IllustrationI WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND MYSELF. IT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN.
2016 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder do not stand out strongly from 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
180–25K
1525–50K
2150–75K
775–100K
1100–150K
3150K+
65 reports with mileage · 40 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.
- Engine. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
21 reportsA RATTLE BEGAN IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR NEAR THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO NISSAN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THEY NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT FAN WAS GOING BAD AND SHAKING. I WAS TOLD IF NOT REPLACED, IT WOULD DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION FAN. I WAS QUOTED $873 TO GET A NEW FAN ON A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD THAT HAS NEVER BEEN INV…
Read full complaint
A RATTLE BEGAN IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR NEAR THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO NISSAN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THEY NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT FAN WAS GOING BAD AND SHAKING. I WAS TOLD IF NOT REPLACED, IT WOULD DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION FAN. I WAS QUOTED $873 TO GET A NEW FAN ON A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD THAT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT TO WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH THE HEAT ON. A RANDOM NOISE APPEARED THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE SO I TURNED OFF THE RADIO AND STILL HEARD THE NOISE. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE HEATER, THE NOISE STOPPED. I TURNED THE HEATER BACK ON AND THE NOISE APPEARED AGAIN BUT STOPPED. BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE FAN. I …
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH THE HEAT ON. A RANDOM NOISE APPEARED THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE SO I TURNED OFF THE RADIO AND STILL HEARD THE NOISE. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE HEATER, THE NOISE STOPPED. I TURNED THE HEATER BACK ON AND THE NOISE APPEARED AGAIN BUT STOPPED. BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE FAN. I ASKED FOR A PRICE AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE INFORMATION I WAS GIVEN. I THEN DID RESEARCH AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FAN AND THE NOISE. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD RELIABLE /ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION.
RADIATOR FAN BEGAN MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN AC OR HEAT IS ON. THE SOUND AND VOLUME OF THE NOISE VARIES BUT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY AND THAT HE'S REPLACED A DOZEN ON THIS MODEL. IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT NISSAN SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR. $…
Read full complaint
RADIATOR FAN BEGAN MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN AC OR HEAT IS ON. THE SOUND AND VOLUME OF THE NOISE VARIES BUT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY AND THAT HE'S REPLACED A DOZEN ON THIS MODEL. IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT NISSAN SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR. $800 REPAIR.
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED UNEXPLAINED SOUNDS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND A PASSENGER IN THE BACKSEAT OPENED AND CLOSED THE DOOR. WHEN THE DOOR WAS SHUT THE NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CATION WAS REPEATED AND WE NOTED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM OVERHEAD IN THE BACKSEAT AREA. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE PANOR…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED UNEXPLAINED SOUNDS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND A PASSENGER IN THE BACKSEAT OPENED AND CLOSED THE DOOR. WHEN THE DOOR WAS SHUT THE NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CATION WAS REPEATED AND WE NOTED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM OVERHEAD IN THE BACKSEAT AREA. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NOTHING HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH IT. THE BROKEN GLASS WAS CONTAINED IN THE CLOSED SHADE. *DT*JB
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.
THE CAR STARTED MAKING A SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE WOULD STOP WHENEVER I TURNED THE CLIMATE CONTROL OFF. I TOOK IT TO GET CHECK OUT AND IT IS THE COOLING FAN. APPARENTLY THERE ARE TWO FANS. WHILE I PLACED AN ORDER TO REPLACE THE PART, THE OTHER FAN HAS STARTED MAKING THE SAME NOISE. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD WITH 43…
Read full complaint
THE CAR STARTED MAKING A SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE WOULD STOP WHENEVER I TURNED THE CLIMATE CONTROL OFF. I TOOK IT TO GET CHECK OUT AND IT IS THE COOLING FAN. APPARENTLY THERE ARE TWO FANS. WHILE I PLACED AN ORDER TO REPLACE THE PART, THE OTHER FAN HAS STARTED MAKING THE SAME NOISE. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD WITH 43K MILES. I HAVE HAD OTHER NISSANS FOR MUCH LONGER AND A LOT MORE MILES AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST REVIEW I READ ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED BY NISSAN.
VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD WITH 44K MILES. NOTICED THAT WHEN THE AC/HEATER IS ON IT MAKES A VIBRATING/KNOCKING SOUND BY THE FRONT. IT STOPS WHEN IT'S TURNED OFF. HAD IT DIAGNOSED AT DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH MORE MILEAGE AND NEVER HAD THE FAN REPLACED. V…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD WITH 44K MILES. NOTICED THAT WHEN THE AC/HEATER IS ON IT MAKES A VIBRATING/KNOCKING SOUND BY THE FRONT. IT STOPS WHEN IT'S TURNED OFF. HAD IT DIAGNOSED AT DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH MORE MILEAGE AND NEVER HAD THE FAN REPLACED. VIBRATION/KNOCKING SOUND IS OF AND ON WHEN DRIVING OR STOPPED. STARTED AROUND CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS PASSED THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY LIMIT OF 3 YEARS/36K MILES.
THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED TODAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN THE REAR SEATS. THIS WAS ON A FLAT ROAD SURFACE NO BUMPS OR POT HOLES.
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM RESULTED IN LOSS OF RPM AND BRAKES. COULD NOT SHUT OFF.
Official recalls
222V420000 · 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.
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.
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.