IllustrationRear sub frame has significant rust, snapped while driving at slow speed, there was no injury but steering was affected, no harm done this time but it is a known issue, 2wd model has a recall for the same part with the same issue
2011 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder are lower than the model-year median of 97.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80–25K
925–50K
250–75K
475–100K
7100–150K
1150K+
31 reports with mileage · 14 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Suspension complaints
6 reportsMy airbag light and seatbelt light are on and the horn has stopped working. Frame and front suspension is making a horrible creaking sound and has been for months. Frame seems to be rotted … I’ve taken it to multiple places to have it looked at…. I’ve also seen other complaints on here of people having the same issue! This poses…
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My airbag light and seatbelt light are on and the horn has stopped working. Frame and front suspension is making a horrible creaking sound and has been for months. Frame seems to be rotted … I’ve taken it to multiple places to have it looked at…. I’ve also seen other complaints on here of people having the same issue! This poses a huge safety risk! Definitely needs a recall for both issues!
Frame is rotted from rust. Not drivable as drive train connection to wheels in rear end ready to fail at any moment. Rust is so bad it will require towing to be repaired. Repair estimate exceeds blue book value. $4800. 110,000 current mileage. Recall for this problem existed on this make/model for years 2004 to 2009. This vehi…
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Frame is rotted from rust. Not drivable as drive train connection to wheels in rear end ready to fail at any moment. Rust is so bad it will require towing to be repaired. Repair estimate exceeds blue book value. $4800. 110,000 current mileage. Recall for this problem existed on this make/model for years 2004 to 2009. This vehicle is 2011 with no recall as yet.
When I applied the brakes, a slippage and rubbing noise occurs. Moments later, I could brake. No engine lights are visible on the dashboard. This has occurred several times.
MY VEHICLE IS TO THE POINT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. SOMETHING IN STEERING MECHANISM, IDK BUT WHEN DRIVING ANY DIFFERENTIAL IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE IS ALL OVER THE ROAD.. I AM A SINGLE PERSON WITH GRANDCHILDREN AND THIS IS NOT SAFE. IT IS SO BAD IT WALKS INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. THIS STARTED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND I TOOK TO …
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MY VEHICLE IS TO THE POINT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. SOMETHING IN STEERING MECHANISM, IDK BUT WHEN DRIVING ANY DIFFERENTIAL IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE IS ALL OVER THE ROAD.. I AM A SINGLE PERSON WITH GRANDCHILDREN AND THIS IS NOT SAFE. IT IS SO BAD IT WALKS INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. THIS STARTED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND I TOOK TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM.
THE VEHICLE HANDLES SMOOTHLY ON A SMOOTH SURFACE, BUT WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES GIVING YOU THE FEELING THAT YOU MIGHT LOSE CONTROL. BIG BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT HIGHER SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) ARE DECIDEDLY UNCOMFORTABLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER AND A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE TECNICIAN DROVE …
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THE VEHICLE HANDLES SMOOTHLY ON A SMOOTH SURFACE, BUT WHEN I HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES GIVING YOU THE FEELING THAT YOU MIGHT LOSE CONTROL. BIG BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT HIGHER SPEEDS (60-70 MPH) ARE DECIDEDLY UNCOMFORTABLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER AND A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE TECNICIAN DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH ME BUT COULD FIND NO STRUCTURAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM MACHINE BALANCED AND ALIGNED THE VEHICLE BUT THE BEHAVIOR OF THE VEHICLE REMAINS THE SAME. THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER WENT ON LINE IN THE INTERNET TO SEARCH FOR ANY COMMON COMPLAINTS AND CONCLUDED THAT WHAT I FEEL AND SEE IS THE RESULT OF THE WAY THE VEHICLE FRAME IS MADE WHICH CAUSES THE MOVEMENT WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR DIVOT IN THE ROAD. I HAVE TO HOLD ONTO THE WHEEL WHEN I HIT A BUMP, AS IF I WAS FLYING A SMALL AIRPLANE IN ROUGH WEATHER. SURELY A VEHICLE WITHOUT ACCIDENT, WITH 26,000 MILES SHOULD NOT BEHAVE LIKE THAT. FURTHERMORE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT A MANUFACTURER COULD PUT A PRODUCT ON THE ROAD WITH A BUILT IN HANDLING PROBLEM LIKE THAT. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS ONE ASPECT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS 2011 PATHFINDER MEETS MY NEEDS BUT THE STEERING MOVEMENT THAT TAKES PLACE WHEN I HIT A LITTLE PATCH OF ROUGH ROAD MAKE ME FARE OF LOSING CONTROL WHEN IT HAPPENS WITHOUT A WARNING. *TR
Official recalls
223V067000 · Air Bags:frontal
Feb 10, 2023
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the drivers airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
11V592000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Dec 19, 2011
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 INFINITI FX, MODEL YEAR 2012 INFINITI M, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN XTERRA, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER AND THE ENGINE OIL FILTER TO THE ENGINE IN THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO BELOW SPECIFICATION STRENGTH. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY BREAK AT THE OIL FILTER ATTACHMENT POINT AND CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE OIL LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTOR BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.