10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,169 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Nissan Pathfinder engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Mar 152024

Pathfinder

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The engine in this vehicle has shut off two times while we were driving it. We were forced to make emergency exits off of the roadway in order to prevent injury to ourselves and others. This is a life-threatening situation when the vehicle loses engine power while it is being driven. Additionally, we have experienced multiple instances of the vehicle not starting after it had been parked. We have researched this on the internet and have found that other Nissan owners are experiencing this same issue. When the vehicle stops running while driving or when it will not start after being parked, we get these symptoms: everything lit up on the dash TPMS light, I-Key error, no speedometer, no tachometer the engine cooling fan is running vehicle will not start back up When you push the start button the dash lights come back on the cooling fan would kick on engine will not start

- Scottsville, KY, USA

problem #24

Aug 292022

Pathfinder

  • miles
My front differential and transmission failed at the same time while I was driving on a major highway. I had to repair both components at a dealership costing me over $8000.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #23

Dec 132021

Pathfinder

  • miles
I purchased this as a new used 2016 Pathfinder in October 2021. Within about 2500 miles in December of 2021, the radiator cooling fan assembly was making noise and had to be replaced. It is now May of 2022, about 3000 miles later, and the same thing has to be replaced. There were no other messages or symptoms other than the noise the fan makes when the bearings are shot. It has not been inspected by anyone other than myself and my mechanic at the time the first fan assembly needed replacement. I am about to take the vehicle to a Nissan dealer to confirm what I already know. When it is replaced I will keep the old part for inspection.

- Des Plaines, IL, USA

problem #22

Jul 132021

Pathfinder

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car hit 62,000 miles, it started having transmission issues. It shakes, makes large noises, the car tries to stall, having issues accelerating, and loss power. I am concerned that the car will turn off or broke down while driving

- Valrico, FL, USA

problem #21

Feb 172021

Pathfinder

  • miles
Fan bearings in the twin fan shroud have failed and are creating a loud noise and have been known to lead to engine overheating and potential engine trouble. The NHTSA and Nissan have put out a tsb (ntb17-100) in Oct 2017. Although my vehicle is past warranty searching the web it appears this has been a very big problem for Nissan Pathfinders. Because the complete fan shroud (2 fans-radiator and cooling fans) along with a computer module are part of the final assembly the cost to repair is significant ($800). A fan replacement alone would be much less expensive but Nissan only provides a full assembly vs component fix.

- Morganton, NC, USA

problem #20

Feb 032020

Pathfinder

  • 33,000 miles
2016 Nissan Pathfinder, started making loud clanking noises and vibrating in the front of the vehicle when the air conditioning was on (staionary and in motion). The cooling fan needed to be replaced with only 33K on the odo. Really suprised that is was so expensive and not covered under warranty - 6 months over 3 years.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #19

Jun 262020

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 62,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The electric cooling fan bearings failed at 62,000 miles. The Nissan dealership that diagnosed the problem stated that it is common for this vehicle to experience this part failure. I replaced at my own expense with an aftermarket assembly that has a lifetime warranty. It doesn't make sense to replace with another Nissan part that will fail in another 50,000 +/- miles. Also, brake pedal will fade when stopped at an intersection with 62,000 miles on vehicle. The Nissan dealership checked all brake components and could only surmise it must be the master cylinder. They even contacted Nissan for their opinion, which they too suggested replacing the master cylinder. After two brand new master cylinders, the problem has not been fixed and will be an ongoing issue for my vehicle. Also, the rear A/C lines that travel underneath the vehicle developed a hole at one of the mounting points. Lost all freon on two occasions by the time the dealership found the leaking area. The dealership stated that this too is common on this vehicle style and is a design flaw. With freon being bad for the evironment, one would wonder how a manufacturer would be allowed to let this happen.

- Manitowoc, WI, USA

problem #18

Feb 012020

Pathfinder

  • 36,500 miles
Entry 02/23/2020: 2016 Nissan Pathfinder with about just 36,200 miles have engine cooling fan problems - loud clacking noise and engine temperature goes up overheating the engine and shaking/vibrating steering wheel and brake pedal. It happens both when driving and running engine in park. The problem occurs more often when heater is turned on.

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #17

Aug 212019

Pathfinder

  • 49,000 miles
2016 Nissan Pathfinder, started making loud clanking noises and vibrating in the front of the vehicle when the air conditioning went on. Did not matter if the vehicle was stationary or in motion. First noticed after exiting the highway and noticed the temp needle was slowing climbing. The bearing on one of the cooling fans crapped out with only 49,000 miles. Was lucky to have caught it before it overheated or blew the motor. An expensive repair not covered by the dealership.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #16

Jan 192020

Pathfinder

  • 50,000 miles
Don't even have the car a year! loud noise under hood like fan bang. Constant issue on other Pathfinders as well. Had to pay $1100 for coolant fan replacement that was overheating engine! should receive some type of reimbursement as this is an ongoing issue with these vehicles! hazard as car can catch on fire from overheating!

- Sandy Hook, VA, USA

problem #15

Jan 102020

Pathfinder

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Electric cooling fan bearings bad (85,000 miles). Research indicates this is a common problem the dealers are aware of, however have not issued a recall, extended warranty, or other customer assistance

- Boston, VA, USA

problem #14

Jan 082020

Pathfinder

  • 34,000 miles
The drivers side cooling fan bearing is bad and now I have to replace the fan which is $1,000 worth of work and I only have 34,000 miles on my vehicle. Every mechanic and auto parts person said this should not have to be replaced this early and with the mileage I have on my vehicle

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #13

Dec 192019

Pathfinder

  • 45,000 miles
Heater/ac cooling fan crapped out at 45K. Bearings/bushings causing loud, crunching noises when heat or ac is on. The same thing happened to me on my 2013 Pathfinder.

- Nanuet, NY, USA

problem #12

Aug 192019

Pathfinder

  • 58,000 miles
Cooling fan failure. Widespread reports of cooling fan bearings failing from 30-60 thousand miles. It vibrates and can damage the radiator causing a catastrophic failure. If you look in forums this is extremely common. I have this issue as well and it comes on suddenly.

- Statesville, NC, USA

problem #11

Mar 152019

Pathfinder

  • 60,000 miles
Engine cooling fan broke at <60K miles-rattling so much nearly punctured radiator

- Bay City, MI, USA

problem #10

Feb 122019

Pathfinder

  • 112,303 miles
Bought a brand new 2016 Nissan partfinder sl in 2016, at 65,191 miles one evening coming home I heard knocking noise coming from the engine, took it to the Nissan dealer, had it diagnose and was informed the the radiator coolant fan was was defective. I had it replaced November 11/18 2017, cost us $1268.49, on 02/12/2019 the brand new cooling fan fail again at 112,303 miles, took it to the same dealership had it diagnosed and it was the same problem previous. We contact Nissan regional office for reimbursement on repairs and parts our records was denied. Have it fix at the dealership once again cost us $1016.21 parts and labor. The dealership advise us to keep on fighting for these costs and repairs because it's a wide spread problem with all Nissan cooling fan assembly assembly.

- Shelton, CT, USA

problem #9

Feb 052019

Pathfinder

  • 50,000 miles
Radiator: Nissian Pathfinder radiator fail after owning for less than 2 years. This is covered under extend warrantee. But base on the past radiator recall, the vechile raidator may not be up to specs.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #8

Jan 262019

Pathfinder

  • 64,000 miles
Cooling fan assembly failed on 1/26/2019 at 64, xxx miles. New assy was purchased on 1/26/2019 from tony serra Nissan in cullman, al costing $560.29 (part and tax only). I R/R the assy myself, as I have experience in the automotive repair field, it took me just shy of 2 hours to replace them (time and care was taken). The service manager (I failed to acquire his name) stated to me on the phone that it is a known/frequent issue. It was a sudden issue, no noises detected on 1/25/2019. A light clicking detected outside only on 1/26/2019 at 09:30 hrs, after a <50 mile round trip to purchase the part, eat, and grocery store stop, on 1/26/2019 at 16:00 hrs, a heavy knock could be readily heard outside the vehicle as well as a 'loud roar' and vibrations detected inside the vehicle with all windows closed, stationary vehicle, and engine at idle. Symptoms would dissolve when the A/C was deactivated. All regular maintenance performed on time, with the exception of brake fluid change. Vehicle is also regularly cleaned.

- Warrior, AL, USA

problem #7

Dec 312018

Pathfinder

  • 76,000 miles
Loud clicking noise in the engine both while driving and idling in park. After researching it, I found out that is the fan hitting the shroud and it needs to be replaced. The part is anywhere from $200-600 and that doesn't include labor. I bought this car brand new, always kept up on the maintenance and of course my extended warranty ran out last week and now this happens. :(

- Huntley, IL, USA

problem #6

Dec 312018

Pathfinder

  • 74,000 miles
Engine fan began making loud noise at 74K miles. Took to dealership and was advised to replace the radiator fan. A quick search uncovered countless other owners with the same issue on the same vehicle.

- Piedmont, OK, USA

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