IllustrationUPON STARTING THE IGNITION, AIR BAG OCS INDICATOR SHOWS BOTH FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS NOT WORKING. INDICATION LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE VEHICLE IS BOTH STATIONARY AND WHILE IN MOTION.
2016 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder do not stand out strongly from 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
180–25K
1525–50K
2150–75K
775–100K
1100–150K
3150K+
65 reports with mileage · 40 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.
- Engine. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
105 reportsAT 48,800 MILES RADIATOR FAN FAILED. AS WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY SERVICE ADVISOR AT NISSAN DEALER, A MOUNTING PART FAILED AND CAUSED THE FAN TO RUB AGAINST THE SHROUD WHEN IN OPERATION. MANY REPORTS OF FAILURE ON VARIOUS WEBSITES FOR MODEL YEARS 2014 -2016, MOST OCCURRING IN THE 50,000 MILE RANGE.
RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS INDICATED BY SEVERAL PATHFINDER OWNERS FROM 2014 UP TO THE PRESENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER TAKEN …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY REPAIRS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO SHEEHY NISSAN OF GLEN BURNIE (LOCATED AT 7232 RITCHIE HWY, GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061, (410) 754-1777), BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 32615475. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT MY CAR STARTED TO MOVE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK OR CLICK IN. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP WHEN PLACING IT IN NEUTRAL EITHER. MY CAR WOULD ONLY STOP AFTER PLACING IT IN PARK. LUCKILY NO MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. MY BRAKE PADS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE, BRAKE …
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WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT MY CAR STARTED TO MOVE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK OR CLICK IN. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP WHEN PLACING IT IN NEUTRAL EITHER. MY CAR WOULD ONLY STOP AFTER PLACING IT IN PARK. LUCKILY NO MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. MY BRAKE PADS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE, BRAKE FLUID IS FULL. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND THEY CAN ALSO FIND NOTHING WRONG. THIS IS WORRISOME AS THIS CAN BE FATAL IF I WAS DRIVING AT A FAST SPEED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF BRAKE FAILURE RESULTING IN DEATH OF OTHER NISSAN MODELS.
STEERING BECAME STIFF WHILE DRIVIVINF AND CAR SEEMS TO PULL ON OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE TURN. DEALER NOTES STEERING PUMP LEAK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREAT NECK NISSAN (250 NORTHERN BLVD, GREAT NECK, NY 11021) WHERE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS REPAIRED BECAUSE HOT AIR WAS FLOWING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER (KOEPPEL NISSAN, 74-15 NORTHERN BLVD, JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY 11372)…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GREAT NECK NISSAN (250 NORTHERN BLVD, GREAT NECK, NY 11021) WHERE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS REPAIRED BECAUSE HOT AIR WAS FLOWING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER (KOEPPEL NISSAN, 74-15 NORTHERN BLVD, JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY 11372) BECAUSE THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT FREON HAD LEAKED OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,308.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM HOME. MY HUSBAND CHECKED AND IT WAS OUT OF BRAKE FLUID. HE ADDED FLUID SO I COULD GET TO THE DEALER, APPROX. 35 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT IT PROBABLY WAS NOT OUT OF BRAKE FLUID…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM HOME. MY HUSBAND CHECKED AND IT WAS OUT OF BRAKE FLUID. HE ADDED FLUID SO I COULD GET TO THE DEALER, APPROX. 35 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT IT PROBABLY WAS NOT OUT OF BRAKE FLUID. IT WAS.
STEERING WHEEL GOT STUCK AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT
I DROVE UP TO 16,000 MILES AND THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MADE A WEIRD SOUND. I WENT TO 2 NISSAN DEALERSHIPS TO CHECK IT OUT AND IT SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR 2016 PATHFINDER.BUT WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES IT WILL CAUSE A HUMMING NOISE LIKE A BEE AND ITS REALLY ANNOYING, I WENT TO CHECK IT OUT AND IT SAID IT WAS NORMAL, WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Official recalls
222V420000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Jun 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
16V244000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Apr 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
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
1PE21022 · Hood Latch/bell Crank Assembly
Opened Dec 9, 2021 · Closed Jul 8, 2022
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this preliminary evaluation to investigate consumer complaints alleging hood latch failures occurring on certain model year (MY) 2013-2016 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. Complaints received indicated a sudden and unexpected opening of the hood while the vehicle was in motion, blocking the driver's visibility.During this investigation Nissan collected parts from the field to analyze for root cause of the alleged failures. On June 13, 2022, Nissan submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a hood bell crank assembly defect in certain MY2013-2016 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles produced at the Smyrna, TN plant. According to Nissan's DIR, an accumulation of dust and dirt contamination on and around the bell crank lever pivot joint, which actuates the secondary hood latch, can create a condition that can cause the lever to remain in the open position after it has been disengaged. In this condition, the secondary hood latch may not hold the hood closed as designed while the vehicle is in motion obstructing the driver's forward view and increasing the risk of a crash.A remedy plan for all affected vehicles is currently under development. See recall action 22V-420 for further details. Nissan's action resolves the issues raised by this investigation, and therefore, this investigation is closed.The VOQs cited above can be found with ID numbers: 11456378, 11448298, 11436637, 11431131, 11427702, 11423321, 11406574, 11398825, 11389741, 11387952, 11375938, 11349105,11306735, 11302647, 11190468, 11166607.