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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

105 reports
18,000 miles · Apr 8, 2018
Unknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11083815

43,000 miles · Apr 3, 2018
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 CAR COULD OVERHEAT AND STALL …

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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 CAR COULD OVERHEAT AND STALL IF THESE PARTS ARE NOT REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11082648

15,000 miles · Mar 28, 2018
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherCrash

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM RESULTED IN LOSS OF RPM AND BRAKES. COULD NOT SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11081831

38,000 miles · Mar 1, 2018
Visibility/wiper

SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FOR NO REASON AND NISSAN IS NOT WANTING TO REPAIR DUE TO BEING OUT OF MILEAGE WARRANTY

NHTSA ODI #11075647

18,600 miles · Nov 2, 2017
Visibility/wiper

ACID RAIN ETCHING ON THE WINDSHIELD SEVERELY IMPAIRS VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING TOWARD THE SUN IN MORNINGS AND AFTERNOON. THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER I OWNED, BUT OTHER BRANDS I HAVE OWNED, INCLUDING A 2007 TOYOTA TUNDRA I CURRENTLY OWN, WERE AND ARE NOT AFFECTED BY ACID RAIN. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE UNIQUE T…

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ACID RAIN ETCHING ON THE WINDSHIELD SEVERELY IMPAIRS VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING TOWARD THE SUN IN MORNINGS AND AFTERNOON. THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER I OWNED, BUT OTHER BRANDS I HAVE OWNED, INCLUDING A 2007 TOYOTA TUNDRA I CURRENTLY OWN, WERE AND ARE NOT AFFECTED BY ACID RAIN. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE UNIQUE TO NISSAN GLASS. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING TOWARD THE SETTING SUN, I NARROWLY MISSED A PEDESTRIAN ON A RURAL ROAD. I HAVE FILED TWO COMPLAINT REPORTS WITH NISSAN, INCLUDING ONE FOLLOWING THE NEAR-MISS TODAY. THE FIRST ONE WAS FILED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT NISSAN HAS NOT RESPONDED. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, NISSAN HAS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH GLASS THAT IS HYPERSENSITIVE TO ACID RAIN. AND SINCE NO OTHER VEHICLE BRANDS SEEMS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM, I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI #11042805

20,000 miles · Oct 28, 2017
Unknown Or Other

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 NISSAN IS JUST APPLYING PATCH…

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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 NISSAN IS JUST APPLYING PATCHES TO THE PROBLEM BUT NOT DOING A PERMANENT FIX.

NHTSA ODI #11040808

25 miles · Oct 23, 2017
Air Bags

NHTSA RECALL 16V-244 HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF CORRECTIVE PARTS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT. THE RECALL DATES FROM 24MAY2016. ABOUT 15-20% OF THE TIME ADULT PASSENGERS ARE PRESENT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE OCS SYSTEM HAS DEACTIVATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. HOW MUCH LONGER…

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NHTSA RECALL 16V-244 HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF CORRECTIVE PARTS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT. THE RECALL DATES FROM 24MAY2016. ABOUT 15-20% OF THE TIME ADULT PASSENGERS ARE PRESENT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE OCS SYSTEM HAS DEACTIVATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. HOW MUCH LONGER WILL NISSAN BE ALLOWED TO AVOID CORRECTIVE ACTION WHILE PASSENGERS IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE EXPOSED TO GREATER THAN NECESSARY RISK OF INJURY?

NHTSA ODI #11035581

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2017
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 162440000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CON…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 162440000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10957365

6,900 miles · Feb 20, 2017
Visibility/wiper

THE SUNROOF BLEW UP FROM THE INSIDE OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 80 MPH. GLASS FLEW TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS FOLLOWING MINE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING ON COLUMBIA, SC. HIGHWAY 26.

NHTSA ODI #10955674

9,900 miles · Jan 22, 2017
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheelsCrash

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 SPEED TO THEN COAST TO A COMP…

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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 SPEED TO THEN COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE WHEEL THAT CAME OFF CONTINUED THROUGH AN OPEN FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH A PRIVATE PROPERTY FENCE, DAMAGING THE FENCE IN THE PROCESS. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 6 OF US IN THE VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY, EVERYONE WAS WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. ONCE I CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES, I CONTACTED A NEARBY TOWING COMPANY WHICH THEN TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE THAT INVOLVES THE TIRES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS AND NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE WHEELS OR THE VEHICLE AS A WHOLE SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE WHICH WAS AUGUST OF 2016. WE HAVE DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AND AS OF THIS REPORT, ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE COMPANY AS TO HOW THEY PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THIS MISHAP IS NOT FULLY KNOWN AT THIS POINT. AT A MINIMUM, THE FENDER AND FENDER WELL, ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION, BRAKE SYSTEM, RIGHT FRONT TIRE ALL APPEAR TO HAVE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY COMPROMISE TO THE DRIVE TRAIN OR FRAME/CHASSIS COMPONENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. THIS HAS CAUSED US GREAT CONCERN GIVEN THAT THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF LIFE OR SERIOUS INJURY DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION AND TYPE OF ROAD THAT IT MAY HAVE OCCURRED ON. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL PORTION OF THE ROAD WITH VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC IN THE VICINITY. ...UPDATED 02/15/17 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10953529

Official recalls

2

22V420000 · 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

1

PE21022 · 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.