Nissan Pathfinder Engine Problems
Owners have filed 969 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Nissan Pathfinder across 27 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (147). The words owners use most often: “transmission fluid” (12% of reports).
- 969engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 30%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transmission fluid: mentioned in 117 of 969 complaints (12%)
- Cooling fan: mentioned in 70 of 969 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Nissan Pathfinder at $1,550, and half of them between $1,300 and $4,050.
Based on 43 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 717 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 969 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 6 an injury.
Nissan Pathfinder engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Pathfinder | 8 | 15% | 250 |
| 2024 Pathfinder | 18 | 21% | 19,250 |
| 2023 Pathfinder | 15 | 14% | 10,316 |
| 2022 Pathfinder | 18 | 13% | 58,607 |
| 2020 Pathfinder | 17 | 35% | 13,350 |
| 2019 Pathfinder | 15 | 20% | 21,375 |
| 2018 Pathfinder | 13 | 17% | 18,000 |
| 2017 Pathfinder | 83 | 45% | 45,105 |
| 2016 Pathfinder | 27 | 26% | 50,000 |
| 2015 Pathfinder | 74 | 23% | 49,288 |
| 2014 Pathfinder | 62 | 11% | 55,000 |
| 2013 Pathfinder | 105 | 12% | 8,500 |
| 2012 Pathfinder | 5 | 22% | 55,000 |
| 2011 Pathfinder | 10 | 22% | 70,950 |
| 2010 Pathfinder | 6 | 15% | 131,459 |
| 2009 Pathfinder | 7 | 19% | 108,000 |
| 2008 Pathfinder | 61 | 19% | 110,000 |
| 2007 Pathfinder | 114 | 20% | 106,000 |
| 2006 Pathfinder | 147 | 18% | 107,855 |
| 2005 Pathfinder | 144 | 14% | 106,250 |
| 2004 Pathfinder | 4 | 6% | 136,720 |
| 2003 Pathfinder | 6 | 5% | 108,015 |
| 2002 Pathfinder | 5 | 3% | 126,500 |
| 2001 Pathfinder | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2000 Pathfinder | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1999 Pathfinder | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1995 Pathfinder | 2 | 1% | 173,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2011, 2012
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 infiniti fx, model year 2012 infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength. As a result, the bolt may break at the oil filter attachment point and can cause an engine oil leak.
Risk: If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2005, 2006
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 armada, titan, infiniti qx56 and model year 2005-2006 frontier, pathfinder and xterra vehicles. The intelligent power distribution module (ipdm) assembly contains an engine control module (ecm) relay that has a diode for electrical current noise reduction. The ecm relay may allow silicon vapor to form and, over time, the silicon evaporates from the diode molding which causes silicon oxide to develop on the ecm relay contact due to arcing.
Risk: This could cause engine stalling increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ecm relay inside the ipdm assembly. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 6, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2025 Nissan Pathfinder has experienced recurring transmission problems, including unexpectedly switching from Automatic Drive into Manual 1st Gear without driver input. During some incidents, the vehicle failed to accelerate as expected while entering traffic, creating a collision risk. XXX…
I leased this 2024 Nissan Pathfinder new, and the issue began almost immediately, at approximately 13 miles. I initially noticed intermittent stuttering and the vehicle jumping or lurching forward following acceleration. Because I trusted the Nissan brand and initially assumed the behavior may have…
Just bought this used car this summer and worked for about 2 months then had to repair a Failing Radiator/Condenser Cooling Fan Assembly. Seems like the same class action issue from the previous versions. Hoping this can be another recall. It seems like the same defective part that was used.
There was built up sludge in my engine that caused it to fail, and I was charged to replace it
SLUDGE IN ENGINE- UNDER 100,000 MILES We had been keeping up with all recommended services, and it is cosmetically perfect, but the car is now a total loss. A Check Engine light came on, and we began to notice a tremor/shake and took it to Southern Team Nissan. The Nissan dealer diagnosed sludge in…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Pathfinders have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 969 owner complaints about engine for the Nissan Pathfinder. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Nissan Pathfinder engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Nissan Pathfinder?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,550 (half paid between $1,300 and $4,050), from 43 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Nissan Pathfinder?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission fluid”, in 117 of 969 complaints, followed by “cooling fan” (70).
Other Nissan Pathfinder problems
- Power Train problems (2,444)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (831)
- Air Bags problems (600)
- Suspension problems (545)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (505)
- Electrical System problems (460)
- Structure problems (419)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (325)
See all Nissan Pathfinder problems.