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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 →
45Owner complaints

Model-year median: 97

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
328
200837
200940
201045
201123
2012890
2013574
2014
Compare all Pathfinder years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
12Engine
10Power Train
7Suspension
6Service Brakes
5
All reported categories
Electrical System
4Seat Belts
3Unknown Or Other
3Steering
2Wheels
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Wheels complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
9,700 miles · Nov 16, 2015
Wheels

BF GOODRICH RADIAL LONG TRAIL T/A TIRES WITH 9,700 MILES ON THEM . CRACKS AROUND LUGS ON TREAD.SAME ON ALL FOUR TIRES.SPEC. MODEL#P265/65R17 (110T) M+SBEEN CHECKING RECALLS BUT NOT LISTED.DOING SEARCH ON THIS MODEL,FINDING OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONTACT ME AT [XXX] IF PHOTOS OF CRACKS NEEDED PARTS OF THIS DOCUMEN…

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BF GOODRICH RADIAL LONG TRAIL T/A TIRES WITH 9,700 MILES ON THEM . CRACKS AROUND LUGS ON TREAD.SAME ON ALL FOUR TIRES.SPEC. MODEL#P265/65R17 (110T) M+SBEEN CHECKING RECALLS BUT NOT LISTED.DOING SEARCH ON THIS MODEL,FINDING OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CONTACT ME AT [XXX] IF PHOTOS OF CRACKS NEEDED PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC

NHTSA ODI #10791452

26,578 miles · Oct 3, 2014
SteeringSuspensionWheels

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

NHTSA ODI #10641336

Official recalls

2

23V067000 · 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 driver’s 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.