2020 Nissan Pathfinder

Typical pattern

6.9% of complaints about the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2020 vehicle — around the middle of the 178 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (16 complaints), typically at 5.6 yr or about 19,700 miles.

Complaints: 72
Median age at failure: 4.2 yr
Median mileage: 7,000 n=5
Crash / fire / tow: 2.8% of reports
Safety recalls: 0

In owners’ own words

Engine 7,000 mi 1.3 yr in service

WHEN DRIVING OR IDLING YOU GET A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE INSIDE THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT. DEALER SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIX WAS TO GET THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM ON RECIRCULATING AND NOT FRESH AIR. THIS IS CONSTANT PROBLEM NO MATTER THE TWHAT THE TEMP AT URGE ISOUTSIDE.

Engine 19,700 mi 1.3 yr in service

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COURTESY NISSAN (1777 N CENTRAL EXPY, RICHARDSON, TX 75080, (972) 231-2600) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,700.*DT

Engine mileage not reported 2.8 yr in service

Engine pinging/knocking and engine hesitation / surging most obvious in second gear steady throttle around 2k rpm. Doesn't matter what gas is used. Engine hesitation and pinging/knocking is getting worse. NISSAN states its normal operation.

Other Pathfinder model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2020 Nissan Pathfinder

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

In owners’ own words

Other Pathfinder model years

How to read this