Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2022 Nissan PathfinderRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 137 owner complaints for the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. Most complaints involve service brakes (33) and electrical system (20). The EPA rates it 22–23 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
22–23mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Jul 2022
Owner complaints
137
Top: service brakes
Fuel cost / yr
$2,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Back over prevention: camera

Over-the-air fixFree remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rogue, 2022 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Titan rental vehicles. When the Sirius XM subscription is set to "Not Subscribed," it may cause the infotainment head unit to reboot, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Back over preventionReported Jul 21, 2022NHTSA 22V527000

Seats: critical fasteners

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 INFINITI QX60 and Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The second-row seat track may be missing a mounting bolt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

SeatsReported Feb 24, 2022NHTSA 22V111000

Seats: mid

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Pathfinder vehicles. The third-row headrests may have an improper weld or misaligned internal components, which can allow the headrest to move or detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."

SeatsReported Sep 23, 2021NHTSA 21V742000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

137 complaints filed with NHTSA · Aug 2021 – Oct 2026
  1. Service brakes33
  2. Electrical system20
  3. Engine18
  4. Power train17
  5. Seats16
  6. Forward collision avoidance11
  7. Vehicle speed control8
  8. Structure7
  9. Visibility/wiper7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Pathfinder model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996159
1997225
1998149
1999113
2000128
2001239
2002171
2003110
200467
20051,050
2006837
2007561
2008328
200937
201040
201145
201223
2013891
2014575
2015321
2016107
2017188
201878
201976
202053
2022137
2023107
202487
202558
202615
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
3
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes

33 reports1 crash
“The rear brakes on my 2022 Nissan pathfinder are having unusual fast deterioration. I purchased the car at 13,000 miles and had to replace the rear brakes at 25,000 miles and now once again I am having to replace the rear brakes again at 52,000. This seems very odd since the front brakes have not needed replacement yet. I also have been advised to replace the rear calipers which are also very early for a car with 52,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2026Service brakesODI 11745568

Electrical system

20 reports1 fire
“Components Affected: STRUCTURE:SUNROOF | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | VISIBILITY/WIPER Description of Safety Hazard: My 2022 Nissan Pathfinder suffers from a severe, chronic manufacturing defect causing substantial water intrusion into the vehicle's cabin through the sunroof assembly during rainfall. To date, the manufacturer’s authorized dealership network has attempted to repair this exact leak three separate times and has failed to cure the defect. This unfixable water leak creates two distinct, critical safety hazards: 1. Electrical Failure/Fire Risk: Water actively flows into the headliner, pooling behind the dashboard and running down the A-pillars. This directly exposes critical safety electronics—including the side-curtain airbags, rearview mirror sensors, forward-collision camera arrays, and steering column electrical modules—to active moisture. This creates a severe risk of sudden, catastrophic electrical short-circuits, unintended airbag deployment, or sudden loss of safety assist systems while operating the vehicle at highway speeds. The vehicle is currently leaking for a fourth time. Because the manufacturer's certified network is entirely incapable of…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11744421

Engine

18 reports1 fire
“⸻ My 2022 Nissan Pathfinder experienced a catastrophic engine failure at approximately 70,000 miles. The vehicle suddenly developed severe engine knocking and required a complete engine replacement. There were no engine warning lights or oil pressure warning lights prior to the failure. The vehicle had been maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals, including oil changes using full synthetic oil. The Nissan maintenance system indicates oil changes at approximately 10,000 mile intervals. Because there were no warning indicators prior to the failure, the issue occurred without any notice to the driver. A sudden engine failure without warning could present a potential safety risk if it occurred while driving in traffic or at highway speeds. The repair required a full engine replacement at a cost exceeding 8,000. The vehicle was just slightly outside the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty at the time of failure. Given the relatively low mileage and lack of warning indicators before the engine failure, I am submitting this complaint so the issue can be documented and evaluated for potential safety concerns or patterns of engine failure…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2026EngineODI 11724324
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S9)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Pathfinder 2WD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212623$2,800386
Pathfinder 4WD
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · 4-Wheel Drive
212723$2,800384
Pathfinder 4WD Platinum
Auto (S9), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · 4-Wheel Drive
202522$2,900399
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 3, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Nissan Pathfinder SUV AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.5%
Overall
— / 5
Nissan Pathfinder SUV FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
Not rated
Rollover risk
0.0%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 3, 2026Vehicle 16045Vehicle 16041
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2022 Pathfinder questions

How many recalls does the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2022 Nissan Pathfinder problems?

Owners filed 137 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes (33), electrical system (20), engine (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder get?

The EPA rates the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder at 22–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 3, 2026