Fourth generation (R52)
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
The most reported problem on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder is airbag, with 55 complaints, usually around 15,000 miles.
- 320owner complaints
- 5recalls
- 11involved a crash
- 47,756median miles at failure
Newest report Aug 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Pathfinder doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2015 model year.
Is the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
The 2015 Nissan Pathfinder has 320 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 314 for 2015 SUVs on this site. Of the 12 Pathfinder model years since 2014, it has the 2nd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to other model years
- Complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads, so the 2015 count runs short and isn't compared with the model years next to it.
- Top problem
- No problem dominates. The largest, airbag, covers 55 of the 320 complaints (17%), and stalling is next with 31 (one complaint can fall under more than one problem, so these overlap). A quarter of the 34 owners who gave a mileage for airbag saw it by about 5,000 miles, and half by about 15,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 14 of the 320 complaints (4%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 11 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 7 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 8 of 11, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Airbag has a recall on the same system (15V-681 and 16V-244). Stalling and transmission shudder have none. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 73 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 15. So far in 2026, 7 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: airbag warning light or recall, 55 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
320 complaints is 1.2 times the median 2015 model on this site and about the median for a 2015 SUV. Among the 7 Pathfinder model years here it ranks 2nd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan filed 239 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. 13 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Airbag warning light or recall 1 bulletin · 55 complaints
DTC B00A0-00 STORED
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 1 bulletin · 28 complaints
IF YOU CONFIRM A refrigerant leak at a refrigerant pipe/hose joint location. ACTIONS 1. Inspect the metal surfaces of the pipe/hose joint for damage or contamination.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 4 bulletins · 27 complaints
PATHFINDER, ALTIMA, MAXIMA, MURANO AND QUEST; CVT JUDDER AND DTC P17F0 OR P17F1 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM The customer reports a transmission judder (shake, shudder, single or multiple bumps or vibration), AND One of these DTCs is stored: ï· P17F0 (CVT_JUDDER (T/M INSPECTION)) ï· P17F1 (CVT_JUDDER (C/U INSPECTION)) NOTE: ï If a transmission judder (as ...
ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC LOGIC FOR CVT PATHFINDER AND ALTIMA WITH V6 ENGINE ONLY IF YOU CONFIRM THE CUSTOMER REPORTS A TRANSMISSION JUDDER (SHAKE, SHUDDER, SINGLE OR MULTIPLE BUMPS OR VIBRATION).
2 more on this problem
IF YOU CONFIRM: The customer reports a transmission judder (shake, shudder, single or multiple bumps or vibration) AND One of these DTCs is stored: - P17F0 (CVT_JUDDER (T/M INSPECTION)) - P17F1 (CVT_JUDDER (C/U INSPECTION)) NOTE - If a transmission judder (as described ...
IF YOU CONFIRM The customer reports a transmission judder (shake, shudder, single or multiple bumps or vibration). NOTE: A new diagnostic logic has been established to enhance the diagnostic process by storing diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) on Applied Vehicles.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 25 complaints
NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING The APPLIED VEHICLES and CLAIMS INFORMATION sections have been revised. No other changes have been made.
Engine overheats or leaks coolant 3 bulletins · 21 complaints
2013 - 2017 PATHFINDER; RADIATOR SHROUD AND COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE SERVICE INFORMATION When replacing the radiator shroud and cooling fan assembly for any reason, the engine coolant, air cleaner case, and air duct does not need to be removed as part of the procedure.
2013-2015 PATHFINDER; MIL ON WITH DTC P0116 IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is ON with P0116 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT SENSOR) stored, and There are no drivability issues. ACTION 1. Refer to step 6 in the SERVICE PROCEDURE to confirm this bulletin applies to the vehicle you are working on. 2.
1 more on this problem
IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is ON with P0116 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT SENSOR) stored, and There are no drivability issues. ACTION 1. Refer to step 6 in the SERVICE PROCEDURE to confirm this bulletin applies to the vehicle you are working on. 2.
Airbag warning light stays on 1 bulletin · 17 complaints
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING INDICATING SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC MODE IF YOU CONFIRM The air bag warning light is flashing slowly (repeating 2 seconds ON, 2 seconds OFF). NOTE: If this should occur, the Air Bag Diagnosis Sensor Unit is in Diagnostic Mode and needs to be returned to User Mode. ACTION 1.
Passenger airbag sensor problems 1 bulletin · 17 complaints
DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed,
Doors, latches or locks fail 1 bulletin · 11 complaints
NISSAN; DOORS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE WITH TEMPERATURE BELOW FREEZING IF YOU CONFIRM: THE FOLLOWING INCIDENT, OR THE CUSTOMER REPORTS THIS INCIDENT: THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SETTING (NOT RUNNING) IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 14°F (-10°C) FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD (SUCH AS OVERNIGHT). THEN - A SIDE DOOR IS OPENED. THEN - THE DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE/LATCH, WILL NOT CLOSE/LATCH WITH NORMAL PRESSURE;
Complaints filed by year
73 complaints came in 2019. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Hood latch/bell crank assembly. Closed jul 8, 2022, led to recall 22V-420.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are R22A2 R22A3 and R24B7.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The location of the brake light switch may cause the brake light switch relay to repeatedly open and close. Overtime, this can cause the relay to stick in the "ON" position, with the brake lights remaining illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, this may interfere with the brake-shift interlock, allowing the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "Park" position, without depressing the brake pedal.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, either re-install the brake light switch or swap positions with the Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD) switch; depending on the model year vehicle. In addition, the brake light relay will be replaced with a new one. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall PC786. Note: this recall supersedes 16V-380.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. 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. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to November 5, 2014, and 2014-2015 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured August 12, 2014, to November 15, 2014. During the assembly process, the front wheel hub assembly fasteners may not have been properly torqued.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and tighten any loose bolts to the proper specification, free of charge. The recall began February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
All 5 recalls on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder?
Airbag, with 55 of the 320 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 15,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2015 Nissan Pathfinder problems start?
Of the 231 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 28,000 miles and half by about 48,000.
How many 2015 Nissan Pathfinder complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
14 of them (4%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for airbag on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls on the same system: 15V-681 and 16V-244. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.