The Lemon IndexNissan Pathfinder.
The best Nissan Pathfinder years are 2012, 2010, 2020. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2015. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 150, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.
Reliability by year, 2005 to 2025.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Best years to buy
2012.
Quick answers.
Is the Nissan Pathfinder a good car?
Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 150; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2012 and the worst is 2013.
What are the best Nissan Pathfinder years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold: 2012, 2010, 2020.
What Nissan Pathfinder years should you stay away from?
The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2013, 2014, 2015.
How many recalls does the Nissan Pathfinder have?
70 safety recalls across the 19 model years we track. Most: 2013 (11), 2014 (11), 2006 (5). Each year's page lists them.
What are the most common Nissan Pathfinder problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, airbags and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 116 | 1.2× the average car's complaints | 61 | fuel system, gasoline (33%) | 4 | — | 16–17 |
| 2006 | 124 | 1.2× the average car's complaints | 63 | fuel system, gasoline (41%) | 5 | — | 16–17 |
| 2007 | 134 | 1.3× the average car's complaints | 78 | fuel system, gasoline (60%) | 2 | — | 16–17 |
| 2008 | 67 | 1.5× fewer complaints than average | 27 | fuel system, gasoline (33%) | 5 | — | 14–17 |
| 2010 | 30 | 3.3× fewer complaints than average | 7 | transmission & drivetrain (29%) | 5 | — | 14–18 |
| 2011 | 53 | 1.9× fewer complaints than average | 16 | transmission & drivetrain (19%) | 2 | — | 15–17 |
| 2012 | 13 | 7.7× fewer complaints than average | 6 | visibility (17%) | 2 | — | 15–17 |
| 2013 | 478 | 4.8× the average car's complaints | 514 | transmission & drivetrain (50%) | 11 | ★★★★☆ | 21–22 |
| 2014 | 239 | 2.4× the average car's complaints | 219 | airbags (36%) | 11 | ★★★★★ | 21–26 |
| 2015 | 162 | 1.6× the average car's complaints | 129 | airbags (32%) | 5 | ★★★★★ | 21–26 |
| 2016 | 66 | 1.5× fewer complaints than average | 54 | engine (24%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 21–23 |
| 2017 | 123 | 1.2× the average car's complaints | 105 | engine (48%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 21–23 |
| 2018 | 55 | 1.8× fewer complaints than average | 40 | brakes (35%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 21–23 |
| 2019 | 54 | 1.9× fewer complaints than average | 36 | automatic emergency braking (22%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 21–23 |
| 2020 | 44 | 2.3× fewer complaints than average | 21 | engine (38%) | 0 | ★★★★★ | 21–23 |
| 2022 | 96 | about average | 117 | brakes (24%) | 5 | ★★★★★ | 22–23 |
| 2023 | 125 | 1.2× the average car's complaints | 106 | electrical (23%) | 1 | ★★★★★ | 21–23 |
| 2024 | 124 | 1.2× the average car's complaints | 86 | brakes (28%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 21–23 |
| 2025 | 88 | 1.1× fewer complaints than average | 54 | brakes (17%) | 1 | ★★★★★ | 21–23 |
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
. Get the data