DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Nissan Pathfinder steering problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder have filed 6 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Pathfinder | 9 |
| 2015 Pathfinder | 3 |
| 2016 Pathfinder | 3 |
| 2017 Pathfinder | 8 |
| 2018 Pathfinder (this page) | 6 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 6 steering complaints filed for the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
No new NHTSA steering 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 steering 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.
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER 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.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I was in the process of turning on a back road, there was a guardrail to my left and and a truck with a trailer turning in front of me on my right. My sensors must have thought they were too close because my car locked up and I could not turn causing me to hit the guardrail.
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the brake pedal was depressed because the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the air bag then deployed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the steering wheel remained inoperable. The contact towed the vehicle to his place of…
"takata recall" my vehicle is non operable and had problems with suspension, axel, knocking in the engine, transmission, window, back up camera, and many more
Had steering trouble with your 2018 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 steering problem on the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder?
It's a meaningful issue. 6 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 15,918 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2018/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.