2016 Nissan Pathfinder
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 28 of 105 complaints (27%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 320 in 2015 to 105 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–2,950 | 2,400–2,950 | 2,700–2,950 | 2,700–2,950 | 2,700–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 21–26 | 21–26 | 21–23 | 21–23 | 21–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–25 / 25–28 | 19–25 / 26–28 | 19–20 / 26–27 | 19–20 / 26–27 | 19–20 / 26–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 323–418 | 342–422 | 390–423 | 395–415 | 395–424 | |
| Complaints filed | 574 | 320 | 105 | 186 | 77 | |
| Recalls issued | 11 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 19 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 32 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder?
Engine: 28 of 105 NHTSA complaints (27%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder get?
EPA rates it 21–23 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Nissan Pathfinder?
EPA estimates $2,700–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 20 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 390 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 19 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 412 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 19 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | $2,950 (high) | 423 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · Campaign 22V420000 · Jun 14, 2022
Defect: 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: 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.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · Campaign 16V244000 · Apr 26, 2016
Defect: 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: 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.