IllustrationTHE BRAKE RELAY IS DEFECTIVE. IT'S CAUSING THE CAR TO THINK THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED AND YOU CANNOT USE THE ACCELERATOR. THE NISSAN TECH NOTES EVEN RECOMMEND BYPASSING PART OF THE SYSTEM WHEN YOU REPAIR. MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE IN AN INTERSECTION OR WHILE EGRESSING FROM A PARKING LOT.
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Pathfinder years
Owner complaints for the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder are substantially higher than the model-year median of 97.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder years →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
560–25K
6825–50K
5550–75K
2275–100K
14100–150K
6150K+
221 reports with mileage · 99 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.
- Power Train. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports
Service Brakes complaints
23 reportsFOR APPROXIMATELY THE LAST MONTH THERE HAD BEEN A SHIMMY ON THE FRONT END. WHEN TAKING IT TO BE SERVICED AT THE NISSAN DEALER THERE WERE 13690 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CAR IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN LOCALLY A COUPLE OF TIMES WEEKLY BECAUSE THE OWNER WORKS FROM HOME. THE SERVICE CENTER CAME BACK AND SAID THERE WERE NO FRONT BRAKES LEFT AND…
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FOR APPROXIMATELY THE LAST MONTH THERE HAD BEEN A SHIMMY ON THE FRONT END. WHEN TAKING IT TO BE SERVICED AT THE NISSAN DEALER THERE WERE 13690 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CAR IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN LOCALLY A COUPLE OF TIMES WEEKLY BECAUSE THE OWNER WORKS FROM HOME. THE SERVICE CENTER CAME BACK AND SAID THERE WERE NO FRONT BRAKES LEFT AND WAS SURPRISED WE HAD GOTTEN IN. WHEN ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN AFTER SO FEW MILES THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE DRIVER MUST HAVE A HEAVY FOOT. THE DRIVER IS A 59 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO ONLY DRIVES LOCALLY. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. NISSAN CORPORATE WAS CONTACTED. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER CAME BACK AND STATED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID MAY HAVE BROKEN DOWN. BOTH EXPLANATIONS ARE IMPLAUSIBLE. A REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TODAY AND GAVE NO OTHER EXPLANATION BUT STATED SINCE THE CAR WAS 14 MONTHS PAST WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. WE HAVE SINCE CONTACTED TWO ACQUAINTANCES WHO ARE MECHANICS AND BOTH SAID NISSAN'S EXPLANATION IS NOT PLAUSIBLE. THIS AFFECTED ONLY THE FRONT BRAKES AND THE CALIPERS WERE UNAFFECTED. WE CAN SEND A COPY OF THE SERVICE BILL IF NEEDED.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. AT SEVERAL POINTS, THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAPPENED ON A FOUR-LANE STREET AND ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS.
ENGINE RATTLING, TURNED OUT TO BE A FAULTY RADIATOR COOLING FAN. NEEDED TO REPLACE WHOLE FAN ASSEMBLY AFTER 50,000 MILES. INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON WHEN CAR IS PARKED, DRAINING THE BATTERY. PERHAPS A BRAKE RELAY SWITCH. ALSO INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERE ISSUES ACCELERATING. IF GOING 40 MPH, AND AT…
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ENGINE RATTLING, TURNED OUT TO BE A FAULTY RADIATOR COOLING FAN. NEEDED TO REPLACE WHOLE FAN ASSEMBLY AFTER 50,000 MILES. INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON WHEN CAR IS PARKED, DRAINING THE BATTERY. PERHAPS A BRAKE RELAY SWITCH. ALSO INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERE ISSUES ACCELERATING. IF GOING 40 MPH, AND ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS LITTLE TO NO RESPONSE. FROM FULL STOP, THERE IS OCCASIONALLY NO RESPONSE AT ALL UNTIL RELEASING AND REAPPLYING THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS!
THREE TIMES THIS WEEK WE HAVE TRIED TO ACCELERATE OUR VEHICLE WITH NO RESPONSE. IN ADDITION, THREE TIMES THIS WEEK THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE STAYED ON AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON UNTIL YOU OPERATE THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE ONE DAY WE DIDNT NOTICE FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES. I HAVE READ THERE HAVE BEEN RECALL…
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THREE TIMES THIS WEEK WE HAVE TRIED TO ACCELERATE OUR VEHICLE WITH NO RESPONSE. IN ADDITION, THREE TIMES THIS WEEK THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE STAYED ON AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON UNTIL YOU OPERATE THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE ONE DAY WE DIDNT NOTICE FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES. I HAVE READ THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR THE 2013 AND 2014 BRAKE RELAY SWITCH SO I'M THINKING THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE.
BRAKES MAKE A CLICKING NOISE ALMOST AS IF THE PADS ARE BOUNCING AROUND AT ANY SPEED WITH LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION. ENGINE COOLING FAN IS MAKING A RACKET BOUNCING OFF OF SHROUD WHEN THE HEAT OR A/C IS TURNED ON. IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE FAN. JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND ONLY HAS 50K. NICE VEHICLE, JUST WISH I DIDNT HAVE…
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BRAKES MAKE A CLICKING NOISE ALMOST AS IF THE PADS ARE BOUNCING AROUND AT ANY SPEED WITH LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION. ENGINE COOLING FAN IS MAKING A RACKET BOUNCING OFF OF SHROUD WHEN THE HEAT OR A/C IS TURNED ON. IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE FAN. JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND ONLY HAS 50K. NICE VEHICLE, JUST WISH I DIDNT HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND MAKE REPAIRS THAT SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED.
BRAKE POWER BOOSTER LEAKS AFTER ONLY 35000 MILES
REAR BRAKE PADS GONE IN 1.5 YEARS IS UNHEARD OF. ONLY 36,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. TIRES WERE BALD AFTER ONE YEAR. SUCH INFERIOR PRODUCTS GOING INTO A $40K CAR
HAD OUR AIRBAG RECALL FIXED LAST YEAR BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY. RECALL FIXED WALLACE STUART. FLORIDA.
WHILE DRIVING OUR PATHFINDER IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, I'VE STARTED TO NOTICE AND FEEL A JUDDERING & JERKING MOTION COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION/POWERTRAIN EVERY TIME I DEPRESS OR PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AT BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 15 TO 40 MPH. I PLAN TO REPORT THIS TO NISSAN ALONG WITH A COUPLE MORE ISSUES LIKE THE CRACKLING SOUND COMIN…
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WHILE DRIVING OUR PATHFINDER IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, I'VE STARTED TO NOTICE AND FEEL A JUDDERING & JERKING MOTION COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION/POWERTRAIN EVERY TIME I DEPRESS OR PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AT BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 15 TO 40 MPH. I PLAN TO REPORT THIS TO NISSAN ALONG WITH A COUPLE MORE ISSUES LIKE THE CRACKLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION USUALLY AFTER REVERSING BACK OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THEN MOVING FORWARD WHILE SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL BACK TO A STRAIGHT POSITION. COULD BE A BEARING ISSUE, RACKING PINION OR POSSIBLY THE BRAKE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I WILL ALSO REPORT THE CONSTANT ANNOUNCE OF A CRACKLING SOUND COMING FROM THE WOOD PANELING AROUND STEREO AND AIR CONDITION CONTROLS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE SCARY & VISIBLE SHAKING OF THE FRONT HOOD WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF OVER 80MPH. THIS VIOLENTLY SHAKING FROM THE HOOD WILL CERTAINLY LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU GO ANY FASTER CHANCES ARE THE HOOD WILL FLY OFF OR CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS IS ISSUE IS CLEARLY AN AERO DYNAMIC FLAW. HOW CAN THEY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS POSSIBLE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ?
Official recalls
522V420000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Jun 13, 2022
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are R22A2 R22A3 and R24B7.
21V020000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Jan 20, 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The location of the brake light switch may cause the brake light switch relay to repeatedly open and close. Overtime, this can cause the relay to stick in the "ON" position, with the brake lights remaining illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, this may interfere with the brake-shift interlock, allowing the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "Park" position, without depressing the brake pedal.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Continual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash. With the brake override activated, the driver will not be able to accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver can shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, either re-install the brake light switch or swap positions with the Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD) switch; depending on the model year vehicle. In addition, the brake light relay will be replaced with a new one. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall PC786. Note: this recall supersedes 16V-380.
16V244000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Apr 26, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
15V681000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Oct 20, 2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Air Bags:frontal
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
15V012000 · Service Brakes
Jan 14, 2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to November 5, 2014, and 2014-2015 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured August 12, 2014, to November 15, 2014. During the assembly process, the front wheel hub assembly fasteners may not have been properly torqued.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The under-torqued fasteners may result in a brake caliper separating from the wheel assembly causing a reduction in braking performance or reduced steering control. These conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and tighten any loose bolts to the proper specification, free of charge. The recall began February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service 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
1PE21022 · Hood Latch/bell Crank Assembly
Opened Dec 9, 2021 · Closed Jul 8, 2022
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this preliminary evaluation to investigate consumer complaints alleging hood latch failures occurring on certain model year (MY) 2013-2016 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. Complaints received indicated a sudden and unexpected opening of the hood while the vehicle was in motion, blocking the driver's visibility.During this investigation Nissan collected parts from the field to analyze for root cause of the alleged failures. On June 13, 2022, Nissan submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a hood bell crank assembly defect in certain MY2013-2016 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles produced at the Smyrna, TN plant. According to Nissan's DIR, an accumulation of dust and dirt contamination on and around the bell crank lever pivot joint, which actuates the secondary hood latch, can create a condition that can cause the lever to remain in the open position after it has been disengaged. In this condition, the secondary hood latch may not hold the hood closed as designed while the vehicle is in motion obstructing the driver's forward view and increasing the risk of a crash.A remedy plan for all affected vehicles is currently under development. See recall action 22V-420 for further details. Nissan's action resolves the issues raised by this investigation, and therefore, this investigation is closed.The VOQs cited above can be found with ID numbers: 11456378, 11448298, 11436637, 11431131, 11427702, 11423321, 11406574, 11398825, 11389741, 11387952, 11375938, 11349105,11306735, 11302647, 11190468, 11166607.