The best and worst Nissan Pathfinder years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Nissan Pathfinders old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2012, 2018 and 2020–2021 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2005–2006, 2008 and 2013 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2005 Nissan Pathfinder · 124.0 per 10,000 sold (5.9× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Cooling system: radiator, water pump, thermostat, fan, typically around 98,000 miles; then transmission cooler and fluid overheating.
2006 Nissan Pathfinder · 105.8 per 10,000 sold (5.0× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Transmission cooler and fluid overheating, typically around 100,000 miles; then cooling system: radiator, water pump, thermostat, fan.
2008 Nissan Pathfinder · 96.0 per 10,000 sold (4.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Fuel pump and sending unit, typically around 90,000 miles; then transmission cooler and fluid overheating.
2013 Nissan Pathfinder · 100.4 per 10,000 sold (4.8× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Harsh, delayed or erratic shifting, typically around 6,900 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
Years with the fewest complaints
2012 Nissan Pathfinder · 5.1 per 10,000 sold (0.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Subframe, cradle and frame corrosion, typically around 144,500 miles.
2018 Nissan Pathfinder · 11.4 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Driver-assist cameras, radar and calibration, typically around 11,000 miles.
2020 Nissan Pathfinder · 9.7 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Body control and other modules.
2021 Nissan Pathfinder · 0.0 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Nissan Pathfinder year: 21.0 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Nissan Pathfinder?
Among Nissan Pathfinders old enough to judge (2005–2022), the 2005 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 124.0, about 5.9× a typical Nissan Pathfinder year. The 2006, 2008 and 2013 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Nissan Pathfinder?
The 2021 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Nissan Pathfinders from 2005–2022: 0.0, against 21.0 for a typical year. The 2012, 2018 and 2020 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder?
The most-reported problem on the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder is cooling system: radiator, water pump, thermostat, fan, typically around 98,000 miles.
Why aren't the newest Nissan Pathfinder years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.