2015 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 Pathfinder most often describe two things: a cooling fan assembly that makes loud clanking or grinding noises when the A/C or climate control is on, and transmission behavior — hesitation, shuddering, delayed or lost acceleration. Air bag warning lights and unexpected deployments also come up, often at very low mileage, and some complaints follow recall repairs.

1. 1
   Engine

   Cooling fan assembly clanking or grinding noise

   • 72 complaints (22%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (59 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2022

   Owners describe a loud clacking, clunking or grinding noise from the front of the engine bay that appears when the A/C or climate control is switched on and goes away when it is turned off. In several cases a mechanic or dealer identified the radiator/cooling fan assembly — a two-fan unit — with a failed bearing letting the blade wobble or contact the shroud. Complaints describe quotes in the several-hundred to over-one-thousand-dollar range, and some owners say the part failed more than once. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 70,000 miles, with a few at higher mileage and one repeat failure past 100,000 miles.

   What to check: With the engine running, turn the A/C on and listen at the front of the vehicle for clanking or grinding, and look for a wobbling fan blade. Ask whether the fan assembly has been replaced and keep the receipt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have bought a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder from the dealer and currently has 44,507 miles on it and the radiator fan started making clanking sound its very loud. Now I have to get this fixed but I am not the only one their are thousands of people online who had the same problem with the same vehicle just search it online and you will find it. I guess this a common problem with the Nissan pathfinders and this needs to be recalled.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329612, filed 2020-06, 44,507 miles

   “Radiator fan assembly. My vehicle is at appx 41k miles. A few weeks a loud metallic clanking noise began emanating from the engine compartment. Our mechanic identified the issue as the driver side radiator fan (this model has 2 fans housed in one assembly) hitting the assembly shroud. The bearings have malfunctioned causing the blade to rotate off axis. If the blade shears off or breaks it would likely puncture the radiator assembly which could lead to overheating or fire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11074625, filed 2018-02, 41,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, hesitation and delayed acceleration

   • 114 complaints (36%)
   • median 48,913 mi at 4.5 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,000 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe shuddering, jerking and shaking at low speeds, whining noises, and moments where the accelerator is pressed but the vehicle barely moves or takes many seconds to respond, sometimes after slowing for a turn or a stop. Several owners say a dealer diagnosed transmission failure or replaced the CVT, and some report the symptoms returned afterward. A service bulletin describes a CVT judder condition with stored diagnostic codes and a calibration write procedure, and another announces a warranty extension for the CVT. Reported across a wide mileage range, common from about 40,000 to 120,000 miles, often during low-speed acceleration or after a stop.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at low speed and from a stop, watching for shudder, whine or a lag before the vehicle moves. Ask for transmission service records and whether any CVT calibration or warranty extension applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For over 6 months my vehicle has been sputtering off and on. Just recently, when cranking it up, it would blow out white smoke and sputter even worse. We bought it in march 2020 knowing it was sputtering but the dealership claimed to have fixed it. Now it's with Nissan where it's been for almost 2 weeks. They're stating that the transmission and engine has to be replaced. They also stated that these vehicles are notorious for these issues. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11404419, filed 2021-03, 54,000 miles

   “This vehicle jerks and stutters at low speeds, like the transmission doesn't know what to do and also doesn't always shift into the gear it should be in. I can also feel that the car seems faintly jittery at highway speeds, even on new pavement. I have researched this and the 2015 pathfinders have a CVT transmission like the 2013-2014 models that were, apparently, recalled there are many complaints and concerns for this model year as well, I wonder why no action has been taken to resolve this consistent defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #11299545, filed 2020-01, 45,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Loss of power and stuck brake lights

   • 106 complaints (33%)
   • median 53,500 mi at 4.5 yrs old (74 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,000 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle losing power or refusing to accelerate past a low speed after braking for a light or turning, sometimes requiring the pedal to be released and pressed again. In several of these complaints the brake lights stay illuminated after the pedal is released and the vehicle can be started without pressing the brake, and a dealer replaced the brake light switch. One recall covers a brake light switch and relay condition on this model year. Reported from about 40,000 to 95,000 miles, typically in stop-and-go or turning situations.

   Recall 21V020000

   What to check: Have someone watch the brake lights while you work the pedal, and confirm the engine will not start without the brake pressed. Ask whether the brake light switch recall was performed and whether the switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I've been experiencing problems with my vehicle stalling out. I took it to Nissan on numerous occasions and no problem could've been found until the last time. They informed me that the brakes would come on automatically. They believe it was a sensor problem, however, the problem still happens all the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11233193, filed 2019-07, 54,691 miles

   “At random, little to no acceleration at initial take off and/or while driving in traffic on a highway or street even if pressing gas pedal to floor. Vehicle will start without pressing brake. Brake light remains on after car is turned off. I've had catalytic converter and brake work done to correct the problem to no avail. Also, I wanted to check speed control as a affected part but it wouldn't select.”

   NHTSA complaint #11240367, filed 2019-07, 90,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and unexpected deployment

   • 52 complaints (16%)
   • median 12,800 mi at 1.7 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report the air bag warning light coming on, or a "passenger air bag off" message with someone seated in the front passenger seat, which dealers have tied to the occupant classification sensor. Some complaints describe curtain or driver air bags deploying without an impact, including at low speeds and while driving at highway speed. A service bulletin addresses a stored occupant detection sensor code where a zero point reset cannot be performed. Frequently reported at low mileage — many under 30,000 miles — and in some cases shortly after a recall-related air bag repair.

   Recall 16V244000Recall 15V6810002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light behaves normally on startup and that the passenger air bag indicator reads correctly with someone seated. Ask whether the occupant classification recalls were completed and whether the sensor has been serviced since.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was in accident moving about 10 miles per hour and slowing as approaching light on a local city street. Car trued to pass illegally on left. I moved right to avoid and hit car in front of me at very slow speed. No visible damage to frint end. Driver airbag opened in a partially defkated manner. Should not even have opened . Especially incorrectly”

   NHTSA complaint #11362973, filed 2020-10, 108,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at 25 MPH, the front driver's side air bag and the driver's side curtain air bags suddenly deployed without impact. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was awaiting a response from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 61,464.”

   NHTSA complaint #11620125, filed 2024-10, 61,464 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Hood opens while driving

   • 24 complaints (7%)
   • median 59,100 mi at 5.3 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the hood coming unlatched and flipping up into the windshield while driving, damaging the hood, fenders and windshield, and in one case the hood would not close without repeated slamming even after the recall repair. A recall covers the secondary hood latch on certain 2013-2016 Pathfinders; several complaints reference it, with some owners saying the remedy was unavailable or did not resolve the problem. Reported from about 55,000 to 120,000 miles, often at highway speed.

   Recall 22V420000

   What to check: Open and close the hood several times and check that the secondary latch catches and releases cleanly, then confirm the hood latch recall was completed for the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were driving on a highway at 70 MPH when the hood opened up and hit the windshield. The safety latch did not engage. It bent up the hood, cracked the windshield and dented the roof. The hood was down and latched when we left. I know Nissan had recalls for 2013 and 14. I called Nissan but have not had a response as of this writting”

   NHTSA complaint #11375938, filed 2020-11, 96,120 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH the hood became unlatched, opened smashed into the front windshield. During the incident both the front driver side and passenger side body fenders were damaged. The local dealer mansfield motor group (1493 park ave west, mansfield oh) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure but, no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 55,800.”

   NHTSA complaint #11306735, filed 2020-02, 55,800 miles

Buying note. Look for a documented transmission service history and test the CVT carefully at low speed, since shift quality is the most commonly reported concern. Confirm the hood latch, brake light switch and air bag recalls were completed, and check the cooling fan for noise with the A/C on.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.