How the 2023 compares
Too new to judge fully
It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Pathfinder year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the electrical system.
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 107 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. The most reported problem area is the electrical system (24, 22% of complaints), followed by the fuel system and the brakes and stability control. That ranks 6th of 12 Pathfinder years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 1 recall.
Complaints107filed with NHTSA
Recalls1for this model year
Crashes41 injury reported
Fires0reported in complaints
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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 2023 Nissan Pathfinder before you buy.
Electrical system
24 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
The vehicle's around view camera control unit has failed. None of the vehicle's cameras are working. The Nissan dealership has confirmed the issue and has suggested replacement of the part. The vehicle is just out of the original warranty period.Owner complaint, filed 2026
When we purchased this vehicle in June 2023, one of the first things I noticed, was an unusual switch on the steering wheel to allow, selecting and viewing all of the vehicle display information. This switch is located on the left side of the steering wheel. It is labeled OK meaning OK to display the selected menu item when you depress…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Fuel system
23 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 shifted itself to neutral when stopping at a red light. I had to shift the car back to drive. When I tried to pull off from the red light, the car nearly shut off. Just researching other similar incidents, the problem is related to the start/stop function.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Vehicle engine stalled when approaching an ATM, blocking the lane. After 15 minutes the vehicle was able to start, but stalled again at an intersection. It was towed to a Nissan service center.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Brakes and stability control
22 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
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
2023 Nissan Pathfinder. Rear brake pads are wearing at a premature and excessive rate: replaced by the dealer approximately April 2026; on October 19, 2026, at approximately 30,172 miles, they measured 6 mm remaining while the front pads measured 8 mm. Rear pads wearing faster than front pads is atypical. Earlier dealer measurements were…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Premature wear (29k miles) of rear brake pads. I have a report from NTB aka Mavis Took it in today and found 1mm left on back brakes, front standard wear. No alerts or singals were seen in the carOwner complaint, filed 2026
Engine and cooling
16 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 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle shut off. The driver was able to restart the vehicle after several hours. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact received an email…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 5,931 miles
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral(N). The check engine, seat belt, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle briefly experienced unintended…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 43,000 miles
Driver assist systems
15 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Warnings (7).
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
My car only has 64000 miles on it and the back up camera module went out, I have had same issue with a 2019 model I had, and I have seen online where others have had the same issues.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Front Parking assist sensors excessively activates theyre calibrated no faults given to Nissan Tech even at a complete stop they go off with loud obnoxious beeping this has been documented by my local dealer they're dumbfounded because there's no faults any speed under 6 MPH they're going off non stop as if there's obstruction or object…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Transmission and drivetrain
13 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
Heard a high pitch whistle sound coming from front right of vehicle when accelerating. Mechanic confirmed it’s a vacuum leak in the intake manifold runner. Nissan says this is not part of powertrain warranty will not cover. Last I checked the intake is part of powertrain. Vehicle has 40,000 miles on it. Have seen multiple other…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The second issue that I have with my 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum edition involves the ten-speed transmission, which desperately needs a software update. I pulled out at an intersection and gave the Pathfinder some gas. I did not come to a complete stop prior. Nothing happened because the transmission was busy searching for a gear.…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Lights, wipers and visibility
7 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
Windshield cracked on passenger side 2 weeks after purchase. Then a few months later a star formed behind rearview mirror in middle of glass. The windshield is pitted in spots. Then last week the driver window cracked and has ran all the way up the window in a day. I feel like the glass in my car if bad. I reported it to my dealership…Owner complaint, filed 2024
I would like to submit a safety concern for a new vehicle that I purchased in April. The Nissan Pathfinder Platinum edition is indeed a very nice vehicle, but there are two issues that need to be addressed immediately. The first is that the windshield washer probe is located one- and one-half inches inside the hood near the windshield.…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Seats and seat belts
5 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
Two seatbelt locking mechanisms have failed to lock the seatbelt buckles in place; the third seatbelt locking meachanism failed to release the buckle. All located in the second row of my vehicle. The first two have been replaced by the dealer. The dealer was unable to replace the seatbelt locking mecanism on the third because we dropped…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Passenger side captain seat frame has too much play causing shaking and noise in the seat when passenger is in seat. Frame was replaced 05/2024 and same issue has occurred less than a year later. After accident on 10/17/2025, sound has gotten worse in seat and inspection shows frame to be critical. At time of accident passenger was in…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Cruise control and acceleration
3 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
On July 20, 2026, my 2023 Nissan Pathfinder failed to accelerate after stopping at a red light. The engine did not rev, and the vehicle barely moved despite accelerator input. After 40 seconds the car start moving normally. I got the car towed to the dealership. The dealer could not reproduce the condition and reprogrammed the ECM under…Owner complaint, filed 2026
While driving on the interstate with my family, my 2023 Nissan Pathfinder suddenly began to fail (limp Mode), forcing me to pull onto the shoulder in a dangerous situation.I was in the farthest lane to the left, with no shoulder available. I had to cruise all the way across two lanes with NO acceleration, but my flashers and the grace of…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Air bags
2 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
The airbag is rattling and clicking. Safety issue. Took to local Nissan dealership. They advise me the appointment they had an available was a month out. Issue raises serious concern for safety and possible airbag deployment.Owner complaint, filed 2022
The contact owned a 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at 17 MPH at night, he failed to see a trailer ahead on the road and rear-ended the trailer. The air bag warning light was illuminated before the collision. The contact stated that the trailer’s brake lights were not illuminated. The Forward Collision…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 10,080 miles
Nissan Pathfinder complaints by year
Compare the 2023 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2023 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Nissan Pathfinder | Too new to judge | 1 |
| 2023 Toyota Highlander | Too new to judge | 9 |
| 2023 Honda Pilot | Too new to judge | 5 |
| 2023 Kia Telluride | Too new to judge | 6 |
2023 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
This is every recall issued for the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.
Seats Critical fasteners
- Risk
- An unsecured seat with broken welds may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect the driver's seat rail clearance, and if necessary, replace the driver's seat cushion frame, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 Rogue, Pathfinder, and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The driver's powered seat may not be fully secured to the seat frame, causing the seat frame welds to detach from the rear inboard seat bracket.
2023 Nissan Pathfinder questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder?
The most reported problem areas on the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder are the electrical system (24 complaints), the fuel system (23 complaints) and the brakes and stability control (22 complaints).
Is the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder a good year to buy?
Too new to judge fully. It has been on the road 3 years, so complaints are still coming in. So far it has fewer than a typical older Pathfinder year, which is normal for a newer car. The area owners report most so far is the electrical system. 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 2023 Nissan Pathfinder have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. The most recent, from Apr 2023, covers the critical fasteners. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
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.
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These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model