- Home
- /
- Nissan
- /
- Pathfinder
- /
- 2024
Last updated: 2026-10-10

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
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
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

2024 Ford Explorer
Reliability: 73/100

2024 Toyota Highlander
Reliability: 67/100

2024 Kia Telluride
Reliability: 69/100

2024 Chevrolet Traverse
Reliability: 73/100

2024 Honda Pilot
Reliability: 72/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 2 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8)
- POWER TRAIN (6)
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 soldSegment avg: 6.9
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2024 Nissan Pathfinder NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 16.9%
Safety Technologies
Nissan PathfinderRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5Based 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
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%
- Depreciation
- 47.7%
- Listings Analyzed
- 127
after 5 years
over the same period
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.comMPG & 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
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathfinder 2WD 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S9) | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,600 |
| Pathfinder 4WD 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S9) | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,600 |
| Pathfinder 4WD Platinum 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S9) | 20 | 25 | 22 | $2,700 |
| Pathfinder 4WD Rock Creek 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S9) | 20 | 23 | 21 | $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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8 complaintsThe 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.
POWER TRAIN
6 complaintsThe 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.
ENGINE
4 complaintsSputtering 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.
STRUCTURE (3 complaints)
STRUCTURE
3 complaintsRainwater 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.
SERVICE BRAKES (3 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
3 complaintsThe 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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2 complaints)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 complaintsThe 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.
STEERING (2 complaints)
STEERING
2 complaintsNeither 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.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
2 complaintsWarning 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.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaintsThe 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.
TIRES (1 complaints)
TIRES
1 complaintThe 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.
Best & Worst Nissan Pathfinder Years
Best Nissan Pathfinder Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2020
2024
(Current Model)
2023
Nissan Pathfinder Years to Avoid
Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 66/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 82/100 | Excellent |
Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder?
Does the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Has the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder been recalled?
Is the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder better than the 2023 or 2025?
Don’t buy a 2024 Nissan Pathfinder without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
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.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Nissan Pathfinder.
No spam. Only data updates for this model.
Browse More Nissan Models

Nissan Altima
Score: 88/100

Nissan Ariya
Score: 88/100

Nissan Armada
Score: 74/100

Nissan Frontier
Score: 77/100

Nissan Kicks
Score: 83/100

Nissan Leaf
Score: 79/100
Browse More 2024 Vehicles

2024 Nissan Ariya
Score: 88/100

2024 Kia Soul
Score: 86/100

2024 Lexus RX
Score: 85/100

2024 Honda Ridgeline
Score: 85/100

2024 Hyundai Elantra
Score: 85/100

2024 Jeep Compass
Score: 84/100
See incorrect data? Report an issue