repaired · 2025 Q3
Air bags: frontal
Risk. A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
2008 Nissan PathfinderProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 328 owner complaints about the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder, most often about the power train. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-067 the manufacturer reports only 16% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 15, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder has problems
328 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
155Power train1 crash/fire/injury
61Engine
51Fuel/propulsion system
41Air bags7 crash/fire/injury
30Fuel system, gasoline
23Engine and engine cooling
21Electrical system
10Vehicle speed control
7Suspension
3515 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 155 | 1 |
| Engine | 61 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 51 | 0 |
| Air bags | 41 | 7 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 30 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 23 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 21 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 1 |
| Suspension | 7 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 35 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2008 Nissan Pathfinder recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)
Risk. OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
no report yet
Storage: auxillary tank
Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL IN TRAFFIC, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Air bags: frontal
Risk. THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
113kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 141 power train complaints. 29% were reported before 100,000 miles.
2under 30k miles41under 100k miles100100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
30 owners mentioned a cost$4,500median
Middle half: $3,000 – $5,728
Engine
11 owners mentioned a cost$3,200median
Middle half: $2,700 – $5,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other Pathfinder year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Pathfinder median. How we score
1917153839304991170159217149104112230156110671,05083756132837404523891577321105188787648137107876415
'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 Nissan Pathfinder safety ratings
2008 Nissan Pathfinder 4-DR in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (22.8% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder, and the recalls they led to.
- Transmission FailuresNo recall
In owners' words
What Pathfinder owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Crack in defective radiator allowed coolant to mix in with transmission fluid. Coolant caused transmission to fail while driving it. transmission changed gears on its own and would not shift properly and engine just shut down
Bought vehicle I’m second owner it was sold as is from a dealership with airbag lights on after a certain amount miles check engine light came on said I had e -regular voltage to fuel injectors 1 gear started slipping then loss of power when accelerating next revolutionary trans-sensor went and now…
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle downshifted independently. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to an…
Own a 2008 Pathfinder?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.