2016 Nissan Pathfinder
The 2016 Nissan Pathfinder is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pathfinder 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 107 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathfinder 2WD | Gas | FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Pathfinder 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 19 | 26 | 22 | $2,850 |
| Pathfinder 4WD Platinum | Gas | 4WD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 19 | 26 | 21 | $2,950 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37153, 37154, 37155.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2016 Nissan Pathfinder is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (2)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseAir Bags
NHTSA defect investigations
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch — Hood Latch/Bell Crank Assembly closed
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 D
Opened Dec 9, 2021 · closed Jul 8, 2022 · action PE21022
Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database10 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2016: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 18 · 2019: 26 · 2020: 15 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 3
Most-cited components
What owners describe
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 18% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 17% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Pathfinder model years
2026 Nissan Pathfinder
0 recalls · 9 complaints
A2025 Nissan Pathfinder
1 recalls · 49 complaints
B2024 Nissan Pathfinder
2 recalls · 75 complaints
A2023 Nissan Pathfinder
1 recalls · 103 complaints
D2022 Nissan Pathfinder
5 recalls · 135 complaints
A2020 Nissan Pathfinder
0 recalls · 47 complaints
B2019 Nissan Pathfinder
2 recalls · 75 complaints
D2018 Nissan Pathfinder
3 recalls · 77 complaints
C2017 Nissan Pathfinder
2 recalls · 186 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.