The Lemon Index2011 Nissan Pathfinder.
The 2011 Nissan Pathfinder is better than average by owner complaints: 16 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 53, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 15 to 17 mpg combined. The best Nissan Pathfinder year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 45 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Pathfinder year. 2011 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 15K to 107K miles on the car (31 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 2
- airbags 2023
The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
- engine 2011
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 INFINITI FX, MODEL YEAR 2012 INFINITI M, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN FRONTIER, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN XTERRA, MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 N…
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 104 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Affecting all nissan with abs or abs/vdc
- CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been…
- NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin does NOT…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Pathfinder SUV 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ |
| Nissan Pathfinder SUV RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $4700–5300 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.0L 6-cyl, 5.6L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Stopped car and transmission, brakes, steering all quit working and car would not restart. Bolt attaching transmission cable to gear box fell off!! I was very luck where it happened. Potentially extremely dangerous.
2011 Nissan Pathfinder owner · NHTSA complaint 10622665
More owner reports
Car is making a very loud exhaust sound. Mechanic said the manifold has a crack. This car is a 2011, and it doesn't seem possible for this age car that is driven by a female 43 year old to have such issues.
NHTSA complaint 10578240
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 53; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Pathfinder year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2011 Nissan Pathfinder problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (19%), engine (19%) and seat belts (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have?
2 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 2011 Nissan Pathfinder get?
15 to 17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2011 Nissan Pathfinder problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 15,100 and 107,700 miles. The middle report was at 46,000 miles, from 31 complaints.
Does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 19% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder cost in fuel a year?
About $4700 to $5300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have?
4.0L 6-cyl, 5.6L 8-cyl.
What Nissan Pathfinder year is better than the 2011?
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