2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
125
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
14
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER
The 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER has received a total of 125 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION. 14 technical service bulletins have been issued by Nissan North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (26 complaints), Unknown Or Other (21 complaints), and Air Bags (18 complaints).
Recalls for the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER, potentially affecting up to 3,619,618 vehicles.
Recall 22V420000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
| 322,671 vehicles affected
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.
Consequence: An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are R22A2 R22A3 and R24B7.
View full details →Recall 16V244000 — AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
| 3,296,947 vehicles affected
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the...
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER
125 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkages | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemfan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkageshoodlatch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Otherunknown | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and sputtered while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where DTC: P17F1 (Internal CVT failure was retrieved). The contact was informed that the CVT transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed the contact that assistance could not be provided because the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
Around 160,000 miles my CVT transmission went out. I almost got into a wreck no warning lights just stopped on me. When I took it to my local dealership in waco, Texas they told me I'll be good to wait over the weekend that they first opening wasn't until Tuesday. I came by on a Thursday. The car was making noises I was concerned and it wasn't accelerating like normal. I slowly drove it to Nissan dealership in Temple tx 30 mins away. The tech there immediately drove it to see if it was apressing concern or not. He immediately stated it wasn't safe and they gave me a loaner. My vehicle was in the shop for three weeks I had to get a $14,000 loan to repair it because my extended warranty didn't cover specifically CVT transmissions because of Nissan history with the other vehicles with that transmission type. I contacted Nissan corporate they said they would give me a warranty but since the Pathfinder wasn't on their recall list they couldn't assist me in that manner. Since the CVT transmission repair I've had engine issues and now my catalytic converter isn't working properly. I've given Nissan money on repairs that normally doesn't happen until the vehicles is over 200,000 miles. I went to some Nissan Pathfinder forums and found out this is to be true that many Pathfinder owners are buying new transmissions or vehicles all together because of this defect in the Nissan CVT transmissions. I hope to get my money back since I'm a disabled Afghanistan Navy veteran on a limited income. If it's happening to me it's happening to others and should be investigated.
Around 160,000 miles my CVT transmission went out. I almost got into a wreck no warning lights just stopped on me. When I took it to my local dealership in waco, Texas they told me I'll be good to wait over the weekend that they first opening wasn't until Tuesday. I came by on a Thursday. The car was making noises I was concerned and it wasn't accelerating like normal. I slowly drove it to Nissan dealership in Temple tx 30 mins away. The tech there immediately drove it to see if it was apressing concern or not. He immediately stated it wasn't safe and they gave me a loaner. My vehicle was in the shop for three weeks I had to get a $14,000 loan to repair it because my extended warranty didn't cover specifically CVT transmissions because of Nissan history with the other vehicles with that transmission type. I contacted Nissan corporate they said they would give me a warranty but since the Pathfinder wasn't on their recall list they couldn't assist me in that manner. Since the CVT transmission repair I've had engine issues and now my catalytic converter isn't working properly. I've given Nissan money on repairs that normally doesn't happen until the vehicles is over 200,000 miles. I went to some Nissan Pathfinder forums and found out this is to be true that many Pathfinder owners are buying new transmissions or vehicles all together because of this defect in the Nissan CVT transmissions. I hope to get my money back since I'm a disabled Afghanistan Navy veteran on a limited income. If it's happening to me it's happening to others and should be investigated.
Around 160,000 miles my CVT transmission went out. I almost got into a wreck no warning lights just stopped on me. When I took it to my local dealership in waco, Texas they told me I'll be good to wait over the weekend that they first opening wasn't until Tuesday. I came by on a Thursday. The car was making noises I was concerned and it wasn't accelerating like normal. I slowly drove it to Nissan dealership in Temple tx 30 mins away. The tech there immediately drove it to see if it was apressing concern or not. He immediately stated it wasn't safe and they gave me a loaner. My vehicle was in the shop for three weeks I had to get a $14,000 loan to repair it because my extended warranty didn't cover specifically CVT transmissions because of Nissan history with the other vehicles with that transmission type. I contacted Nissan corporate they said they would give me a warranty but since the Pathfinder wasn't on their recall list they couldn't assist me in that manner. Since the CVT transmission repair I've had engine issues and now my catalytic converter isn't working properly. I've given Nissan money on repairs that normally doesn't happen until the vehicles is over 200,000 miles. I went to some Nissan Pathfinder forums and found out this is to be true that many Pathfinder owners are buying new transmissions or vehicles all together because of this defect in the Nissan CVT transmissions. I hope to get my money back since I'm a disabled Afghanistan Navy veteran on a limited income. If it's happening to me it's happening to others and should be investigated.
The rear subframe has completely rusted out from the inside, and is broke off on the right side and almost broken off on the left side. The car is now unsafe to drive. There were no warning lights, messages or problems before this. The car is only 9 years old and is always kept in a garage.
Safety Rating for the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER
The 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER
Nissan North America, Inc. has issued 14 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
NTB22-022 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
HEADREST DVD DISPLAY ISSUES IF YOU CONFIRM One or both of the headrest DVD displays are inoperative. OR One or both of the headrest DVD displays are gray (fuzzy) and then change to a solid blue color before displaying the image from the DVD. ACTION Install 2 service jumper harnesses,...
NTB15-052A — EQUIPMENT
2016 NISSAN; REGISTRATION OF NEW I-KEYS WHEN ORIGINALS ARE MISSING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB10-029f — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
NISSAN; VIBRATION AND/OR NOISE WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS IF YOU CONFIRM There is a vibration or judder feeling from the rear of the vehicle during the following conditions: ï· When making turns ï· On dry roads ï· At low speeds (under 40 MPH) And ï· The above vibration does...
NTB20-008 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
2013-2019 PATHFINDER; CLIMATE CONTROLLED SEAT INOPERATIVE IF YOU CONFIRM The driver or passenger side climate controlled seat: ï· - Heating and cooling features do not operate And ï· - The harness connector or control unit of the climate controlled seat appears as shown in Figure 3 or Figure 5. ACTION...
NTB16-085b — POWER TRAIN
ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC LOGIC FOR CVT This bulletin has been superseded by NTB17-039. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB19-046 — EQUIPMENT
ENGINE SUPPORT TOOLS SERVICE INFORMATION A new Engine Support Tool and Engine Support Bracket are now available to allow the CVT to be removed from the Applied Vehicles without having to remove the engine. The procedure in this bulletin is different from the procedure currently in the Electronic Service Manual...
NTB14-060c — ENGINE
ABNORMAL NOISE FROM FRONT ENGINE MOUNT SERVICE INFORMATION A two-piece design front engine mount is currently being used for the Applied Vehicles listed. A single thunk noise may be heard during the first few accelerations of the day from this type of mount, and is considered normal operation. The mount...
NTB18-055a — POWER TRAIN
CVT FLUID LEVEL QUICK CHECK GAUGE This bulletin applies only to vehicles equipped with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB17-100 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2013 - 2017 PATHFINDER; RADIATOR SHROUD AND COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE SERVICE INFORMATION When replacing the radiator shroud and cooling fan assembly for any reason, the engine coolant, air cleaner case, and air duct does not need to be removed as part of the procedure. Use this SERVICE PROCEDURE...
NTB16-077 — BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM
"2016 MURANO, ROGUE AND PATHFINDER; AROUND VIEW MONITOR MIRROR CAMERA INOPERATIVE IF YOU CONFIRM - EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT AROUND VIEW MONITOR DOOR MIRROR CAMERA IS INOPERATIVE. NOTE: THE FOLLOWING DTCS MAY ALSO BE PRESENT: - U111B (SIDE CAMERA LH IMAGE SIGNAL CIRCUIT) DTC IS STORED. AND/OR - U111D...
Showing 10 of 14 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER.
Investigation PE21022 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH Closed
Opened:
Hood Latch/Bell Crank Assembly
Other Model Years of the NISSAN PATHFINDER
- 2011 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 59 complaints
- 2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 35 complaints
- 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 1,201 complaints
- 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 735 complaints
- 2015 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 427 complaints
- 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER (current)
- 2017 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 252 complaints
- 2018 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 119 complaints
- 2019 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 116 complaints
- 2020 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 66 complaints
Other NISSAN Models
- NISSAN ALTIMA — 20,037 total complaints
- NISSAN ROGUE — 9,608 total complaints
- NISSAN MAXIMA — 8,834 total complaints
- NISSAN SENTRA — 8,129 total complaints
- NISSAN MURANO — 7,410 total complaints
- NISSAN VERSA — 4,436 total complaints
- NISSAN FRONTIER — 4,425 total complaints
- NISSAN TITAN — 4,412 total complaints