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Nissan Pathfinder: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Nissan Pathfinder problems by model year, from 2,629 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2017 (65%, 112 drivetrain complaints), 2013 (59%, 428 drivetrain complaints) and 2010 (55%, 16 drivetrain complaints). 10 of the 12 Nissan Pathfinder years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2022 (25%) and 2018 (32%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2017 (65%) to 2018 (32%), down 33 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (428 of 1,144 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Nissan Pathfinder year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Pathfinder | high | 55% | 16 | 40 | 3/12 | 5 |
| 2011 Pathfinder | high | 48% | 15 | 45 | 7/12 | 2 |
| 2012 Pathfinder | too few to score | – | 6 | 23 | – | 2 |
| 2013 Pathfinder | high | 59% | 428 | 890 | 2/12 | 11 |
| 2014 Pathfinder | high | 54% | 260 | 573 | 4/12 | 11 |
| 2015 Pathfinder | high | 54% | 138 | 320 | 5/12 | 5 |
| 2016 Pathfinder | elevated | 40% | 34 | 107 | 8/12 | 2 |
| 2017 Pathfinder | very high | 65% | 112 | 186 | 1/12 | 2 |
| 2018 Pathfinder | no elevated signal | 32% | 23 | 77 | 11/12 | 3 |
| 2019 Pathfinder | elevated | 33% | 23 | 76 | 10/12 | 2 |
| 2020 Pathfinder | high | 50% | 25 | 53 | 6/12 | 0 |
| 2022 Pathfinder | no elevated signal | 25% | 32 | 135 | 12/12 | 5 |
| 2023 Pathfinder | elevated | 38% | 38 | 104 | 9/12 | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Nissan Pathfinder years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Nissan Pathfinder engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Nissan Pathfinder involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 29 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2011 | 11V592000 | engine and engine cooling | 2011 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V142000 | power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines | 2013 |
27 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2010 | 10V115000 | steering: gear box: shaft sector | 2010 |
| May 2010 | 10V208000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010 |
| May 2010 | 10E019000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010 |
| Sep 2010 | 10V401000 | equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system) | 2010 |
| Mar 2013 | 13V069000 | air bags | 2013 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V139000 | service brakes | 2013 |
| Sep 2013 | 13V456000 | air bags: frontal | 2014 |
| Oct 2013 | 13V445000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2013–2014 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V138000 | electrical system: software | 2013–2014 |
| May 2014 | 14V229000 | wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 2014 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V012000 | service brakes | 2014–2015 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V033000 | structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments | 2013–2014 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V681000 | air bags: frontal | 2013–2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V244000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2013–2016 |
| May 2016 | 16V380000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2013–2014 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V601000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2017–2018 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2019 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V807000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2017–2019 |
| Jan 2021 | 21V020000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2013–2015 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V706000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2022 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V742000 | seats: mid/rear assembly: head restraint | 2022 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V743000 | seats: critical fasteners | 2022 |
| Feb 2022 | 22V111000 | seats: critical fasteners | 2022 |
| Jun 2022 | 22V420000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2013–2016 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V527000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2022 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V067000 | air bags: frontal | 2010–2011 |
| Apr 2023 | 23V268000 | seats: critical fasteners | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Nissan Pathfinder
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Nissan Pathfinder
What are the worst years for the Nissan Pathfinder?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Nissan Pathfinder years are the 2017 (65% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2013 (59% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2010 (55% of relevant complaints, high). 10 of 12 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Nissan Pathfinder?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Nissan Pathfinder years are the 2022 (25%) and the 2018 (32%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 12 scored years, 1,144 of 2,221 relevant NHTSA complaints (52%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2023.
Is the Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 10 of 12 Nissan Pathfinder years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 52% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Nissan Pathfinder?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Nissan Pathfinder years we track, out of 29 in total: 11V592000 (Dec 2011, 2011), 14V142000 (Mar 2014, 2013). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.