Fourth generation (R52)
2016 Nissan Pathfinder
The most reported problem on the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder is airbag, with 18 complaints.
- 105owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 10involved a crash
- 50,000median miles at failure
Newest report Aug 10, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Problem sheets
No single problem on the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder has enough owner reports for a sheet of its own yet. The counts below still cover every complaint on file.
Is the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
The 2016 Nissan Pathfinder has 105 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, less than half the median of 248 for 2016 SUVs on this site. Of the 12 Pathfinder model years since 2014, it has the 5th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 10 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs well under the 2017 (19). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- No problem dominates. The largest, airbag, covers 18 of the 105 complaints (17%), and brake wear is next with 14 (one complaint can fall under more than one problem, so these overlap). Too few of the airbag reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 10 of the 105 complaints (10%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 10 reports mention a crash and 5 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 5 of 10, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- 2 recalls are on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against them.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 26 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 7. So far in 2026, 3 more have come in.
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, 18 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
105 complaints is 2.4 times fewer than the median 2016 model on this site and 2.4 times fewer than the median 2016 SUV. Among the 7 Pathfinder model years here it ranks 5th 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 2016 Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan filed 202 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder. 7 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 2 bulletins · 18 complaints
DTC B00A0-00 STORED
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.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 14 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 1 bulletin · 13 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.
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 1 bulletin · 12 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.
Passenger airbag sensor problems 1 bulletin · 9 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 · 5 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
26 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 2016 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 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.
All 2 recalls on the 2016 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 2016 Nissan Pathfinder?
Airbag, with 18 of the 105 complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Nissan Pathfinder problems start?
Of the 69 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 23,000 miles and half by about 50,000.
Is the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has fewer complaints than the 2017: 10 a year against 19.
How many 2016 Nissan Pathfinder complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
10 of them (10%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for airbag on the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 16V-244. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.