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2019 Nissan Pathfinder problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
33%
23 of 69 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

33% of relevant owner complaints on the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 65% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 7 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 30%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 23 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%), and the largest group is filed under engine (15). For comparison, the 2018 scores 32% and the 2020 scores 50%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
23
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
76
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
4 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER20 · 26%
ENGINE15 · 20%
SERVICE BRAKES14 · 18%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE11 · 14%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10 · 13%
POWER TRAIN9 · 12%

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
33%
23 of 76
2020
50%
25 of 53
2021
no data
2022
25%
32 of 135
2023
38%
38 of 104

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

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder

What one owner reported

ENGINE08/16/2026
There was built up sludge in my engine that caused it to fail, and I was charged to replace it

One of 23 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip19V807000 · Nov 2019
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously…
back over prevention: sensing system: camera19V654000 · Sep 2019
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2019 Nissan Pathfinder? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder

Does the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 23 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (33%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?

No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Nissan Pathfinder years are better?

Among the Nissan Pathfinder years we track, the 2022 (25%) and the 2018 (32%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (33%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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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.