10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 38,243 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The car started making a weird fan noise. My car is a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder and I am at 70,000. I took it to the dealership and they stated it would be 1K to fix. I think it is unfair that the cooling fan assembly would fail at 70,000 miles.
- Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA
The cooling fan started making very loud noise at 40000 miles. Issue seems very common as hundreds of owners have similar issue. Dealer asking $1200 to replace the fan. Since this is very common issue affecting most Pathfinder cars Nissan should issue a recall to fix the issue for free. This is safety related since if defective it will cause engine overheating specially in hot weather.
- Midland, TX, USA
When the air conditioning compressor is engaged either for air conditioning or defrost it activates a secondary cooling fan on the radiator. This fan started making noise (growling) and vibrating. I initially thought it was the air conditioning compressor. Upon presenting this issue to the dealer the service tech. Said it was probably the cooling fan. He already knew before he examined the car. Once they examined the car they confirmed that is was the fan. Cost to me over $1000 this noise happened anytime anyplace when the engine was on and the compressor engaged.
- Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
The vehicle cranks up by itself after the doors are locked and the back up camera does not turn off when the gear is put back in drive. I have a couple of videos but can't attach on here.
- Fayetteville, NC, USA
On 1/9 I suddenly noted a loud, shaking, vibrating noise in my 2017 Pathfinder. I immediately attempted to get to the dealership but it was so bad I stopped at another repair shop on the way. I was told that it need a new cooling fan assembly due to bad bearings, to the tune of $850! seems to be lots of complaints about this in low mileage new Pathfinders. Mine has 64,500 miles. I was told it was dangerous to continue to drive as the vehicle could overheat or it could damage the radiator if it came apart while driving.
- Glen Allen, VA, USA
With engine running, the electric cooling fans wobble when they come on, most likely due to worn bushing/bearing. The fans don't appear to be hitting anything but make a loud audible tapping noise. Driver side fan seems worse than passenger side. The fans come on as soon as I turn on the cabin fan to circulate air; this is 45 degree F weather and "heat" not A/C. internet search shows this problem has been reported by other owners.
- Chalfont, PA, USA
On Thursday 12/26 my car started making a crazy sound. By 12/27 I was told by ntb that the cooling fan was in horrible condition. They had to replace it and that is the 3rd one that they had replaced. This is a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder with 50,000 miles. Ntb was surprised by the fan condition with it being a fairly new car.
- Indian Land, SC, USA
I've had my Pathfinder for a little over a year and now the coolant fan has started flapping awful. It started yesterday at my childs school drop off. Anytime I have my heat on or a few miles down the road it is making a horrid sound.. I called Nissan and they said it would cost over $1000 for a fan and labor" is this fan made out of gold" if it only lasts a year and a half, this is rediculous. I've seen a lot of people on forums complain and they requested we contact this website. As a single mother of 2 and chose this brand for my family, I cant see myself paying $1000 every other year for a plastic part that probably is made for less than $50. Something needs to be done about this.
- Mooresboro, NC, USA
Car constantly stutters, when driving on the highway it feels like when you run out of gas, I've had multiple problems with the mass airflow sensor which is unresolved and unable to be duplicated when needed to be found. The 2 weeks after purchase the fan went out. I've replaced the mass air flow sensor and still same issue. The touch screen goes black and also is no longer working. All problems started right after warranty ended. I've been stranded multiple times in different cities. When the car is stationary and on it blows out white smoke after a certain amount of time. I'm scared to pull out in traffic because the hesitation and the feeling of it going to lose power.
- Belton, TX, USA
When the vehicle is running and gets up to temperature, the cooling fan tries to kick in but doesn't spin the fan. It just makes a loud clicking noise like the internal components are turning but the fan doesn't turn. My wife first noticed it when the car was stationary in traffic. I was able to recreate it in my garage, with the vehicle stationary. I have been looking online and it is apparently a common issue with this model.
- Wylie, TX, USA
Engine cooling fan starting making loud noise. Vehicle was stationary when it happened. Only happens when A/C is on. Since it started it has not gone away. Was told the fan bearing is damaged.
- Colonia, NJ, USA
The engine cooling fan clutch assembly failed at 47,822 and it sounded like rapid fire going off in the front grill. The ipdm was replaced on this vehicle on 04_10_2019, with right at 50,000 miles. Vehicle was towed in and wouldn't turn off. Crest Nissan in frisco, tx pulled both battery cables, and then pulled the wiring harness out of the back of the ipdm module. They replaced the ipdm module at this time. After they did this is when the following issues started occurring. We back out, turn the wheels to the left or right, and then place the vehicle in drive. At this point we have turned the wheels back to a center position and go to accelerate to move forward. The engine RPM doesn't increase and the vehicle will not move. The truck is running, but nothing happens. After 3-5 seconds, the trucks accelerator pedal will engage and the truck will procced forward. Over 70% of the time, after this occurs, the truck exhibits a loss of power and a loud "roar" coming from the engine compartment. If you pull into a parking lot, turn the truck off, and go inside for a few minutes, the truck will start right up and the loud "roar" is now gone. However, there are times when you go to start the vehicle (using the start/stop button on the dash) and the engine sounds like it turns half a rotation, and then stops. Approximately 1 - 1.5 seconds later, the engine will continue to turn over and the truck will start. The technicians at crest Nissan originally told us that they couldn't find the issue and that our vehicle was ready for pickup on 07/11. My wife and I went to the dealer, got into the truck, and within five minutes duplicated the problem. We went back into the service department, asked billy to ride with us and he saw the problem. He then kept the vehicle and showed the technicians in the morning. We still don't have our truck back and they don't know what to do to fix.
- Frisco, TX, USA
Start up my Nissan Pathfinder 2017 and start driving on the street. Then I turn on my A/C and then I heard loud noise coming from my engine. It sound like something was loose and hitting against something in the engine compartment. I pull over to see what was going on. It seem like the cooling fan was loosing and wobbling. I did some research and turn out to a common issue for Nissan Pathfinder 2014-2017 from 30K to 50K miles. It feel really unsafe driving with faulty cooling fan.
- Rancho Cordova, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving 55 mph with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle decelerated and powered down in the middle of traffic. The contact placed the vehicle in neutral and coasted to the shoulder. The vehicle could not be restarted and was towed to casper Nissan (111 SE Wyoming blvd, casper, wy 82609, (307) 462-5260). The dealer diagnosed that a new engine was needed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 46,000.
- Cody, WY, USA
Radiator fan overheats and rattles while driving and stationary when A/C is on and when A/C turns off. On city streets and highways.
- Baker, LA, USA
Bearings on electric fans going out checked the internet and this seems to be a common problem with fans. Makes a loud clicking noise when engine gets to running temp
- Dubois, NE, USA
Loud knocking noice coming from engine, after research and dealer checkup it appears to be a very common problem for these 2014-2018 Pathfinders. The problem typically occurs around 50-60K miles which is outside of the manufactures warranty. Mine began around 50K, anytime my engine gets hot and both fans kick on the cooling fan assembly starts violently vibrating (I have video with sound). The only way to stop the vibrating is to turn off the A/C which in our Texas summer heat reaching over 100 degrees is unrealistic considering I use this as a family vehicle. If you look at all of the complaints reported you and do a simple google search you will see this is a very common problem and Nissan is fully aware of it and in my opinion should be liable for installing a faulty fan. I was quoted $950 to replace the bad cooling fan assembly part by the dealership. It is my sincere hopes that a full investigation is done and a recall is issued for the number one complaint with this vehicle.
- Spring, TX, USA
Engine makes a "knocking" noise when the fan is turned on. Research online seems to be a very common problem, but also expensive to repair and not guaranteed to solve issue for very long.
- Athens, AL, USA
Loud knocking noise fan assembly replacement I work for a car rental company and I've had 7 other Pathfinders with same issue in last 60 days.
- St. Ann, MO, USA
- Green Bay, WI, USA