2017 Nissan PATHFINDER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2017 Nissan PATHFINDER has 253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: on february 10, 2018, we brought home a new puppy. we wanted to calm our current pet down so i went inside my house to let him out to use the restroom and calm him for the introduction. it was a cold night so my 7-year-old daughter and husband were in the backseat unbuckled with the heater on. nobod. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 10 crash reports 7 injuries

253

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

84 complaints

33%

• ON FEBRUARY 10, 2018, WE BROUGHT HOME A NEW PUPPY. WE WANTED TO CALM OUR CURRENT PET DOWN SO I WENT INSIDE MY HOUSE TO LET HIM OUT TO USE THE RESTROOM AND CALM HIM FOR THE INTRODUCTION. IT WAS A COLD NIGHT SO MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND WERE IN THE BACKSEAT UNBUCKLED WITH THE HEATER ON. NOBOD
• FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING MY PATHFINDER MY CAR SIMPLY SHUTS ITSELF OFF. IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE GOING UP A HILL IN DECEMBER OF 2017, AND YESTERDAY WHOLE ON A BUSY ROAD. LUCKILY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES MY CAR STARTED NORMAL AND RAN FINE ON THE WAY
• MY 2017 PATHFINDER HAS ABOUT 22K MILES ON IT, HAD, PLENTY OF GAS AND OIL, BUT JUST RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30-25 MPH ON A 4-LANE ROAD. I WAS DARN LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND WASNT HIT IN THE PROCESS. THEN THE CAR WOULD START AND IMMEDIATELY DIE; AND I WOUND UP HAVING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“ON FEBRUARY 10, 2018, WE BROUGHT HOME A NEW PUPPY. WE WANTED TO CALM OUR CURRENT PET DOWN SO I WENT INSIDE MY HOUSE TO LET HIM OUT TO USE THE RESTROOM AND CALM HIM FOR THE INTRODUCTION. IT WAS A COLD NIGHT SO MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND WERE IN THE BACKSEAT UNBUCKLED WITH THE HEATER ON. NOBOD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

40 complaints

16%

• THIS CAR ONLY HAS 244 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, WHEN I DRIVE IT FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES, I START FEELING A LITTLE DIZZY AND DISORIENTED. ONCE I'M OUT OF THE CAR IN FRESH AIR AGAIN, THE FEELING SLOWLY GOES AWAY. I'M GOING TO CALL THE DEALER (BROWN'S DULLES NISSAN) IN THE MORNING TO GET ON THEIR SC
• I HAVE A 2017 NISSAN PATHFINDER LAST MONTH I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WENT ENTERING A HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO STUTTERS AND SOMETIMES IT HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND RETURNS TO NORMAL BUT THAT'S CONSTANTLY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BUT DID SAID THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VE
• PURCHASED VEHICLE LAST WEEK / CURRENTLY HAS 200 MILES / STARTED SMELLING WIRES BURNING, TAKING TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“THIS CAR ONLY HAS 244 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, WHEN I DRIVE IT FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES, I START FEELING A LITTLE DIZZY AND DISORIENTED. ONCE I'M OUT OF THE CAR IN FRESH AIR AGAIN, THE FEELING SLOWLY GOES AWAY. I'M GOING TO CALL THE DEALER (BROWN'S DULLES NISSAN) IN THE MORNING TO GET ON THEIR SC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

34 complaints

13%

• MY VEHICLE IS A 2017 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, THEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER TRAFFIC OR CLIMB A HILL, THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. IT HAS A HESITATION WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE ALMOST APPEARS TO SPUTTER OUT. THIS HAS OCCURRED WI
• WHILE DRIVING ON AN COUNTRY ROAD GOING 35, MY 2017 PATHFINDER SUV ALL OF A SUDDEN HESITATED TO GO PAST 40 FOR A FEW SECONDS. HAD MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR, THE RPM GAUGE WAS SPINNING BUT I COULDN'T GET PAST 40.
• FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING MY PATHFINDER MY CAR SIMPLY SHUTS ITSELF OFF. IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE GOING UP A HILL IN DECEMBER OF 2017, AND YESTERDAY WHOLE ON A BUSY ROAD. LUCKILY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES MY CAR STARTED NORMAL AND RAN FINE ON THE WAY

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

“MY VEHICLE IS A 2017 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, THEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER TRAFFIC OR CLIMB A HILL, THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. IT HAS A HESITATION WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE ALMOST APPEARS TO SPUTTER OUT. THIS HAS OCCURRED WI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

27 complaints

11%

• FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING MY PATHFINDER MY CAR SIMPLY SHUTS ITSELF OFF. IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE GOING UP A HILL IN DECEMBER OF 2017, AND YESTERDAY WHOLE ON A BUSY ROAD. LUCKILY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES MY CAR STARTED NORMAL AND RAN FINE ON THE WAY
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 NISSAN PATHFINDER. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LOST POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTAR
• COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY FOR RADIATOR AND CLIMATE CONTROL. KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS 2014-2018 NISSAN PATHFINDERS. THE FANS/BEARINGS/INTERNAL MOTORS ARE CHEAP GARBAGE AND ARE FAILING. OWNERS ARE SPENDING $1,000 ON AVERAGE TO CORRECT AN ISSUE THAT IS THE DEALERS FAULT. AND IN MANY CASES THE REPAIR HAS TO BE

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

“FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING MY PATHFINDER MY CAR SIMPLY SHUTS ITSELF OFF. IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE GOING UP A HILL IN DECEMBER OF 2017, AND YESTERDAY WHOLE ON A BUSY ROAD. LUCKILY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES MY CAR STARTED NORMAL AND RAN FINE ON THE WAY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

11 complaints

• I REPORTED THE BRAKES BEING NON RESPONSIVE ON 10/23/17 WHICH HAD ALSO CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT AS THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A BRIDGE IN WINSTON SALAM NC IN FRONT OF THE BAPTIST HOSPITAL.IT WAS MOVING STOP AND GO AND MAYBE WOULD REACH 35 MPH AND THEN IT WOULDN'T STOP. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES
• I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN I SUDDENLY NOTICE THE TRUCK LOST POWER AND WAS MAKING REALLY LOUD NOISE UNDER THE FRONT BETWEEN THE FRONT TIRES. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OVER HIGHWAY AND CALL FOR ASSISTANTCE. TOWED THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I WILL NEED
• WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON GOING 72 MPH THE FEB FRONT EMERGENCY BRAKING SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO KICK OFF ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK DUE TO THE SUDDEN DECREASE IN SPEED THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED ME. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE FEB AND STILL USE CRUISE CONTROL.

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

“I REPORTED THE BRAKES BEING NON RESPONSIVE ON 10/23/17 WHICH HAD ALSO CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT AS THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A BRIDGE IN WINSTON SALAM NC IN FRONT OF THE BAPTIST HOSPITAL.IT WAS MOVING STOP AND GO AND MAYBE WOULD REACH 35 MPH AND THEN IT WOULDN'T STOP. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 253 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ON FEBRUARY 10, 2018, WE BROUGHT HOME A NEW PUPPY. WE WANTED TO CALM OUR CURRENT PET DOWN SO I WENT INSIDE MY HOUSE TO LET HIM OUT TO USE THE RESTROOM AND CALM HIM FOR THE INTRODUCTION. IT WAS A COLD NIGHT SO MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND WERE IN THE BACKSEAT UNBUCKLED WITH THE HEATER ON. NOBOD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS CAR ONLY HAS 244 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, WHEN I DRIVE IT FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES, I START FEELING A LITTLE DIZZY AND DISORIENTED. ONCE I'M OUT OF THE CAR IN FRESH AIR AGAIN, THE FEELING SLOWLY GOES AWAY. I'M GOING TO CALL THE DEALER (BROWN'S DULLES NISSAN) IN THE MORNING TO GET ON THEIR SC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: MY VEHICLE IS A 2017 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, THEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER TRAFFIC OR CLIMB A HILL, THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. IT HAS A HESITATION WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE ALMOST APPEARS TO SPUTTER OUT. THIS HAS OCCURRED WI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: FOR THE SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING MY PATHFINDER MY CAR SIMPLY SHUTS ITSELF OFF. IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE GOING UP A HILL IN DECEMBER OF 2017, AND YESTERDAY WHOLE ON A BUSY ROAD. LUCKILY I WAS NOT REAR ENDED. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES MY CAR STARTED NORMAL AND RAN FINE ON THE WAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)