2016 Nissan PATHFINDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
105 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
49,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 65 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 105 complaints (25.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
| Wheels | 4 |
Engine: 27; Unknown Or Other: 21; Air Bags: 18; Electrical System: 11; Service Brakes: 11; Power Train: 7; Visibility/Wiper: 4; Wheels: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 40 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2016: 5; 2017: 6; 2018: 17; 2019: 26; 2020: 15; 2021: 6; 2022: 9; 2023: 5; 2024: 6; 2025: 7; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10854052 · 2016-04-07 (April 7, 2016)
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V681000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS THE ABOVE ISSUE WAS ALSO SEEN ON MY 2016 PATHFINDER SL TECH PURCHASED LESS THAN 1 MONTH AGO. THE ISSUE HAPPENS ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME. TO RESOLVE I HAVE TO POWER CYCLE THE CAR...
Owner-reported narrative. 520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10905040 · 2016-09-09 (September 9, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10905040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906995 · 2016-09-15 (September 15, 2016)
THIS CAR SEAT HAS A GAP FOR A SEAT BELT (WHEN THE SEAT IS CHANGED TO A BOOSTER), BETWEEN THE BACK AND BOTTOM. THE GAP IS ON BOTH SIDES. MY CHILD HAS GOTTEN HER LEG STUCK IN THE GAP MANY MANY TIMES. IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE HER LEG IS STUCK, I CANNOT IMAGINE THE DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE DONE TO HER. EVERY TIME SHE CRIES I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO CHECK IF HER LEG IS STUCK/GET IT OUT. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. SHE IS REAR FACING IN THE SEAT. SHE WEIGHS 19 POUNDS. I HAVE PICTURES IF NECESSARY TO FURTHER DESCRIBE THIS FAILURE. GRACO FOREVER WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10906995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10910225 · 2016-09-28 (September 28, 2016)
I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS REAR ENDED AND MY TWO FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD ANYONE IN THE BACKSEATS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED OR DIED. *TR...UPDATED 12/22/16 *BF..UPDATED 04/11/17 *BF UPDATED 09/07/2017*JS
Owner-reported narrative. 6,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10910225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10934872 · 2016-12-12 (December 12, 2016)
I WAS THE PERSON WHO FIRST FILED THE AIRBAG ISSUE ON NHTSA. FINALLY TODAY, THE ISSUE WAS "PATCHED".I SAY PATCHED NOT FIXED SINCE NOW THE "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON IN MY CAR WHICH DOES NOT MATCH THE MANUAL OF MY VEHICLE.A BIGGER ISSUE THOUGH IS THAT THIS CONFUSES US INTO THINKING THE SIMILARLY ORANGE COLORED CROSS TRAFFIC LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ON AND TWICE OUT OF TWO TIMES WE ALMOST HAD A CRASH DUE TO THAT. THIS PATCH IS NOT SAFE OR ACCEPTABLE AND I HOPE THAT NHTSA ACTS TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS WHO PAID A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10934872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10953529 · 2017-01-22 (January 22, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER VEHICLE, WE FELT A SUDDEN VIBRATION AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE KNEW, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (TIRE AND RIM) FELL OFF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE CAME DOWN ON WHAT REMAINED OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY. I MANAGED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD UNTIL WE HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO THEN COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE WHEEL THAT CAME OFF CONTINUED THROUGH AN OPEN FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH A PRIVATE PROPERTY FENCE, DAMAGING THE FENCE IN THE PROCESS. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 6 OF US IN THE VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10953529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10955674 · 2017-02-20 (February 20, 2017)
THE SUNROOF BLEW UP FROM THE INSIDE OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 80 MPH. GLASS FLEW TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS FOLLOWING MINE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING ON COLUMBIA, SC. HIGHWAY 26.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10955674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10957365 · 2017-02-27 (February 27, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 162440000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10957365 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V244000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
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 Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V420000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
Reported: 2022-06-13 (June 13, 2022)
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.
Consequence: An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 are R22A2 R22A3 and R24B7.
NHTSA campaign record ↗