2016 Nissan PATHFINDER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Nissan PATHFINDER has 128 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: the radiator fan and shroud assembly and i cannot find replacement parts at any dealer, auto parts store nor junk yard due to so many people needing these parts replaced. i was told they are on backorder and dont know when they will have replacement parts. i was told by a certified mechanic that the.

10 crash reports 2 injuries

128

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

28 complaints

22%

• THE RADIATOR FAN AND SHROUD ASSEMBLY AND I CANNOT FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS AT ANY DEALER, AUTO PARTS STORE NOR JUNK YARD DUE TO SO MANY PEOPLE NEEDING THESE PARTS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THEY ARE ON BACKORDER AND DONT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE
• I DROVE UP TO 16,000 MILES AND THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MADE A WEIRD SOUND. I WENT TO 2 NISSAN DEALERSHIPS TO CHECK IT OUT AND IT SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR 2016 PATHFINDER.BUT WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES IT WILL CAUSE A HUMMING NOISE LIKE A BEE AND ITS REALLY ANNOYING, I WENT TO CHECK IT OUT AND IT SAID IT
• RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS INDICATED BY SEVERAL PATHFINDER OWNERS FROM 2014 UP TO THE PRESENT.

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

“THE RADIATOR FAN AND SHROUD ASSEMBLY AND I CANNOT FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS AT ANY DEALER, AUTO PARTS STORE NOR JUNK YARD DUE TO SO MANY PEOPLE NEEDING THESE PARTS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THEY ARE ON BACKORDER AND DONT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

24 complaints

19%

• THIS CAR SEAT HAS A GAP FOR A SEAT BELT (WHEN THE SEAT IS CHANGED TO A BOOSTER), BETWEEN THE BACK AND BOTTOM. THE GAP IS ON BOTH SIDES. MY CHILD HAS GOTTEN HER LEG STUCK IN THE GAP MANY MANY TIMES. IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE HER LEG IS STUCK, I CANNOT IMAGINE THE DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE DONE TO HER
• WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND IF YOU OPEN THE TRUNK VIA KEY OR BUTTON THE TRUNK DOOR WILL CLOSE BY ITSELF AFTER IT REACHES THE TOP . IF NOT PAID ATTENTION MAY CAUSE HEAD INJURIES.TOOK TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED A PART BUT THE FIX ONLY STAYED FOR 2- 3 MONTHS. THE CAR TRUNK IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD AND
• ELECTRICAL PROBLEM RESULTED IN LOSS OF RPM AND BRAKES. COULD NOT SHUT OFF.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THIS CAR SEAT HAS A GAP FOR A SEAT BELT (WHEN THE SEAT IS CHANGED TO A BOOSTER), BETWEEN THE BACK AND BOTTOM. THE GAP IS ON BOTH SIDES. MY CHILD HAS GOTTEN HER LEG STUCK IN THE GAP MANY MANY TIMES. IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE HER LEG IS STUCK, I CANNOT IMAGINE THE DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE DONE TO HER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

18 complaints

14%

• NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V681000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS THE ABOVE ISSUE WAS ALSO SEEN ON MY 2016 PATHFINDER SL TECH PURCHASED LESS THAN 1 MONTH AGO. THE ISSUE HAPPENS ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME. TO RESOLVE I HAVE TO POWER CYCLE THE CAR...
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER W
• I WAS THE PERSON WHO FIRST FILED THE AIRBAG ISSUE ON NHTSA. FINALLY TODAY, THE ISSUE WAS "PATCHED".I SAY PATCHED NOT FIXED SINCE NOW THE "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON IN MY CAR WHICH DOES NOT MATCH THE MANUAL OF MY VEHICLE.A BIGGER ISSUE THOUGH IS THAT THIS CONFUSES US INTO THINKING THE SIMILARLY

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

“NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V681000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS THE ABOVE ISSUE WAS ALSO SEEN ON MY 2016 PATHFINDER SL TECH PURCHASED LESS THAN 1 MONTH AGO. THE ISSUE HAPPENS ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME. TO RESOLVE I HAVE TO POWER CYCLE THE CAR...”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

14 complaints

11%

• WHILE DRIVING OUR 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER VEHICLE, WE FELT A SUDDEN VIBRATION AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE KNEW, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (TIRE AND RIM) FELL OFF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE CAME DOWN ON WHAT REMAINED OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY. I MANAGED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD UNTIL WE HAD ENOUGH
• ELECTRICAL PROBLEM RESULTED IN LOSS OF RPM AND BRAKES. COULD NOT SHUT OFF.
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM HOME. MY HUSBAND CHECKED AND IT WAS OUT OF BRAKE FLUID. HE ADDED FLUID SO I COULD GET TO THE DEALER, APPROX. 35 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT IT PROBA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING OUR 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER VEHICLE, WE FELT A SUDDEN VIBRATION AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE KNEW, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (TIRE AND RIM) FELL OFF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE CAME DOWN ON WHAT REMAINED OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY. I MANAGED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD UNTIL WE HAD ENOUGH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

11 complaints

• DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T WANT TO GO UP OR DOWN WHEN IT'S COLD, SOMETIMES STOPS WORKING ALL TOGETHER, HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON LINE CONCERNING MOTOR IN DOOR. HAPPENS WHEN STATIONER OR IN MOTION
• COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY FAILED ON 1/26/2019 AT 64,XXX MILES. NEW ASSY WAS PURCHASED ON 1/26/2019 FROM TONY SERRA NISSAN IN CULLMAN, AL COSTING $560.29 (PART AND TAX ONLY). I R/R THE ASSY MYSELF, AS I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FIELD, IT TOOK ME JUST SHY OF 2 HOURS TO REPLACE THEM (TIME AN
• RADIATOR: NISSIAN PATHFINDER RADIATOR FAIL AFTER OWNING FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THIS IS COVERED UNDER EXTEND WARRANTEE. BUT BASE ON THE PAST RADIATOR RECALL, THE VECHILE RAIDATOR MAY NOT BE UP TO SPECS.

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

“DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T WANT TO GO UP OR DOWN WHEN IT'S COLD, SOMETIMES STOPS WORKING ALL TOGETHER, HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON LINE CONCERNING MOTOR IN DOOR. HAPPENS WHEN STATIONER OR IN MOTION”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 128 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE RADIATOR FAN AND SHROUD ASSEMBLY AND I CANNOT FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS AT ANY DEALER, AUTO PARTS STORE NOR JUNK YARD DUE TO SO MANY PEOPLE NEEDING THESE PARTS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THEY ARE ON BACKORDER AND DONT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS CAR SEAT HAS A GAP FOR A SEAT BELT (WHEN THE SEAT IS CHANGED TO A BOOSTER), BETWEEN THE BACK AND BOTTOM. THE GAP IS ON BOTH SIDES. MY CHILD HAS GOTTEN HER LEG STUCK IN THE GAP MANY MANY TIMES. IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE HER LEG IS STUCK, I CANNOT IMAGINE THE DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE DONE TO HER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V681000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS THE ABOVE ISSUE WAS ALSO SEEN ON MY 2016 PATHFINDER SL TECH PURCHASED LESS THAN 1 MONTH AGO. THE ISSUE HAPPENS ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME. TO RESOLVE I HAVE TO POWER CYCLE THE CAR...
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WHILE DRIVING OUR 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER VEHICLE, WE FELT A SUDDEN VIBRATION AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE KNEW, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (TIRE AND RIM) FELL OFF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE CAME DOWN ON WHAT REMAINED OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY. I MANAGED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD UNTIL WE HAD ENOUGH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)