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
107 reports, newest first.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 20, 2017
THE SUNROOF BLEW UP FROM THE INSIDE OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 80 MPH. GLASS FLEW TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS FOLLOWING MINE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING ON COLUMBIA, SC. HIGHWAY 26.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Wheels, Jan 22, 2017, crash
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER VEHICLE, WE FELT A SUDDEN VIBRATION AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE KNEW, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (TIRE AND RIM) FELL OFF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE CAME DOWN ON WHAT REMAINED OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY. I MANAGED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD UNTIL WE HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO THEN COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE WHEEL THAT CAME OFF CONTINUED THROUGH AN OPEN FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH A PRIVATE PROPERTY FENCE, DAMAGING THE FENCE IN THE PROCESS. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 6 OF US IN THE VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY, EVERYONE WAS WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. ONCE I CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES, I CONTACTED A NEARBY TOWING COMPANY WHICH THEN TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE THAT INVOLVES THE TIRES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS AND NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE WHEELS OR THE VEHICLE AS A WHOLE SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE WHICH WAS AUGUST OF 2016. WE HAVE DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AND AS OF THIS REPORT, ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE COMPANY AS TO HOW THEY PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THIS MISHAP IS NOT FULLY KNOWN AT THIS POINT. AT A MINIMUM, THE FENDER AND FENDER WELL, ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION, BRAKE SYSTEM, RIGHT FRONT TIRE ALL APPEAR TO HAVE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY COMPROMISE TO THE DRIVE TRAIN OR FRAME/CHASSIS COMPONENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. THIS HAS CAUSED US GREAT CONCERN GIVEN THAT THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF LIFE OR SERIOUS INJURY DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION AND TYPE OF ROAD THAT IT MAY HAVE OCCURRED ON. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL PORTION OF THE ROAD WITH VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC IN THE VICINITY. ...UPDATED 02/15/17 *BF
Air bags, Dec 12, 2016
I WAS THE PERSON WHO FIRST FILED THE AIRBAG ISSUE ON NHTSA. FINALLY TODAY, THE ISSUE WAS "PATCHED".I SAY PATCHED NOT FIXED SINCE NOW THE "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON IN MY CAR WHICH DOES NOT MATCH THE MANUAL OF MY VEHICLE.A BIGGER ISSUE THOUGH IS THAT THIS CONFUSES US INTO THINKING THE SIMILARLY ORANGE COLORED CROSS TRAFFIC LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ON AND TWICE OUT OF TWO TIMES WE ALMOST HAD A CRASH DUE TO THAT. THIS PATCH IS NOT SAFE OR ACCEPTABLE AND I HOPE THAT NHTSA ACTS TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS WHO PAID A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO ACQUIRE A SUPPOSEDLY SAFE VEHICLE.
Seats, Sep 28, 2016, crash
I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS REAR ENDED AND MY TWO FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD ANYONE IN THE BACKSEATS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED OR DIED. *TR...UPDATED 12/22/16 *BF..UPDATED 04/11/17 *BF UPDATED 09/07/2017*JS
Child seat, Sep 15, 2016
THIS CAR SEAT HAS A GAP FOR A SEAT BELT (WHEN THE SEAT IS CHANGED TO A BOOSTER), BETWEEN THE BACK AND BOTTOM. THE GAP IS ON BOTH SIDES. MY CHILD HAS GOTTEN HER LEG STUCK IN THE GAP MANY MANY TIMES. IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE HER LEG IS STUCK, I CANNOT IMAGINE THE DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE DONE TO HER. EVERY TIME SHE CRIES I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO CHECK IF HER LEG IS STUCK/GET IT OUT. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. SHE IS REAR FACING IN THE SEAT. SHE WEIGHS 19 POUNDS. I HAVE PICTURES IF NECESSARY TO FURTHER DESCRIBE THIS FAILURE. GRACO FOREVER WITH SAFETY SURROUND CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT. MODEL NUMBER: 1939912
Air bags, Sep 9, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Apr 7, 2016
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V681000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS THE ABOVE ISSUE WAS ALSO SEEN ON MY 2016 PATHFINDER SL TECH PURCHASED LESS THAN 1 MONTH AGO. THE ISSUE HAPPENS ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME. TO RESOLVE I HAVE TO POWER CYCLE THE CAR...