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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2016 Nissan Pathfinder
Common Problems

Ranked from 50 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

1
Safety
4
High severity
1
Medium
1 problem on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

6 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Cooling Fan Failure

    16complaints
    High severityEngine

    The cooling fan bearing fails, causing loud vibrations and potentially damaging the radiator.

  2. 2

    Airbag System Defect

    11complaints
    Safety riskElectrical

    Passenger airbags do not deploy correctly, with the airbag indicator light malfunctioning or not turning on.

  3. 3

    Brake System Malfunction

    11complaints
    High severityBrakes

    The brake pedal goes to the floor, causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably or fail to stop properly.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  4. 4

    Sunroof Shattering

    9complaints
    High severityOther

    The sunroof shatters while driving, posing a risk of injury from flying glass.

  5. 5

    Sunroof Explosion

    5complaints
    High severityOther

    The panoramic sunroof suddenly explodes while driving, posing a risk of injury from flying glass.

  6. 6

    Transmission Failure

    3complaints
    Medium severityTransmission

    The CVT transmission fails, causing the vehicle to hesitate, sputter, and eventually stop while driving.

    $2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

Other years & sources

2017 Nissan Pathfinder2018 Nissan Pathfinder2022 Nissan Pathfinder2023 Nissan PathfinderAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.

2016 Nissan Pathfinder Problems & Recalls | WrenchConnect