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2015 Nissan PathfinderProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 321 owner complaints about the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder, most often about the power train. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-420 the manufacturer reports only 26% of affected cars repaired.

2015 Nissan Pathfinder
36
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.8× the Pathfinder median · #6 of 37 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 26%Owner complaints32118 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage42kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: TuRbO_J from Adelaide, Australia, CC BY 2.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder has problems

321 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train771
Engine741
Air bags559
Electrical system272
Vehicle speed control270
Service brakes243
Structure122
Fuel/propulsion system110
Visibility/wiper100
12 other systems392

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2015 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.

26%repaired · 2026 Q3

Hood: latch

Recall 22V-420 · Jun 13, 2022 · 322,671 vehicles · 82,945 repaired

Risk. An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

52%repaired · 2022 Q4

Brake lights: switch

Recall 21V-020 · Jan 20, 2021 · 264,431 vehicles · 138,055 repaired

Risk. Continual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

77%repaired · 2017 Q3

Sensor: occupant classification

Recall 16V-244 · Apr 26, 2016 · 3,296,947 vehicles · 2,542,355 repaired

Risk. 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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

68%repaired · 2017 Q1

Air bags: frontal

Recall 15V-681 · Oct 20, 2015 · 919 vehicles · 629 repaired

Risk. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
88%repaired · 2016 Q2

Service brakes

Recall 15V-012 · Jan 14, 2015 · 893 vehicles · 787 repaired

Risk. The under-torqued fasteners may result in a brake caliper separating from the wheel assembly causing a reduction in braking performance or reduced steering…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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?

42kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 47 power train complaints. 89% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
19under 30k miles42under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2015 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

'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

2015 Nissan Pathfinder safety ratings

2015 Nissan Pathfinder SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2015 Nissan Pathfinder frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2015 Nissan Pathfinder side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2015 Nissan Pathfinder side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 4 stars (17.9% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Hood Latch/Bell Crank AssemblyPE21022 · closed Jul 8, 2022
    Led to recall 22V-420
In owners' words

What Pathfinder owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The vehicle suffered a sudden, complete loss of motive acceleration at highway speeds, followed by a total powertrain breakdown and battery drain linked to an active federal safety recall. While traveling at highway speeds on Highway 169, the vehicle suddenly lost all acceleration, surged, juddered…
Complaint 11769253 · Oct 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud sound coming from the front of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that a family member had driven the vehicle and informed…
Complaint 11707746 · Dec 30, 2025 · 81,954 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and vibrated, causing the steering wheel to lock up. The contact used force to maneuver the steering wheel. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The…
Complaint 11695011 · Oct 22, 2025

Own a 2015 Pathfinder?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.