2018 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around two things: the front radar-based driver assist system (adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking) going unavailable or braking on its own, and a group of engine/transmission symptoms — hesitation, rattling, shuddering, loss of power — that owners say dealers often could not duplicate. Most complaints in the sample were filed at low mileage, many under 20,000 miles, and some owners described the assist-system warnings appearing within days of purchase.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Front radar unavailable / cruise control and AEB cutting out

   • 19 complaints (24%)
   • median 11,000 mi at 1.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe a 'front radar unavailable due to obstruction' message appearing with nothing in the way, which switches off adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Some report the vehicle braking on its own at highway speeds, or the cruise control re-engaging abruptly after a delay. Several say dealers could not reproduce the message or indicated the sensor was on backorder. Often reported in the first few thousand miles; the sample ranges from near-new vehicles to about 45,000 miles, and owners say it happens on open highway and in city traffic alike.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, set the cruise control and note whether any radar/collision warning appears; ask the seller or dealer whether the intelligent cruise control / AEB service bulletin has been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Faulty radar on my Nissan Pathfinder is compromising my emergency braking system. It frequently deactivates itself thereby disabling my cruise control and the emergency braking system. A warning flashes on the dashboard to indicate the problem: front radar unavailable. In my view the emergency braking system is unreliable. A recall and a fix should be ordered.”

   NHTSA complaint #11223111, filed 2019-06, 3,250 miles

   “Pathfinder forward collision warning when driving on bridge or any road sign anything above the road I am getting warning, I complained so many time but no changes and issue still exist, it's keep happening at least twice a week video attached as sample when crossing bridge after keep getting warning it went off mode”

   NHTSA complaint #11257567, filed 2019-09, 16,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine hesitation, rattle or knock; oil sludge reported

   • 15 complaints (19%)
   • median 19,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe hesitation when pressing the accelerator, erratic or high RPMs, and a metallic rattle or knock from the engine, sometimes with the check engine light on. Some owners were told there was sludge in the engine oil; a few report engines replaced, in some cases more than once. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 100,000 miles, with several owners describing the symptom at highway speed.

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition on the dipstick, listen for a rattle or knock at around 1,500–2,000 RPM, and ask for maintenance records showing regular oil changes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On May 7th at 1:22 PM, the engine in my 2018 Nissan Pathfinder catastrophically failed for the second time while my family was driving. The engine completely lost power in the middle of a very busy highway intersection, going over an overpass, where there was no shoulder. I had no ability to pull off the road. My wife had to push the disabled vehicle off the highway to avoid causing a major accident. This was an incredibly dangerous situation where my entire family’s life was at risk. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11670907, filed 2025-07

   “My 2018 Nissan Pathfinder started knocking at 75000 miles and it’s getting worse by the day I’ve paid my car payment down to 4000$ and now I’m told my motor is soon to go out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11684185, filed 2025-08
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, slipping or loss of power

   • 14 complaints (18%)
   • median 29,217 mi at 2.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the transmission seeming to slip or drop into neutral at speed, shuddering or juddering, and a metallic noise with loss of power, especially in turns. Complaints say dealers sometimes attributed the noise to a heat shield or could not reproduce the slip. Mostly reported between roughly 10,000 and 30,000 miles, at both low and highway speeds.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at steady highway speed and through turns listening for judder or a metallic noise, and ask whether any CVT/TCM calibration updates have been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The transmission seems to be slipping. At low rpms there is a noticeable metallic sound and loss of power, especially when making left or right turns. I have taken the vehicle to my local dealership at least three times without them finding a solution or being able to fix the issue. Instead I'm being told that the heat shield is the issue and that it has been taken care off even though the problem still exists.”

   NHTSA complaint #11310448, filed 2020-02, 28,000 miles

   “My 2018 Nissan Pathfinder SL has had to have the engine replaced once due to the CVP issues with the transmission causes in the engine to fail. It was replaced not even two years ago and now the issue has presented itself yet again and the engine has failed once again. I believe that this vehicle should be issued for recall because this is an issue that has happened twice engine has failed twice car will not run. Will not turn over vehicle is at a standstill. I want somebody to contact me regarding this because this is not acceptable.”

   NHTSA complaint #11675034, filed 2025-07
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Blank or upside-down rearview camera and display screen

   • 8 complaints (10%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the center display going black, the rearview camera showing a blank, frozen or upside-down image, and steering-wheel and hands-free functions becoming unusable with the screen out. Owners say dealers confirmed the display control unit needed replacement, and some had the unit replaced without the problem resolving. Reported across a wide mileage range in the sample, from new vehicles to around 130,000 miles.

   Recall 19V6540004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Put the vehicle in reverse and check the camera image, and check that the center screen and steering-wheel controls work; ask whether the infotainment software has been updated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Infotainment System screen is black and doesn't work. This poses a safety hazard as the navigation is inoperable; handsfree calls cannot be made while driving, which is required by law, since bluetooth is inoperable; and the back-up camera works intermittently and a person or another car could be hit while I'm backing up the vehicle.. The problem appeared quickly without warning in late January/early February 2023. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11511328, filed 2023-03

   “The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall that had a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11709224, filed 2026-01, 131,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   ABS warning lights / brake assist faults

   • 9 complaints (12%)
   • median 30,435 mi at 2.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2022

   Owners report ABS and brake warning lights coming on repeatedly, the brake pedal going to the floor, and the emergency braking system engaging on its own. Several complaints concern the ABS actuator recall, including parts not being available and warning lights returning soon after the recall repair. Reported from around 20,000 to about 47,000 miles in the sample, in some cases shortly after a recall repair.

   Recall 18V601000Recall 19V807000

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS actuator recalls (18V601000 / 19V807000) were completed and check that no ABS or brake warning lights stay on after start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The entire braking system failed without warning! My 25 year old daughter was coming up to a busy intersection that usually has semi-trucks and when she went to break the breaks failed and the pedal went to the floor. I found out that there was a recall on the Nissan Pathfinder emergency breaking system and asked Nissan as was directed on their website to immediatly tow the car to the nearest Nissan dealership to get repaired. They refused! …”

   NHTSA complaint #11451298, filed 2022-02

   “Vehicle had Nissan anti-lock brake (ABS) actuator safety recall repaired on 3/12/21. Ten minutes after leaving dealership ABS warning lights started coming on again and continue to come on, not every trip, but several times per week. Obviously, the repair has not addressed this safety issue completely. Vehicle has about 47,000 miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11404295, filed 2021-03, 47,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers the front radar/assist system, CVT behavior and open recalls, and confirm the ABS actuator recall work was actually done. Maintenance records matter here, since several engine complaints involve oil condition.

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.