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Light NHTSA footprint — 45 owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2011 Nissan Pathfinder has 45 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 11 complaints, typically surfacing around 79,663 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Pathfinder | 328 | 5 |
| 2009 Pathfinder | 37 | 4 |
| 2010 Pathfinder | 40 | 5 |
| 2011 Pathfinder (this page) | 45 | 2 |
| 2012 Pathfinder | 23 | 2 |
| 2013 Pathfinder | 890 | 11 |
| 2014 Pathfinder | 573 | 11 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
An autodown feature on the front windows of my 2011 Nissan pathfinder will roll the windows down because the buttons on the keyfob are not recessed. Pressing the open button on the remote for more than three seconds causes the windows to roll down. The buttons on the remote are…
Frame is rotted from rust. Not drivable as drive train connection to wheels in rear end ready to fail at any moment. Rust is so bad it will require towing to be repaired. Repair estimate exceeds blue book value. $4800. 110,000 current mileage. Recall for this problem existed…
Bf goodrich radial long trail t/a tires with 9,700 miles on them . Cracks around lugs on tread.same on all four tires.spec. Model#p265/65r17 (110t) m+sbeen checking recalls but not listed.doing search on this model,finding others experiencing the same problem. Contact me at…
Keyless entry doesn't work. Put in actual key still doesn't work. Car door want open for about 1-2 min of trying once door unlock put actual key in ignition and still will not start for about 2 or more mins of trying. *tr
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 11 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 79,663 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 45 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 79,663 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 11 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 79,663 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 79,663 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 45 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.