Nissan · Known Issues
1990-2025 Nissan Pathfinder Problems & Issues
1990-2025 model years · 3,830+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
All years · All trims · All engines
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1990-2025 model years · 3,830+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
All years · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 3,830+ owner reports, the 1990-2025 Nissan Pathfinder has 24 documented known issues, with 9 rated critical. The most serious are CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT8/JF016E) ($300-$6,000 repair), Panoramic Sunroof Glass Cracking or Exploding Without Impact ($800-$2,500 repair), Front upper strut tower / strut housing corrosion (NHTSA recall 11V244000), Radiator/Transmission Cooler Mixing (SMOD), Auto Start-Stop System Failure and No-Restart/Stall Events ($0-$600 repair), Pathfinder Engine Stalling from Silicon Oxide Buildup on the IPDM ECM Relay, Recall 10V075000: Fuel Level Sending Unit Float Arm Interference, VQ35DE Timing Chain Stretch and Guide Wear ($2,000-$4,000 repair) and Timing belt is a wear item that strands the vehicle if it snaps ($400-$950 repair). The most commonly reported issue is CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT8/JF016E) with 2,800 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $60 to $6,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, Pathfinder, and INFINITI QX60 vehicles. One or both front brake caliper assemblies may have reduced strength and could break. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The lap belt pretensioner in the left-side front seat belt assembly may be improperly secured, due to a missing rivet. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection," 209 "Seat Belt Assemblies," and 210 "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 Rogue, Pathfinder, and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The driver's powered seat may not be fully secured to the seat frame, causing the seat frame welds to detach from the rear inboard seat bracket.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Pathfinder vehicles. The third-row headrests may have an improper weld or misaligned internal components, which can allow the headrest to move or detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
+ 4 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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According to Au7o's analysis of 3,830+ owner reports, the 1990-2025 Nissan Pathfinder has 24 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT8/JF016E), Panoramic Sunroof Glass Cracking or Exploding Without Impact, Front upper strut tower / strut housing corrosion (NHTSA recall 11V244000). Of these, 9 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 1990-2025 Nissan Pathfinder has 24 known issues documented across 3,830+ owner reports. 9 issues are rated critical: CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT8/JF016E) and Panoramic Sunroof Glass Cracking or Exploding Without Impact and Front upper strut tower / strut housing corrosion (NHTSA recall 11V244000) and Radiator/Transmission Cooler Mixing (SMOD) and Auto Start-Stop System Failure and No-Restart/Stall Events and Pathfinder Engine Stalling from Silicon Oxide Buildup on the IPDM ECM Relay and Recall 10V075000: Fuel Level Sending Unit Float Arm Interference and VQ35DE Timing Chain Stretch and Guide Wear and Timing belt is a wear item that strands the vehicle if it snaps. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Nissan Pathfinder issues range from $0 to $6,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, CVT Transmission Failure (Jatco CVT8/JF016E), typically costs $300-$6,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Nissan Pathfinder. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 1990-2025 Nissan Pathfinder with 24 documented issues documented across 3,830+ owner reports.
The 2013-2020 Pathfinder uses the Jatco CVT8 (JF016E) which suffers from premature failure under the heavier loads of the SUV. The transmission overheats during towing, climbing, or sustained highway driving. Nissan issued TSB NTB15-024 for CVT judder and extended the warranty un… Repairs typically run $300-$6,000. Severity: high.
A number of 2022+ Pathfinder owners reported the panoramic sunroof glass suddenly cracking or shattering with a loud bang, often while driving at highway speed and without any obvious rock strike. Complaints on NHTSA and owner forums describe the break pattern as outward or spide… Repairs typically run $800-$2,500. Severity: high.
Nissan recall 11V-244 and campaign bulletin NTB11-064d cover certain 1996-2004 Pathfinder R50 vehicles registered in specified salt states. Salt-related corrosion can develop at the left front strut housing panel and may allow contact with the steering column and damage to steeri… Severity: high.
Nissan's radiator warranty extension applies to all 2005-2010 Pathfinder vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. It states that an internal crack in the radiator oil-cooler tube may occur on a small percentage of vehicles, allowing internal engine-coolant leakage and pote… Severity: high.
Multiple owners reported the Pathfinder shutting off at a stop with the auto start-stop system and then failing to restart promptly, sometimes displaying warning messages or requiring a manual restart attempt. Nissan issued a safety recall for certain vehicles related to the idle… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: high.
The 2005 and 2006 Pathfinder is covered by Nissan safety recall 10V517000, an engine and engine cooling campaign centered on the Intelligent Power Distribution Module. Inside the IPDM assembly is an ECM relay fitted with a diode for electrical current noise reduction. Nissan dete… Severity: high.
2006 and 2008 Pathfinders are among the vehicles Nissan recalled under NHTSA campaign 10V075000. The issue starts with the molded plastic fuel tank shell, which can deform in service. Once it deforms, the float arm on the fuel level sending unit can strike an embossment molded in… Severity: high.
The 2013-2016 Pathfinder with the 3.5L VQ35DE engine develops timing chain stretch and chain guide wear, typically after 80,000-120,000 miles. The timing chain tensioner, secondary chain tensioners, and plastic chain guides all degrade over time. Stretched chains cause rattling o… Repairs typically run $2,000-$4,000. Severity: high.
Both the 3.0L VG30E (1990-1995) and 3.3L VG33E (1996-1999) are timing-belt engines. The belt, tensioner, and idler are service items that harden and wear with age; a failed tensioner bearing produces a ticking or scraping noise from the front of the engine, and a snapped belt lea… Repairs typically run $400-$950. Severity: high.
The 2013-2020 Pathfinder VQ35DE engine develops coolant leaks from the thermostat housing/water outlet, typically around 60,000-100,000 miles. The plastic housing cracks or the O-ring seal degrades, causing a slow coolant leak that can lead to overheating if not addressed. This i… Repairs typically run $200-$500. Severity: medium.
The 2013-2020 Pathfinder AWD system uses an electromagnetic coupling that fails prematurely, causing the AWD system to malfunction. The transfer case actuator motor burns out, resulting in a 4WD/AWD warning light and loss of AWD capability. In some cases, the coupling can seize,… Repairs typically run $800-$1,800. Severity: medium.
2013-2015 Pathfinders (R52), including the 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid, suffer a documented no-crank condition in which the starter never engages when the ignition button is pressed and the combination meter displays "I-Key Error." Because the message points at the Intelligent Key sys… Repairs typically run $90-$450. Severity: medium.
Nissan NTB17-039R applies to 2013-2020 Pathfinder R52 vehicles with a V6 CVT only when the customer reports judder and P17F0 or P17F1 is stored. The bulletin states that it does not apply when judder is absent, neither code is stored, or other DTCs are present. Its repair flow se… Severity: medium.
Owners have documented backup camera failures including a black screen, frozen image, delayed display, or intermittent loss of the rear image when shifting into Reverse. Rear visibility system complaints are common enough across Nissan products that Nissan has issued service guid… Repairs typically run $150-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The V6 Pathfinders of this era use a camshaft-driven Hitachi distributor that houses the optical crank/cam position sensor and rotor inside a single unit. It is one of the most frequently reported failure points on the WD21 (1990-1995 VG30E) and early R50 (1996-1999 VG33E) trucks… Repairs typically run $250-$650. Severity: medium.
Owners of the current-generation Pathfinder frequently report steering wheel shake or pedal pulsation during moderate braking, sometimes at relatively low mileage. The issue is commonly attributed to front rotor thickness variation or heat spotting, and some owners also report fa… Repairs typically run $350-$900. Severity: medium.
The R50 Pathfinder's front lower ball joints are a common high-mileage wear item. As they wear, play develops that produces a clunk or rattle over bumps, steering wander/vibration, and uneven (inner/outer edge) front tire wear. A complete failure can allow the control arm to sepa… Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: medium.
The R51 Pathfinder is prone to rust developing around the rear liftgate, particularly along the bottom edge and around the license plate area. Water gets trapped behind trim pieces and the spare tire well can also rust through. This is especially common in northern/salt belt stat… Repairs typically run $200-$3,000. Severity: medium.
On the VG33E (1996+), the fuel-rail pressure damper and the fuel pressure regulator use internal diaphragms that fail with age. A ruptured diaphragm lets raw fuel weep from the damper or get drawn through the regulator vacuum line into the intake, producing a strong fuel smell, h… Repairs typically run $60-$300. Severity: medium.
The R52 Pathfinder with the VQ35DE engine experiences premature catalytic converter failure, often between 80,000-120,000 miles. The catalytic converters can become clogged or the catalyst substrate breaks down, triggering P0420/P0430 codes. Contributing factors include the CVT i… Repairs typically run $500-$2,500. Severity: medium.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.