2016 Nissan Pathfinder
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 107 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 25 Pathfinder model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 10 involved a crash. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Latches/locks/linkages, hood, latchJun 13, 2022
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.
An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are R22A2 R22A3 and R24B7.
Campaign 22V420000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationApr 26, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Campaign 16V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
21 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Mar 8, 2025
There is a recall for replacement of the hood latch. the recall ID is R24B7. I have taken my car to the dealer twice. All they do is inspect and clean the part. They do not replace the part. It was my understanding the hood latch should be replaced. However Gunn NIssan refuses to replace the latch. Can you help me. The hood still vibrates as if it is not closed.
Other or unspecified, Jan 21, 2022
The hood does not stay latched. Periodically it comes unlatched from its locked position or it will not lock down when being closed after an oil change. The latch is faulty and if it comes undone and it is windy I am afraid it will fly up and smash the windshield and or detach and kill someone! It has happened more than once. This is the latest incident.
Other or unspecified, Aug 30, 2021
While driving 70 mph on the turnpike, the hood of my vehicle came up and shattered my windshield, bent my hood and roof, amongst other damage. Despite the hood covering my windshield, I was able to safely navigate to a pull-off on the road. My passenger and I were shook up, but not injured. It had been weeks since I had last opened my hood. I have the vehicle at the collision center now. I should hear from the claims adjuster tomorrow.
Other or unspecified, Mar 12, 2021
THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLICKING LIKE SOUND WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. THE SOUND WAS NOTICED WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHICH STATED IT WAS THE FAN ASSEMBLY THAT NEEDED REPLACING AT $1000.00 THE VEHICLE DON'T HAVE 65000 MILES.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 14, 2020
MY CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, NO ACCIDENTS, AND ONLY HAS LESS THAN 53 MILES TO BE A 2016 PATHFINDER. SO TELL ME WHY THE CHEAP MOTOR FAN THAT NISSAN PUT IT IN STARED MAKING A CLANG NOISE EVERYTHING I WOULD TURN THE AIR OR HEATER ON. LIKE NISSAN WHAT IS THIS. WITH ALL THIS COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME ITEM, YOU GUYS SHOULD PUT A RECALL ONTHIS ITEM. IT'S ASHAMED SO FAR BAD EXPERIENCE WITH TO VEHICLES FROM YOU GUYS. EVEN ON THE NISSAN TITAN THAT WE BOUGHT BRAND NEW AT 3 MONTHS SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE AND GAS TANK AND YOU GUYS DID NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VEHICLE. KNOWING THAT YOU GUYS COULD NOT EVEN DETERMINE WHY THE TRUCK WAS NOT WORKING. YOU GUYS EVEN BROUGHT IN AN EXPERT FROM THE NISSAN FACTORY AND STILL DID NOT FIND WHY IT WAS NOT WORKING. KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING YOU GUYS WOULD NOT EVEN TRADE IN THE TRUCK FOR ANOTHER ONE. WE ENDED UP FIGHTING WITH NISSAN AND RETURNED THE TRUCK BACK. TO TOP THAT OFF I RECEIVED A BILL FOR HALF THE TRUCK PRICE. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND NISSAN.
Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2020
WHEN I TURNED ON MY AC, IT SOUNDS LIKE A HELICOPTER. I WAS TOLD IT'S THE COOLING FAN AND THAT IT'LL COST OVER $1000 TO FIX. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS. MY CAR HAS 80,000 MILES. MY 2007 CAMRY HAS OVER 290,000 AND NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. I ALSO OWNED A HONDA PILOT WITH OVER 300,000 AND NEVER AN ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 17, 2020
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD FAN NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE SHAKING THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN HAS GONE BAD, WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES CURRENTLY ON THE VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Dec 6, 2019
I TOOK MY PATHFINDER IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED FOR A LOUD RATTLING WHEN THE HEAT IS ON ONLY TO BE TOLD MY CAR HAS COOLING FAN FAILURE. IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 57,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY, MY 90 DAY WARRANTY HAS LAPSED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2019
I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT DATE OF THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT. TAKEN THE VEHICLE TWICE AND HAD TO INSIST MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR NISSAN TO KEEP THE CAR AND KEEP TESTING AS WELL AS FOR THEM TO OPEN A CASE. THE SCREEN FOR THE 2016 PATHFINDER HAS TURNED SOLID BLUE A FEW TIMES BUT NOT SURE WHAT CAUSES IT. DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE CELL PHONE WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DUPLICATE IT SO THERE'S NOTHING THAN CAN DO. THIS SCREEN IS WHERE CLIENTS LIKE MYSELF SEE THE FULL VIEW OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE (SAFETY) AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS GPS, A/C & HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL, RADIO CHANNELS, WEATHER ETC. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE NO ONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE AND I REFUSE TO IT'S THE PHONES FAULT (MANY CELL PHONE USERS WHICH IS A LARGE NUMBER WOULD HAVE BEEN SENDING TONS OF COMPLAINTS). I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT'S A NISSAN ISSUE WITH THE CAR THAT I THINK IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE SCREEN TURNS BLUE WHEN BACKING UP
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 12, 2019
I PURCHASED A USED NISSAN PATHFINDER IN JULY 2019. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I ALSO PURCHASED A FULL-COVERAGE WARRANTY THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP ME. THEIR REASONING IS THAT THEY ARE NOT A NISSAN DEALER YET, THEY SOLD ME A VEHICLE THAT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE IN AND REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY OR HELP OTHERWISE. THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WILL TURN ON WHILE ADULTS ARE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IT ALSO COMES ON EVEN WHEN MY 160 LB SON IS IN THE FRONT SEAT. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH THE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE A FEW YEARS AGO THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED, HOWEVER THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE WITH NO INSULATION IN THE DOORS AND NO SEALS ON THE BOTTOMS OF THE DOORS. THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE (ESPECIALLY NOW THAR IT'S VERGING ON WINTER) GETS FRIGID AND YOU CAN EVEN FEEL THE WIND COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW CONTROLS AND BUTTONS ON THE DOORS.
Other or unspecified, Oct 15, 2019
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND MYSELF. IT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN.
Other or unspecified, May 22, 2019
A RATTLE BEGAN IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR NEAR THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO NISSAN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THEY NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT FAN WAS GOING BAD AND SHAKING. I WAS TOLD IF NOT REPLACED, IT WOULD DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION FAN. I WAS QUOTED $873 TO GET A NEW FAN ON A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD THAT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT TO WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.
Other or unspecified, Mar 11, 2019
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH THE HEAT ON. A RANDOM NOISE APPEARED THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE SO I TURNED OFF THE RADIO AND STILL HEARD THE NOISE. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE HEATER, THE NOISE STOPPED. I TURNED THE HEATER BACK ON AND THE NOISE APPEARED AGAIN BUT STOPPED. BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE FAN. I ASKED FOR A PRICE AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE INFORMATION I WAS GIVEN. I THEN DID RESEARCH AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FAN AND THE NOISE. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD RELIABLE /ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION.
Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2019
RADIATOR FAN BEGAN MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN AC OR HEAT IS ON. THE SOUND AND VOLUME OF THE NOISE VARIES BUT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY AND THAT HE'S REPLACED A DOZEN ON THIS MODEL. IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT NISSAN SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR. $800 REPAIR.
Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2019
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED UNEXPLAINED SOUNDS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND A PASSENGER IN THE BACKSEAT OPENED AND CLOSED THE DOOR. WHEN THE DOOR WAS SHUT THE NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CATION WAS REPEATED AND WE NOTED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM OVERHEAD IN THE BACKSEAT AREA. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NOTHING HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH IT. THE BROKEN GLASS WAS CONTAINED IN THE CLOSED SHADE. *DT*JB
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 5, 2019
RADIATOR: NISSIAN PATHFINDER RADIATOR FAIL AFTER OWNING FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THIS IS COVERED UNDER EXTEND WARRANTEE. BUT BASE ON THE PAST RADIATOR RECALL, THE VECHILE RAIDATOR MAY NOT BE UP TO SPECS.
Other or unspecified, Feb 1, 2019
THE CAR STARTED MAKING A SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE WOULD STOP WHENEVER I TURNED THE CLIMATE CONTROL OFF. I TOOK IT TO GET CHECK OUT AND IT IS THE COOLING FAN. APPARENTLY THERE ARE TWO FANS. WHILE I PLACED AN ORDER TO REPLACE THE PART, THE OTHER FAN HAS STARTED MAKING THE SAME NOISE. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD WITH 43K MILES. I HAVE HAD OTHER NISSANS FOR MUCH LONGER AND A LOT MORE MILES AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST REVIEW I READ ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED BY NISSAN.
Other or unspecified, Jan 15, 2019
VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD WITH 44K MILES. NOTICED THAT WHEN THE AC/HEATER IS ON IT MAKES A VIBRATING/KNOCKING SOUND BY THE FRONT. IT STOPS WHEN IT'S TURNED OFF. HAD IT DIAGNOSED AT DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH MORE MILEAGE AND NEVER HAD THE FAN REPLACED. VIBRATION/KNOCKING SOUND IS OF AND ON WHEN DRIVING OR STOPPED. STARTED AROUND CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS PASSED THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY LIMIT OF 3 YEARS/36K MILES.
Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2018
THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED TODAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN THE REAR SEATS. THIS WAS ON A FLAT ROAD SURFACE NO BUMPS OR POT HOLES.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Mar 28, 2018, crash
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM RESULTED IN LOSS OF RPM AND BRAKES. COULD NOT SHUT OFF.
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2017
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND IF YOU OPEN THE TRUNK VIA KEY OR BUTTON THE TRUNK DOOR WILL CLOSE BY ITSELF AFTER IT REACHES THE TOP . IF NOT PAID ATTENTION MAY CAUSE HEAD INJURIES.TOOK TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED A PART BUT THE FIX ONLY STAYED FOR 2- 3 MONTHS. THE CAR TRUNK IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD AND NISSAN IS JUST APPLYING PATCHES TO THE PROBLEM BUT NOT DOING A PERMANENT FIX.