SERVICE INFORMATION FOR FUEL GAUGE INACCURATE WITH DTCS STORED IN ECM SERVICE INFORMATION If a fuel level sensor has been diagnosed as sending an incorrect level signal, and one or more of the following DTCs are stored in the ECM, do not replace the entire âFuel Level Sensor Unit, Fuel Filter and Fuel Pump Assemblyâ (fuel pump assembly). The fuel level sensor can be replaced separately. ï· P0460 (FUEL LEV SEN SLOSH) ï· P0461 (FUEL LEVEL SENSOR) ï· P0462 (FUEL LEVL SEN/CIRC) ï· P0463 (FUEL LEVL SEN/CIRC) NOTE: Warranty claims referring to fuel level issues that result in the replacement of the entire fuel pump assembly will be charged back.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Nissan Pathfinder engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 50,000 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
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Pathfinder | 3 |
| 2013 Pathfinder | 36 |
| 2014 Pathfinder | 32 |
| 2015 Pathfinder | 39 |
| 2016 Pathfinder (this page) | 20 |
| 2017 Pathfinder | 55 |
| 2018 Pathfinder | 7 |
| 2019 Pathfinder | 8 |
| 2020 Pathfinder | 11 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 20 engine complaints filed for the 2016 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
Engine accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 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.
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 ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The cooling fan bearing failure strikes the 2016 Pathfinder across a wide mileage band, from 16,000 to 112,000 miles, but clusters heavily in the 30,000–60,000 range. Owners describe loud clanking, clicking, or knocking sounds that occur both at idle and while driving, often intensifying when the heater or air conditioning runs. The noise stems from bearing wear causing the fan to rub against its shroud or seize entirely.
The severity escalates quickly. Owners report engine overheating, vibration in the steering wheel and brake pedal, and concerns that a seized fan could damage the radiator or cause the engine to overheat and stall on the highway. One owner feared fire risk from prolonged overheating.
Repair cost is substantial: $800–$1,268 for the complete dual-fan shroud assembly and integrated computer module. Nissan designs the assembly as a single unit, preventing cheaper individual fan or bearing replacement. At the time of reporting, replacement parts were backordered across dealerships and independent suppliers due to the volume of failures.
Warranty support is inconsistent. Nissan issued TSB NTB17-100 in October 2017 but has not recalled or extended warranty coverage. Out-of-warranty repair claims have been denied. Most troubling, two owners experienced replacement assembly failures within months or a few thousand miles of the initial repair, suggesting the replacement parts may carry the same defect.
Same Nissan Pathfinder engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Radiator cooling fan bearing failure
Fan bearings wear prematurely, causing the fan to lock up, seize, or rub against the shroud. Owners report the dual-fan shroud assembly fails as a unit, requiring replacement of both fans, shroud, and integrated computer module rather than individual component repair.
When: Consistently 16,000–112,000 miles; most failures reported between 29,000–85,000 miles, with clustering around 30,000–60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking, clanking, clicking, or clacking noise from engine compartment; Humming or buzzing sound; Noise occurs both when driving and at idle; Noise increases when heater or AC is turned on; Engine overheating and temperature gauge rising; Vibration or shaking in steering wheel and brake pedal; Fan bearing seizing or fan rubbing against shroud
Repairs/costs cited: Complete fan shroud assembly replacement (both radiator and cooling fans plus computer module) cost $800–$1,268 at dealership; labor not separated in most reports. Replacement parts were on backorder at multiple dealer and independent locations due to high volume of failures. Some owners paid $1,016–$1,100 for repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB NTB17-100 issued October 2017; Nissan denied warranty reimbursement claims for out-of-warranty repairs; dealership advised owners to pursue reimbursement separately; one owner was referred to NHTSA hotline instead of offered assistance.
Repeated fan assembly failure
Replacement fan assemblies failed again within 3,000 miles or approximately 8 months of the first replacement, indicating either inadequate repair design or defective replacement parts.
When: First failure at 65,191 miles (November 2017); second failure at 112,303 miles (February 2019, approximately 15 months and 47,000 miles later); another owner experienced first failure in December 2021 and second failure in May 2022 (approximately 3,000 miles and 5 months later)
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking noise from engine; Bearing failure recurring in replacement assembly
Repairs/costs cited: First replacement cost $1,268.49; second replacement cost $1,016.21. Owners kept defective parts for inspection and described the problem as widespread across Nissan cooling fan assemblies.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan regional office denied reimbursement request for second repair. Dealership acknowledged the issue as widespread and advised owner to continue pursuing reimbursement.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Heater/ac cooling fan crapped out at 45k. Bearings/bushings causing loud, crunching noises when heat or ac is on. The same thing happened to me on my 2013 pathfinder.
Our Nissan pathfinder 2016 was suddenly making loud noise which was coming from the front (engine area). The dealer diagnosed that replacement of fan shroud is necessary and that's expensive. We send car for regular maintenance, what else we can do!! The miles on my car is above 50000 and that's when I came across this problem. I have never had this kind of problem in any of my cars so far. This…
At 48,800 miles radiator fan failed. As was explained to me by service advisor at Nissan dealer, a mounting part failed and caused the fan to rub against the shroud when in operation. Many reports of failure on various websites for model years 2014 -2016, most occurring in the 50,000 mile range.
Radiator fan assembly failed and needed replacement as indicated by several pathfinder owners from 2014 up to the present.
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 20 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 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 36,500 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,500; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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 $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/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.