Last updated: 2026-10-10

2024 Nissan Pathfinder
RELIABILITY SCORE: 74/100 (GOOD)

2024 Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Report

The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder rates good for reliability, but owners report stalling and drops into neutral that dealers often cannot reproduce.

Recalls

2

Complaints

38

Complaint Rate

5.1per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$542

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,600–$3,300

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity71/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact80/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity84/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Good standing and mid-pack among Pathfinder years, with stop-start stalling and neutral drops as the main complaints and two recalls on seat belts and air bags.

Top Issues to Watch

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8)
  • POWER TRAIN (6)
  • ENGINE (4)

Should You Buy the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder?

A reasonable buy. Owner complaints and federal records place this year above average among 2024 SUVs and in the middle of the eight scored Pathfinder years. It earns 5 of 5 federal crash-test stars, and independent repair-cost data estimates $542 a year against $573 for its class. The 2023 rates about the same, while the 2025 rates better.

The serious complaints involve sudden power loss. Owners report the engine shutting off under auto stop-start and not restarting, and the vehicle dropping into neutral at a stop sign or in an intersection. Transmission reports include popping out of gear and losing acceleration at highway speed. Dealers often find nothing stored, so cars go back unrepaired. Rear brake pads wore out early, between 12,000 and 26,000 miles. Federal records list two recalls, covering seat belts and air bags.

Ask the seller for proof that both recalls were completed. Request service records for any stalling or neutral-drop complaint, and test drive with stop-start active. The 2025 is worth a look if you want a better-rated year.

Compared to the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, which scored 4 points higher. See also the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • +Acceptable reliability score
  • +$31 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize SUVs
  • +Low major repair risk (15%)
  • +Low recall count

Cons

  • −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Engine shuts off under auto stop-start and fails to restart (8 complaints)
  • −POWER TRAIN issues reported (6 complaints)

Compare 2024 Nissan Pathfinder With

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 2 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8)
  • POWER TRAIN (6)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

2

recalls on record

The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

5.1

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 6.9

LowAvgHigh
Low

Safety Incidents

1

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2024 Nissan Pathfinder Recall Details

2 recalls have been issued for the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

24V1760002024-03-05

SEAT BELTS

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The lap belt pretensioner in the left-side front seat belt assembly may be improperly secured, due to a missing rivet. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection," 209 "Seat Belt Assemblies," and 210 "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence

An unsecured lap belt pretensioner will not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the left-side front lap seat belt pretensioner assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD106 and PD107.

24V1540002024-02-27

AIR BAGS

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.

Consequence

An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD104, and PMA34.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2024 Nissan Pathfinder? Check its history first

Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2024 Nissan Pathfinder NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 4/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 16.9%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Front Center Airbag)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (2nd row, 3rd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, Roof)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Nissan PathfinderRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$542

vs $573 avg for midsize SUVs

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.4

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

15%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Pathfinder
$542
Category Avg
$573
All Vehicles
$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Nissan Pathfinder Resale Value

The Nissan Pathfinder is estimated to retain about 52.3% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Nissan Pathfinder model overall and is not specific to the 2024 model year.

Value Retained
52.3%

after 5 years

Depreciation
47.7%

over the same period

Listings Analyzed
127

U.S. used-car listings

Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Nissan Pathfinder depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

21–23 MPG

Running cost: $3,150–$3,850/yr

Fuel + repair

20–21 city / 23–27 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2024 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
Pathfinder 2WD 3.5L 6-cylFront-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S9)202723$2,600
Pathfinder 4WD 3.5L 6-cyl4-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S9)212723$2,600
Pathfinder 4WD Platinum 3.5L 6-cyl4-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S9)202522$2,700
Pathfinder 4WD Rock Creek 3.5L 6-cyl4-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S9)202321$3,300

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2024 Nissan Pathfinder.

  • Leave auto stop-start on through several full stops and confirm the engine restarts and the car stays in gear.

  • Measure rear brake pad thickness and compare it to the fronts. Much thinner rears point to the known wear problem.

  • Accelerate hard up an on-ramp and while passing. Listen for a whine and watch for hesitation or missed upshifts.

  • Check the headliner, carpets and center console for water stains, dampness or a musty smell.

  • Drive at highway speed and check whether the driver side mirror shakes enough to blur the view.

  • Back up at night using the 360 camera and judge whether the picture is clear enough to spot obstacles.

  • Ask for service records showing repeat check engine visits, or battery, fuel pump or transmission replacements.

  • Set adaptive cruise on an open highway and watch for sudden braking or collision warnings with no traffic ahead.

2024 Nissan Pathfinder Common Problems by Component

38 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

8
6
4
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8)POWER TRAIN (6)ENGINE (4)STRUCTURE (3)SERVICE BRAKES (3)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2)STEERING (2)FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2)Other (8)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

8 complaints

The engine shuts off under auto stop-start and fails to restart. In some cases the vehicle drops into neutral at a stop sign or dies in an intersection. Repeated check engine lights lead to a series of part swaps, including the battery, sensors, fuel injectors and fuel pump, without a lasting fix. Faults often clear on restart, so dealers find nothing stored. Other reports describe dead batteries, a power outlet that keeps failing, AC blowing hot air, and fuzzy night images from the 360 camera that dealers call normal. Stalling in traffic is a real crash risk.

8 complaints total

POWER TRAIN

6 complaints

The transmission pops out of gear, refuses to upshift with a loud whine, or loses acceleration at highway speed even with the pedal floored. Some reports describe the engine shutting off at a stoplight while the transmission drops to neutral. On hills, the vehicle then rolls backward. One total power loss is traced to a flexplate failure. Dealers often cannot reproduce the fault, so many cars go back unrepaired. A camshaft sensor code and timing chain concern appear near 86,000 miles. The main risk is sudden power loss in traffic.

6 complaints total

ENGINE

4 complaints

Sputtering and stalling while driving, at speeds up to 55 mph, is the most common report, and a fuel pump replacement does not always stop it. One engine fails after coolant gets inside, pours white smoke and needs full replacement. A transmission failure at 1,198 miles is filed here too: the vehicle stops, shifts into reverse on its own, then waits 28 days for repair. The forward distance sensor also cuts out at random, disabling automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise even after the sensor is replaced.

4 complaints total
STRUCTURE (3 complaints)

STRUCTURE

3 complaints

Rainwater gets in on both sides and through the center console, leaving a moldy smell. In one report, a dealer says the ceiling needs replacing at about 2,000 miles but makes no repair. The tailgate glass shatters on its own while the car sits parked, with no sign of impact. The driver side mirror shakes at speed, which makes lane changes unsafe. Nissan calls the shaking normal and refuses to fix it. The same mirror complaint shows up under the other category.

3 complaints total
SERVICE BRAKES (3 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

3 complaints

The rear brake pads wear out long before the fronts. Reports describe rear pads worn to metal at 26,000 miles and fully worn by 12k, while the front pads still look new. One report blames the electronic brake force distribution system for clamping the rear brakes hard without driver input. That causes sudden slowdowns in traffic and creates a crash risk. Nissan has not addressed the pattern, and one dealer refuses to run a warranty diagnosis.

3 complaints total
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2 complaints)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

The driver side mirror shakes constantly at driving speed. The view blurs so badly that lane changes become unsafe, and looking at it causes nausea. A corporate mechanic says it cannot be fixed, and Nissan declines to correct it. One report mentions two near-accidents tied to the unusable mirror. This is the same mirror complaint filed under the structure category.

2 complaints total
STEERING (2 complaints)

STEERING

2 complaints

Neither report describes a typical steering fault. In one, the factory Bridgestone tires wander in grooved pavement and pull the vehicle along the grooves in the rain, which weakens driver control. In the other, the vehicle stalls while driving and the transmission sticks in first gear even though the display shows Drive. The dealer blames the driver for bumping the shifter and makes no repair. Both problems affect control at speed.

2 complaints total
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2 complaints)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

2 complaints

Warning lights for the engine, ABS, collision system and traction control come on together. In one case a wheel speed sensor reads 407 mph, and replacing it does not keep the lights off. The collision warning system also cancels cruise control and slows the vehicle on an empty highway at 80 mph, so traffic behind closes in dangerously. Unexpected braking at speed is the main risk, and technicians struggle to find the cause.

2 complaints total
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

The gas pedal snaps off during acceleration with no warning, leaving no throttle while merging onto a highway. The broken piece looks like a cheap plastic part. A separate report describes a new vehicle losing engine power twice on highways, with a tow and warning alerts lasting several days. The battery is the suspected cause, but the owner doubts that is the whole problem. Both failures mean losing power in moving traffic.

2 complaints total
TIRES (1 complaints)

TIRES

1 complaint
2025-10-10

The Original Equipment (OE) Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S 255/50R20 105H M+S tires on my brand new 2024 Nissan Pathfinder suffer from groove wander on roads in which grooves are cut into them to mitigate hydroplaning in rainy conditions. The geometric design, tread design incompatibility, or structural irregularities of these tires cause severe groove wander and impair safe handling. Groove wander causes the vehicle to follow road grooves involuntarily, which is a handling defect that compromise driver control. Groove wander causes the vehicle to rapidly swerve from side to side, and in the case of my vehicle, feel as if the rear end is "fishtailing" and raising off the pavement. This condition is a safety hazard, especially at highway and interstate speeds or in inclement weather. Groove wander does not allow the vehicle to operate safely, causing the driver to constantly correct the involuntary path of the vehicle on such roads. The driver's and others' safety are at risk if the driver is unable to quickly correct the path of the vehicle and keep the vehicle in the lane of traffic to avoid lane departure into another vehicle or object. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by both the Nissan dealer from I bought the vehicle and a local Bridgestone/Firestone service center because both are unwilling to do so. Both have refused to accompany me on a test drive on Interstate 90 where this occurs because this road is approximately 12 miles one way from their locations (their claim it is too far away; if it was only 5 miles, they would be willing to do this). The tires have been visually inspected by both companies, and naturally both have found nothing wrong with the tires (normal wear at this time). Visually inspecting he tires will not diagnose the issue, and a test ride needs to be completed to document this issue - again both Nissan and Bridgestone refuse to do this. Other brand tires on other vehicles I own do not suffer groove wander.

When Do 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

12,000–26,000 milesPremature rear brake pad wear

Best & Worst Nissan Pathfinder Years

Best Nissan Pathfinder Years to Buy

Nissan Pathfinder Years to Avoid

Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Nissan Pathfinder reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201868/100Good
201971/100Good
202078/100Good
202266/100Good
202374/100Good
202474/100Good
202578/100Good
202682/100Excellent

Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202682/100+4Excellent01
202578/100+4Good125
2024(selected)74/1000Good238
202374/100+8Good186
202266/100-12Good5119
202078/100+7Good043
201971/100+3Good271
201868/100—Good374

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Yes, it rates good for reliability and above average among 2024 SUVs. Within the Pathfinder lineup it sits in the middle of eight scored years. Owners filed 38 complaints, mostly about electrical and power train faults. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs below the class figure.
What are the most common problems with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder?
Electrical complaints lead, with 8 filings, followed by power train with 6. Owners describe the engine shutting off under stop-start, check engine lights that parts swaps do not fix, and a transmission that pops out of gear. Engine stalling and water leaks into the cabin also appear.
Does the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Some owners say so. Reports include the transmission popping out of gear, refusing to upshift with a loud whine, and dropping to neutral when the engine shuts off at a stoplight. One total power loss was traced to a flexplate failure. Dealers often cannot reproduce the fault.
Has the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder been recalled?
Federal recall records list two recalls for this model year. They cover seat belts and air bags. Ask the seller for proof that both repairs were done, or have a Nissan dealer check the VIN before you buy.
Is the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder better than the 2023 or 2025?
The 2023 rates about the same, and the 2025 rates better. The 2025 has fewer complaints, 25 against 38 for the 2024, though a newer year has had less time to collect them. The 2023 has 86 complaints. All three years carry a good reliability standing.

Don’t buy a 2024 Nissan Pathfinder without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder does best on how many systems draw complaints (84/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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