Surprise, AZ
Crash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Unknown
NHTSA complaint #11671905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FaultScore report
2020 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Owners have filed 72 complaints about the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder with NHTSA between 2020 and 2026. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 27 of 33 worst.
B
FaultScore 30/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Nissan Pathfinder.
How this is worked outThe numbers
72
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
100%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
NHTSA overall crash rating
From the agency's own crash tests
What kind of bad
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
- Complaint volume — 12
- Against the median year of the Nissan Pathfinder. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
- Severity — 14
- 2.8% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
- Early failure — 100
- 100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.
How 2020 compares with every other Nissan Pathfinder
Click any bar to open that year's report.
What breaks on a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
9
12.5%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Transmission & Drivetrain
8
11.1%
Other & Unspecified
7
9.7%
Brakes
6
8.3%
Median failure at 1,749 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
4
5.6%
Suspension
3
4.2%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
2
2.8%
Body & Structure
2
2.8%
Tires
1
1.4%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
1
1.4%
Lights
1
1.4%
Airbags
1
1.4%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
1
20.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
3
60.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
1
20.0%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.
Frontal crash test
Side barrier crash test
Side pole crash test
| Configuration | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Nissan Pathfinder SUV AWD |
17.9% risk
|
|||
| 2020 Nissan Pathfinder SUV FWD |
17.4% risk
|
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Jun 2020
peak 7
Jul 2026
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Surprise, AZ
Crash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Unknown
NHTSA complaint #11671905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Oviedo, FL
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #11752952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oviedo, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #11752952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oviedo, FL
ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #11752952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poulsbo, WA
ENGINE
After only 110,000 miles, my local Nissan service center (Advantage Nissan, 5101 Auto Center Blvd, Bremerton, WA 98312) states that the timing chain is loose. The repair estimate is in excess of $6000. The expense is because it requires removal of the engine to effect repairs. Research reveals that timing chain issues at 100000+ miles are common for this vehicle. It is the expectation that the timing chain system last the lifespan of the vehicle. The result is that owners pay more than half of the original price simply for maintenance because of Nissan's choice to use substandard parts in a critical system, a fact they learned with earlier models where timing chain issues and recalls occured. I'm retired and can't afford to maintain this vehicle by spending $6000 every 100000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11751136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Holbrook, AZ
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #11747857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Holbrook, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #11747857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Holbrook, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #11747857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baton Rouge, LA
ENGINE
The vehicle has developed a persistent and progressively worsening rattling noise from the engine during cold starts, along with intermittent rough operation. The symptoms are consistent with a malfunction or defect in the engine timing chain system, including possible timing chain stretch, timing chain tensioner failure, or related internal engine components. This condition presents a serious safety concern because the timing chain controls engine valve timing. A failure or severe degradation of this system could result in sudden engine stalling or complete engine failure while driving, increasing the risk of a crash without warning, particularly in traffic or at highway speeds. The issue began as an intermittent startup rattle and has steadily progressed in frequency and severity. No consistent warning lights were present in the early stages, which may delay driver awareness of an impending failure condition. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealership service department, and the concern was acknowledged, but no repair or corrective action has been performed. The condition remains unresolved and continues to progress. Based on owner reports and service feedback for similar vehicles equipped with this engine, this issue appears to reflect a potential widespread defect pattern affecting the timing chain and/or tensioner system in this engine family, rather than an isolated incident. Multiple reports describe similar symptoms occurring around similar mileage ranges, suggesting a possible systemic reliability defect. The vehicle is currently still operable but is operating with a known and worsening engine defect that could result in catastrophic engine failure without warning.
NHTSA complaint #11740716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willingboro, NJ
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The back-up camera and display settings image is no longer visible and the dashboard indicates that it is off. The camera is black and does not display anything nor does it provides information that you are backing up. The safety of drivers and others are at risk. As such, the vehicle fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
NHTSA complaint #11735464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bristow, OK
TIRES
See attached document for complaint.
NHTSA complaint #11733275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Drexel Hill, PA
AIR BAGS
Airbag needs replacing at 60,000 mile due to TSB# NTB19-07-1D
NHTSA complaint #11731812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Antioch, IL
POWER TRAIN
While driving, the vehicle experienced sudden and complete loss of throttle response, resulting in little to no acceleration. This occurred in active traffic and created a dangerous situation where the vehicle could not maintain speed or safely move out of traffic. The vehicle has been serviced multiple times by Nissan of Kenosha, including a full transmission replacement under warranty. Despite these repairs, the same throttle failure has occurred repeatedly, including within hours of being returned as “repaired.” Most recently, the throttle failed again while driving on a public street, and I was only able to move the vehicle into a driveway with minimal acceleration. The vehicle is currently not drivable and remains unsafe to operate. The dealership has not resolved the issue and has released the vehicle multiple times in an unsafe condition. This is an ongoing safety defect involving loss of acceleration and vehicle control.
NHTSA complaint #11727812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Antioch, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While driving, the vehicle experienced sudden and complete loss of throttle response, resulting in little to no acceleration. This occurred in active traffic and created a dangerous situation where the vehicle could not maintain speed or safely move out of traffic. The vehicle has been serviced multiple times by Nissan of Kenosha, including a full transmission replacement under warranty. Despite these repairs, the same throttle failure has occurred repeatedly, including within hours of being returned as “repaired.” Most recently, the throttle failed again while driving on a public street, and I was only able to move the vehicle into a driveway with minimal acceleration. The vehicle is currently not drivable and remains unsafe to operate. The dealership has not resolved the issue and has released the vehicle multiple times in an unsafe condition. This is an ongoing safety defect involving loss of acceleration and vehicle control.
NHTSA complaint #11727812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Antioch, IL
ENGINE
While driving, the vehicle experienced sudden and complete loss of throttle response, resulting in little to no acceleration. This occurred in active traffic and created a dangerous situation where the vehicle could not maintain speed or safely move out of traffic. The vehicle has been serviced multiple times by Nissan of Kenosha, including a full transmission replacement under warranty. Despite these repairs, the same throttle failure has occurred repeatedly, including within hours of being returned as “repaired.” Most recently, the throttle failed again while driving on a public street, and I was only able to move the vehicle into a driveway with minimal acceleration. The vehicle is currently not drivable and remains unsafe to operate. The dealership has not resolved the issue and has released the vehicle multiple times in an unsafe condition. This is an ongoing safety defect involving loss of acceleration and vehicle control.
NHTSA complaint #11727812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint John, IN
ENGINE
I own a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder with approximately 55,000 miles. The vehicle repeatedly failed Indiana emissions testing because the oxygen sensor monitor would not set to “ready,” despite multiple complete drive cycles and no check‑engine light or stored fault codes. A local shop performed diagnostics and found no issues. They reported that another 2020 Pathfinder came in the following week with the exact same problem. My vehicle was ultimately sent to a Nissan dealership, where they determined the upstream oxygen sensor had failed in a way that prevented the ECM from running the emissions monitor, yet did not trigger any diagnostic trouble codes. The repair required full sensor replacement at a cost of $1,450, not covered under warranty. The failure mode is concerning because: • The vehicle gives no warning to the driver. • The ECM blocks emissions readiness indefinitely. • The issue appears to be occurring in multiple 2020 Pathfinders. • Owners cannot legally renew registration without passing emissions. This may indicate a defective oxygen sensor or ECM logic issue affecting 2020 Pathfinders. I am filing this complaint so NHTSA can track the pattern and determine whether a broader defect investigation is warranted. Vehicle Details: • Year/Make/Model: 2020 Nissan Pathfinder • Mileage at failure: ~55,000 • No warning lights, no stored codes • Emissions monitor would not complete • Dealer confirmed sensor failure and replaced part Safety Concern: A failed emissions component that does not trigger a fault code may indicate a defect in the emissions control system or ECM logic. The lack of diagnostic warnings prevents owners from knowing there is a problem until the vehicle fails emissions testing.
NHTSA complaint #11722792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melrose Park, IL
POWER TRAIN
On April 7, 2025, the dealership attempted to sell me a vehicle that was experiencing an engine condition running too lean. I declined that vehicle due to safety concerns. On April 8, 2025, the salesperson contacted me again and stated that a different vehicle had been located that would meet my needs. At that time, I was nine months pregnant and urgently needed a vehicle with third-row seating for my children. The dealership was aware of my condition and urgency. I took delivery of the vehicle that day. Unexpectedly, I went into labor the following day and gave birth shortly after. Because of childbirth and medical recovery, I did not immediately operate the vehicle extensively or discover the safety issues. After being discharged from the hospital, around April 11, 2025, I began using the vehicle and discovered serious mechanical problems that made the vehicle unsafe to operate. The vehicle exhibited engine-related issues and a major suspension defect that affected vehicle stability and safe operation. The vehicle was returned to the dealership, where repairs were performed and parts were ordered, confirming that the defects existed prior to or at the time of delivery. Despite the vehicle being driven a significant distance immediately before sale, the dealership did not perform a basic oil change or standard post-delivery inspection. Operating a vehicle under these conditions raises concerns for engine reliability, overheating, and failure. The suspension defect created risk of loss of control, and the engine condition created risk of drivability issues. These conditions posed a safety risk to the driver and passengers, including a newborn child. The vehicle remains available for inspection if requested.
NHTSA complaint #11714796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melrose Park, IL
SUSPENSION
On April 7, 2025, the dealership attempted to sell me a vehicle that was experiencing an engine condition running too lean. I declined that vehicle due to safety concerns. On April 8, 2025, the salesperson contacted me again and stated that a different vehicle had been located that would meet my needs. At that time, I was nine months pregnant and urgently needed a vehicle with third-row seating for my children. The dealership was aware of my condition and urgency. I took delivery of the vehicle that day. Unexpectedly, I went into labor the following day and gave birth shortly after. Because of childbirth and medical recovery, I did not immediately operate the vehicle extensively or discover the safety issues. After being discharged from the hospital, around April 11, 2025, I began using the vehicle and discovered serious mechanical problems that made the vehicle unsafe to operate. The vehicle exhibited engine-related issues and a major suspension defect that affected vehicle stability and safe operation. The vehicle was returned to the dealership, where repairs were performed and parts were ordered, confirming that the defects existed prior to or at the time of delivery. Despite the vehicle being driven a significant distance immediately before sale, the dealership did not perform a basic oil change or standard post-delivery inspection. Operating a vehicle under these conditions raises concerns for engine reliability, overheating, and failure. The suspension defect created risk of loss of control, and the engine condition created risk of drivability issues. These conditions posed a safety risk to the driver and passengers, including a newborn child. The vehicle remains available for inspection if requested.
NHTSA complaint #11714796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melrose Park, IL
ENGINE
On April 7, 2025, the dealership attempted to sell me a vehicle that was experiencing an engine condition running too lean. I declined that vehicle due to safety concerns. On April 8, 2025, the salesperson contacted me again and stated that a different vehicle had been located that would meet my needs. At that time, I was nine months pregnant and urgently needed a vehicle with third-row seating for my children. The dealership was aware of my condition and urgency. I took delivery of the vehicle that day. Unexpectedly, I went into labor the following day and gave birth shortly after. Because of childbirth and medical recovery, I did not immediately operate the vehicle extensively or discover the safety issues. After being discharged from the hospital, around April 11, 2025, I began using the vehicle and discovered serious mechanical problems that made the vehicle unsafe to operate. The vehicle exhibited engine-related issues and a major suspension defect that affected vehicle stability and safe operation. The vehicle was returned to the dealership, where repairs were performed and parts were ordered, confirming that the defects existed prior to or at the time of delivery. Despite the vehicle being driven a significant distance immediately before sale, the dealership did not perform a basic oil change or standard post-delivery inspection. Operating a vehicle under these conditions raises concerns for engine reliability, overheating, and failure. The suspension defect created risk of loss of control, and the engine condition created risk of drivability issues. These conditions posed a safety risk to the driver and passengers, including a newborn child. The vehicle remains available for inspection if requested.
NHTSA complaint #11714796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilbert, AZ
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11709946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilbert, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #11709946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Omaha, NE
ENGINE
My 202 pathfinder started misfiring with sever knocking, Nissan said there is metal saving in my oil which is caused because of the long block engine failure and timing chain loosening. I had my oil changes done every 4K, and I also had the fluids flushed twice in 5 years because of excessive build up. How does this happen.
NHTSA complaint #11702786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newberry, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Electrical issues with my car including AC. Timing belt chain went and gasket covers. Continuous issue with this vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11686821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newberry, FL
ENGINE
Electrical issues with my car including AC. Timing belt chain went and gasket covers. Continuous issue with this vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11686821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Surprise, AZ
Crash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Unknown
NHTSA complaint #11671905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Surprise, AZ
Crash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Unknown
NHTSA complaint #11671905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.