2026 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: August 21, 2026 · Filed: October 22, 2026

What failed: The powertrain and transmission systems are malfunctioning. The vehicle exhibits severe gear-shifting hesitation, stutters when braking or reversing, and rolls backward slightly even when shifted entirely into Park. This component is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: The vehicle's failure to securely hold position in Park creates an immediate roll-away hazard, and the stuttering/hesitation during braking, reversing, and acceleration compromises safe vehicle control in traffic. Dealer/Manufacturer status: The vehicle has been taken to authorized Nissan service centers twice for these recurring transmission and mechanical issues. On the latest report, the service department claimed the vehicle shifts normally "as Pathfinders do" and dismissed the issues, and Nissan corporate has denied buyback assistance despite the unresolved safety defects. Warning signs: The mechanical stuttering and shifting delays occur consistently during operation without triggering persistent dashboard warning lights, making it a hidden mechanical hazard that first appeared shortly after purchase

Incident: May 18, 2026 · Filed: October 22, 2026

Purpose of this complaint I am asking Nissan North America to review Nissan's part of what happened with my practically new 2026 Pathfinder. I am not asking Nissan to pay for the collision itself, and I am not asking Nissan to reimburse expenses that were the responsibility of my automobile insurer. My accident occurred [XXX]. State Farm provided rental coverage through [XXX]. My complaint concerns what happened after that coverage ended, including additional delay and expense while Nissan parts and Nissan-related technical or programming issues prevented completion and return of my vehicle. The dealership-versus-body-shop issue Nissan Consumer Affairs told me that rental assistance might have been considered if my vehicle had been sitting at a Nissan dealership. That reasoning does not address the reality of my situation. Nissan dealerships in Memphis do not perform the collision body repairs my Pathfinder required. Had I taken my wrecked vehicle to a Nissan dealership, I would have been directed to a collision repair facility. Pre-accident concerns: fluid leak, brakes, and AEB Before the collision on [XXX], I had already noticed a spot from fluid leaking underneath my Pathfinder in my garage. I sent photographs and discussed the condition with Brock Carroll, the finance manager. He told me to bring the vehicle in to be looked at. I also told him that the brakes did not feel right. The Pathfinder had only approximately 800 miles on it. I was on my way to Nissan to have those concerns checked when the collision occurred. Immediately before impact, I remember the vehicle stopping, releasing, and stopping. I also noticed that my vehicle wasn't driving right anymore. Taking off and power was and is still have a slow take-up. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: July 17, 2026 · Filed: October 22, 2026

When driving anywhere from 30-50 mph the vehicle goes into Neutral without any warning. I know this because when I accelerated the engine just revved. This has happened when I was driving and also happened when my husband was driving. This has happened approximately 8-10 times since owning the vehicle. If I had been crossing an intersection when this happened it could cause a crash. One time I did pull over on the side of the road to keep the car behind me from running into me since I lost the ability to accelerate.I have less than 5,000 miles on my vehicle. I have taken the vehicle 3 times and it is still there now to the Nissan dealership I bought it from. They cannot duplicate it and have not fixed it. It has been in the shop around 20 working days altogether. No messages appear when this happens.

Incident: September 10, 2026 · Filed: October 20, 2026

Side airbags did not deploy during a 45-35mph left turn collision to drivers fender, door, rear door and the auto brake engaged impeding the vehicle to clear the lane. Not positive but the body shop said the seat belt did not engage properly? Injuries sustained to driver was loss of consciousness from head impact breaking door window, whiplash and broken right tibial plateau fracture. Still suffering side effects from severe concussion and fracture

Incident: October 5, 2026 · Filed: October 9, 2026

My brand new Pathfinder platinum 2026 is very hard to drive on grooved concrete roads. It tramlines severely and the car sways dangerously back and forth needing constant steering adjustments. I believe it could be the Bridgestone Alenza tires on it but not 100% sure. It is very dangerous and the general manager at Nampa Idaho has told me is is aware of this problem too but there is nothing he can do. I had to exit the freeway when this happened because the car was jerking back and forth so bad. All steering assist was turned off so that is not the issue. This has happened 4 times now on grooved roads. Tires are correctly inflated to manufactures advised weight.

Incident: September 12, 2026 · Filed: September 21, 2026

While pulling my 2026 Nissan Pathfinder into my residential driveway at low speed, I pressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not slow or stop. There was no resistance on the brake and I continued to try to compress it, but it went all the way to the floor with no effective stopping response. No front sonar/parking-collision warning sounded as the vehicle approached the house and exterior HVAC unit, and no automatic emergency braking intervention occurred. I had to choose between continuing into the garage, striking a brick wall, or steering past the house. I steered past the house and struck the HVAC unit, damaging it and the left-front area of the vehicle. The sudden loss of effective braking created an immediate risk to me, my 2 young children in the vehicle, and anyone who might have been nearby. The vehicle had approximately 3,449 miles and had been in my possession for fewer than 30 days. It was promptly taken to an authorized Nissan dealer and is available for inspection. The dealer inspected and test-drove the vehicle but could not reproduce the condition. A post-incident diagnostic scan recorded stored codes, including C1080-86 in the ABS actuator/electric unit, described as “ECM message error,” along with communication-related codes in other modules. The dealer characterized the codes as historical, cleared them, and a later scan showed no current codes. No freeze-frame or event data was retrieved. At the time of this complaint, no cause has been identified and no repair addressing the reported braking, parking-warning, or automatic-braking conditions has been performed. Because the condition resulted in a collision, remains unexplained, and may be intermittent, I am concerned that it could recur.

Incident: July 15, 2026 · Filed: September 2, 2026

While driving the vehicle it has gone into neutral 3 times prior to 8,000 mile. The vehicle was bought new. Two of the three times I was pressing the gas pedal and holding it steady. Speed was ~ 40-45 MPH. RPMs increased from ~1500 to over 3000. I had to come to a complete stop to put the vehicle back in drive. The other instance happened as I was pressing the brake pedal. As I took my foot off of the brake pedal to press the gas pedal, the RPMs increased from ~1000 to over 2000. The transmission had gone back into neutral. I had to come to a complete stop in the intersection. I have been fortunate not to have someone behind me during these three instances. If I had an accident could have easily occurred. I was also fortunate that the intersection I had to stop in was not busy at the time. No warning lights appeared on the dash at any time during these three instances. My local Nissan dealer, where the vehicle was purchased from new, replaced the fuel pump and fuel gauge packing at 7515 miles. Again, I had the last issue arise at 7909 miles which came after the repair. The dealership is reviewing next steps with me, either a buy back situation or repair. I also contacted Nissan America directly for assistance. They offered an extended warranty of 7 years or 100,000 miles contingent of me releasing them of further responsibility. I refused the offer. The manager with Nissan America that I spoke with referred me to the Better Business Bureau to file a complaint. Unreal response given the nature of this safety issue.

Incident: July 15, 2026 · Filed: August 3, 2026

I believe tires are causing the vehicle to wandering in lane your driving in, the tires are following grooved concrete on interstate highways cause the vehicle to wandering and you constantly adjust your lane position, this doesn’t happen on asphalt roads just on grooved concrete highways.

Incident: June 23, 2026 · Filed: July 2, 2026

My new 2026 Nissan pathfinder does not support voice to text and continues to cut off responses. Nissan has been no help with solving the problem and this poses a safety problem encouraging drivers to grab and looks at their phones.

Incident: June 14, 2026 · Filed: June 16, 2026

Windshield cracked on its own 5 days after purchase.