2023 Nissan Pathfinder: What to check before buying

Stalling and unexpected shifts into neutral come up most, often when auto stop/start restarts the engine at a light. Some cars will not restart for several minutes, and one went into limp mode on the interstate. The backup camera shows a black screen or blanks out briefly in reverse. A forward warning light stays on even after a $2500 module replacement. Owners also report doors locking with the key and a child inside, a self-starting alarm, a stuck OK button on the steering wheel, and a dead battery that needed a tow.

Rear pads and rotors wear out early, usually between 12,500 and 20,000 miles, while the front brakes are still in good shape. Drivers notice vibration when braking or a squeal, or a technician finds it at an oil change. Dealers point to small rear pads and the electronic parking brake. One independent mechanic found the rear brakes were not fully releasing. Nissan treats the repair as normal wear, and one owner has replaced the rear brakes twice. Separate reports describe a pedal that sank to the floor and an automatic braking fault light.

After auto stop/start shuts the engine off at a light, the transmission sometimes shifts into neutral when the driver lets off the brake, and a full restart may be needed. The ten-speed hesitates while it hunts for a gear when pulling away from a rolling stop. Other reports include an AT warning light with grinding that ended in a shifter replacement, unintended revving to 2,000 RPMs, and a crash-related rollaway after Park was engaged. Single owners report failed coil packs, a broken flex plate, and an intake runner vacuum leak, with that part on national back order.

The engine stalls without warning in traffic, when merging onto highways, and once at 70 mph on cruise control. After a restart some cars stay in limp mode with a rough idle. Dealers usually replace the fuel pump, and one owner needed 3 fuel pump replacements in under a year. Others describe jerking and shaking under acceleration that came back after the fuel injectors were replaced, and shifts into neutral linked to start/stop. A few owners report fuel economy well below the rated figure.

Power cuts out while the car is moving, including under full throttle during a lane change and at 35 mph with the check engine light on. Restarting after auto stop/start can be slow, and the motor hesitates and stutters before it pulls. Several reports say the car slips into neutral or manual mode from a stop, which nearly caused rear-end collisions. Dealers often cannot reproduce the problem, and software updates have not fixed it. One report also mentions loud noise at startup and an oil warning light.

Glass breaks easily, according to one owner: a cracked windshield, a star chip, pitting, and a driver window crack that spread overnight. Another owner says the washer nozzles spray too low on the windshield, so the wipers cannot clear it in snow. A third reports a driver-side mirror that shakes at highway speeds and on rough pavement, which blurs the view. The other mirror does not shake. With only 3 complaints in this category, no clear pattern emerges.

One injury crash is on file. The air bag warning light was on before the collision, forward collision avoidance did not warn the driver, and the driver's front air bag deployed with rips along its sides, injuring the driver's wrist and arm. The second complaint describes rattling and clicking from the air bag, and the dealer's first available appointment was a month away. With only 2 complaints, there is no clear pattern.

The front passenger captain's chair frame loosens, so the seat shakes and makes noise with someone in it. In one case the frame was replaced and the problem returned within a year, and it got worse after a deer strike. The rear seatbelt warning chimes when the middle seat is empty. A separate seat complaint also describes the car shifting into neutral at highway speed, shutting off, and skidding to a stop. There are only 2 complaints here.