2019 Nissan Pathfinder

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 76 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 25 Pathfinder model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 76

Of the 2019 reports, 4 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 2 people were injured.

Primary concernEngine15 reports · 20% of complaints
Owner complaints76Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship2 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Other or unspecified20
  2. Engine15
  3. Service brakes14
  4. Forward collision avoidance11
  5. Electrical system10
  6. Power train9
  7. Back over prevention7
  8. Structure6

Recalls and investigations

  1. Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipPark outsideNov 8, 2019

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

    A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

    Campaign 19V807000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraSep 12, 2019

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

    Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

    Campaign 19V654000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: engine

16 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Engine, Aug 16, 2026

    There was built up sludge in my engine that caused it to fail, and I was charged to replace it

  2. Engine, Nov 29, 2025

    Check engine light came in. Took into repair shop to change oil and diagnose issue. It was about 7,000 miles since previous oil change with full synthetic oil. Drained oil was full of metal shavings. Refilled oil and ran engine. Metal shavings was again observed in oil immediately. Mechanic stated vehicle needed a new engine. Noticed another complaint (#11674909) built around same time with exact same issue. Vehicle has ~160k miles with regular maintenace and only synthetic oil. There should not be engine damage at this point that would lead to a failure as this. Cost of repair is currently being worked up by repair shop but likely in $3-7k range.

  3. Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 24, 2025

    Car started jerking multiple times and then RPM went down to zero and stopped driving while in traffic.

  4. Engine, Jul 20, 2025

    Upon a tune up request, mechanic discovered metal shavings in the engine. I got a second opinion, and was told that I needed a new engine. Vehicle is still under 100,000 miles.

  5. Engine, Jul 17, 2025

    Complete engine failure. I did regular oil changes about every 4000 miles and the last one I did early at around 3200 miles the oil was sludge and after the engine knocked and low oil pressure light came on and the engine blew all within 2 miles of the light coming on and me trying to find a safe place to pull over. These engines have a defect somewhere and I know it didn't happen from improper maintenance.

  6. Power train, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 16, 2025

    Idle needle jumping when turning the car on. Delay in shifting gears and throttle response. Forward collision warning goes off at random times even when no cars are present.

  7. Engine, May 5, 2025

    Fast burning oil White smoke Regular oil changes 3000k After 2k oil is extremely low 88k miles Sludge oil after 2 oil changes

  8. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine, May 2, 2025

    The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the ABS, traction control, and check engine warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the instrument cluster had gone black. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had been a reoccurring failure for several months. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that brake fluid was leaking onto the circuit board and causing a short circuit. The dealer advised the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V807000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

  9. Engine, Aug 1, 2024

    I was driving my Pathfinder and I experienced engine failure. It is a four year old engine with 170000 miles on it that has been properly maintained. The engine was knocking and would not accelerate on the highway past 40 mph. When I finally stopped the car, it would not restart. I read an article where this type of engine failure was consistent with the Rogue and Altimas that you were already investigating and I was wondering if the Pathfinder had a related investigation going on.

  10. Engine and engine cooling, Apr 26, 2022

    The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an oil change, he was informed that oil was leaking from the valve cover gasket cover. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 66,428.

  11. Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 27, 2022

    While driving the car on country road at speed around 40 miles per hour the car engine shutdown and the car slowly came to a stop. The battery light came on. I put the car in park and restarted the engine. A similar action occurred about a month ago while driving in a federal park and only moving about 20 mph.

  12. Power train, Engine, Mar 19, 2021

    VEHICLE WAS PERFECTLY FINE, BUT THEN BEGIN TO STALL OUT ON 3/1 IN MOTION ON THE STREET, WHILE TURNING, & BACKING UP. THEN ON 3/18 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP THE CAR IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. CAR IS AT THE SHOP NOW WITH REPORTED TRANSMISSION ISSUES.

  13. Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 1, 2021

    WHEN DRIVING MY CAR JUST SHUTS OFF FOR NO REASON IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME NOW

  14. Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 23, 2020

    AS I WAS IN THE DRIVETHRU WITH THE CAR IDLING, IT STARTED TO SHAKE AND IT FELT LIKE A THUMPING GOING ON. I PUT THERE CAR IN PARK AND IT KEPT GOING FOR ABOUT S MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE IT STOPPED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS. *TR

  15. Engine, Feb 7, 2020

    ON TAKE OFF THE VEHICLE ENGINE HAVE A SMALL KNOCKING.

  16. Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Jan 28, 2020, fire

    OUR RENTER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GREAT UP UNTIL THE INCIDENT. STATES THAT THEY FILLED THE VEHICLE UP WITH GAS AROUND 4PM BEFORE PARKING IT JUST OUT IN FRONT OF WHERE THEY WERE STAYING. AT 1AM THEY WERE AWOKEN BY A DISTURBANCE OUTSIDE AND SOMEONE BANGING ON THEIR DOOR TELLING THEM THEY NEEDED TO COME OUTSIDE - WHEN HE ARRIVED HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED BUT IT TOOK ALMOST AN HOUR, PER RENTER, TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES AS THE VEHICLE KEPT LEAKING GASOLINE. APPARENTLY THERE IS A WITNESS TO THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRE FROM A [XXX] ([XXX]) WHO HEARD THE VEHICLE'S HORN AND OBSERVED NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE AND THEN THERE WAS AN "EXPLOSION" AS IT CAUGHT FIRE (POTENTIAL ALARM?) THE FIRE REPORT CONFIRMS THAT OUR RENTAL VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THEY INDICATE THAT THE FIRE WAS "MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION" AND "UNINTENTIONAL." THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF COMBUSTION. *** PLEASE CONTACT THE ADJUSTER WE HIRED TO ASSIST US WITH THIS MATTER. HIS NAME IS [XXX] WITH SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES. PHONE: [XXX]. EMAIL: [XXX] THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR