About average for the Pathfinder
Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Pathfinder year. The main thing to watch is the driver assist systems, which half of owners reported by about 55,000 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 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The most reported problem area is the driver assist systems (17, 22% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the brakes and stability control. That ranks 10th of 12 Pathfinder years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 2 recalls.
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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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder before you buy.
Driver assist systems
17 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 55,000 miles. Parts named most: Warnings (7), Automatic emergency braking (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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the contact was losing control of the vehicle. The Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated, with a rattling and beeping sound coming from the vehicle. An independent mechanic was contacted; however, the vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 122,236 miles
When using the Intelligent Cruise Control the car gets false readings and brakes your car automatically which is dangerous while driving on the highway.Owner complaint, filed 2021
Engine and cooling
16 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.
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
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 immediately. Mechanic stated vehicle needed a new engine. Noticed…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Upon a tune up request, mechanic discovered metal shavings in the engine. I got a second opinion, and was told that I needed a new engine. Vehicle is still under 100,000 miles.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Brakes and stability control
15 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 70,000 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
On three separate incidents my brakes have totally failed. I went to apply the brakes and the pedal went to the floor with no braking action at all. The most recent occurrence we were exiting a freeway and coming to a traffic signal. Our speed was approximately 45 MPH and upon applying the brakes they completely failed. The pedal went to…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the stop lamp switch warning light and the ABS warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the stop lamp switch had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired however, after the…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 99,000 miles
Electrical system
10 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
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
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 vehicle work fine. Safety issue because door remains…Owner complaint, filed 2025
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. There were no warning labels or messages that appeared.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Transmission and drivetrain
9 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
Vehicle Transfer Case had complete failure at 25,800 miles of street/highway use. My family had to pull to the shoulder of [XXX] in Maryland due to uncertain loud noises. The issue was reported to local Nissan dealer (where I purchased this vehicle new) and scheduled for repairs. The service manager stated that the $5,357 failure was…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal at a stop light, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the engine was revving abnormally. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where error codes were…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 123,000 miles
Body, doors and structure
7 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Body (6).
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
2019 Nissan Pathfinder SV 4x4 was purchased April 30, 2022- I've noticed that the hood moves, vibrates, flutters almost aggrssively while drivng on local streets and the hwy. It's as if the hood was made of paper or flimsy material and wants to fly off it's hinges. At times I'm fixated on it, although my attention should be on the road…Owner complaint, filed 2022
I have found out there is a recall for pathfinder 13-16 models about the hood latch, and that the hood might fly open at certain speeds. I have a 2019 pathfinder and since day 1 of the owner ship i ha e noticed that on a highway at high speed the hood is catching allot of air where the hood is literally flattering so to say. At one point…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Lights, wipers and visibility
6 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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact observed a melted spot and soot on the bottom of the front passenger’s side headlight assembly. The vehicle was taken to an auto body shop, where it was determined that the front passenger’s side headlight assembly needed to be…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 70,300 miles
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 but they would not turn on. After several attempts and moving…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Cruise control and acceleration
5 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
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
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while in a parking lot and reversing with the accelerator pedal depressed, the contact crashed into a vehicle. The contact mentioned that the accelerator pedal felt stiff and there there was no warning alert of the crash. The vehicle that was crashed into was unoccupied. The…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 70,000 miles
Cruise control does not always brake when coming close to object. ABS, traction control and collision warning lights will come on periodically causes cruse control to not operate at all. First time it happened was Dec of 2020, was told by dealer it was faulty sensor and was supposedly fixed yet warning lights continue to come on…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Fuel system
4 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 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 hesitation returned. The contact stated that while driving…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 115,000 miles
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 suggested that the vehicle be taken to the dealer. The…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 28,000 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
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 hitting me in the head, egg noted. No EMS treatment. Police…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 82,994 miles
The car broke on the highway (possibly drive train? Waiting for mechanic). Despite no impact, the steering wheel airbag deployed.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Seats and seat belts
2 complaintsBelts 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
The contact owned a 2019 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that her vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle travelling at 60 MPH. The crash caused her seatbelt to unlatch. The contact was able to brace herself but her spine was injured and shifted. The contact was not transported by an ambulance but went to urgent care that same…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 6,800 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the seat belt alert system failed to chime while the driver’s seat was occupied, and the seat belt was not fastened. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the vehicle was functioning properly and was not able to diagnose a failure. The vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 75,000 miles
Wheels and tires
2 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
Nissan uses bi-metal lug nuts, as does a number of other manufacturers, including Jeep. For Nissan, these are a steel lug nut covered with a shiny metal, likely chrome. Over time, there apparently has been corrosion, either galvanic or because the thermal cycling the wheel experiences allow moisture to get between the two metals and rust…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Drivers side rear tire blew out while coming to stoplight at approx 15 -20 MPH. No prior warning message If this had happened at highway speed it could have caused injury or death. There was no impact to the tire prior to blowout. We are retaining tire for inspection and are afraid to continue using the remaining 3 tires. We purchased 4…Owner complaint, filed 2021
Steering
1 complaintLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
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
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.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Nissan Pathfinder complaints by year
Compare the 2019 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2019 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Nissan Pathfinder | About average | 2 |
| 2019 Toyota Highlander | Among the worst years | 3 |
| 2019 Honda Pilot | Among the worst years | 13 |
| 2019 Subaru Ascent | Worse than most years | 9 |
2019 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."
2019 Nissan Pathfinder questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?
The most reported problem areas on the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder are the driver assist systems (17 complaints), the engine and cooling (16 complaints) and the brakes and stability control (15 complaints). Within the driver assist systems, owners most often name the warnings and automatic emergency braking.
Is the 2019 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 driver assist systems, which half of owners reported by about 55,000 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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder have?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2019 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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the driver assist systems gave a mileage of about 55,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 22,000 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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?
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