Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Nissan Pathfinder - part 1

Component/system failure. Engine shut off while driving @ 70 mph. The car first shifted into neutral all on its own, system shows at malfunction. Vehicle was towed to nearest dealership so it is available for inspection. Safety concern is that the vehicle died in 2nd left hand side of road my had my husband not been able to essentially coast and cross 2 lanes of traffic to get to shoulder the vehicle could have potential been sitting in the 2nd left hand lane where traffic was going 70 plus mph. The dealership has not been able to reproduce issue other than seeing the at malfunction code, the vehicle is not starting as it did on side of highway. No other inspections have been done to my knowledge. No messages or warnings appeared prior to the vehicle switching into neutral and turn off engine.

See all problems of the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

The vehicle veers towards the right, even though a wheel alignment was completed on 7/1/26. On 7/28/26 when driving the vehicle, it wouldn’t accelerate properly, it felt sluggish and although the gas pedal was depressed it was struggling to pick up speed. As the vehicle was attempting to shift between 2nd and 3rd gears the car jolted forward and the traction control and collision lights came on. Both lights reset when the car is off but the vehicle jolts and beeps w/in 5 mins of driving and then the lights come back. This has been happening everyday multiple times a day since 7/28/26. On 7/30/26, the check engine light came on and has stayed illuminated w/ code p0101 populating on the obdii reader. The vehicle is currently at the dealership, I am awaiting a diagnosis of the issue which they said may take 3-4 days. I have only had this vehicle for 46 days.

See all problems of the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

After only 110,000 miles, my local Nissan service center (advantage Nissan, 5101 auto center blvd, bremerton, wa 98312) states that the timing chain is loose. The repair estimate is in excess of $6000. The expense is because it requires removal of the engine to effect repairs. Research reveals that timing chain issues at 100000+ miles are common for this vehicle. It is the expectation that the timing chain system last the lifespan of the vehicle. The result is that owners pay more than half of the original price simply for maintenance because of Nissan's choice to use substandard parts in a critical system, a fact they learned with earlier models where timing chain issues and recalls occured. I'm retired and can't afford to maintain this vehicle by spending $6000 every 100000 miles.

See all problems of the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

While driving the vehicle at approximately 25 miles per hour, on its own, the vehicle put itself into neutral and a warning light to exit the vehicle appeared. Thankfully we safely pulled the car over to the side of the road. Upon restarting the vehicle, it operated normally. Had this incident occurred at a higher rate of speed or on a busy road, there could have been very different consequences.

See all problems of the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

The vehicle has developed a persistent and progressively worsening rattling noise from the engine during cold starts, along with intermittent rough operation. The symptoms are consistent with a malfunction or defect in the engine timing chain system, including possible timing chain stretch, timing chain tensioner failure, or related internal engine components. This condition presents a serious safety concern because the timing chain controls engine valve timing. A failure or severe degradation of this system could result in sudden engine stalling or complete engine failure while driving, increasing the risk of a crash without warning, particularly in traffic or at highway speeds. The issue began as an intermittent startup rattle and has steadily progressed in frequency and severity. No consistent warning lights were present in the early stages, which may delay driver awareness of an impending failure condition. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealership service department, and the concern was acknowledged, but no repair or corrective action has been performed. The condition remains unresolved and continues to progress. Based on owner reports and service feedback for similar vehicles equipped with this engine, this issue appears to reflect a potential widespread defect pattern affecting the timing chain and/or tensioner system in this engine family, rather than an isolated incident. Multiple reports describe similar symptoms occurring around similar mileage ranges, suggesting a possible systemic reliability defect. The vehicle is currently still operable but is operating with a known and worsening engine defect that could result in catastrophic engine failure without warning.

Rear door / lift gate will not go all the way up or stay up without manual assistance, causing 2 head injuries and 2 arm injuries on recent occasions. We have confirmed with the dealer & one Nissan certified mechanic that this is a common problem. The dealer & 2 mechanics have said they do not know how to fix this without replacing the entire lifting assembly. We did not ask for estimates. We should not have to, but we can live with the problem now that we are aware of it. Transmission was replaced with new nisson equipment by the previous owner, costing $5,000+. The problems we are having are the same they were having. The vehicle runs rough, hesitates, vibrates & shakes a lot. It is not very safe in traffic. There is a place for a dipstick to check transmission fluid. We have confirmed with 3 parts stores, 2 mechanics & finally with Nissan, they did not make a dipstick for this car or several other models. One way to check the transmission fluid is to jack up the car, remove a port on the transmission & fill it until if overflows (cost is approximately $1,100. 00, vs a dipstick costing less than $30. 00 retail for comparable cars) another way to check is to jack up the car, drain the transmission fluid, change the filter, replace the seal & cover, then pour in the exact correct amount of transmission fluid through the dipstick hole. However, the only way to know it is actually full is to leave the above-mentioned port out until the fluid overflows. (our 3 cost estimates range from $1,400. 00 to $1,850. 00) had we known of the transmission problems occurring with many if not most Nissan cars, we would not have bought the vehicle. Our research shows these are very common problems with this car & Nissan. We don't know if this applies to what you do, but this car also burns through spark plugs & ignition coils very quickly. We have had to replace all spark plugs 2 times plus 8 ignition coils in the 2-1/2 years we have owned it & driven it only 28,000 miles.

See all problems of the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

We have been documenting a oil leak on the timing chain cam shaft cover. When the motor heats up the engine seeps/leaks oil on the top of the side of engine. This has been documented for the past few months starting at 37,099 miles when we noticed it, date of first notice was on 4/29/2026. We have pic with time stamps and have taken it to dealership to inspect and have written many times of the issue. We have also filed a consumer affairs and bbb autoline complaints. This is an issue safety issue bc oil can start a car fire, it can also cause a motor to malfunction. This is a safety concern. The dealer says their is no leak at all but they wipe off oil and it returns that an issue. We bought this Pathfinder in oct of 2025 and put on now around 42k miles and it is still an active issue.

The car stalled three times and died in active traffic. The breakdown was so hazardous that the police department had to intervene and push the car out of the road and had to tow the car more than 3 times and was at the Nissan dealership for over one week. I paid Nissan dealership $5,000 to repair this specific, life-threatening defect, but the car returned to me unfixed. The vehicle is unsafe and has been sitting parked at my house for 3 months because I cannot safely drive it. It keeps stalling, dying in traffic and making a loud grind noise. I need help.

My 2024 Nissan frontier has experienced repeated complete power loss more than three times. The vehicle shuts off unexpectedly while on the street and cannot be restarted. During some incidents, even the emergency hazard lights did not work. I had to use jump cables to restart the vehicle. I first reported this issue to Nissan in January 2025. The dealer kept the truck for about one week but stated they could not find anything wrong. The problem continues, including incidents on 04/20/2026 and 04/23/2026. This creates a serious safety hazard because the vehicle can lose power in traffic and increase the risk of a crash or injury.

See all problems of the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

Hi ! I just purchased the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder sl on March 13th , 2026 . Three days later I noticed a slight vibration to the car . I was told it was the mount they’d replace both mounts . Get the car from getting the mounts replaced , & when I went to leave with the “ repaired “ the car sounded horrible while in reverse. It was a loud sound more than just a vibration. I immediately went into the dealer and they said they’d replace the other two mounts . Fast forward to that appointment, I get a call it needs a new motor . I’m not sure the mileage on the vehicle but it’s less than 46k . The mechanic shop in macon , GA has had the car two weeks. They replaced the mount close to the transmission with a om mount , said the previous one was a defective mount . Now they have no clue what is wrong with the car . This car is so “ new “ to be having these issues. So now I’m waiting to hear what the next steps are on this car . Such a beautiful vehicle truly ! I just don’t know if this mount / transmission is going cause me issues nonstop within the car .

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I was driving the vehicle and it just stopped on the highway, no warning no kickback no precursor that something was wrong with the vehicle, and it stopped, the warning sign: not available system malfunction came on and then the entire electrical system shut down. I had to have the car towed home because it would not start. I went to the dealer on several attempts and no help was rendered. I was told to either come back or there are too many cars, just really getting the run around for a matter that is fatal. I was driving with my family in the car and it just stopped. I almost had an accident, it could have been fatal. This is unacceptable.

The vehicle surges and revs when in park or drive. This is the similar problem that the Nissan rogue is having.

While driving, the vehicle experienced sudden and complete loss of throttle response, resulting in little to no acceleration. This occurred in active traffic and created a dangerous situation where the vehicle could not maintain speed or safely move out of traffic. The vehicle has been serviced multiple times by Nissan of kenosha, including a full transmission replacement under warranty. Despite these repairs, the same throttle failure has occurred repeatedly, including within hours of being returned as “repaired. ” most recently, the throttle failed again while driving on a public street, and I was only able to move the vehicle into a driveway with minimal acceleration. The vehicle is currently not drivable and remains unsafe to operate. The dealership has not resolved the issue and has released the vehicle multiple times in an unsafe condition. This is an ongoing safety defect involving loss of acceleration and vehicle control.

2014 Nissan parhfinder fwd premium: this vehicles cvt joint failed that shirt the engine down to about 10 miles an hour immediately. Which caused me the driver to find a place to pull it off the road quickly. If a person or myself could not have a point to pull off the road or someone was behind then could have been rear ended the vehicle and major damage to the vehicle or person driving. Which there was and they were about to go around the Pathfinder. The vehicle also may have blown the transmission. Unknown damage right now. But the Pathfinder stalled out two times while driving it before it shut totally down on the hwy. I had contacted Nissan and we never got together on a date and time for a phone call with an arbitration specialist. I had called them back several times and never could connect with them.

The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was started, the rpm was excessively high, and the engine was revving excessively. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds in rainy weather, the forward collision avoidance notification activated inadvertently via the side mirrors on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

? my 2022 Nissan Pathfinder experienced a catastrophic engine failure at approximately 70,000 miles. The vehicle suddenly developed severe engine knocking and required a complete engine replacement. There were no engine warning lights or oil pressure warning lights prior to the failure. The vehicle had been maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals, including oil changes using full synthetic oil. The Nissan maintenance system indicates oil changes at approximately 10,000 mile intervals. Because there were no warning indicators prior to the failure, the issue occurred without any notice to the driver. A sudden engine failure without warning could present a potential safety risk if it occurred while driving in traffic or at highway speeds. The repair required a full engine replacement at a cost exceeding $8,000. The vehicle was just slightly outside the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty at the time of failure. Given the relatively low mileage and lack of warning indicators before the engine failure, I am submitting this complaint so the issue can be documented and evaluated for potential safety concerns or patterns of engine failure in this vehicle model.

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8/28/fuel pump replacement at just 16 miles, 10/12/check engine light with no documented repair, only that the code was cleared and the vehicle test driven, 12/18/pre-delivery inspection revealed clicking noise while turning and a leaking oil pressure switch requiring replacement parts and realignment, 1/19/check engine light on - battery replaced, 1/20/check engine light on - af sensor bank 1 replaced, 1/22/check engine light on - fuel injector / lines replaced, 2/2/check engine light on - O2 sensor replaced, 2/5/failure to accelerate while driving - towed home due to dealership being closed, towed to dealership first thing the next morning and is currently under further investigation. Please see attached letter. Also, the dates reflected on the carfax report are inaccurate.

I own a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder with approximately 55,000 miles. The vehicle repeatedly failed indiana emissions testing because the oxygen sensor monitor would not set to “ready,” despite multiple complete drive cycles and no check?engine light or stored fault codes. A local shop performed diagnostics and found no issues. They reported that another 2020 Pathfinder came in the following week with the exact same problem. My vehicle was ultimately sent to a Nissan dealership, where they determined the upstream oxygen sensor had failed in a way that prevented the ecm from running the emissions monitor, yet did not trigger any diagnostic trouble codes. The repair required full sensor replacement at a cost of $1,450, not covered under warranty. The failure mode is concerning because: • the vehicle gives no warning to the driver. • the ecm blocks emissions readiness indefinitely. • the issue appears to be occurring in multiple 2020 Pathfinders. • owners cannot legally renew registration without passing emissions. This may indicate a defective oxygen sensor or ecm logic issue affecting 2020 Pathfinders. I am filing this complaint so NHTSA can track the pattern and determine whether a broader defect investigation is warranted. Vehicle details: • year/make/model: 2020 Nissan Pathfinder • mileage at failure: ~55,000 • no warning lights, no stored codes • emissions monitor would not complete • dealer confirmed sensor failure and replaced part safety concern: a failed emissions component that does not trigger a fault code may indicate a defect in the emissions control system or ecm logic. The lack of diagnostic warnings prevents owners from knowing there is a problem until the vehicle fails emissions testing.

My 2024 Nissan had a malfunction light of my auto on/off come on and then a malfunction of the traction control. I turned the car on and off which cleared the lights. I then began driving again and those came on as well as check engine light and reduced power came on while on the highway. The code was the camshaft sensor. I replaced this and codes still appear. Another mechanic put my car back on the computer and it is showing my timing chain at a 7. This is very disappointing considering car has less than 86000 miles on it. It isnt under warranty anymore as I do drive a lot. Oil changes were down regularly and this was a cash purchase. I loved my car up until this point. But at this point once I spend the extremely high amount to get this fixed I will be leaving Nissan behind.

Vehicle stalled on highway during extremely low outside temperatures and snow covered roadway. Engine malfuction, reduced power error code briefly appeared followed by a complete engine stall. Vechicle had no power and immediately needed to be steered to safety. Near whiteout conditions lead to an extremely dangerous situation, nearly causing a nearly collision. Prior to this incident, the vehicle had been at the dealership for a similar issue without complete engine stall. Dealer could not diagnose issue as no obd codes remain after engine failure. This is an extremely dangerous vehicle. Immediate action is required.

The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving uphill at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart after the first attempt. After several attempts, the vehicle restarted; however, the transmission failed to shift into gear properly. The contact stated that while attempting to shift gear, the vehicle lost motive power. Due to the failure, the contact required assistance from the local police department to move the vehicle out of traffic. The contact was later able to restart the vehicle and drive for several miles; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the engine control module (ecm) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 250.

Serious incident that happened. While we were driving heading uphill to the beach, the check engine light and multiple warnings suddenly appeared. It said 'transmission error' and 'engine power reduced,' and the car just shut down with the kids inside. We were at risk of the car rolling backwards. I really think this is a major safety issue tied to the vehicle's design or manufacturing. Second incident was also driving on the road and suddenly all the lights appeared again and the engine shut off on its own leaving me and the kids stuck on road. I wasn’t able to switch it to n to at least try to push it out the way! I was stuck in traffic and had to call road assistance to get the car towed home! at this point I’m scared to drive anywhere especially with my kids inside.

I purchased a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder SUV from dominguez pro advisory llc located at 19200 sw 106th avenue, miami, FL. 33157-bay- # 22-23 on [xxx] and the transmission is bad. I replace two parts one called motor mount and the other air intake. I called and spoke with the owner ceaser dominguez on January 24, 2026 at 3:03 pm and he stated that he could not do anything when this vehicle only has 12 days of purchase. I took the vehicle to a transmission place called american int transmission and spoke with carlos martinez and he ran the computer and the code that came up was p17f0 which is cvt judder (t/m inspection ) transmission problem information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Engine malfunction with loss of power occurred while driving. The vehicle entered reduced speed mode which created a dangerous situation for myself and others. This problem occurred 3 consecutive times during an extremely cold day. The code will clear after restarting the engine, but the issue randomly resumes during driving. Nissan towed the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer cleared the code and suggested they could not figure out the problem. I would not take the vehicle back without a comprehensive explanation of what occurred and a logical repair. This issue remains unsolved.

VIN 5n1dr3dk3sc307812 date of incident: December 21, 2025 location: I-295 south, merging onto I-95 south, jacksonville, FL vehicle: 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, VIN 5n1dr3dk3sc307812 owner: attiyah moore witness: alan moore phone number: 904-451-8295 email address: abmoore0504@yahoo. Com incident description: while driving on I-295 south, merging onto I-95 south at approximately 65 mph, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The gas pedal became completely stuck to the floor, and I had to keep my foot on the brakes to try to slow the vehicle. Every time I lifted my foot off the brakes, the car would accelerate again. I had to gently pat the brakes repeatedly to slow the vehicle. Once I was finally able to slow the vehicle and bring it to a stop while keeping my foot on the brakes, I tried to shift the car into park, but it would not go into park and the gas pedal remained stuck to the floor. I had to turn off the engine completely before the gas pedal released and the car could be shifted into park. My husband, alan moore, was in the car and witnessed all of these events. This incident created a life-threatening situation. The vehicle had previously been taken to the dealership for fuel consumption issues, but no problem was found at that time. Additional information: the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and I am requesting immediate escalation to Nissan north America for buyback or replacement, as well as a loaner vehicle while this matter is under review. VIN: 5n1dr3dk3sc307812.

My 202 Pathfinder started misfiring with sever knocking, Nissan said there is metal saving in my oil which is caused because of the long block engine failure and timing chain loosening. I had my oil changes done every 4k, and I also had the fluids flushed twice in 5 years because of excessive build up. How does this happen.

Check engine light came in. Took into repair shop to change oil and diagnose issue. It was about 7,000 miles since previous oil change with full synthetic oil. Drained oil was full of metal shavings. Refilled oil and ran engine. Metal shavings was again observed in oil immediately. Mechanic stated vehicle needed a new engine. Noticed another complaint (#11674909) built around same time with exact same issue. Vehicle has ~160k miles with regular maintenace and only synthetic oil. There should not be engine damage at this point that would lead to a failure as this. Cost of repair is currently being worked up by repair shop but likely in $3-7k range.

See all problems of the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

While driving at normal speed, the vehicle unexpectedly shifted itself into neutral twice without any driver input. During both incidents, the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion in traffic, creating a safety risk for the occupants and surrounding vehicles. Prior to and after these events, the vehicle displayed a “service a/t” message and a check engine warning light. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealership. They identified an engine-related concern (including a failed mass air flow sensor) and an electrical concern requiring attention. However, the dealership reported that they were unable to duplicate or diagnose the unintended shift into neutral, and the cause of the neutral engagement remains unknown. This issue has occurred more than once shortly after purchase of the vehicle. The warning lights and messages have been reproduced by the dealer, but the loss-of-drive event has not. The unresolved transmission or powertrain malfunction poses an ongoing safety concern.

Buying a used vehicle checking on issues.

See all problems of the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

I purchased the car July 2024 by November 2024 the transmission failed and had to be replaced. Replaced, not repaired. By October 2025 it failed again. The car sputtered and then would not drive. This time the dealer said other repairs had to be done first before they would officially say the transmission failed. Then I found that Nissan had a manufacturer's defect with the transmission. So they should have it replaced it in 2024 for free. Since I refused to make any more repairs on the car they would not replace the transmission and so the car became dangerous to drive. I have reached out to Nissan corporate several times. I have filed complaints with my county and state consumer protection agencies. I have contacted my senators as well. I am a senior citizen and I need a car. I would like for Nissan to reimburse for the expenses for the transmission replacement and what I owe on the car. Or they can provide me with another car. Thank you.

Around 160,000 miles my cvt transmission went out. I almost got into a wreck no warning lights just stopped on me. When I took it to my local dealership in waco, texas they told me I'll be good to wait over the weekend that they first opening wasn't until Tuesday. I came by on a Thursday. The car was making noises I was concerned and it wasn't accelerating like normal. I slowly drove it to Nissan dealership in temple TX 30 mins away. The tech there immediately drove it to see if it was apressing concern or not. He immediately stated it wasn't safe and they gave me a loaner. My vehicle was in the shop for three weeks I had to get a $14,000 loan to repair it because my extended warranty didn't cover specifically cvt transmissions because of Nissan history with the other vehicles with that transmission type. I contacted Nissan corporate they said they would give me a warranty but since the Pathfinder wasn't on their recall list they couldn't assist me in that manner. Since the cvt transmission repair I've had engine issues and now my catalytic converter isn't working properly. I've given Nissan money on repairs that normally doesn't happen until the vehicles is over 200,000 miles. I went to some Nissan Pathfinder forums and found out this is to be true that many Pathfinder owners are buying new transmissions or vehicles all together because of this defect in the Nissan cvt transmissions. I hope to get my money back since I'm a disabled afghanistan navy veteran on a limited income. If it's happening to me it's happening to others and should be investigated.

The engine failed due to coolant infiltration, which caused catastrophic damage and required a full engine replacement. The failed engine remains at conyers Nissan and is available for inspection upon request. When the vehicle finally started, thick white smoke poured from the exhaust while it was in my garage with the garage door raised. I immediately removed my child from the vehicle and moved it outside to avoid potential fire or toxic fume exposure. The sudden failure created a serious safety risk to both myself and my child. . After failed multiple phone check-ins then finally going to conyers Nissan, the shop foreman confirmed the problem on October 13, 2025, and determined that the engine must be replaced. To my knowledge, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by Nissan corporate, insurance representatives, or law enforcement. There were no dashboard warning lamps, error messages, or prior symptoms before the failure. The vehicle had been operating normally until October 9, 2025, when it suddenly became difficult to start and then emitted smoke. All maintenance has been completed according to Nissan guidelines. The incident occurred on October 9, 2025, when the vehicle had 35,855 miles. It has remained at the dealership since that date. Despite the proposed engine replacement and any other associated component, I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle, particularly with my child onboard, due to the severity and suddenness of the failure. I sent an email to Nissan consumer affairs (case# 55923865) requesting that Nissan repurchase the vehicle due to this serious safety concern. The dealership stated they cannot give me an inspection report until the repairs are done. However on the status link that is sent via text to check on the vehicle, the inspection shows complete.

Airbag light just came on today 10/2/25 electronic emissions control will turn on and off the same day every few months.

As I am accelerating once the car reaches 30-60 mph there is a very distant shuddering that occurs that cause the engine to lose some power and turns the check engine light on. This appears to be a common problem as I have found many complaints on forums describing very similar symptoms.

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving in a parking lot at unknown speeds, the vehicle began jerking and stalled. The battery had become inoperable. The tpms message was displayed. The failure was linked to technical service bulletin: ntb15-015h. The local dealer was called and informed the contact that the failure was related to the cvt transmission and confirmed there was no coverage for the repair of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

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