Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid (and the best years)
2,751 NHTSA owner complaints and 33 recalls across 15 model years, 2010 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 2,751complaints
- 33recalls
- 86reported crashes
- 11reported fires
- 86reported injuries
Which Nissan Pathfinder years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid are 2013, 2014 and 2015. The typical Nissan Pathfinder year has 77 complaints on file.
- 2013: 890 complaints, 12 times the typical year. Most complaints name the transmission and drivetrain (42% of complaints) and the airbags (20% of complaints).
- 2014: 573 complaints, 7.4 times the typical year. Most complaints name the transmission and drivetrain (37% of complaints) and the airbags (16% of complaints).
- 2015: 320 complaints, 4.2 times the typical year. Most complaints name the transmission and drivetrain (24% of complaints) and the engine (23% of complaints).
What are the best Nissan Pathfinder years?
The Nissan Pathfinder years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2012 (23), 2010 (40) and 2011 (45). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49 | 0.6× | 1 | 2 | 3 | Few red flags | Brakes |
| 2024 | 77 | 1.0× | 2 | 1 | 3 | Few red flags | Brakes |
| 2023 | 103 | 1.3× | 1 | 4 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 135 | 1.8× | 5 | 3 | 3 | Some concerns to check | Brakes |
| 2020 | 52 | 0.7× | 0 | 1 | 0 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2019 | 76 | 1.0× | 2 | 4 | 2 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2018 | 77 | 1.0× | 3 | 3 | 2 | Few red flags | Brakes |
| 2017 | 186 | 2.4× | 2 | 8 | 8 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2016 | 105 | 1.4× | 2 | 10 | 5 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2015 | 320 | 4.2× | 5 | 11 | 7 | Approach with caution | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2014 | 573 | 7.4× | 11 | 19 | 32 | Approach with caution | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2013 | 890 | 11.6× | 11 | 16 | 16 | Approach with caution | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2012 | 23 | 0.3× | 2 | 2 | 1 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2011 | 45 | 0.6× | 2 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2010 | 40 | 0.5× | 5 | 2 | 3 | Few red flags | Transmission and drivetrain |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 503 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain155 (31%)
- Brakes93 (18%)
- Structure & body72 (14%)
- Electrical & infotainment63 (13%)
- Other systems51 (10%)
Recalls (33)
Brakes · 25V173000 · Mar 2025 · model year 2025
A broken front brake caliper can cause a loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 24V176000 · Mar 2024 · model year 2024
An unsecured lap belt pretensioner will not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 24V154000 · Feb 2024 · model year 2024
An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 23V268000 · Apr 2023 · model year 2023
An unsecured seat with broken welds may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 23V067000 · Feb 2023 · model years 2010, 2011
A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Safety · 22V527000 · Jul 2022 · model year 2022
An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 22V420000 · Jun 2022 · model years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 22V111000 · Feb 2022 · model year 2022
A missing mounting bolt may allow the seat track to move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 21V742000 · Sep 2021 · model year 2022
Headrests that move or detach may not adequately restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 21V743000 · Sep 2021 · model year 2022
Seat backs with separated welds may fail to adequately restrain occupants during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 21V706000 · Sep 2021 · model year 2022
A detached secondary hood latch may allow the hood to open if the primary hood latch is not engaged, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
Exterior lighting · 21V020000 · Jan 2021 · model years 2013, 2014, 2015
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 will not be able to accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver can shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.
Brakes · 19V807000 · Nov 2019 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019
A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Safety · 19V654000 · Sep 2019 · model years 2018, 2019
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 18V601000 · Sep 2018 · model years 2017, 2018
A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
Exterior lighting · 16V380000 · May 2016 · model years 2013, 2014
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 actually brakes, increasing the risk of a crash. If the driver inadvertently shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, the vehicle may rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 16V244000 · Apr 2016 · model years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
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.
Airbags · 15V681000 · Oct 2015 · model years 2013, 2014, 2015
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 warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Structure · 15V033000 · Jan 2015 · model years 2013, 2014
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 risk of a vehicle crash.
Brakes · 15V012000 · Jan 2015 · model years 2014, 2015
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 of a crash.
Safety · 14V229000 · May 2014 · model year 2014
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 crash.
Transmission · 14V142000 · Mar 2014 · model year 2013
The loss of transmission fluid could cause the transmission to function improperly and the vehicle to stop accelerating, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 14V138000 · Mar 2014 · model years 2013, 2014
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) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Brakes · 13V445000 · Oct 2013 · model years 2013, 2014
The increased stopping distance may increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 13V456000 · Sep 2013 · model year 2014
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.
Brakes · 13V139000 · Apr 2013 · model year 2013
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.
Airbags · 13V069000 · Mar 2013 · model year 2013
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.
Suspension · 12V462000 · Sep 2012 · model year 2012
If the vehicle is driven in this condition, the wheel hub may break, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Engine · 11V592000 · Dec 2011 · model years 2011, 2012
IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Safety · 10V401000 · Sep 2010 · model year 2010
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Suspension · 10E019000 · May 2010 · model year 2010
IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Suspension · 10V208000 · May 2010 · model year 2010
IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Steering · 10V115000 · Mar 2010 · model year 2010
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TRAJECTORY MIGHT BE AFFECTED. THE FASTENERS COULD POSSIBLY COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN POSITIONING BRACKET INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.