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severe Owners of the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Pathfinder | 4 |
| 2013 Pathfinder | 35 |
| 2014 Pathfinder (this page) | 20 |
| 2015 Pathfinder | 10 |
| 2016 Pathfinder | 12 |
| 2017 Pathfinder | 7 |
| 2018 Pathfinder | 7 |
Among the 17 model years of Nissan Pathfinder in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
All 2 active brakes recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
The under-torqued fasteners may result in a brake caliper separating from the wheel assembly causing a reduction in braking performance or reduced steering control. These conditions increase the risk of a crash.
The increased stopping distance may increase the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
ABS/VDC CAN DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES and CLAIMS INFORMATION sections have been revised. No other changes have been made. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has compiled Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) and Low Tire Pressure Warning System (LTPWS) information for: - Basic diagnosing of TPMS/LTPWS systems - Radio frequency interference causing a "No Data" (C1708, C1709, C1710, C1711) condition - Sensor leaks - Moving TPMS/LTPWS wheel assemblies from one vehicle to another and TPMS/LTPWS sensor registration - Air pressure changes with altitude and ambient temperatures - Aftermarket tire sealers - Aftermarket wheels - Inflating/deflating tires with TPMS/LTPWS sensors See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION When servicing run flat tires or low profile tires: - Special equipment and procedures are required to avoid damage. - Specifically, Tire Pressure Monitor transmitters (TPMS sensors) can be damaged when improperly dismounting and mounting tires. - TPMS sensors becoming damaged during mounting or dismounting tires are not covered under warranty. - To avoid such damage, ensure that the tire changer being used and the operator of the tire changer is capable of servicing run flat and low profile tires. - Operator?s manuals for such tire changers must be followed. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Nissan is conducting a dealer service action to inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both of the front brake torque members on certain specific 2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles currently in dealer inventory.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Brake failures appear across multiple failure modes in this Pathfinder generation. The most alarming: brake pedal becoming unresponsive or sinking to the floor during driving, forcing owners to pump the pedal multiple times or roll uncontrolled for distances up to 100 yards. Some owners report this at highway speeds (35–50 mph) causing collisions; one crash happened at 4,000 miles. Owners also report brake lights that stay on constantly—even when the engine is off—draining batteries and eliminating any visual indicator to following drivers that brakes are actually being applied.
A secondary pattern involves unexpected power loss during acceleration, especially from stops and traffic lights. Drivers describe the engine stumbling when pressing the gas pedal, sometimes happening multiple times per day. One owner noted this issue began after the dealer performed brake-related recall work.
Nissan issued NHTSA campaigns 13V445000 and 15V012000 for brake system problems in this model. Owners report dealers have replaced brake switches, relays, master cylinders, and boosters—some at owners' expense despite recall existence. However, many repairs fail to resolve the underlying issues. One dealership told an owner the vehicle was "designed to operate that way" when a brake pedal that sinks to the floor was presented. Another owner questions whether recall procedures were even completed properly. The ABS system has also reportedly locked up completely during braking, disabling normal brakes entirely for 100 feet.
Same Nissan Pathfinder brakes reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Brake pedal becomes unresponsive or sinks to the floor when applied. Owner must pump pedal multiple times to regain braking function, or brakes fail entirely until pedal is re-engaged. Can occur at highway speeds.
When: 1,600 to 74,000 miles; intermittent and unpredictable, sometimes during rain or on hills
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to floorboard without stopping vehicle; No response when brake pedal depressed at 50 mph; Must pump brakes repeatedly to regain function; Vehicle glides or rolls forward uncontrolled for distance (100 yards reported); Occurs on downhill grades; ABS warning light illuminates
Codes mentioned: ABS warning light, Brake warning light, Engine warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement attempted on at least one vehicle; failure persisted; independent mechanic and dealer both performed brake work with no resolution; one dealer claimed vehicle 'designed to operate that way'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V445000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical System) and 15V012000 (Service Brakes) cited by owners; dealer performed recall work (stop lamp switch, brake pedal position switch) but some owners report issues persisted; one owner states recall procedure may not have been completed properly
Stop lamp switch failure causes brake lights to stay illuminated even when brake pedal is not applied—when vehicle is in motion, at rest, and even when engine is off. Creates dangerous ambiguity about actual brake application and drains battery.
When: Occurs intermittently with frequency; reported throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights remain illuminated without brake pedal application; Brake lights stay on in motion, at rest, and when vehicle is powered off; Battery drained from continuous light draw; No way to determine if brakes are being applied to following drivers; Vehicle stalls when brake lights malfunction
Codes mentioned: Brake warning light, No diagnostic codes reported on some vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: Stop lamp switch replacement performed at dealership ($2,500+ in combined repairs cited in one case); relay replacement performed; parts cost owners money despite recall existence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V445000 covers this issue; dealers performed stop lamp switch and relay replacements; owners report they paid for recalls that should have been covered; owner questions whether recall was properly completed
Vehicle hesitates, stumbles, or loses power when accelerating from stop (traffic lights, stop signs) or during normal driving. Owner must continue pressing gas pedal to get vehicle moving. Intermittent and unpredictable, creating hazardous merging situations.
When: Intermittent; occurs multiple times per day in some cases; triggered especially when accelerating from complete stop
Symptoms owners cite: Car slows or does not accelerate when pedal pressed; Stumbling during acceleration from traffic lights or stop signs; Loss of power during highway merging with oncoming traffic; Engine revs forward without pedal input (after brake contact); Intermittent nature makes it unpredictable; happens multiple times per day in some cases
Codes mentioned: Powertrain warning light illuminates intermittently, No error codes reported in some cases despite symptoms
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer charged $2,500 for transmission transfer part replacement, which did not resolve issue; another dealership identified brake light switch as cause of acceleration loss
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers investigated; one attributed transmission issue (repair unsuccessful); another linked to faulty brake light switch; owner claims issues began after dealer performed brake-related recall work
Brake system components (booster, master cylinder) produce abnormal noise and fail to function properly. Owners report noise after recall repairs performed; subsequent diagnosis reveals major component failure requiring expensive replacement.
When: After recall work performed; complaint ongoing for up to 2 years
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from brake system; Noise appears after recall work completion; Shifting issues concurrent with brake noise
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder and brake booster replacement required; cost $1,600+ for booster/cylinder work; owner had comprehensive dealership service history (oil changes, brake pads/rotors, battery)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer performed recall work (stop lamp switch, brake pedal position switch); subsequent diagnosis of booster/cylinder failure; Nissan and dealership denied warranty/recall assistance for repair costs
Emergency/parking brake does not hold vehicle in place on inclines. Vehicle slides downhill even with emergency brake fully engaged. Also reported: emergency brake light illuminates while driving with no braking loss, causing driver confusion and near-crash.
When: Occurs on inclines; emergency brake light illumination during normal driving reported
Symptoms owners cite: Parking brake/emergency brake depressed to floor but does not hold vehicle; Vehicle slides on incline with emergency brake fully engaged; Emergency brake light illuminates during driving without actual brake failure; Owner crashed into fence when emergency brake light illuminated
Codes mentioned: Emergency brake warning light
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs attempted; owner crashed vehicle into fence to stop it
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented for this failure
ABS system activates and locks up brakes completely, disabling normal braking for extended distance (100 feet reported). Vehicle becomes uncontrollable during braking attempt.
When: During braking event; occurred once with severe consequences
Symptoms owners cite: ABS engages and stays on, completely shutting down brakes; Vehicle rolls through stop sign uncontrolled for 100 feet; Nearly strikes pedestrians and other vehicles
Codes mentioned: ABS warning light
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.