2020 Nissan Pathfinder
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 53 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 25 Pathfinder model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 1 involved a crash.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
12 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 26, 2026
The car stalled three times and died in active traffic. The breakdown was so hazardous that the police department had to intervene and push the car out of the road and had to tow the car more than 3 times and was at the Nissan Dealership for over one week. I paid Nissan dealership $5,000 to repair this specific, life-threatening defect, but the car returned to me unfixed.The vehicle is unsafe and has been sitting parked at my house for 3 months because I cannot safely drive it. It keeps stalling, dying in traffic and making a loud grind noise. I need help.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 1, 2026
A few months after purchase, the power cut off on me. Then it happened again the following year. Then the screen for backing up started going on and off. Then I started feeling like the car was loosing power. In the last 2 years the power cutting off has occurred 3 more times and the rear screen camera has started glitching more where it goes out when switching in reverse.
Electrical system, Structure, Jan 9, 2026
Passenger door unlock/lock does not work at all unless done manually by hand and the driver door is beginning to do the same as well. This has begun a year ago. The lift gate button broke off over a year ago as well and is only connected by cables and today (January 9, 2026) while trying to open the trunk the entire silver trim piece flew off towards me. The manual trunk (ours is not automatic) is a poor design and is not made safely to push the trunk button and pull up easily.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 12, 2025
Electrical issues with my car including AC. Timing belt chain went and gasket covers. Continuous issue with this vehicle.
Electrical system, Jul 4, 2025
Driver side door lock / unlock does not work with keyFOB. All other doors lock / unlock but driver side door has to be locked / unlocked with physical key.
Electrical system, Jun 3, 2025
remote power locks door driver and passenger side will not open or close with remote fob leaving door open for anyone to open door when i am not around, or when at a stop. someone can open door and get in.
Latches/locks/linkages, Electrical system, Aug 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while parked in the driveway, the key fob was left in the cupholder, and the contact went to unlock the vehicle, and all the doors were inadvertently locked. The Police were called to assist in unlocking the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the battery and the key fob were replaced. After the battery and key fob were replaced, the failure reoccurred again with the key fob in the purse of the contact’s wife on the passenger’s seat. The contact stated that his daughter was inside the vehicle at the time and was able to unlock the door from inside the vehicle. The contact stated that his wife pushed the button to unlock the doors and all the doors locked. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be diagnosed. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Jan 29, 2023
Back up camera issues hardly works
Electrical system, Nov 19, 2022
No defroster and no heat. Can't defrost or de-fog windows. Fan doesn't turn on failing to defrost windows. No heat, no air conditioning, no air movement. Powering off and on the pathfinder didn't solve it, turning on and off heat, defrost doesn't work. All fuses are OK.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 29, 2022
Moisture ingression into the passenger side front lighting assembly (head light). Visable water droplets and some accumulartion . 1st indication was an errror message along with reduced visibility. 2nd indication was failue of that headlight.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Jan 4, 2022
We rented this vehicle from Budget for about two weeks. On two separate occasions the backup camera went blank and the rear parking sensors quit working. I stopped the vehicle and shifted from reverse to drive and back but the rear view camera and sensors did not come back on. After I shutdown and restarted the vehicle, they started working again. We turned the vehicle in on 1/3/2021 and mentioned the issue to the lot attendant.
Electrical system, Oct 4, 2020
PERIODICALLY THE BACK UP CAMERA SHORTS OUT AND YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO USE IT.