2015 Nissan PATHFINDER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Nissan PATHFINDER has 432 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: i had slowed to enter a parking lot and as i turned i heard what i thought was something rattling in the back storage area. my wife turned to see what it was and saw that the entire upper rear glass moon roof had shattered into small pieces. i stopped and got out to look at it and the front portion . ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 17 crash reports 10 injuries

432

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

79 complaints

18%

• I HAD SLOWED TO ENTER A PARKING LOT AND AS I TURNED I HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SOMETHING RATTLING IN THE BACK STORAGE AREA. MY WIFE TURNED TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND SAW THAT THE ENTIRE UPPER REAR GLASS MOON ROOF HAD SHATTERED INTO SMALL PIECES. I STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT IT AND THE FRONT PORTION
• WE WERE DRIVING AT 35 MILES/HR ON A CITY STREET AND SUDDENLY OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. WE HEARD A LOUD SOUND LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF AND WE WERE IN SHOCK AND SUDDENLY WE SAW GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER ME MY SEATS AND WE WERE IN AWE. MY DAUGHTER AND WIFE WERE IN THE BACK AS WELL. WE HAD EYEWITNESS AS WELL WHO
• IT STARTED WITH THE DREADED HESITATING/JERKING THING I HAVE READ ABOUT NISSAN CVT TRANNYS. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS A VALVE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION, AND NOT THE TRANNY ITSELF. HOW IS A VALVE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION NOT BE A PART OF THE TRANSMISSION?!?! THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE IT AND IT WILL TAKE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I HAD SLOWED TO ENTER A PARKING LOT AND AS I TURNED I HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SOMETHING RATTLING IN THE BACK STORAGE AREA. MY WIFE TURNED TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND SAW THAT THE ENTIRE UPPER REAR GLASS MOON ROOF HAD SHATTERED INTO SMALL PIECES. I STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT IT AND THE FRONT PORTION ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

76 complaints

18%

• POTENTIALLY FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM OR DOWNSHIFT CVT OR SIMULATED GEARSHIFT SYSTEM. DETAILS: WHEN DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKES PARTIALLY APPLIED, THE VEHICLE TENDS TO MOMENTARILY ACCELERATE AND SPEED UP. CONCURRENTLY THE RESISTANCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TENDS TO DECREASE, ALONG WITH A V
• AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM AUTOMATION NISSAN DALLAS THE TRANSMISSION , CVT, FAILED AT 2300 MILES. THERE WAS NO HEAVY USE ON THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE NOT EVEN TOWED WITH IT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING BEYOND FIX THIS LEMON. PICKED UP VEHICLE, 9/17/15 AND ON
• CVT TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS AT LOW SPEED (20-40 MPH) WITH LIGHT THROTTLE APPLICATION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 9/10/2015

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“POTENTIALLY FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM OR DOWNSHIFT CVT OR SIMULATED GEARSHIFT SYSTEM. DETAILS: WHEN DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKES PARTIALLY APPLIED, THE VEHICLE TENDS TO MOMENTARILY ACCELERATE AND SPEED UP. CONCURRENTLY THE RESISTANCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TENDS TO DECREASE, ALONG WITH A V”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

75 complaints

17%

• POTENTIALLY FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM OR DOWNSHIFT CVT OR SIMULATED GEARSHIFT SYSTEM. DETAILS: WHEN DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKES PARTIALLY APPLIED, THE VEHICLE TENDS TO MOMENTARILY ACCELERATE AND SPEED UP. CONCURRENTLY THE RESISTANCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TENDS TO DECREASE, ALONG WITH A V
• VEHICLE START BUTTON IS IN A UNSAFE LOCATION. KNEE KEEPS HITTING WHILE DRIVING AND CAR TURNS OFF. IT NEEDS A COVER OR SMARTER SWITCH SO THAT A ACCIDENTAL TOUCH CANT SHUT THE CAR OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT'S A SEVERE HAZARD!!!!!!
• WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STUTTERS/JUDDERS FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, EVEN STARTING TO SHOW UP AT MEDIUM SPEEDS, TO THE POINT WHERE WE THINK THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL. IF YOU PUSH ON THE GAS IT EVENTUALLY GOES THROUGHT THE ST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

54 complaints

13%

• DRIVING DOWN ON FLORIDA HIGHWAY I-75 . AHEAD WAS A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT WITH DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. REDUCED SPEED TO TRY TO AVOID MOST OF THE DEBRIS THAT WAS SCATTERED ALONG THE 4 LANES. I HAPPEN TO GET A PIECE OF DEBRIS IMPACTING FRONT TIRE AND HAVING IT GO UNDERNEATH MY CAR. AS THIS OCCURRED THE ECU MUS
• WE WERE DRIVING THE PATHFINDER AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE PASSENGER'S WEIGHT IS 165 POUNDS AND APPROXIMATELY 5'6" TALL. THE LIGHT REMAINED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY4 MINUTES AND ONLY WENT OFF WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED TH
• PURCHASED IN MAY 2015. WITHIN A MONTH OF OWNERSHIP, AIRBAG LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTERMITTENTLY IF PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN CAR BEFORE STARTED. I JUST HAD THE PASSENGER WAIT UNTIL CAR WAS STARTED TO SIT. IN JULY THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING INTERMITTENTLY WITH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“DRIVING DOWN ON FLORIDA HIGHWAY I-75 . AHEAD WAS A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT WITH DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. REDUCED SPEED TO TRY TO AVOID MOST OF THE DEBRIS THAT WAS SCATTERED ALONG THE 4 LANES. I HAPPEN TO GET A PIECE OF DEBRIS IMPACTING FRONT TIRE AND HAVING IT GO UNDERNEATH MY CAR. AS THIS OCCURRED THE ECU MUS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

27 complaints

• WHILE TOWING UNDER THE CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE TOW SPECIFICATION, THE VEHICLE DROPPED OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL (SET AT 65 MPH). THIS CAUSED AN UNEXPECTED SLOWDOWN OF ALMOST 20 MPH AND MY FAMILY AND I FEARED GETTING HIT AT THAT SPEED (45 IN A 65 WHEN PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AT 75 OR MORE). NISSAN TECHNICI
• THE CAR MAKES A LOUD SHUDDERING NOISE AND OFTEN WILL NOT ACCELERATE.
• WHILE TOWING A LOAD, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING DIS ENGAGES THE CRUISE CONTROL AND CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY AN 18 WHEELER!!! VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS FIXED. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN!

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

“WHILE TOWING UNDER THE CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE TOW SPECIFICATION, THE VEHICLE DROPPED OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL (SET AT 65 MPH). THIS CAUSED AN UNEXPECTED SLOWDOWN OF ALMOST 20 MPH AND MY FAMILY AND I FEARED GETTING HIT AT THAT SPEED (45 IN A 65 WHEN PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AT 75 OR MORE). NISSAN TECHNICI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 432 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: I HAD SLOWED TO ENTER A PARKING LOT AND AS I TURNED I HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SOMETHING RATTLING IN THE BACK STORAGE AREA. MY WIFE TURNED TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND SAW THAT THE ENTIRE UPPER REAR GLASS MOON ROOF HAD SHATTERED INTO SMALL PIECES. I STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT IT AND THE FRONT PORTION
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: POTENTIALLY FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM OR DOWNSHIFT CVT OR SIMULATED GEARSHIFT SYSTEM. DETAILS: WHEN DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKES PARTIALLY APPLIED, THE VEHICLE TENDS TO MOMENTARILY ACCELERATE AND SPEED UP. CONCURRENTLY THE RESISTANCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TENDS TO DECREASE, ALONG WITH A V
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: POTENTIALLY FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM OR DOWNSHIFT CVT OR SIMULATED GEARSHIFT SYSTEM. DETAILS: WHEN DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC WITH THE BRAKES PARTIALLY APPLIED, THE VEHICLE TENDS TO MOMENTARILY ACCELERATE AND SPEED UP. CONCURRENTLY THE RESISTANCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TENDS TO DECREASE, ALONG WITH A V
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: DRIVING DOWN ON FLORIDA HIGHWAY I-75 . AHEAD WAS A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT WITH DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. REDUCED SPEED TO TRY TO AVOID MOST OF THE DEBRIS THAT WAS SCATTERED ALONG THE 4 LANES. I HAPPEN TO GET A PIECE OF DEBRIS IMPACTING FRONT TIRE AND HAVING IT GO UNDERNEATH MY CAR. AS THIS OCCURRED THE ECU MUS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)