The Lemon Index2014 Nissan Pathfinder.
The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 219 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 239, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 11 recalls, and it gets 21 to 26 mpg combined. The best Nissan Pathfinder year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 575 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Pathfinder year. 2014 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 8K to 73K miles on the car (353 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 4K–90K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 2K–30K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 11K–83K miles
Recalls 11
- latches/locks/linkages 2022
On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.
- lights 2021
The location of the brake light switch may cause the brake light switch relay to repeatedly open and close.
- lights 2016
The brake light switch may have been installed incorrectly causing the relay to make intermittent contact and repeatedly cycle.
Show all 11 recalls
- airbags 2016
In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied.
- airbags 2015
The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair.
- body structure 2015
In the affected vehicles the hood release cable assembly may have been installed incorrectly preventing the latching.
- brakes 2015
During the assembly process, the front wheel hub assembly fasteners may not have been properly torqued.
- wheels 2014
The right side wheels of the affected vehicles may have one lug nut each that was not properly tightened.
- electrical 2014
In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
- brakes 2013
In the affected vehicles, during light braking on rough roads, the antilock brake system (ABS) brake pressure output software may lead to an increase in stopping distance.
- airbags 2013
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the improper air bag deployment may increase the risk of personal injury.
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 243 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been…
- ABNORMAL NOISE FROM FRONT ENGINE MOUNT SERVICE INFORMATION A two-piece design front engine…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedHood latch/bell crank assembly2021–2022
- ClosedOccupant classification system failure2015–2017
- ClosedOccupant classification system failure2015
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Pathfinder SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Pathfinder SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2450–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Recall 16v-244. I was notified in may about this recall by Nissan but no parts are still available for repair. This is an air-bag safety issue. Nissan needs to made this recall a higher priority.
2014 Nissan Pathfinder owner · NHTSA complaint 10925729
More owner reports
At low speed, when you accelerate, the vehicle "shudders." it shakes and then as you speed up it normalizes.
NHTSA complaint 11052106
Brakes are prematurely worn and makes noise. At times the vehicle shudders unexpectedly which leads to pulling off the road to inspect the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 10925695
Quick answers
Is the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.4× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 239; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Pathfinder year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2014 Nissan Pathfinder problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (36%), transmission & drivetrain (35%) and wipers & visibility (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder have?
11 safety recalls (latest: latches/locks/linkages). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder get?
21 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2014 Nissan Pathfinder problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,100 and 73,800 miles. The middle report was at 47,500 miles, from 353 complaints.
Does the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 35% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder cost in fuel a year?
About $2450 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Nissan Pathfinder year is better than the 2014?
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