2017 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: July 7, 2026 · Filed: October 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the head gasket was replaced. The contact stated that later, while driving, there was an abnormal fuel odor and fuel droplets inside the cabin of the vehicle. The driver and granddaughter were seated inside the vehicle. The vehicle was parked, and the Fire Department and emergency personnel were called to the scene. The contact and granddaughter were transported to the hospital. The contact was treated for breathing issues, headaches, and ear pain, and the granddaughter was treated for headaches and eye irritation due to fuel inhalation. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, and the fuel line and brake lines were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.

Incident: October 20, 2026 · Filed: October 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the seat belt and air bag warning lights illuminated while the driver’s and passenger’s seats were occupied. The contact stated that the passenger’s air bag light was off. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V244000 (Air Bags); as the cause for the failure; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer and the dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

Incident: June 15, 2026 · Filed: September 6, 2026

I was involved in a collision, and despite the force of the impact, the vehicle's airbags failed to deploy.Following the accident, the main dashboard SRS airbag indicator light began flashing. Additionally, the passenger airbag light indicates that the passenger airbag remains "OFF" even when an adult is properly seated in the front passenger seat.

Incident: August 12, 2025 · Filed: August 13, 2026

SLUDGE IN ENGINE- UNDER 100,000 MILES We had been keeping up with all recommended services, and it is cosmetically perfect, but the car is now a total loss. A Check Engine light came on, and we began to notice a tremor/shake and took it to Southern Team Nissan. The Nissan dealer diagnosed sludge in the engine and said it would need a total engine replacement. The Nissan dealer advised that the cost of that would be more than the car was worth. After they pulled the pan to check if there was definitely sludge, the car then shook so badly that it felt unsafe to drive. Research shows that this is a known issue, with many cases of documented VQ35DD sludge problems. We see many listed cases on this website under complaints for 2017 Nissan Pathfinders.

Incident: June 23, 2026 · Filed: July 27, 2026

My 2017 Nissan Pathfinder was making noise - I brought it to my mechanic and he said it is not safe to drive that the rear frame assembly has rotted and on one side was not even connected to anything. I have 110,000 miles on it. I asked Nissan to stand by there vehicle and was told it’s past warranty so they can’t do anything - this should not have happened to a 9 yo vehicle. I got my car fixed at my mechanics - I have pictures & receipts as well - in the mist of all of this is when I found out there is a recall in the ABS which I will make an appt with the dealer.

Incident: March 14, 2026 · Filed: March 14, 2026

Constant whine from under the vehicle while in park or idle. Even after having the rack replaced

Incident: October 1, 2025 · Filed: January 7, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving in a parking lot at unknown speeds, the vehicle began jerking and stalled. The battery had become inoperable. The TPMS message was displayed. The failure was linked to Technical Service Bulletin: NTB15-015h. The local dealer was called and informed the contact that the failure was related to the CVT transmission and confirmed there was no coverage for the repair of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Incident: December 1, 2025 · Filed: December 18, 2025

The transmission is failing. The car has about 117,000 miles on it. The transmission issue is a known problem with this vehicle and is causing safety concerns while driving it due to acceleration problems.

Incident: October 14, 2025 · Filed: October 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the CVT after identifying a transmission judder. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.

Incident: May 4, 2025 · Filed: September 24, 2025

Engine failure in my vehicle equipped with the VQ35DD engine, which I believe is the result of a widespread and well-documented design defect involving internal sludge buildup. I have owned this vehicle for over five years and have followed the recommended routine maintenance schedule, including on-time oil changes using high-quality oil. At no point during any inspection, service, or maintenance appointment was I informed of any sludge buildup or concerns with the engine. Only after a serious mechanical failure did the Nissan servicing dealership claim the engine was full of sludge, subsequently recommending an engine replacement. Despite my diligence in maintaining the vehicle, I am now facing an engine replacement that was entirely unexpected and has created a safety risk due to loss of motive power. This could have resulted in a serious accident, and I believe this issue merits urgent and transparent attention. Upon researching this issue, I found dozens of similar complaints from other owners with VQ35DD engines, many of whom reported premature engine failure, sludge accumulation, and PCV system defects—despite maintaining their vehicles properly. This issue is being widely discussed on forums, including: [XXX] [XXX] It is unacceptable that Nissan has not issued a technical service bulletin, recall, or extended warranty to address this problem, particularly when it may stem from a known defect in the PCV system or engine design (such as poor oil flow, crankcase ventilation failure, or GDI-related contamination). Given the facts outlined above and the potential safety hazard, a full investigation should be taken to help Nissan customers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)