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 ↗2016 Nissan Pathfinder brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 52,350 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Pathfinder | 35 |
| 2014 Pathfinder | 20 |
| 2015 Pathfinder | 10 |
| 2016 Pathfinder (this page) | 12 |
| 2017 Pathfinder | 7 |
| 2018 Pathfinder | 7 |
| 2019 Pathfinder | 7 |
| 2020 Pathfinder | 7 |
4crashes
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
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.
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2016 Pathfinder brake system has generated consistent complaints of pedal fade and failure. Most commonly, the brake pedal sinks to the floorboard while the vehicle is stopped at lights or intersections, allowing the car to creep forward—sometimes into other vehicles. This typically happens after the vehicle has been driven for extended periods in warm conditions. Owners report pumping the brakes to regain pressure and stop the vehicle. Several owners also describe complete brake failure while driving at city and highway speeds, with the brake pedal producing no resistance when depressed. One owner lost all brake fluid on a highway and had to add fluid to limp to a dealership.
Dealerships have attempted master cylinder replacement on multiple vehicles without resolving the fade issue and in some cases have found no fluid leaks or cause. One dealership acknowledged the pedal fade as a known issue on these vehicles. A wheel separation incident at unknown mileage—where the right front wheel fell off completely—occurred with no prior wheel work or accidents documented.
The manufacturer has been notified of failures and opened cases but has not issued a recall. No unified repair protocol or root cause explanation has been provided to owners.
Same Nissan Pathfinder brakes reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal fades to floor when stopped
Brake pedal loses pressure and travels to floorboard while vehicle is stationary or at low speed, causing vehicle to creep forward. Issue is intermittent and often occurs when vehicle is hot after extended driving. Owners pump brake pedal to regain pressure and stop vehicle. Some incidents result in collisions.
When: 32,200 miles, 62,000 miles, 64,175 miles; typically occurs when vehicle is hot after prolonged driving
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to floor while stopped; Vehicle creeps forward despite brakes being applied; Pedal fades and requires pumping to regain pressure; Abnormal suction sound heard when brake pedal depressed; Issue intermittent, mostly when vehicle is hot
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosis inconclusive on multiple vehicles; master cylinder replacement attempted on several vehicles without resolving issue; some dealerships found no fluid leaks; some dealers could not determine cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and opened cases (case number 32615475 cited); Nissan dealership acknowledged as common issue; no recall issued
Complete brake failure while driving
Brake system fails to respond when brake pedal is depressed while vehicle is in motion, resulting in inability to stop vehicle. Incidents occur at highway and city speeds and result in collisions or near-collisions.
When: 25,000 miles; 45 MPH; 50 MPH; highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed with no brake response; Vehicle unable to stop or braking distance extended; No warning lights illuminated; Vehicle crashes into ditch, pool, or other objects
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle found low on brake fluid after highway failure; dealership initial inspection found nothing wrong; vehicles not repaired at dealerships
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and opened case (case number 32615475 cited); not repaired under warranty or recall
Brake fluid loss
Vehicle loses brake fluid, resulting in brake pedal traveling to floor and loss of braking capability. Fluid loss evident when owner adds fluid to resume operation.
When: Unknown mileage; occurred while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor; Loss of brake fluid; Unable to stop vehicle without adding fluid
Repairs/costs cited: Owner added brake fluid to limp vehicle to dealer; dealership stated nothing wrong despite fluid loss being verified
Wheel separation
Right front wheel (tire and rim) separated from vehicle while driving, causing vehicle to drop onto remaining wheel assembly. Wheel traveled into field and struck fence. Extensive damage to fender, fender well, wheel assembly, suspension, brake system, and tire.
When: Since purchase in August 2016; unknown mileage; no prior wheel work performed
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden vibration felt while driving; Right front wheel separated completely from vehicle; Vehicle dropped onto remaining suspension
Repairs/costs cited: Damage includes fender, fender well, entire wheel assembly, right front suspension, brake system, right front tire; potential frame or drivetrain damage unknown
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2016 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 brakes problem on the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 18,000 and 62,000 miles, with the median around 52,350. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 62,000. 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 $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.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2016/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.