Nissan Pathfinder engine problems, 2016–2026

220 of the 875 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Nissan Pathfinder 2016–2026 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2017 (85), 2016 (28), 2024 (18). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 manufacturer bulletin. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

220 complaints, 10 model years 25% of everything filed about the Pathfinder typically at 45k miles

Nissan Pathfinder engine problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model year	Complaints naming the engine	Share of the year’s	Typically at	On file under the heading
2026	0	—	—	—	the year →
2025	8	16%	—	1 TSB	the year →
2024	18	22%	—	—	the year →
2023	16	15%	—	—	the year →
2022	18	13%	—	18 TSBs	the year →
2020	17	35%	—	9 TSBs	the year →
2019	16	21%	—	19 TSBs	the year →
2018	14	18%	—	20 TSBs	the year →
2017 in depth	85	46%	45k	32 TSBs	the record →
2016	28	26%	50k	36 TSBs	the year →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.

When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database

220complaints name the engine, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2018: 13 · 2019: 27 · 2020: 37 · 2021: 19 · 2022: 14 · 2023: 19 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 39 · 2026: 30

45kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 106 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 34,000 and 56,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

I got 2017 Nissan Pathfinder with 37,500 miles. Radiator cooling fan started making a weird rattling noise, recorded the video and took it to Nissan dealer. Tech right away said it the radiator fan secondary bushing is gone bad and need to replace the complete fan assembly with shroud, which costs $950 (550 for parts and 400 for labor).

Engine at 37,514 miles Mar 7, 2019 NHTSA owner report

The radiator cooling fan assembly became inoperable at 37,000 miles. This is a danger to the vehicle and occupants as the fans are cheaply made and become loose from the worn out motor assembly

Engine at 37,000 miles Feb 21, 2019 NHTSA owner report

Heater/ac cooling fan crapped out at 45k. Bearings/bushings causing loud, crunching noises when heat or AC is on. The same thing happened to me on my 2013 Pathfinder

Engine at 45,000 miles Dec 25, 2019 NHTSA owner report

Cooling fan failure. Widespread reports of cooling fan bearings failing from 30-60 thousand miles. It vibrates and can damage the radiator causing a catastrophic failure. If you look in forums this is extremely common. I have this issue as well and it comes on suddenly

Engine at 58,000 miles Aug 21, 2019 NHTSA owner report

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.

Engine at 35,000 miles Apr 3, 2026 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the engine, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

1 manufacturer bulletin filed under this heading, any model year

NTB25-063 Service bulletin 2025
Jan 7, 2026
VENT CONTROL VALVE IN ACTIVE TEST INOPERATIVE IN CONSULT 4 SERVICE INFORMATION An issue in CONSULT 4 has been identified in “EVAP system close” in Work support. · After selecting the "EVAP system close" in Work support, the “VENT CONTROL/V” in Active test becomes non-functional temporarily. · When selecting “EVAP system close” operation in Work support, wait 10 minutes before starting “VENT CONTRO

Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

From here

Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Nissan Pathfinder years have the most engine complaints?

2017, 85; 2016, 28; 2024, 18. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2017 (46%).

Is there a recall for the engine on the Nissan Pathfinder?

No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.

When do engine problems show up on the Nissan Pathfinder?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 44,625 miles across the model years; half of them between 34,000 and 56,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?

The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.