairing the driver's vision, increasing…
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the angle of the hood release mechanism to provide additional length to the release cable, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2015. Owners…
Jan 2015 · 2014–2015 · Service BrakesThe under-torqued fasteners may result in a brake caliper separating from the wheel assembly causing a…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to November 5, 2014, and 2014-2015 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured August 12, 2014, to November 15…
What can happen. The under-torqued fasteners may result in a brake caliper separating from the wheel assembly causing a reduction in braking performance or reduced steering control. These conditions increase the risk…
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and tighten any loose bolts to the proper specification, free of charge. The recall began February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan…
May 2014 · 2014 · WheelsIf the lug nut becomes loose from not being properly tightened, it may fall off, allowing the other lug nuts…
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Pathfinder and Rogue vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The right side wheels of the affected vehicles may have one lug nut each that was not properly tightened.
What can happen. If the lug nut becomes loose from not being properly tightened, it may fall off, allowing the other lug nuts to become loose, possibly resulting in a wheel separation, and increasing the risk of a…
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten any loose lug nuts to the correct specification, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by the end of June 2014. Owners may…
Mar 2014 · 2013 · Power TrainThe loss of transmission fluid could cause the transmission to function improperly and the vehicle to stop…
The defect. Nissan North America (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Pathfinder vehicles manufactured April 18, 2012, through October 3, 2012, and equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). In the affected vehicles, the internal oil cooler (ITOC)…
What can happen. The loss of transmission fluid could cause the transmission to function improperly and the vehicle to stop accelerating, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install an oil hose repair kit, free of charge. The recall began on May 12, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Mar 2014 · 2013–2014 · Electrical SystemIf the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated.
The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant…
What can happen. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted)…
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Oct 2013 · 2013–2014 · Electrical SystemThe increased stopping distance may increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles manufactured April 18, 2012, through September 20, 2013; model year 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles manufactured September 15, 2011, through January 16, 2013; and model year 2014 Infiniti…
What can happen. The increased stopping distance may increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ABS, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Sep 2013 · 2014 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the improper air bag…
The defect. Nissan North America Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014 Pathfinders manufactured from July 25, 2013, to September 5, 2013 with Almond interiors only. The instrument panel tear seam on the passenger frontal air bag was incorrectly cut on the back side of…
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the improper air bag deployment may increase the risk of personal injury.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected instrument panel assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at…
Apr 2013 · 2013 · Service BrakesIf the brake torque member fails, the brake caliper may move and contact the inside of the road wheel…
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Pathfinder and Infiniti JX vehicles manufactured December 3, 2012, through January 29, 2013. The front brake torque member was improperly cast resulting in structural weakness. This can lead to premature failure and…
What can happen. If the brake torque member fails, the brake caliper may move and contact the inside of the road wheel, resulting in reduced braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the manufacturing date of the torque members and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2013. Owners may contact…
Mar 2013 · 2013 · Air BagsIf the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed…
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction…
What can happen. If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 2,293 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 72 (3.1%)
- Fires
- 8
- Injury reports
- 42
- Fatality reports
- 0
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Pathfinder problems by model year
The 2013 drew the most complaints of this generation, 890, most of them about the transmission and driveline, and the 2020 the fewest, 53. A typical year drew about 146.
That makes the 2013 stand out at roughly 6.1 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 890 | 680 | 15,000 | Transmission and driveline (370) | 11 |
| 2014 | 584 | 360 | 47,000 | Transmission and driveline (218) | 12 |
| 2015 | 320 | 218 | 44,000 | Problems owners could not categorise (79) | 6 |
| 2016 | 107 | 65 | 49,000 | Engine (27) | 2 |
| 2017 | 186 | 118 | 42,000† | Engine (83) | 2 |
| 2018 | 77 | 39 | 16,000† | Brakes (19) | 3 |
| 2019 | 76 | 31 | 40,000† | Problems owners could not categorise (20) | 2 |
| 2020 | 53 | 9 | under 30 reports | Engine (17) | 0 |
What Pathfinder owners reported
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hood unexpectedly opened and was damaged. The hood ledge and structure were damaged due to the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V420000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The…
2015 · 93,000 miles · Latches and locks
Driving at 75 miles per hour on highway. We Heard an explosion, and airbags deployed. There was no collision or front end hit, there was no warning lights or sounds, no deceleration. My husband was somehow able to pull to the side, we were not injured, except for the airbag hitting me in the head, egg noted. No EMS…
2019 · 83,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V420000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the recall repair failed to prevent a failure from occurring. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hood unlatched and opened independently.…
2013 · 168,000 miles · Latches and locks
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that it had rained heavily for two days, and the contact became aware that there was a significant amount of water accumulated on the front passenger's and driver's side floorboards and underneath the seats. Additionally, the contact stated that upon…
2014 · 139,000 miles · Body structure
Built from 1,520 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Pathfinder generations
- Pathfinder 1996–2004 713 reports with mileage, most about the suspension
- Pathfinder 2005–2012 2,568 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline