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2015 Nissan Pathfinder: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
54%
138 of 257 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

54% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 70% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 63 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
138
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
320
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
11 crashes · 7 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER79 · 25%
POWER TRAIN76 · 24%
ENGINE74 · 23%
AIR BAGS55 · 17%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL27 · 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM26 · 8%

The years either side

2010
55%
16 of 40
2011
48%
15 of 45
2012
too few complaints
2013
59%
428 of 890
2014
54%
260 of 573
2015
54%
138 of 320
2016
40%
34 of 107
2017
65%
112 of 186
2018
32%
23 of 77
2019
34%
23 of 75
2020
49%
24 of 52
2021
no data
2022
25%
32 of 135
2023
37%
37 of 103

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other midsize SUVs with no elevated signal in 2015

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN04/07/2026
CVT judder problems on acceleration
ENGINE03/03/2026
While driving at a rate of 20mph +, the pathfinder will start jerking back and forth then turn off. This happened in the middle of a highway lane. Good thing no one was hurt. This was also sudden
STEERING,ENGINE01/21/2026
1. CODE P0101 not removed after replacing MAF sensor. 2. power steering motor is annoying noise, high pitched sound.

Three of 138 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (5)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
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 Nissa…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicle…
SERVICE BRAKES
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to November 5, 20…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.