2011 Nissan PATHFINDER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Nissan PATHFINDER has 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: after stopping at stop sign and turning. the airbag indicator light started flashing. took it to the dearlership it was bought from. they "repaired" the problem. after traveling less than 2 miles from dealerships,the light started back flashing. i returned to dealership. they wanted to know if i had. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

12 complaints

20%

• AFTER STOPPING AT STOP SIGN AND TURNING. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. TOOK IT TO THE DEARLERSHIP IT WAS BOUGHT FROM. THEY "REPAIRED" THE PROBLEM. AFTER TRAVELING LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM DEALERSHIPS,THE LIGHT STARTED BACK FLASHING. I RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF I HAD
• ON THE DATE STATED ABOVE, MY FAMILY AND I WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE OUR HOTEL IN TENNESSEE AND RETURN HOME WHEN WE NOTICED THE AIRBAG SYMBOL FLASHING ON OUR DASHBOARD DISPLAY. WE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE DOORS AND SEATBELTS WERE PROPERLY CONNECTED THINKING THAT WE WERE NOT. THIS DID NO
• MY AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE DEALER SAID IT IS THE AIRBAG SWITCH. I HAD TO PAY $150.00 TO GET IT DIAGNOSED AND THE 2 FRONT AIRBAGS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE TOTAL OF $2500.00. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 46,000 MILES, THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I SEE THERE ARE A LOT MORE HAVING T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AFTER STOPPING AT STOP SIGN AND TURNING. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. TOOK IT TO THE DEARLERSHIP IT WAS BOUGHT FROM. THEY "REPAIRED" THE PROBLEM. AFTER TRAVELING LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM DEALERSHIPS,THE LIGHT STARTED BACK FLASHING. I RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF I HAD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

10 complaints

17%

• DEAR AUTHORITY, I JUST BOUGHT A USED NISSAN PATHFINDER 2011 WITH 15000 MILES A WEEK AGO. IT HAS HAD PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WERE BOTH FAILED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY IF THIS PATHFINDER'S ENGINE FAILED AND S
• CAR IS MAKING A VERY LOUD EXHAUST SOUND. MECHANIC SAID THE MANIFOLD HAS A CRACK. THIS CAR IS A 2011, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM POSSIBLE FOR THIS AGE CAR THAT IS DRIVEN BY A FEMALE 43 YEAR OLD TO HAVE SUCH ISSUES. *TR
• TOOK THE TRUCK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE(6/11/14) . ON 6/14/14 THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT WHEN OFF ON 6/15/14. ON 6/18/14 WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WHEN TO ZERO. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK ON 6/20/14 TO THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DEAR AUTHORITY, I JUST BOUGHT A USED NISSAN PATHFINDER 2011 WITH 15000 MILES A WEEK AGO. IT HAS HAD PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WERE BOTH FAILED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY IF THIS PATHFINDER'S ENGINE FAILED AND S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

12%

• I HAVE A PICTURE, BUT IT'S A RENTAL CAR FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL IN NEW HAVEN CT AND THE DRIVE SHAFT 4 MOUNTING BOLTS FELL OFF AND THE DRIVE SHAFT DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE. HAD IT DROP ON THE ROAD THERE COULD OF BEEN A DISASTER. I CAN GET THE VIN POSSIBLE TOMORROW . THE CAR IS AT A
• DEAR AUTHORITY, I JUST BOUGHT A USED NISSAN PATHFINDER 2011 WITH 15000 MILES A WEEK AGO. IT HAS HAD PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WERE BOTH FAILED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY IF THIS PATHFINDER'S ENGINE FAILED AND S
• STOPPED CAR AND TRANSMISSION, BRAKES, STEERING ALL QUIT WORKING AND CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. BOLT ATTACHING TRANSMISSION CABLE TO GEAR BOX FELL OFF!! I WAS VERY LUCK WHERE IT HAPPENED. POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I HAVE A PICTURE, BUT IT'S A RENTAL CAR FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL IN NEW HAVEN CT AND THE DRIVE SHAFT 4 MOUNTING BOLTS FELL OFF AND THE DRIVE SHAFT DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE. HAD IT DROP ON THE ROAD THERE COULD OF BEEN A DISASTER. I CAN GET THE VIN POSSIBLE TOMORROW . THE CAR IS AT A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

6 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD BUT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AS SHE CRASHED INTO A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A D
• I HAVE TAKEN MY 2011 NISSAN PATHFINDER TO THE DEALER OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS BECAUSE OF BRAKE ISSUES. WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND BUT FINALLY RESOLVED THE MAIN ISSUE. HOWEVER, NOW I NOTICED THAT MY SEAT BELTS NEVER LOCK WHEN RIDING IN THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOK
• PEDAL LOST PRESSURE, WHEN BRAKING ON A LOW-FRICTION SURFACE OR UNEVEN SURFACE, CAUSES THE PEDAL TO LOSE PRESSURE OR GO "TO THE FLOOR,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD BUT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AS SHE CRASHED INTO A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

6 complaints

10%

• THE VEHICLE HANDLES SMOOTHLY ON A SMOOTH SURFACE, BUT WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES GIVING YOU THE FEELING THAT YOU MIGHT LOSE CONTROL. BIG BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT HIGHER SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) ARE DECIDEDLY UNCOMFORTABLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER AND A VERY
• MY VEHICLE IS TO THE POINT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. SOMETHING IN STEERING MECHANISM, IDK BUT WHEN DRIVING ANY DIFFERENTIAL IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE IS ALL OVER THE ROAD.. I AM A SINGLE PERSON WITH GRANDCHILDREN AND THIS IS NOT SAFE. IT IS SO BAD IT WALKS INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. THIS STARTED
• When I applied the brakes, a slippage and rubbing noise occurs. Moments later, I could brake. No engine lights are visible on the dashboard. This has occurred several times.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VEHICLE HANDLES SMOOTHLY ON A SMOOTH SURFACE, BUT WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES GIVING YOU THE FEELING THAT YOU MIGHT LOSE CONTROL. BIG BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT HIGHER SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) ARE DECIDEDLY UNCOMFORTABLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER AND A VERY ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 59 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: AFTER STOPPING AT STOP SIGN AND TURNING. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. TOOK IT TO THE DEARLERSHIP IT WAS BOUGHT FROM. THEY "REPAIRED" THE PROBLEM. AFTER TRAVELING LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM DEALERSHIPS,THE LIGHT STARTED BACK FLASHING. I RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF I HAD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: DEAR AUTHORITY, I JUST BOUGHT A USED NISSAN PATHFINDER 2011 WITH 15000 MILES A WEEK AGO. IT HAS HAD PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WERE BOTH FAILED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY IF THIS PATHFINDER'S ENGINE FAILED AND S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I HAVE A PICTURE, BUT IT'S A RENTAL CAR FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL IN NEW HAVEN CT AND THE DRIVE SHAFT 4 MOUNTING BOLTS FELL OFF AND THE DRIVE SHAFT DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE. HAD IT DROP ON THE ROAD THERE COULD OF BEEN A DISASTER. I CAN GET THE VIN POSSIBLE TOMORROW . THE CAR IS AT A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD BUT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AS SHE CRASHED INTO A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)