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ProblemsByVin Index / 2011-NISSAN-PATHFINDER / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2011 Nissan Pathfinder owner complaints

45 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 1 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

airbags 4 complaints shown

11 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
09/14/2023 ODI #11544564.0

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

09/07/2016 38,000 mi ODI #10904299.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Nissan pathfinder. While the vehicle was stationary, the passenger side air bag indicator illuminated without warning. The vehicle was repaired, but the issue recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 38,000.

09/01/2018 114,500 mi ODI #11123940.0

The passenger air bag light off comes on at times.

07/29/2014 91,200 mi ODI #10617428.0

After stopping at stop sign and turning. The airbag indicator light started flashing. Took it to the dearlership it was bought from. They "repaired" the problem. After traveling less than 2 miles from dealerships,the light started back flashing. I returned to dealership. They wanted to know if I had wrecked the vehicle. I have not. After 2 hrs, they said I would have to replace the spiral cable and it was not covered by the extended warranty. It would be close to 600 dollars. I was also told that if an accident were to occur, my airbags would not deploy. I feel this is a safety issue that should be addressed. That is like telling someone the seatbelt in their car will not work. Not everyone has that kind of money to spend these days. *js

other 3 complaints shown

12/17/2010 ODI #10371044.0

Tl*the contact owns a 2011 Nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the hood popped open suddenly. The contact had to tie the hood down with rope. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated that the vehicle could have possibly been hit in a parking lot which caused the failure. The vehicle was being repaired. The failure mileage was 600.

11/14/2013 15,108 mi ODI #10552206.0

While driving hear a rattling noise which seems to be coming from dash. While adj passenger seat it want stop advances too far button become stuck. *tr

10/24/2012 9,000 mi Fire ODI #10482141.0

We were woken up by load popping sounds coming from outside our residence at approximately 130 am. When I looked out the window I saw that our 8 month old 2011 Nissan pathfinder le was on fire in our driveway. This fire was so intense that the entire passenger compartment of the vehicle was engulfed with 15-20 ft high flames. We had not driven the car in 2 days and there had been zero after market modifications or major mechanical done on the vehicle. The fire department said that there was no evidence of suspicious behavior involved in the fire. *tr

suspension 2 complaints shown

4 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $900 · see suspension cluster analysis →
12/13/2023 ODI #11559867.0

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 on this make/model for years 2004 to 2009. This vehicle is 2011 with no recall as yet.

10/23/2021 ODI #11437884.0

When I applied the brakes, a slippage and rubbing noise occurs. Moments later, I could brake. No engine lights are visible on the dashboard. This has occurred several times.

electrical 2 complaints shown

3 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
11/14/2013 40,000 mi ODI #10552210.0

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

10/23/2018 ODI #11142214.0

Drivers side door does not unlock. Have to put window down and unlock from the outside

powertrain 2 complaints shown

6 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
10/24/2021 ODI #11437971.0

The Vehicle will frequently and without warning lose all power while in the roadway. Last evening I was exiting the highway when I lost engine power and power steering. The dashboard lights came on and I had to coast to the nearest driveway. This has happened multiple times before, always without warning. When I have taken it to two nissan dealerships they have told me to continue driving it until it happens again because there is no code appearing. Finally it will happen enough where there will be a code and they can repair it. It always ends up being some sort of sensor. This has been going on for approximately 4-5 years.

08/12/2014 45,000 mi ODI #10622665.0

Stopped car and transmission, brakes, steering all quit working and car would not restart. Bolt attaching transmission cable to gear box fell off!! I was very luck where it happened. Potentially extremely dangerous.

steering 2 complaints shown

10/03/2014 26,578 mi ODI #10641336.0

The vehicle handles smoothly on a smooth surface, but when I hit a small bump in the road, the steering wheel shimmies giving you the feeling that you might lose control. Big bumps in the road at higher speeds (60-70 MPH) are decidedly uncomfortable. I took the vehicle to a Nissan dealer and a very knowledgeable tecnician drove the vehicle with me but could find no structural problem. The dealer I purchased the vehicle from machine balanced and aligned the vehicle but the behavior of the vehicle remains the same. The maintenance manager went on line in the internet to search for any common complaints and concluded that what I feel and see is the result of the way the vehicle frame is made which causes the movement when you hit a bump or divot in the road. I have to hold onto the wheel when

08/03/2016 62,000 mi ODI #10892705.0

My vehicle is to the point I am afraid to drive it. Something in steering mechanism, idk but when driving any differential in the road the vehicle is all over the road.. I am a single person with grandchildren and this is not safe. It is so bad it walks into another lane of traffic. This started a few weeks ago and I took to a local mechanic and he could not find a problem.

brakes 2 complaints shown

4 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $450 · see brakes cluster analysis →
09/30/2022 ODI #11487315.0

Brake are to the floor, will not come back off the floor. I have everything replace including master cylinder at Nissan. They were unable to figure out what is causing this

08/29/2017 86,000 mi ODI #11020266.0

Pedal lost pressure, when braking on a low-friction surface or uneven surface, causes the pedal to lose pressure or go "to the floor,

visibility 1 complaint shown

12/25/2010 ODI #10372371.0

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 not recessed and can become depressed from being in your pocket or by leaning against something with the keys in your pocket. His can result in a ruined interior or ruined interior electronics or interior contents theft. *tr

wheels 1 complaint shown

11/16/2015 9,700 mi ODI #10791452.0

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 [xxx] if photos of cracks needed parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).*cc

engine 1 complaint shown

6 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
09/18/2019 167,000 mi ODI #11256327.0

While driving down the road at speeds of 40 MPH my car's engine has stalled. My car at times will not turn over but then will crank and the vdc slip light comes on and my engine sputters. The battery is good, the alternator is good. Recently it almost stalled while driving, the battery light came on but then it accelerated just fine. Now it is intermittently making a loud humming/grinding noise.

Showing 300 of 45 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Nissan/Pathfinder#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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