The Lemon Index2008 Nissan Pathfinder.
The 2008 Nissan Pathfinder is better than average by owner complaints: 27 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 67, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about fuel system, gasoline, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 14 to 17 mpg combined. The best Nissan Pathfinder year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 328 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Nissan Pathfinder year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 80K to 135K miles on the car (277 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 97K–138K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 95K–141K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 71K–115K miles
Recalls 5
- airbags 2023
The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
- equipment 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
- suspension 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 A…
Show all 5 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 AND MODEL YEAR 2008 FRONTIER, XTERRA AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES.
- airbags 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 96 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- The 12 volt battery is an important part of the vehicle electrical system and is required to stay
- SERVICE INFORMATION Information necessary to service the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)…
- SERVICE INFORMATION DTC B2190 (NATS ANTENNA AMP) can be stored for the following reasons: 1
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedTransmission failures2012–2016
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $4700–5700 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.0L 6-cyl, 5.6L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
I own a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder with 68,000 miles. My fuel gauge sensor no longer functions.
2008 Nissan Pathfinder owner · NHTSA complaint 10268566
More owner reports
2008 Nissan Pathfinder, fuel sending unit is defective, erratic. My vehicle is not included in the recall but it they have bunch of complained regarding this part and there's a recall with this.
NHTSA complaint 10346305
I was in a head on collision on 8/16/10 in my 2008 Nissan Pathfinder traveling 60 mph and my airbag did not deploy.
NHTSA complaint 10351357
Quick answers
Is the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 67; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Pathfinder year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2008 Nissan Pathfinder problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel system, gasoline (33%), airbags (26%) and electrical (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder have?
5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder get?
14 to 17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Pathfinder problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 80,500 and 135,000 miles. The middle report was at 106,500 miles, from 277 complaints.
Does the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder cost in fuel a year?
About $4700 to $5700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder have?
4.0L 6-cyl, 5.6L 8-cyl.
What Nissan Pathfinder year is better than the 2008?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2010 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works