2019 Nissan Pathfinder Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 75 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 2 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder receives a 6.8/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 75 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 2 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports with a median failure point at 53,500 miles (IQR: 6,250 – 117,500 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $950 – $3,200 .
12.5 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
2 Active / Free Remedies
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“There was built up sludge in my engine that caused it to fail, and I was charged to replace it”
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at 82 MPH, the vehicle suddenly started to lose motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually resumed normal operation before ...”
“Check engine light came in. Took into repair shop to change oil and diagnose issue. It was about 7,000 miles since previous oil change with full synthetic oil. Drained oil was full of metal shavings. Refilled oil and ran engine. Metal shavings was again observed in oil immedia...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“I am driving the car in the highway when I tray to exit ,I see the RED light semaforo in the end of the exit. Well I tray to stop the car and the brakes does' not work, and the air bag coming out before I hit the other car.My car in the front not have any damage. the other car...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH and attempting to come to a stop, the vehicle failed to decelerate sufficiently, resulting in a rear-end collision. Upon impact, the frontal air bags failed to fully deploy, as they only...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at 82 MPH, the vehicle suddenly started to lose motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually resumed normal operation before ...”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“Left side passenger lock mechanism just stopped working. Conducted research online and discovered it’s a rather huge issue with some Nissan vehicles. (I also saw a lawsuit currently in pending status related to this matter) The actuator needs to be repaired. All other locks in...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that various electrical sensors alerted that there were objects nearby; however, there were no objects nearby. Due to the failure, the cruise control feature was inoperable. The contact also stated that the back ove...”
“My driver side door will not lock or unlock. I have changed the battery in the key fob and I am still having the same problem. I believe the lock actuator is malfunctioning. I have taken it to a mechanic and they have confirmed, however, I have not taken it into the dealership...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“Driving at 75 miles per hour on highway. We Heard an explosion, and airbags deployed. There was no collision or front end hit, there was no warning lights or sounds, no deceleration. My husband was somehow able to pull to the side, we were not injured, except for the airbag hi...”
“The car broke on the highway (possibly drive train? Waiting for mechanic). Despite no impact, the steering wheel airbag deployed.”
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that various electrical sensors alerted that there were objects nearby; however, there were no objects nearby. Due to the failure, the cruise control feature was inoperable. The contact also stated that the back ove...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“Driving at 75 miles per hour on highway. We Heard an explosion, and airbags deployed. There was no collision or front end hit, there was no warning lights or sounds, no deceleration. My husband was somehow able to pull to the side, we were not injured, except for the airbag hi...”
“The car broke on the highway (possibly drive train? Waiting for mechanic). Despite no impact, the steering wheel airbag deployed.”
“I am driving the car in the highway when I tray to exit ,I see the RED light semaforo in the end of the exit. Well I tray to stop the car and the brakes does' not work, and the air bag coming out before I hit the other car.My car in the front not have any damage. the other car...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at 82 MPH, the vehicle suddenly started to lose motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually resumed normal operation before ...”
“The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that after refueling and driving while coming to a stop there was an abnormal sound of water moving around inside the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and...”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PINNACLE NISSAN (7601 E FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BLVD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260) WHERE THE MECHANIC INFO...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“The car broke on the highway (possibly drive train? Waiting for mechanic). Despite no impact, the steering wheel airbag deployed.”
“I almost wrecked because I could not see through the windshield when the wipers failed. I was driving in the rain in rush hour traffic. The rain stopped. I turned off my wipers. I was on an onramp to the interstate at dusk. The rain started again. I tried to turn on the wipers...”
“There is a loud popping/clunk sound when standing still and turning the wheel either left or right. It’s like metal is catching and then pressure finally pushes a part over another and it pops loud. It does not affect the steering or suspension quality.”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (2)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2019 Nissan Pathfinder
Before purchasing a used 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 2 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2019 Nissan Pathfinder
Is the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder a reliable used car?
The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder earns a 6.8/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 75 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?
The leading complaint category is Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports, with a median failure point around 53,500 miles (IQR: 6,250 – 117,500 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?
Yes, the NHTSA records 2 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.