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2018 Nissan Pathfinder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 97.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

39 reports with mileage · 38 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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Steering complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2025
EngineSteering

The engine began to fail because of a lack of adequate breathability into the crankcase, causing high crankcase pressure, excessive oil blowby, severe exhaust smoke, severe engine sludge, severe engine shuddering, and lack of response to the power steering because of engine power loss. The failure of the PCV system was at fault…

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The engine began to fail because of a lack of adequate breathability into the crankcase, causing high crankcase pressure, excessive oil blowby, severe exhaust smoke, severe engine sludge, severe engine shuddering, and lack of response to the power steering because of engine power loss. The failure of the PCV system was at fault. Produced codes P0300, P0306, and P0430. Engine sludge needed to be cleaned, PCV hoses and PCV needed to be replaced, spark plugs needed to be replaced because of blowby, and valve covers also needed to be replaced because of sludge clogging the PCV baffles within the valve covers.

NHTSA ODI #11641015

11,000 miles · Oct 3, 2024
Steering

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the brake pedal was depressed because the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the air bag then deployed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the steering whe…

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The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the brake pedal was depressed because the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the air bag then deployed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the steering wheel remained inoperable. The contact towed the vehicle to his place of employment. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000.

NHTSA ODI #11617969

29,000 miles · Oct 25, 2019
Service BrakesSteeringUnknown Or OtherCrash

I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING ON A BACK ROAD, THERE WAS A GUARDRAIL TO MY LEFT AND AND A TRUCK WITH A TRAILER TURNING IN FRONT OF ME ON MY RIGHT. MY SENSORS MUST HAVE THOUGHT THEY WERE TOO CLOSE BECAUSE MY CAR LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT TURN CAUSING ME TO HIT THE GUARDRAIL.

NHTSA ODI #11271046

19,000 miles · Sep 17, 2019
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

"TAKATA RECALL" MY VEHICLE IS NON OPERABLE AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION, AXEL, KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, WINDOW, BACK UP CAMERA, AND MANY MORE

NHTSA ODI #11256217

11,000 miles · Jul 11, 2019
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

ANTI COLLISION LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY AND VEHICLE SEEMS TO JERK WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS. THERE IS NO OTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME. AND ANTI COLLISION LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL VEHICLES IS TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN 1 WEAK .DRIVING FREEWAY 2 TIMES 1 CITY DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD. AND W…

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ANTI COLLISION LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY AND VEHICLE SEEMS TO JERK WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS. THERE IS NO OTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME. AND ANTI COLLISION LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL VEHICLES IS TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN 1 WEAK .DRIVING FREEWAY 2 TIMES 1 CITY DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD. AND WHEN VEHICLES JERKS AFRAID IT JUST WANTS TO JUST STOP IN MOTION WERE I'M AT BUT DOESN'T.

NHTSA ODI #11231037

9,588 miles · Feb 9, 2019
Steering

WE HAVE HAD OUR CAR INTO THE DEALER 9 TIMES SINCE JUNE 2018. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACING THE CRUISE CONTROL SENSORS AND THE CAR STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT VERY HARD. WE HAVE WORKED THRU THE DEALER, THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, CONTACTED THE BBB AUTO AND HAVE AN OPEN ACCOUNT THERE. WE GOT OUR CAR BACK YESTERDAY AND TOOK IT FOR A LO…

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WE HAVE HAD OUR CAR INTO THE DEALER 9 TIMES SINCE JUNE 2018. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACING THE CRUISE CONTROL SENSORS AND THE CAR STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT VERY HARD. WE HAVE WORKED THRU THE DEALER, THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, CONTACTED THE BBB AUTO AND HAVE AN OPEN ACCOUNT THERE. WE GOT OUR CAR BACK YESTERDAY AND TOOK IT FOR A LONG RIDE ON HIGHWAY 95 NORTH THIS AFTERNOON AND FOR 100 MILES THE CAR KEPT PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND THEN TO THE LEFT AND CONTINUED FOR EVERY MILE. WE TURNED OFF ONTO A 3 LANE ROAD AND WERE GOING SLOWER AND IT WENT ACROSS ALL THREE LANES EACH WAY, LEFT AND RIGHT. I TOOK VIDEO WHILE MY HUSBAND DROVE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE WERE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY VIA A CLOVERLEAF TURN AND THE CAR ALMOST RAN INTO THE GUARDRAIL. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AT 3:30 AND THEY TOLD US THEY WERE CLOSING SOON SO WE COULD NOT BRING THE CAR IN. THEY SAID AN EXPERT FROM NISSAN CORPORATE SAID THE CAR WORKED JUST FINE. MY HUSBAND SAYS ITS NOT TIRES, THE STEERING IS BINDING AND HE HAS ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. WE ASKED TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY BUT THEY SAID THE MANAGER CHARLIE HAD BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WOULD TALK ON MONDAY. I EMAILED THE CORPORATE PERSON BUT IT IS SATURDAY. WE HAVE DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT AS IT COULD BE HAPPENING ALL OVER.

NHTSA ODI #11175948

Official recalls

3

19V807000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Nov 8, 2019

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

19V654000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Sep 12, 2019

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

18V601000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Sep 7, 2018

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

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.