Power Train Problems of Nissan Pathfinder - part 1

My 2025 Nissan Pathfinder has experienced recurring transmission problems, including unexpectedly switching from automatic drive into manual 1st gear without driver input. During some incidents, the vehicle failed to accelerate as expected while entering traffic, creating a collision risk. Xxx: while driving on xxx in [xxx], the transmission hesitated during acceleration at approximately 20 mph. Engine rpm exceeded 3,000 before shifting, with rough or delayed shifting. Xxx: while stopped at a traffic light near [xxx], the vehicle unexpectedly shut off. The instrument cluster went blank except for a flashing neutral indicator. I could not engage drive until restarting the vehicle. Xxx: while driving approximately 10–20 mph in [xxx], the vehicle unexpectedly switched from automatic into manual 1st gear without driver input. I stopped and restored automatic mode. Xxx: while exiting a parking lot and merging into traffic in [xxx], the vehicle unexpectedly switched into manual 1st gear. It did not accelerate as expected, creating a near-collision situation. Xxx while exiting a gas station driveway onto a main road, the vehicle again unexpectedly entered manual 1st gear. I noticed the change only after attempting to accelerate and experiencing inadequate acceleration. Nissan inspected the vehicle at bellevue Nissan and younker Nissan in [xxx]. On xxx, younker could not reproduce the problem, found no stored trouble codes, and documented no repair. On xxx, I brought the vehicle to lithia Nissan of [xxx], for a third inspection at 11,215 miles. Results are pending. The cause remains unknown. I am concerned about unexpected transmission mode changes, inadequate acceleration, and vehicle shutdown creating a serious collision risk. I request NHTSA review this potential safety defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

The vehicle suffered a sudden, complete loss of motive acceleration at highway speeds, followed by a total powertrain breakdown and battery drain linked to an active federal safety recall. While traveling at highway speeds on highway 169, the vehicle suddenly lost all acceleration, surged, juddered violently back and forth, and then shut down completely in an active traffic lane. The dashboard electrical components remained on, but the vehicle would not crank or restart. This failure trapped the occupants in a highly vulnerable position with oncoming traffic, requiring a dangerous manual jump-start in the middle of a busy highway just to move the vehicle out of the active lanes. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership, where the failure is directly linked to an active, unremedied federal safety campaign: NHTSA campaign id 21v020000 / Nissan recall campaign pc786 (stop lamp switch relay malfunction). This defect causes the brake switch relay to stick, triggering a sudden brake override command that unexpectedly cuts all engine power and aggressively drains the battery while driving. The unprompted engagement of this safety defect while operating at high speeds represents an extreme, life-threatening vehicle performance failure.

See all problems of the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

Purchased new 1/15/2025. First issue with this car happened oct 2025 with something electrical drawing power. This caused at codes, auto start/stop codes, front and rear collision codes etc. Took it in they charged the battery and told be they didnt know what was causing the draw. Replaced the battery 10/11/2025. 11/19/2025 had another catastrophic electrical failure at 19,426 miles on od. Vehicle threw all of the codes. Nissan kept the vehicle and charged and cleared codes. 12/18/2025 vehicle started hesitating and threw codes again. Nissan replaced the fuel pump. Front and rear collision malfuctions remained frequent along with infotainment reboots. Oct 1 2026 vehicle threw all codes again while driving causing loss of power and drivability. Had to be towed in. Vehicle acted the same way as previous. Nissan is now trying to claim it had to do with a improperly seated air filter causing the maf sensor to fail, they cleaned it"reseated" air filter and stated the car was running but they could not get it to do a idler relearn and told me I could pick up the vehicle but they recommended replacing the maf. The car is still sittting at Nissan because I refuse to pick it up unless they cover that under there emissions warranty and put in writing that this is the sole issue and any problems with the vehicle in regards to prior issues already complained about will result in replacement of vehicle etc.

See all problems of the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral(n). The check engine, seat belt, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle briefly experienced unintended acceleration without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The transmission failed to shift to drive(d) and remained stuck in neutral(n). The contact drove the vehicle at reduced speeds to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the mass air flow (maf) sensor had failed and there was carbon buildup in the throttle body. The contact was informed that maf sensor and throttle body needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

See all problems of the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

What failed: the powertrain and transmission systems are malfunctioning. The vehicle exhibits severe gear-shifting hesitation, stutters when braking or reversing, and rolls backward slightly even when shifted entirely into park. This component is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: the vehicle's failure to securely hold position in park creates an immediate roll-away hazard, and the stuttering/hesitation during braking, reversing, and acceleration compromises safe vehicle control in traffic. Dealer/manufacturer status: the vehicle has been taken to authorized Nissan service centers twice for these recurring transmission and mechanical issues. On the latest report, the service department claimed the vehicle shifts normally "as Pathfinders do" and dismissed the issues, and Nissan corporate has denied buyback assistance despite the unresolved safety defects. Warning signs: the mechanical stuttering and shifting delays occur consistently during operation without triggering persistent dashboard warning lights, making it a hidden mechanical hazard that first appeared shortly after purchase.

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.

Driving along and it felt as if I were driving over a rumble strip. It stopped after a while, but later that evening I felt it again, but this time the shudder was stronger and it sounded almost like a loud bird chirping. I slowed and the noise stopped, but drove home slowly through the neighborhood in case something happened. I took it to the mechanic and he suggested trading it in before it gets worse, and he mentioned transmission judder, so I researched and found I'm one of many.

See all problems of the 2016 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 🔎.

Driving at 75 miles per hour on highway. We heard an explosion, and airbags deployed. There was no collision or front end hit, there was no warning lights or sounds, no deceleration. My husband was somehow able to pull to the side, we were not injured, except for the airbag hitting me in the head, egg noted. No ems treatment. Police report confirms this, when towed, the tow guy noticed loud clanging when driving onto flat bed. He looked underneath and noticed the axel shaft was broken. I think this could have been tragic for many reasons- high speed with air bags open unable to see and driver disoriented momentarily. This could have killed us or someone else had there been heavy traffic or cars near us, the fumes were bad. We have a police report with maine state police, we have had the vehicle towed to a Nissan dealer in bangor maine to have the “ black box” evaluated, we have filed an insurance claim and spoken to national Nissan customer service and a report has been generated.

See all problems of the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

When driving anywhere from 30-50 mph the vehicle goes into neutral without any warning. I know this because when I accelerated the engine just revved. This has happened when I was driving and also happened when my husband was driving. This has happened approximately 8-10 times since owning the vehicle. If I had been crossing an intersection when this happened it could cause a crash. One time I did pull over on the side of the road to keep the car behind me from running into me since I lost the ability to accelerate. I have less than 5,000 miles on my vehicle. I have taken the vehicle 3 times and it is still there now to the Nissan dealership I bought it from. They cannot duplicate it and have not fixed it. It has been in the shop around 20 working days altogether. No messages appear when this happens.

While driving the vehicle it has gone into neutral 3 times prior to 8,000 mile. The vehicle was bought new. Two of the three times I was pressing the gas pedal and holding it steady. Speed was ~ 40-45 mph. Rpms increased from ~1500 to over 3000. I had to come to a complete stop to put the vehicle back in drive. The other instance happened as I was pressing the brake pedal. As I took my foot off of the brake pedal to press the gas pedal, the rpms increased from ~1000 to over 2000. The transmission had gone back into neutral. I had to come to a complete stop in the intersection. I have been fortunate not to have someone behind me during these three instances. If I had an accident could have easily occurred. I was also fortunate that the intersection I had to stop in was not busy at the time. No warning lights appeared on the dash at any time during these three instances. My local Nissan dealer, where the vehicle was purchased from new, replaced the fuel pump and fuel gauge packing at 7515 miles. Again, I had the last issue arise at 7909 miles which came after the repair. The dealership is reviewing next steps with me, either a buy back situation or repair. I also contacted Nissan America directly for assistance. They offered an extended warranty of 7 years or 100,000 miles contingent of me releasing them of further responsibility. I refused the offer. The manager with Nissan America that I spoke with referred me to the better business bureau to file a complaint. Unreal response given the nature of this safety issue.

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.

Rear subframe completely rotted through causing excessive tire wear and very poor handling with the car only having 150,000 miles on it and the transmission shutters even with the recommended transmission oil changes and also the brake light switch will fail and I won’t be able to accelerate I thought I was buying a nice trustworthy car for my daughter but nothing but problems!.

See all problems of the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

Purpose of this complaint I am asking Nissan north America to review Nissan's part of what happened with my practically new 2026 Pathfinder. I am not asking Nissan to pay for the collision itself, and I am not asking Nissan to reimburse expenses that were the responsibility of my automobile insurer. My accident occurred [xxx]. State farm provided rental coverage through [xxx]. My complaint concerns what happened after that coverage ended, including additional delay and expense while Nissan parts and Nissan-related technical or programming issues prevented completion and return of my vehicle. The dealership-versus-body-shop issue Nissan consumer affairs told me that rental assistance might have been considered if my vehicle had been sitting at a Nissan dealership. That reasoning does not address the reality of my situation. Nissan dealerships in memphis do not perform the collision body repairs my Pathfinder required. Had I taken my wrecked vehicle to a Nissan dealership, I would have been directed to a collision repair facility. Pre-accident concerns: fluid leak, brakes, and aeb before the collision on [xxx], I had already noticed a spot from fluid leaking underneath my Pathfinder in my garage. I sent photographs and discussed the condition with brock carroll, the finance manager. He told me to bring the vehicle in to be looked at. I also told him that the brakes did not feel right. The Pathfinder had only approximately 800 miles on it. I was on my way to Nissan to have those concerns checked when the collision occurred. Immediately before impact, I remember the vehicle stopping, releasing, and stopping. I also noticed that my vehicle wasn't driving right anymore. Taking off and power was and is still have a slow take-up. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

The vehicle is a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder experiencing a major transmission/cvt failure that creates serious safety concerns. Only 69 days after purchase, the transmission began failing and the vehicle became unsafe and unreliable to operate. The vehicle experiences severe transmission-related drivability problems, including hesitation, loss of proper acceleration, delayed response when attempting to move, jerking/shifting issues, and concern that the vehicle may suddenly lose the ability to move or maintain speed while driving. These issues create a dangerous situation, especially while driving in traffic, entering highways, crossing intersections, or transporting passengers. The transmission failure affects the vehicle’s ability to safely accelerate and maintain normal operation. A sudden loss of power or inability to properly accelerate could increase the risk of a crash, rear-end collision, or becoming stranded in traffic. The condition became severe enough that the vehicle is no longer dependable transportation. After the failure, the vehicle was evaluated by Nissan and I was informed the transmission showed signs of serious pre-existing issues. I was also advised there were possible indications that diagnostic trouble codes may have been cleared or hidden before the vehicle was sold, preventing the full condition of the vehicle from being discovered before purchase. The estimated repair cost is approximately $15,000. Due to the severity of the transmission defect, I do not believe the vehicle is safe for normal operation without major repair or replacement of the transmission/cvt system. This defect has created significant safety concerns for myself, my family, and others on the road because of the risk of sudden transmission failure, inability to safely accelerate, or loss of vehicle movement during operation.

See all problems of the 2013 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.

See all problems of the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.

The car broke on the highway (possibly drive train? waiting for mechanic). Despite no impact, the steering wheel airbag deployed.

Issues with alternator, oil leakage, and currently the transmission. After sitting idle for 10 to 15 minutes transmission will not shift out of first gear. It has become dangerous to drive the vehicle due to not being able to properly accelerate resulting in the possibility of being hit if driver pulls into traffic. The vehicle has been taken to local Nissan dealership several times without the issue being resolved. Currently, the dealership has had the vehicle for over 30 days and still has no solution for fixing the issue. Vehicle has less than 13,000 miles on it. When the transmission problem began the vehicle had less than 8,000 miles on it. Other issues with the vehicle began when vehicle was only a few months old and had less than 4,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, there was a slight jerking or hesitation before the vehicle accelerated. The failure was intermittent. While driving approximately 45 mph after stopping at a stoplight, the vehicle shuddered and pulled to the left. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to turn the steering wheel to the right to avoid a crash. The vehicle was pulled over and parked. The vehicle was turned off until a friend arrived at the scene to assist. The friend started the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to respond in drive or in reverse. The vehicle was towed to the residence. Several days later, when the vehicle was started, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle failed to operate. The vehicle was inspected by two persons with automotive knowledge, and the contact was informed that the continuously variable transmission (cvt) had failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Cvt judder problems on acceleration.

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 .

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.

I was sold this car by edwin giraudo at thundercars dealer without being notified of a safety recall. He did not offer to fix the issue at all or notify us of the issue. On the way home the same day we noticed that the hood started to slightly come up and after my own investigation I found that it was a recall and it's affecting the transmission due to all the debris and dust.

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.

While driving at highway speeds, my 2025 Nissan Pathfinder suddenly loses power and enters limp mode with no warning. The dashboard displays: “engine malfunction – power reduced – service now. ” when this happens, the vehicle cannot accelerate and struggles to maintain speed, creating a serious safety hazard in traffic. This has occurred multiple times. First time was on January 6th - entered highway and car stalled, was able to pull over and have the car towed to the dealer and they stated, "cannot replicate the issue". Second time February 15th - car stalled on highway and husband was able to pull over and restart the car. Third time was February 18th - car entered limp mode on the highway, car was towed to the dealer and they have yet again stated, "cannot replicate the issue". During each event, the Pathfinder rapidly decelerates, and I am forced to pull over immediately to avoid being hit from behind. The loss of propulsion happens suddenly and without any driver input. This places me and other drivers in danger, especially at high speeds and on icy alaska roads. Two of the times was during snowstorms with low visibility. Attempts to repair: I have taken the vehicle to the Nissan dealership. The dealer states they “cannot replicate the issue” and returns the vehicle without repair. However, the warning message and limp-mode event clearly indicate an engine or powertrain failure. The issue continues to reoccur despite these visits. Safety concern: because the vehicle loses power in fast-moving traffic and enters limp mode, it poses a substantial risk of collision or injury. This defect could cause a serious accident, especially at highway speeds or in winter driving conditions.

I was traveling posted speed limit of 65 suddenly the tac was rising and speed was decreasing I stopped on shoulder and the car would not move in drive or reverse then after I stopped the check engine light came on no issues prior to this purchased car 4 days prior to this incident the codes that auto zone pulled were po776 po965 p2813 p0841all related to the cvt transmission which I have now seen this has been a reoccurring problem I see they did a recall for 2013 models and also where they replaced 67 that were still on dealership property looks like their needed to be a recall in 2014 as well guess they didn't want to have a loss two years back to back let the consumers pay the price for them not to look bad.

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.

When you are driving down the road, the transmission does not want to shift into any gears. There is a major slip when it is supposed to be shifting.

The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle failed to shift into gear, and the vehicle was stuck in traffic. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the transmission fluid was black, and there were metal shavings inside the transmission fluid. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 183,000.

My car has been having issues with what seems to be the transmission. This Nissan Pathfinder has cvt, which is continuous variable transmission. Three months ago I had a radiator blowout and had to change that and the thermostat. I believe that it was due to the transmission issues. Currently I have an oil leak and I believe it’s due to your issues with the transmission.

I have a 2013 Pathfinder that is experiencing a high pitch whine coming from the transmission. When shifting in lower gears, there is a soft kick. I have only experienced a shutter once and only at lower speeds and rpm. Once I'm at a higher speed it seems to get less. I have had the vehicle for 8 months. Just started in the the last week. It has 157k miles.

The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate after a stop, the vehicle jolted while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

The transmission is failing. The car has about 117,000 miles on it. The transmission issue is a known problem with this vehicle and is causing safety concerns while driving it due to acceleration problems.

See all problems of the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder 🔎.