2026 Nissan Pathfinder

Routine

Owners filed 15 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the brakes. No safety recall has been issued.

Too new to rank against other Nissan Pathfinder years; complaints take a few years to arrive. Which Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid →

Most common 2026 Nissan Pathfinder problems

3 of the 15 complaints (20%) are about the brakes.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes · brakes3
200
Steering2
000
Electrical System2
000
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly1
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires1
000
Power Train · transmission1
000
Back Over Prevention · backup camera1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 22, 2026MS

When driving anywhere from 30-50 mph the vehicle goes into Neutral without any warning. I know this because when I accelerated the engine just revved. This has happened when I was driving and also happened when my husband was driving. This has happened approximately 8-10 times since owning the vehicle. If I had been crossing an intersection when this happened it could cause a crash. One time I did pull over on the side of the road to keep the car behind me from running into me since I lost the ability to accelerate.I have less than 5,000 miles on my vehicle. I have taken the vehicle 3 times and it is still there now to the Nissan dealership I bought it from. They cannot duplicate it and have not fixed it. It has been in the shop around 20 working days altogether. No messages appear when this happens.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Oct 22, 2026TN

Purpose of this complaint I am asking Nissan North America to review Nissan's part of what happened with my practically new 2026 Pathfinder. I am not asking Nissan to pay for the collision itself, and I am not asking Nissan to reimburse expenses that were the responsibility of my automobile insurer. My accident occurred [XXX]. State Farm provided rental coverage through [XXX]. My complaint concerns what happened after that coverage ended, including additional delay and expense while Nissan parts and Nissan-related technical or programming issues prevented completion and return of my vehicle. The dealership-versus-body-shop issue Nissan Consumer Affairs told me that rental assistance might have been considered if my vehicle had been sitting at a Nissan dealership. That reasoning does not address the reality of my situation. Nissan dealerships in Memphis do not perform the collision body repairs my Pathfinder required. Had I taken my wrecked vehicle to a Nissan dealership, I would have been directed to a collision repair facility. Pre-accident concerns: fluid leak, brakes, and AEB Before the collision on [XXX], I had already noticed a spot from fluid leaking underneath my Pathfinder in my garage. I sent photographs and discussed the condition with Brock Carroll, the finance manager. He told me to bring the vehicle in to be looked at. I also told him that the brakes did not feel right. The Pathfinder had only approximately 800 miles on it. I was on my way to Nissan to have those

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 2026TX

What failed: The powertrain and transmission systems are malfunctioning. The vehicle exhibits severe gear-shifting hesitation, stutters when braking or reversing, and rolls backward slightly even when shifted entirely into Park. This component is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: The vehicle's failure to securely hold position in Park creates an immediate roll-away hazard, and the stuttering/hesitation during braking, reversing, and acceleration compromises safe vehicle control in traffic. Dealer/Manufacturer status: The vehicle has been taken to authorized Nissan service centers twice for these recurring transmission and mechanical issues. On the latest report, the service department claimed the vehicle shifts normally "as Pathfinders do" and dismissed the issues, and Nissan corporate has denied buyback assistance despite the unresolved safety defects. Warning signs: The mechanical stuttering and shifting delays occur consistently during operation without triggering persistent dashboard warning lights, making it a hidden mechanical hazard that first appeared shortly after purchase

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 20, 2026ME

Side airbags did not deploy during a 45-35mph left turn collision to drivers fender, door, rear door and the auto brake engaged impeding the vehicle to clear the lane. Not positive but the body shop said the seat belt did not engage properly? Injuries sustained to driver was loss of consciousness from head impact breaking door window, whiplash and broken right tibial plateau fracture. Still suffering side effects from severe concussion and fracture

Steering
Filed Oct 9, 2026ID

My brand new Pathfinder platinum 2026 is very hard to drive on grooved concrete roads. It tramlines severely and the car sways dangerously back and forth needing constant steering adjustments. I believe it could be the Bridgestone Alenza tires on it but not 100% sure. It is very dangerous and the general manager at Nampa Idaho has told me is is aware of this problem too but there is nothing he can do. I had to exit the freeway when this happened because the car was jerking back and forth so bad. All steering assist was turned off so that is not the issue. This has happened 4 times now on grooved roads. Tires are correctly inflated to manufactures advised weight.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Sep 21, 2026IN

While pulling my 2026 Nissan Pathfinder into my residential driveway at low speed, I pressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not slow or stop. There was no resistance on the brake and I continued to try to compress it, but it went all the way to the floor with no effective stopping response. No front sonar/parking-collision warning sounded as the vehicle approached the house and exterior HVAC unit, and no automatic emergency braking intervention occurred. I had to choose between continuing into the garage, striking a brick wall, or steering past the house. I steered past the house and struck the HVAC unit, damaging it and the left-front area of the vehicle. The sudden loss of effective braking created an immediate risk to me, my 2 young children in the vehicle, and anyone who might have been nearby. The vehicle had approximately 3,449 miles and had been in my possession for fewer than 30 days. It was promptly taken to an authorized Nissan dealer and is available for inspection. The dealer inspected and test-drove the vehicle but could not reproduce the condition. A post-incident diagnostic scan recorded stored codes, including C1080-86 in the ABS actuator/electric unit, described as “ECM message error,” along with communication-related codes in other modules. The dealer characterized the codes as historical, cleared them, and a later scan showed no current codes. No freeze-frame or event data was retrieved. At the time of this complaint, no cause has been identified and

Power Train
Filed Sep 2, 2026NC

While driving the vehicle it has gone into neutral 3 times prior to 8,000 mile. The vehicle was bought new. Two of the three times I was pressing the gas pedal and holding it steady. Speed was ~ 40-45 MPH. RPMs increased from ~1500 to over 3000. I had to come to a complete stop to put the vehicle back in drive. The other instance happened as I was pressing the brake pedal. As I took my foot off of the brake pedal to press the gas pedal, the RPMs increased from ~1000 to over 2000. The transmission had gone back into neutral. I had to come to a complete stop in the intersection. I have been fortunate not to have someone behind me during these three instances. If I had an accident could have easily occurred. I was also fortunate that the intersection I had to stop in was not busy at the time. No warning lights appeared on the dash at any time during these three instances. My local Nissan dealer, where the vehicle was purchased from new, replaced the fuel pump and fuel gauge packing at 7515 miles. Again, I had the last issue arise at 7909 miles which came after the repair. The dealership is reviewing next steps with me, either a buy back situation or repair. I also contacted Nissan America directly for assistance. They offered an extended warranty of 7 years or 100,000 miles contingent of me releasing them of further responsibility. I refused the offer. The manager with Nissan America that I spoke with referred me to the Better Business Bureau to file a complaint. Unreal response

Tires
Filed Aug 3, 2026OH

I believe tires are causing the vehicle to wandering in lane your driving in, the tires are following grooved concrete on interstate highways cause the vehicle to wandering and you constantly adjust your lane position, this doesn’t happen on asphalt roads just on grooved concrete highways.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 2, 2026FL

My new 2026 Nissan pathfinder does not support voice to text and continues to cut off responses. Nissan has been no help with solving the problem and this poses a safety problem encouraging drivers to grab and looks at their phones.

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jun 16, 2026MO

Windshield cracked on its own 5 days after purchase.

Steering
Filed Jun 5, 2026FL

The steering assist malfunctions. It almost always fails around curves. It also does it sometimes on a straightaway, but it is not as frequent as with curves. It gets too close to the line and overcompensates. It literally will drive you off of the road. I have been driving across country and if I had not been diligent, I would have crashed dozens of times. According to Grok, this is a common complaint but there are no recalls for this failure.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed May 20, 20261,800 milesTX

The contact owns a 2026 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH a loud explosion noise had occurred. The contact open the interior sunroof door and discovered that the glass sunroof had shattered outward. The vehicle was immediately taken to the local dealer who replaced the glass sunroof. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,800.

Electrical System
Filed May 9, 2026AL

After the vehicle sits for several hours, the remote start system fails every time. Both the key fob remote start and the NissanConnect app remote start do not work, even though the vehicle shows as connected. The start command is aborted internally until the vehicle is physically moved a few feet. A dealership porter also could not remote‑start the vehicle at my home, and this is documented. This creates a safety concern because I transport disabled children and medical equipment, and the vehicle may fail to start when needed.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 21, 2026TN

The speed sign reading technology reads the S.R road signs as speed limit signs. I have a 25 model and it does not do this. The 2026 model is equipped with the pro pilot system which is not on the 2025 model.

Back Over Prevention
Filed Feb 11, 2026152,000 milesTN

The contact owns a 2026 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera displayed a blank screen. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

All 15 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2026 — this page15000Routine
202557100Routine
202487200Routine
2023107100Routine
2022137510Routine
202048000Routine
201976210Routine
201878300Routine
2017188220Routine
2016105200Routine
2015321510Above average
20145761130Above average
20138911110Above average
201223210Routine
201145210Routine
201040500Routine
200937400Routine
2008328500Above average
2007561220Above average
2006837500Above average
20051,050461Fatalities reported
200467700Routine
2003110710Routine
2002156910Routine
2001230721Fatalities reported
2000112621Fatalities reported
1999104520Routine
1998149412Fatalities reported
1997217421Fatalities reported
1996159503Fatalities reported
1995170066Fatalities reported
199491220Routine
199349030Routine
199230020Routine
199139130Routine
199038220Routine

Compare every Pathfinder year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.