What 572 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder

As I am accelerating once the car reaches 30-60 mph there is a very distant shuddering that occurs that cause the engine to lose some power and turns the check engine light on. This appears to be a common problem as I have found many complaints on forums describing very similar symptoms.

NHTSA ODI 11691582

Brake lights staying on and when pressing down on gas no acceleration. Car stalls and when pressing on gas again acceleration accrues.. very dangerous

NHTSA ODI 11645174

CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES. JUDDERING, LOST SPRRD DOWNSHIFT JERKS. GOING 70 ON HIGHWAY IT LOST SPEED JERKED ME AROUND LIKE I AM GETTING HIT. COULDN'T EVEN GO UP RAMP ON HIGHWAY. Its hard to believe that NHTSA dose not have a ban on these vehicals. There are many complaints and Nissan letters within Nissan that have been issued out to dealships ect. no to mention the law suits. NHTSA would be the first i would think to post and force these off of the road. Insted people like me are just forced to junk them and write them off. or spend your life savings on trans replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11615288

Experience judder and stall of vehicle while driving, pulling off and coming from a complete stop. Vehicle will lose power while driving which is unsafe when getting on the freeway or driving in high traffic areas. Vehicle has been taken to the Nissan twice and to other repair shops for related concern and all have stated that the trans needs replacing. There were no lights or warnings before problems started it all occurred simultaneously.

NHTSA ODI 11553719

While driving on the parkway several times for traveling to work, my car would suddenly and violently shudder and drop speed much lower than the posted speed limit. My RPMs would race from 1.5 to 5 but no increase in speed when the accelerator was pushed. I had to put my emergency 4 way lights on and drive in the far right lane. Nissan dealership kept saying the vehicle was working fine when I complained about it. I took it in for service at least twice, nothing found. Then when my whole family was with me, the car shuddered violently, and would not respond at all with the accelator pedal and was unresponsive and the brakes difficult to engage and hard to steer. I had to glide into the shoulder to make a full stop. Then the engine would not turn off. All I could do was put my emergency flashers on and put the windows down for air. I had to call for help. My husband then tried the next day to drive my vehicle to the Nissan dealership, but again, the vehicle broke down and had to be towed. Nissan then finally diagnosed the problems as needing transmission replacement. Since it is a hybrid 2014 Nissan Pathfinder with less than 84,000 miles and over 7 years old I would need to buy a new transmission for over $14,000. My milage is under 73,500, but my vehicle is 9 years old. So my mileage is acceptable, but the age of the vehicle disqualifies me, because both parameters must be met for warranty to be effective. I already spent $1400 for a new air compressor system less than 3 months earlier for the same vehicle. I had no heat and no air conditioner.

NHTSA ODI 11540151

I was experiencing shaking and guttering during acceleration. I was coming from a full stop (red light, stop sign). It shakes, and I have back off the accelerator. When it happened, I had my children in the car on a busy roadway. I would hate to think of what could have happened if my vehicle had stopped on the busy road or crossing railroad tracks. Thankfully, we were close to home, roughly 2-3 miles away. I took the truck to the closest service center to have it looked at. It turns out it is a CVT failure. The service technician could reproduce the same guttering I explained and received various error messages. I have not had the vehicle taken to the dealer yet, as I would have to tow it because I fear driving the truck. I didn't experience any warning lights before the CVT failure. Now my airbag warning light comes on. I called the closest Nissan dealership and explained the issue I was having. Unfortunately, my vehicle has not been repaired because I don't have the $6k plus I was quoted for the repair. I have been made aware of a class action lawsuit regarding failing CVT transmissions. I don't have any information on where I can get help with this issue, and I don't have any correspondence from Nissan. My Pathfinder has been parked since April 2023.

NHTSA ODI 11524161

I GOT NEW TRANSMISSION AND DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY FOR ALTERNATOR BATTERY AND FUEL PUMP AND AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK NOT TO MENTION THE DEALERSHIP STOLE EVERYTHING FROM MY CAR AND MY CAR WAS AS TILL THE SAME AND THEY SAID MY WARRANTY WAS UP AND I BARELY DROV E IT AROUND AND IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN

NHTSA ODI 11390112

MY ENGINE IS LOOSING POWER WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR SHUDDERS(LOSE POWER) AND THEN IT HAS DELAYED ENGAGEMENT. SINCE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY

NHTSA ODI 11378255

2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER HYBRID. MY VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPED AT A LIGHT; CAR SHAKES LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL OUT; CAR SHAKES WHEN GOING AT LOW SPEEDS AND LIGHTLY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, IT SEEMS AS IF THE TRANSMISSIONS TRIES TO SHIFT BUT THE GEAR DOESN'T GO IN. MY VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO OD ON ITS OWN. ALSO STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT. LASTLY, TRUNK CLOSES ABRUPTLY AFTER OPENING; HAS FALLEN ON MY HEAD SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11296675

BRAKE LAMP RELAY WENT BAD AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ON AFTER REMOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE PEDAL. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, RUNNING, DRIVING. ON OR OFF. THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME PATHFINDERS, BUT OURS IS NOT ONE. HAD TO PAY TO REPAIR MYSELF. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO ALL PATHFINDERS.

NHTSA ODI 11267871

TRUCK SHUDDERS AFTER BEING PARKED OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT ON TAKE OFF WHEN TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED. ALSO IN THE MOTION OF DRIVING ON CITY AND OR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11222856

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRED ANDERSON NISSAN OF RALEIGH (LOCATED AT 9225 GLENWOOD AVE, RALEIGH, NC 27617, (919) 324-3443) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ALSO, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11210619

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE ACCELERATOR WOULD SUDDENLY NOT RESPOND BECOMING A LIFE HAZARD TO MY FAMILY AND MYSELF AND ALSO OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND MY VEHICLE; THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO STOP OPERATING WHEN THIS OCCURS. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED AND WITH THE CAR BEING OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11181152

WHEN EXCELERATING MY VEHICLE THE CAR SHAKES AND WILL GIVE OUT ON ME. VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN GETTING ONTO A HIGHWAY. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WE ARE LOCATED IN SPOKANE WA. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH PATHFINDERS.

NHTSA ODI 11131854

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD OCCASIONALLY ILLUMINATE WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANCIRA NISSAN (LOCATED AT 10835 I-10, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78230, (210) 714-2040) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V380000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11124706

WHILE STATIONARY AND MOVING MY VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE STAYED ON EVEN WHEN I AM OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR IS OFF. I HAD AN INCIDENT IN WHICH THE IGNITION BUTTON WAS ABLE TO BE TURNED ON WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON THE PEDAL, AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALREADY PRESSED. THE CAR STUTTERS TO ACCELERATE AFTER BRAKING. I WORKED TO HAVE THIS ADDRESSED THROUGH NISSAN AFTER SEEING A RECALL WITH SIMILAR ISSUES ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL. NISSAN REJECTED FIXING THE PROBLEM DUE TO MY VIN NUMBER NOT BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT RECALL. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RUN BY MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WHICH STATED THAT THE BRAKE CONTROL AND PUSH BUTTON STATER SWITCH NEED REPLACING. I REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V380000 AS SIMILAR TO MY CASE.

NHTSA ODI 11105407

THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY FAILS TO ACCELERATE FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES FOR A PERIOD OF 10-30 SECONDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE "BRAKE SWITCH" THAT IS COMMON IN THE PATHFINDER. THE DEFECT CAUSES AN UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONDITION WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11096465

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE DETECTED. AFTER LEAVING THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND MAKING A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NISSAN OF YORKTOWN HEIGHTS (3495 CROMPOND RD, YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598(914) 737-3500) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 11029991

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT A VIBRATION AND A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOMMARITO NISSAN WEST (14747 MANCHESTER RD, BALLWIN, MO 63011, (636) 394-0330) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TIRES AND BRAKE PADS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11024019

FROM TIME TO TIME, MY 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER WILL NOT ACCELERATE ON FULL THROTTLE WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICED THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS AROUND 22K, AND NOW AROUND 34K, IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A WEEK AGO TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THEY CHANGED A BRAKE RELAY AND DID SOME RECALL-RELATED SOFTWARE UPDATES. SINCE THEN, IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR IN THE INTERSTATE RAMP AS I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I LOOKED UP ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS THE MAJOR ISSUE AMONG THE 2013-2014 PATHFINDERS AND THEY HAVE RECALLED CLOSE TO THE MILLION VEHICLES FOR THIS. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S TAG ON MY CAR, THIS BATCH WAS BUILT AFTER THE RECALL DATE (AUGUST 2014). IT LOOKS LIKE NISSAN PROBABLY HAVE NOT YET FOUND THE REAL SOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE, OR, THEIR CVT TRANSMISSION DESIGN IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED. WHATEVER MIGHT THE REASON BE, NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THEM TO FIX IT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE...PLEASE INVESTIGATE!!!

NHTSA ODI 10956127

1) MY DRIEVR SIDE DOOR LEVEL BROKE UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. 2) VEHICLE SOMETIMES TAKES A LONG TIME TO STOP WITHOUT WARNING. 3) ON A CURVE WHILE BRKING OR FROM BRAKE TO ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE STUTTERS OR HESITATES TO GO. ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE AS I LIGHTLY HOVERED THE BRAKE WHILE TURNING OR IN STRAIGHT LINE IT HESTIATES TO PROVIDE ACCELERATION. (DEALER SAID NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR THIS)THEY NEED CODES I WAS TOLD. 4) ALL BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS BOTH WENT BAD BEFORE 25,000 MILES. 5) RIGHT FRONT BEARING WENT BAD AT APPROX 6000 MILES CAUSING ACCELERATED TIRES WEAR (I HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES) AT 10K MILES ON A 60-75K TIRE. 6) PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME(CURRENTLY HAD CAR IN THEY SAID THEY WERE GETTING A PART) I AVERAGE 10-12K A YEAR AND PARK IN A LARGE OPEN DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10908455

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10893407

THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER. IT WILL SHUDDER AND YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TO BEGIN WITH IT STARTED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT NOW IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAST NOR HOW SLOW YOU ARE GOING AND IT HAS ALMOST GOT ME IN WRECKS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10700617

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER 2014. 1. CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY DISENGAGES GOING DOWN A SHALLOW BUT STRAIGHT ROAD. IN A 3 TO 4 MILE DRIVING STRETCH, IT WILL, AT TIMES, DISENGAGE 2 TO 3 TIMES. 2. THE 'SET' AND 'RESUME' TOGGLE SWITCH AT TIMES THEN DOES NOT RE-ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE SWITCH ACTS DEAD. I THEN HAVE TO SWITCH OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THEN SWITCH IT BACK ON TO HAVE THE TOGGLES SWITCH WORK BUT NOT ALWAYS. 3. THE CRUISE AND SET INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DO NOT FLICKER. THE NISSAN DEALER CARRIED OUT A TEST RUN AND FOUND THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGING EXACTLY AS STATED ABOVE. THEY REPLACED PART #25550-3KS1A, SWITCH ASSEMBLY-STE, TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT. THEY REITERATE THAT SUCH A CONDITION OF CRUISE DISENGAGEMENT AS STATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS CONSIDERED NORMAL AND ACCEPTABLE. HAVING READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL, I DO NOT FIND ANY MENTION OF THE TOGGLE SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY ACTING DEAD AFTER DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL NOR THE HIGH FREQUENCY OF THE DISENGAGEMENT. THIS CONDITION IS CAUSING ME TO CONCENTRATE MORE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL RATHER THAN ON THE ROAD. I AM REPEATEDLY UNSURE WHETHER THE CRUISE IS ENGAGED OR NOT. THIS DISTRACTION COULD RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. IT''S LIKE TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. EITHER WAY, THE END RESULT WOULD BE AN AVOIDABLE FATALITY(S).THIS CONDITION CLEARLY AMOUNTS TO A ROAD SAFETY HAZARD. THE MANUFACTURER, BY MERELY STATING THAT THE CRUISE MAY DISENGAGE DRIVING DOWN IN HILLY TERRAIN CANNOT ABSOLVE ITSELF OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. SUCH HIGH FREQUENCY OF CRUISE DISENGAGEMENT AND TOGGLE SWITCH FAILURE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL. MORE THAN LIKELY A SOFTWARE DESIGN PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588483

SINCE 10/12/13, THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHUDDERING AND LOSS OF POWER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT IS ALWAYS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. WE CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT GETS WORSE. FINALLY AFTER IT BECOMES ALMOST UNABLE TO DRIVE NISSAN ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND REPLACES THE CVT. WE ARE NOW ON OUR THIRD CVT SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR ON 7/22/13. WE HAVE TO TRAVEL A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY AND IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND DUE TO LOSING POWER GOING UPHILL WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY. IT HAS HAPPENED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND THE CAR BEHIND US SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING US. IT HAS HAPPENED AT SPEEDS FROM 30 TO 60 MPH. I AM GRAVELY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY, WE ALSO HAVE A NEWBORN AND I AM SCARED TO HAVE HIM IN THIS CAR BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. I HONESTLY FEEL THAT IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE ARE HIT DUE TO THESE ISSUES. NISSAN CONTINUES TO DENY THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10565049