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U.S. public vehicle records

Nissan PATHFINDER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

7,084 owner complaints analyzed

49 distinct recall campaigns

82,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1986 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 4,927 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2,168 of 7,084 complaints (30.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting2,44634.5%
Braking behavior70910.0%
Engine operation4205.9%
Steering behavior3585.1%
Fuel system concerns2804.0%
Electrical and battery issues2002.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train
2,168
Engine
966
Unknown Or Other
665
Air Bags
547
Engine And Engine Cooling
457
Electrical System
409
Fuel System, Gasoline
399
Fuel/Propulsion System
324
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train2168
Engine966
Unknown Or Other665
Air Bags547
Engine And Engine Cooling457
Electrical System409
Fuel System, Gasoline399
Fuel/Propulsion System324

Power Train: 2,168; Engine: 966; Unknown Or Other: 665; Air Bags: 547; Engine And Engine Cooling: 457; Electrical System: 409; Fuel System, Gasoline: 399; Fuel/Propulsion System: 324

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
846
25,000 to 49,999
543
50,000 to 74,999
785
75,000 to 99,999
981
100,000 to 149,999
1,324
150,000 and above
448
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000846
25,000 to 49,999543
50,000 to 74,999785
75,000 to 99,999981
100,000 to 149,9991324
150,000 and above448

Under 25,000: 846; 25,000 to 49,999: 543; 50,000 to 74,999: 785; 75,000 to 99,999: 981; 100,000 to 149,999: 1,324; 150,000 and above: 448

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1,324). 2,157 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
44
1996
31
2000
120
2001
111
2002
94
2003
95
2004
98
2005
58
2006
66
2007
85
2008
153
2009
178
2010
513
2011
354
2012
436
2013
639
2014
591
2015
499
2016
487
2017
290
2018
349
2019
398
2020
239
2021
178
2022
178
2023
194
2024
200
2025
229
2026
177
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199544
199631
2000120
2001111
200294
200395
200498
200558
200666
200785
2008153
2009178
2010513
2011354
2012436
2013639
2014591
2015499
2016487
2017290
2018349
2019398
2020239
2021178
2022178
2023194
2024200
2025229
2026177

1995: 44; 1996: 31; 2000: 120; 2001: 111; 2002: 94; 2003: 95; 2004: 98; 2005: 58; 2006: 66; 2007: 85; 2008: 153; 2009: 178; 2010: 513; 2011: 354; 2012: 436; 2013: 639; 2014: 591; 2015: 499; 2016: 487; 2017: 290; 2018: 349; 2019: 398; 2020: 239; 2021: 178; 2022: 178; 2023: 194; 2024: 200; 2025: 229; 2026: 177

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2,446 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 709 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 420 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 486270 · 1995-05-04 (May 4, 1995)

METAL PARTICALS CIRCULATING FROM AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE COOLING LINES, CAUSING RADIATOR CORE/TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486270 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489820 · 1995-03-17 (March 17, 1995)

TRANSMISSION LUBRICATION PASSAGE TOO SMALL, RESULTING IN LACK OF LUBRICANT/SLIPPING OF TRANSMISSION. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489820 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 503948 · 1996-02-28 (February 28, 1996)

BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503948 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 866980 · 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LOSS OF ALL BRAKES AND CLUTCH WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE OF FIRE MAY BE LINKED TO THE FUEL INJECTOR WHICH POSSIBLE HAD A CRACK CAUSING A LEAK WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 866980 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 858441 · 2000-03-13 (March 13, 2000)

ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND BURNED UP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 858441 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10081440 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER COASTED THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD. UPON EXITING THE TRUCK CONSUMER NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING OUT OF THE SMOG FILTER. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD SECURED IT FOR TRAVEL. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ONE OR TWO OF THE VALVES IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND THE FUEL CAP COULD BE THE CAUSE. BOTH VALVES, FUEL CAP, AND THE SMOG FILTER WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081440 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 959063 · 1995-01-24 (January 24, 1995)

RUBBER CUSHIONING ON STEERING WHEEL BROKE AWAY FROM PIN IN THE MIDDLE, THIS COULD CAUSE CHEST INJURY UPON VEHICLE IMPACT. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959063 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 487369 · 1995-10-24 (October 24, 1995)

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487369 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 985831 · 1996-06-19 (June 19, 1996)

GAS TANK IS LEAKING DUE TO A PROBLEM IN THE WHEEL WELL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985831 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 802127 · 1996-09-10 (September 10, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802127 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 961115 · 1995-03-03 (March 3, 1995)

VEHICLE COMPARTMENT FIRE, SECURITY SYSTEM WIRING CAUGHT FIRE, FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961115 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2010
4
2011
2
2012
2
2013
11
2014
11
2015
5
2016
2
2017
2
2018
3
2019
2
2020
0
2022
5
2023
1
2024
2
2025
1
2026
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20104
20112
20122
201311
201411
20155
20162
20172
20183
20192
20200
20225
20231
20242
20251
20260

2010: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 11; 2014: 11; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 0; 2022: 5; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 0

Year-by-year records

Nissan PATHFINDER model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198610Not available
1987132+2
1988820
19891020
19902320
1991211-1
1992190-1
19933200
1994632+2
19951460-2
19961103+3
19971752-1
199812420
19999820
200011220
20012303+1
20021565+2
20031103-2
20046730
20051,0502-1
20068373+1
20075611-2
20083284+3
2009373-1
2010404+1
2011452-2
20122320
201389011+9
2014574110
20153205-6
20161052-3
201718620
2018773+1
2019752-1
2020470-2
20221355Not available
20231031-4
2024752+1
2025491-1
202690-1