Nissan

Pathfinder

Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD · model years 1987 to 2026

Includes Pathfinder 2WD, Pathfinder 4WD, Pathfinder 4WD Platinum and 4 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 141 Pathfinder trims All Nissan cars

The verdict

Best year: 2026. complaints: 10, below this model's typical 111; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2.

Worst year: 2005. complaints: 1050, about 18.8x this model's typical 56; recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Nissan Pathfinder
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1987	3Gas	14	no data	$4,800	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1987
1988	3Gas	14	no data	$4,800	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1988
1989	5Gas	15	no data	$4,450	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1989
1990	4Gas	15	no data	$4,150	2	38	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 34%, POWER TRAIN 32%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 7%
complaints: 38, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 75 of 100, where higher is better.
1991	4Gas	15	no data	$4,150	1	39	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 30%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17%, TIRES 9%
complaints: 39, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
1992	4Gas	15	no data	$4,150	0	30	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 27%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 24%, STRUCTURE 12%
complaints: 30, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 82 of 100, where higher is better.
1993	4Gas	15	no data	$4,150	0	49	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 42%, STRUCTURE 15%, TIRES 7%
complaints: 49, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.
1994	4Gas	15	no data	$4,150	2	91	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 34%, STRUCTURE 22%, POWER TRAIN 10%
complaints: 91, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	4Gas	15	no data	$4,150	0	170	0	no data	STRUCTURE 28%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 25%, POWER TRAIN 10%
complaints: 170, about 1.5x this model's typical 111 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 22 of 100, where higher is better.
1996	4Gas	16	no data	$3,900	3	159	0	no data	SUSPENSION 31%, STEERING 12%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 7%
complaints: 159, above this model's typical 111 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 28 Score: 7 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	4Gas	15.5	no data	$4,025	2	217	0	no data	SUSPENSION 38%, STEERING 9%, POWER TRAIN 7%
complaints: 217, about 2x this model's typical 111 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 11 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	4Gas	15.5	no data	$4,025	2	149	0	no data	SUSPENSION 26%, POWER TRAIN 11%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%
complaints: 149, above this model's typical 111 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 29 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 15 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	6Gas	16	no data	$3,900	2	104	0	no data	SUSPENSION 25%, STEERING 14%, STRUCTURE 13%
complaints: 104, below this model's typical 167 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 21 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	4Gas	15	no data	$4,150	2	112	0	no data	SUSPENSION 25%, STRUCTURE 18%, STEERING 17%
complaints: 112, above this model's typical 111 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 41 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	5Gas	16	no data	$3,900	3	230	0	no data	SUSPENSION 24%, EQUIPMENT 14%, STEERING 12%
complaints: 230, about 1.7x this model's typical 139 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 11 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	5Gas	16	no data	$3,900	5	156	0	no data	SUSPENSION 22%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%, STRUCTURE 9%
complaints: 156, above this model's typical 139 recalls: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 25 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	4Gas	16	no data	$3,900	3	110	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17%, SUSPENSION 14%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 110, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	2Gas	15.5	no data	$4,025	3	67	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 15%, AIR BAGS 14%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 67, above this model's typical 56 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 52 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	2Gas	16.5	no data	$3,775	2	1,050	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 38%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 19%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 12%
complaints: 1050, about 18.8x this model's typical 56 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	2Gas	16.5	no data	$3,775	3	837	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 37%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15%, ENGINE 12%
complaints: 837, about 15x this model's typical 56 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 Score: 10 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	2Gas	16.5	no data	$4,675	1	561	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 40%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15%, ENGINE 14%
complaints: 561, about 10x this model's typical 56 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 25 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	4Gas	15.5	no data	$4,975	4	328	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 34%, ENGINE 13%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 328, about 3x this model's typical 111 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 Score: 3 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	4Gas	15.5	no data	$4,975	3	37	0	no data	AIR BAGS 22%, POWER TRAIN 16%, ENGINE 14%
complaints: 37, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	3Gas	16	no data	$4,800	4	40	1	100	AIR BAGS 18%, POWER TRAIN 18%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 40, below this model's typical 83 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 55 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	3Gas	16	no data	$4,800	2	45	0	101	AIR BAGS 20%, ENGINE 17%, POWER TRAIN 12%
complaints: 45, below this model's typical 83 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 72 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	3Gas	16	no data	$4,800	2	23	0	103	ENGINE 14%, SUSPENSION 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 23, below this model's typical 83 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 75 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 3.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	2Gas	21.5	no data	$2,900	11	890	4	259	POWER TRAIN 31%, AIR BAGS 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9%
complaints: 890, about 15.9x this model's typical 56 recalls: 11, about 5.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	4Gas, Hybrid	24	no data	$2,625	12	584	4	238	POWER TRAIN 29%, AIR BAGS 12%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 584, about 5.3x this model's typical 111 recalls: 12, about 6x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 32 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.7 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	5Gas, Hybrid	23	no data	$2,700	6	321	1	231	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, POWER TRAIN 18%, ENGINE 17%
complaints: 321, about 2.3x this model's typical 139 recalls: 6, about 3x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	3Gas	22	no data	$2,850	2	107	1	197	ENGINE 21%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, AIR BAGS 14%
complaints: 107, above this model's typical 83 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 56 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	3Gas	22	284	$2,850	2	186	0	220	ENGINE 33%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, POWER TRAIN 13%
complaints: 186, about 2.2x this model's typical 83 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 2 NHTSA advised parking the 2017 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	3Gas	22	284	$2,850	3	77	0	182	SERVICE BRAKES 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 77, below this model's typical 83 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 NHTSA advised parking the 2018 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 34 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	3Gas	22	284	$2,850	2	76	0	144	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, ENGINE 13%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 9%
complaints: 76, below this model's typical 83 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 NHTSA advised parking the 2019 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 39 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	3Gas	22	284	$2,850	0	48	0	97	ENGINE 24%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 48, below this model's typical 83 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 Score: 86 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	3Gas	23	284	$2,700	5	136	0	142	SERVICE BRAKES 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 136, about 1.6x this model's typical 83 recalls: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 13 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	4Gas	22.5	284	$2,775	1	104	0	86	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 104, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 75 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	4Gas	22.5	284	$2,775	2	84	0	31	SERVICE BRAKES 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ENGINE 13%
complaints: 84, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	4Gas	22.5	284	$2,975	1	51	0	10	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%, SERVICE BRAKES 11%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 51, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	4Gas	22.5	no data	$2,975	0	10	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, VISIBILITY 15%
complaints: 10, below this model's typical 111 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 Score: 94 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1987: 14 to 2026: 22.5

Owner complaints1990: 38 to 2026: 10

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Nissan Pathfinder to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.