About average for the Pathfinder
Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Pathfinder year. The main thing to watch is the brakes and stability control, which half of owners reported by about 16,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Pathfinder years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The most reported problem area is the brakes and stability control (25, 32% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the engine and cooling. That ranks 9th of 12 Pathfinder years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 3 recalls.
2 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder before you buy.
Brakes and stability control
25 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 16,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
The stop lamp switch has become contaminated with silicon off-gassing from silicon-based grease used in surrounding components in close proximity. This is causing the car to not start, not able to switch gears, and break light is not turning on.Owner complaint, filed 2023
Vehicle had nissan anti-lock brake (ABS) actuator safety recall repaired on 3/12/21. Ten minutes after leaving dealership ABS warning lights started coming on again and continue to come on, not every trip, but several times per week. Obviously, the repair has not addressed this safety issue completely. Vehicle has about 47,000 miles on…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 47,000 miles
Electrical system
14 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
Infotainment system stopped working. Now radio, no climate control visible and NO backup camera most of the time. Very dangerous without the backup cameraOwner complaint, filed 2026
The Display Control Unit (DCU) went blank on my 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. No working display causing steering wheel controls not to work. This includes being unable to use any hands-free phone calls. This is a significant safety issue. Nissan has a voluntary recall for this problem on the 2018 and 2019 Pathfinder, but for whatever reason…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Engine and cooling
13 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The failure persisted, and there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the vehicle hesitated while…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 93,000 miles
My 2018 Nissan Pathfinder started knocking at 75000 miles and it’s getting worse by the day I’ve paid my car payment down to 4000$ and now I’m told my motor is soon to go out.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Transmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
The 4x4 never stays engaged. We live in an area where it snows A LOT and depend on the 4x4 for winter driving. We purchased the vehicle brand new and it had this issue. We reported it to the dealership when the vehicle had less than 500 miles on it, within the first few weeks of ownership. They couldn't figure out what was wrong. They…Owner complaint, filed 2022
The transmission seems to be slipping. At low rpms there is a noticeable metallic sound and loss of power, especially when making left or right turns. I have taken the vehicle to my local dealership at least three times without them finding a solution or being able to fix the issue. Instead I'm being told that the heat shield is the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 28,000 miles
Driver assist systems
10 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Warnings (5).
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention camera screen display malfunctioned, and there was a black image displayed, creating a hazard for the driver. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the infotainment screen…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 99,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall that had a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 131,000 miles
Cruise control and acceleration
9 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 4,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
I was driving along at 35-40 mph and the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating when I gave it gas. Nearly empty at the time so I thought maybe it was a gas issue. I drove it a couple of days after that and it drove just fine. I filled her up with premium gas, thinking that it would fix the problem. The third time I went to drive it was…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The cruise control is very sluggish. Once the cruise control is set, if you are to step on the gas to get around a car quicker or if you press the cancel button, step on the gas and then resume, you have to take your foot off the gas and let your speed slow down 5 - 10 MPH under what you have the cruise set for before it will engage…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 3,000 miles
Steering
6 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 11,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the brake pedal was depressed because the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the air bag then deployed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the steering wheel…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 11,000 miles
We have had our car into the dealer 9 times since june 2018. They have been replacing the cruise control sensors and the car started pulling to the right very hard. We have worked thru the dealer, the corporate headquarters, contacted the bbb auto and have an open account there. We got our car back yesterday and took it for a long ride…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 9,588 miles
Air bags
4 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
While driving the airbag passenger light went on then off then the red airbag light on the dashboard started flashing and continues to flash.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Driver and passenger airbags deployed without cause while driving on busy expressway. No lights, warnings, sounds or crash in any way caused deployment. Broke windshield and car has been inoperative since. Insurance can't help and Nissan is being difficult trying to put blame on us. Insurance and State Police put in reports that it is a…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Lights, wipers and visibility
3 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 nissan pathfinder. While driving at an unknown speed, the sun roof exploded without warning. The explosion made an abnormal banging sound similar to gun fire. There were no injuries. The contact called kelly nissan of woburn (95 cedar st, woburn, ma 01801, (781) 835-3500) to inform them of the failure, but an…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 12,000 miles
The large driver side mirror, combined with the low seat causes a large blind spot. Any vehicles or pedestrian on the drivers left side are difficult be see. I am uploading a picture of the view I have while sitting in the drivers seat. In the picture where the red arrow is pointing there is actually a street coming out on the left side…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 8,000 miles
Fuel system
2 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
The vehicle had 58,827 miles when the fuel pump failed on 12/27/2023. The vehicle stalled at a 4-way intersection during an errand run. The vehicle would not move when shifted into drive and eventually die. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop (Greg's Japanese Auto), where a certified technician confirmed and replaced the fuel pump.Owner complaint, filed 2024
My husband roger and I purchased a 2018 nissan pathfinder less than a week ago at granite nissan in rapid city, sd. We drove to dickinson, nd to drop off my stepson to see his mother as required by court order every month. The trip there has no cellular service and [VIN] that reach subzero. Upon arriving in dickinson, we had the check…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 246 miles
Suspension
1 complaintClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
"takata recall" my vehicle is non operable and had problems with suspension, axel, knocking in the engine, transmission, window, back up camera, and many moreOwner complaint, filed 2019, at 19,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
1 complaintBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
Second row seat on the passenger side base will not fold down after the release handle was pulled so occupants in the 3rd row can exit the vehicle. The latch will not engage to its in a locked position.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Body, doors and structure
1 complaintRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
Rear lift gate door jams and the motorized function will not open or close the door. The door cannot be opened with the key or the switch on the dashboard. The only way to operate it is by manual forcefully opening or closing against the lift arms. The mechanism was replaced because it is still under warranty. However, it started doing…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 7,537 miles
Nissan Pathfinder complaints by year
Compare the 2018 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2018 midsize SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Nissan Pathfinder | About average | 3 |
| 2018 Toyota Highlander | About average | 5 |
| 2018 Honda Pilot | About average | 7 |
| 2018 Ford Explorer | One of the better years | 7 |
2018 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
Brakes Antilock / traction control / electronic limited slip
- Risk
- A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge.
Full recall 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.
Backup camera
- Risk
- The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge.
Full recall 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."
Brakes Antilock / traction control / electronic limited slip
- Risk
- A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.
2018 Nissan Pathfinder questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder?
The most reported problem areas on the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder are the brakes and stability control (25 complaints), the electrical system (14 complaints) and the engine and cooling (13 complaints).
Is the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder a good year to buy?
About average for the Pathfinder. Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Pathfinder year. The main thing to watch is the brakes and stability control, which half of owners reported by about 16,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Pathfinder years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder have?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The most recent, from Nov 2019, covers the antilock / traction control / electronic limited slip. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2018 Nissan Pathfinder problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the brakes and stability control gave a mileage of about 16,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the electrical system gave a mileage of about 20,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Nissan Pathfinder years should I avoid?
The Pathfinder years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2013, 2014 and 2015. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2012 and 2020. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder?
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- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
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