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2011 Nissan Pathfinder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder are lower than the model-year median of 97.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

31 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

45 reports
45,000 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #10622665

91,200 miles · Jul 29, 2014
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 WRECKED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE N…

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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 WRECKED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT. AFTER 2 HRS, THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPIRAL CABLE AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT WOULD BE CLOSE TO 600 DOLLARS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR, MY AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THAT IS LIKE TELLING SOMEONE THE SEATBELT IN THEIR CAR WILL NOT WORK. NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SPEND THESE DAYS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617428

40,000 miles · Jun 28, 2014
Engine

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 DEALER. THE SERVICE SAID THERE…

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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 DEALER. THE SERVICE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG.I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IF I HAD ANY PROBLEMS. ON 6/26/14 THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PRESSURE GAUGE WHEN TO ZERO. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEORY ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606654

49,900 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Engine

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

NHTSA ODI #10578240

51,857 miles · Mar 30, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED LEAVING NO FUEL PRESSURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575717

40,000 miles · Nov 14, 2013
Electrical System

KEYLESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK. PUT IN ACTUAL KEY STILL DOESN'T WORK. CAR DOOR WANT OPEN FOR ABOUT 1-2 MIN OF TRYING ONCE DOOR UNLOCK PUT ACTUAL KEY IN IGNITION AND STILL WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 2 OR MORE MINS OF TRYING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552210

15,108 miles · Nov 14, 2013
Seats

WHILE DRIVING HEAR A RATTLING NOISE WHICH SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM DASH. WHILE ADJ PASSENGER SEAT IT WANT STOP ADVANCES TOO FAR BUTTON BECOME STUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552206

26,000 miles · Jul 7, 2013
Seat BeltsService Brakes

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 LOOKED INTO. WHILE RIDING IN THE …

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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 LOOKED INTO. WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR YOU CAN ALWAYS LEAN FORWARD EVEN IF THE CAR IS STOPPED ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED, THERE IS NEVER ANY TENSION IN THE SEATBELT LIKE MY OTHER CARS. PLEAS HAVE SOMEONE LOOK INTO THIS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523527

15,000 miles · May 12, 2013
EnginePower Train

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 STOPPED WORKING. I DO NOT WANT …

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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 STOPPED WORKING. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK ON THIS TRUCK. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AT ONCE AS HOW MANY CAR OWNERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE TOO LATE IF SOME SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAPPENED. THE US GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROTECT ITS CITIZEN AND NOT THE FOREIGN CAR MAKER, I.E. NISSAN CORPORATION. SINCERELY, PATHFINDER OWNER *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511561

9,000 miles · Oct 24, 2012
Unknown Or OtherFire

WE WERE WOKEN UP BY LOAD POPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OUR RESIDENCE AT APPROXIMATELY 130 AM. WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW I SAW THAT OUR 8 MONTH OLD 2011 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE WAS ON FIRE IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THIS FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH 15-20 FT HIGH FLAMES. WE…

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WE WERE WOKEN UP BY LOAD POPPING SOUNDS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OUR RESIDENCE AT APPROXIMATELY 130 AM. WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW I SAW THAT OUR 8 MONTH OLD 2011 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE WAS ON FIRE IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THIS FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE ENTIRE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH 15-20 FT HIGH FLAMES. WE HAD NOT DRIVEN THE CAR IN 2 DAYS AND THERE HAD BEEN ZERO AFTER MARKET MODIFICATIONS OR MAJOR MECHANICAL DONE ON THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR INVOLVED IN THE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482141

Official recalls

2

23V067000 · Air Bags:frontal

Feb 10, 2023

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.

11V592000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Dec 19, 2011

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 INFINITI FX, MODEL YEAR 2012 INFINITI M, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN XTERRA, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER AND THE ENGINE OIL FILTER TO THE ENGINE IN THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO BELOW SPECIFICATION STRENGTH. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY BREAK AT THE OIL FILTER ATTACHMENT POINT AND CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE OIL LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.