Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Nissan Pathfinder has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 328 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V067000 Driver's Side Air Bag Cover Emblem May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V401000 PORTABLE AUTOMOTIVE GPS PRODUCTS/OVERHEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10E019000 LOWER LINK REPLACEMENT PARTS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V075000 FUEL TANK SHELLS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V690000 FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR HOUSING/ROAD SALT NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 155 complaints
- Engine 61 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 51 complaints
- Air Bags 41 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 30 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 23 complaints
Of the 328 complaints on file, 9 report a crash; across all 328 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,500–$20,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Nissan Pathfinder has a below-average reliability rating. The evidence includes 328 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns, including serious powertrain and engine issues. While recall data focuses on airbag and fuel issues, high complaint numbers about the powertrain and engine suggest reliability concerns with these vital systems. Limited recall data suggest potential GPS and suspension-related issues, but these are less frequent.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power train | 80,000-120,000 miles | $1,500–$4,000 | common |
| Engine | 90,000-130,000 miles | $3,000–$7,000 | common |
| Fuel system | 70,000-110,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 20,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
- Coolant replacement every 30,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Air filter replacement every 15,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Delayed shifts or transmission noises
- Engine misfires or rough idling
- Fuel gauge inaccuracies
- Airbag warning light on
- Deteriorating suspension performance
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.