CAN COMMUNICATION â NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Nissan Pathfinder engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder have filed 39 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 51,300 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
39
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Pathfinder | 6 |
| 2012 Pathfinder | 3 |
| 2013 Pathfinder | 36 |
| 2014 Pathfinder | 32 |
| 2015 Pathfinder (this page) | 39 |
| 2016 Pathfinder | 20 |
| 2017 Pathfinder | 55 |
| 2018 Pathfinder | 7 |
| 2019 Pathfinder | 8 |
When does it fail?
Of the 39 engine complaints filed for the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 39 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗REMOTE ENGINE START NOT WORKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗MIL ON WITH P0603 STORED FOR ECM BACK UP CIRCUIT This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on page 3. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint across these 39 narratives is premature failure of the dual radiator and condenser fan assembly. Owners consistently describe loud rattling, clacking, clunking, or buzzing sounds that start when the A/C or heater is engaged and stop when the climate control is shut off. The noise typically begins between 30,000 and 65,000 miles. Inspection reveals worn bearings, wobbling or off-balance blades, and fans rubbing against the shroud. Replacement of the complete fan motor assembly runs $900–$1,100 at dealerships, or $600 at independent shops; the OEM part alone costs $288–$513. Multiple owners report the part failing twice on the same vehicle within the warranty period and again at higher mileage.
A secondary cluster of complaints involves sudden power loss or hesitation during acceleration, most often requiring a brake pedal tap followed by reapplying the throttle to restore power. Some owners experience complete stalling without warning, either while accelerating from a stop or at traffic lights. One narrative reports the vehicle stalling on a highway at 20+ mph.
Less common but serious are reports of the engine sputtering intermittently for months, accompanied by white smoke on startup, and one claim that the transmission and engine require replacement.
Nissan has not issued a recall for any of these issues, though owners report dealership service managers acknowledge replacing these fans regularly and note these vehicles are "notorious" for certain problems.
Same Nissan Pathfinder engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Radiator/Cooling Fan Bearing Failure
Dual radiator and condenser fan assembly bearings wear out prematurely, causing the fan to wobble, rattle, or make loud clacking/clunking noise. The fan may rub against the shroud. In some cases, fan blades lose balance or break, and the assembly may need complete replacement.
When: 30,000–106,000 miles; most commonly reported at 30,000–60,000 miles and again around 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud rattling, clacking, clunking, or buzzing noise when A/C or heater is turned on; Noise stops when A/C or heat is turned off; Fan wobbles or vibrates when running; Fan blade appears loose or off-balance; Rubbing sound from fan against shroud
Repairs/costs cited: OEM part cost ~$288–$513; dealer repair typically $900–$1,100; some owners had it done at independent shops for ~$600. Complete fan motor assembly replacement required. Multiple owners report the same part failing a second time at higher mileage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan is aware of the issue but has not issued a recall as of these complaints. Dealership service managers have indicated they replace these fans regularly. Some owners report dealers charging diagnostic fees or denying warranty coverage for out-of-warranty vehicles.
Engine Power Loss / Acceleration Hesitation
Vehicle experiences sudden, intermittent loss of engine power during acceleration or steady driving. Engine does not stall but power returns within seconds. Some incidents occur when accelerating from a stop or at traffic lights; others happen at speed. Tapping the brake and reapplying the accelerator sometimes resolves the issue temporarily.
When: 38,000–71,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden complete loss of power during acceleration; Vehicle only moves at slightly higher than idle speed after a stop; Vehicle will not accelerate past current speed no matter how hard pedal is pressed; RPMs do not rise during power loss event; Power returns within seconds; Issue is intermittent and unpredictable; Slip light indicator may illuminate during event; Studder or delayed acceleration from stop requiring pedal release and reapplication
Repairs/costs cited: One owner mentioned stop lamp switch replacement as a diagnosis; however, narratives do not indicate root cause or successful repair resolution.
Engine Sputtering and White Smoke
Engine sputters on and off intermittently for extended periods (6+ months). White smoke blows from exhaust when cranking, and sputtering worsens. One owner reports dealership claim that transmission and engine require replacement; the same owner notes these vehicles are 'notorious for these issues.'
When: 6+ months of intermittent sputtering; accelerated white smoke condition at time of report
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent sputtering on and off; White smoke from exhaust when starting; Worsening sputtering over time; Engine runs but unstable
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership recommended complete transmission and engine replacement; repair not completed as of narrative submission.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership acknowledged these vehicles are 'notorious' for sputtering and transmission issues; however, no recall issued.
Engine Stalling During Acceleration
Vehicle stalls without warning while attempting to accelerate. No warning lights appear before stall. Includes one incident of sudden complete stall on highway and another at traffic light with no power for 3–4 seconds before recovery.
When: 38,000 miles; also reported during highway and stop-light driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls when accelerator pedal is applied; Sudden complete loss of power; No warning indicators illuminated before stall; Vehicle stops unexpectedly on highway or at traffic light
Engine Jerking and Stalling While Driving
While driving at 20+ mph, vehicle jerks back and forth and then stalls suddenly with no warning. One owner experienced this in the middle of a highway lane.
When: During normal highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerks back and forth; Sudden stall with no warning; Complete loss of power while in motion
Synthesized from 39 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Engine cooling fan makes loud noise when the ac/heat is turned on. And stops when the ac/heats turns off. Only 42,000 miles. Fan seems to wobble a bit
cvt transmission is the worse my vehicle stopped on me on the highway coming from miami to orlando no warning nothing just stopped, the vehicle goes faster than it actually says with my children the only direction it could go into is reverse late at night it was so scary. I know if I could change my vehicle I would for a vehicle without CVT Transmission it doesn't shift like normal which is…
Radiator fan (right side) no longer spinning smoothly, creating loud noise. Noise began suddenly at 4.5 years of age (65k miles), and was noticed during city driving and while stopped (engine running). Required replacement of "fan motor assembly" to correct.
Had engine trouble with your 2015 Nissan Pathfinder?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 39 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 40,500 and 61,200 miles, with the median around 51,300. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,500; a quarter make it past 61,200. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Nissan/Pathfinder.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.