2015 Nissan Pathfinder Body & structure Problems

The control arm detached from the front subframe due to massive rust on a car that was well cared for and only 10 years old. This happened as we were driving: the front passenger-side wheel became loose and began flopping back and forth, forcing me to immediately pull over into a gas station. I do not want to imagine what would have happened if this had detached on the highway instead of on a town side road. There were NO warnings or symptoms before this catastrophic failure. I had it towed to my regular mechanic, not realizing the extent of the damage—they wouldn't even put it on a lift. I then had it towed to the dealership, where they confirmed the damage was so extensive that (1) both control arms and the front subframe would need to be replaced due to rust ($5,800), and (2) the rear subframe was also extensively rusted, unsafe, and in need of imminent replacement, quoted at an additional $7,000. This being an exorbitant amount for a 10-year-old Nissan Pathfinder, I was forced to sell it to a salvage yard for a pittance just to buy a vehicle I could drive to work—and I can only hope it lasts until I can afford something better. I purchased this Pathfinder about 14 months ago. It was "inspected" by the dealer as well as by my regular mechanic at that time, with no indication that rust was a concern or even worth a comment. I am horrified by how much worse this could have been. We were on a trip more than an hour from home, heading toward the highway to return, when this occurred. No one should have to worry about something like this. Especially because, when I began researching, I found that this is a KNOWN defect on this model and others like it. It is NOT okay to put people at risk of serious or deadly injury when manufacturers KNOW water pools in places that can't be seen or checked, rotting the frame and subframe from the INSIDE out.

NHTSA ID

11742196

Incident

May 30, 2026

Hood latch won’t close fully. Took to my dealer and supposedly they “cleaned” it and it keeps not fully latching and dealer won’t do anything about it because they “cleaned” it previously. Randomly comes loose. I can’t list a. Specific date because it always happens if I take it for an oil change they can’t get the hood to fully latch either. Once you open the hood it will not fully latch.

NHTSA ID

11569780

Incident

Feb 4, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the liftgate failed to latch correctly due to the release button being fractured inwardly. Due to the failure, the release button failed to respond appropriately whenever activated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the release button needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.

NHTSA ID

11480029

Incident

Jan 8, 2019

Mileage

63,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE VISOR KEEP FALLING DOWN WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11386093

Incident

Aug 6, 2020

TL* 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 ID

11306735

Incident

Feb 3, 2020

Mileage

55,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE ROOF WERE LOOSE AND THE BOLTS TO SECURE THE LUGGAGE BAR WERE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. D'ADDARIO NISSAN(329 BRIDGEPORT AVE, SHELTON, CT) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED THE TWO ROOF BARS WERE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11241339

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (OR EQUIVALENT WITH WIND), THE HOOD SHAKES LIKE IT IS BEING LIFTED BY THE WIND. IT SEEMS TO SHAKE/VIBRATE BETWEEN THE LATCH AND THE BUMPERS. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND THEY ARE INFORMED ME THIS IS "NORMAL" AND THEY HAVE ADJUSTED THE LATCH AND BUMPERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE SHAKING AND I AM WORRIED THAT OVER TIME THE LATCH WILL BREAK AND THE HOOD WILL OPEN. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS IS LIKELY VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

10985520

Incident

May 8, 2015

Mileage

3,500 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE ANOTHER CAR CLIPPED THE BACK BUMPER OF MY PATHFINDER GOING TROUGH AN INTERSECTION. IT WAS ENOUGH TO DEPLOY MY CURTAIN AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE SEAT AIR BAG IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, BUT DID MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BACK BUMPER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. BUT, AFTER EVERYONE WAS OUT OF MY PATHFINDER, A POLICE OFFICER NOTICED A FIRE INSIDE THE PATHFINDER. IT WAS LOCATED ON THE PANEL BETWEEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND THE BACK DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I DON'T HAVE PICTURES (I DIDN'T THINK TO TAKE ANY) AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS HANDLING THE POLICE REPORT AND ALL THE DETAILS, BUT THE OFFICER ASKED ME TO REPORT THIS ISSUE TO YOU SO I AM.

NHTSA ID

10968282

Incident

Mar 23, 2017

Mileage

33,000 mi

2015 NISSAN PATHFINDER ENVOLVED IN UNKNOWN ACCIDENT AIR BAG DEPLOYED, NISSAN REFUSES TO RESPOND , NUMERIOUS RECALLS, BELIEF CONCUSION OCCURRED NEED ASSISTANCE, STOPED PAYMENTS, COLLECTION HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ME , VIN ON PATHFINDER DOESN'T MATCH VEH, ASKED THEM ALSO TO PROVIDE DATE OF MFG NOT RECIEVED

NHTSA ID

10960227

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE ROADWAY (SPEED - 40 M.P.H.), THE HOOD OPENED AND OBSTRUCTED MY VIEW. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE AND RE-SECURE THE HOOD. THE DAMAGE TO THE FENDERS WAS EXTENSIVE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACEDD, AS WELL AS THE HOOD LATCH MECHANISM. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REED NISSAN (3776 W COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32808), WHO SAID THE LATCH MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10955307

Incident

Feb 16, 2017

Mileage

25,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING OUR PATHFINDER IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, I'VE STARTED TO NOTICE AND FEEL A JUDDERING & JERKING MOTION COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION/POWERTRAIN EVERY TIME I DEPRESS OR PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AT BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 15 TO 40 MPH. I PLAN TO REPORT THIS TO NISSAN ALONG WITH A COUPLE MORE ISSUES LIKE THE CRACKLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION USUALLY AFTER REVERSING BACK OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THEN MOVING FORWARD WHILE SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL BACK TO A STRAIGHT POSITION. COULD BE A BEARING ISSUE, RACKING PINION OR POSSIBLY THE BRAKE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I WILL ALSO REPORT THE CONSTANT ANNOUNCE OF A CRACKLING SOUND COMING FROM THE WOOD PANELING AROUND STEREO AND AIR CONDITION CONTROLS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE SCARY & VISIBLE SHAKING OF THE FRONT HOOD WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF OVER 80MPH. THIS VIOLENTLY SHAKING FROM THE HOOD WILL CERTAINLY LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU GO ANY FASTER CHANCES ARE THE HOOD WILL FLY OFF OR CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS IS ISSUE IS CLEARLY AN AERO DYNAMIC FLAW. HOW CAN THEY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS POSSIBLE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ?

NHTSA ID

10865044

Incident

May 15, 2016

Mileage

1 mi

WHEN TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55PMH. THE HOOD BEGINS TO SHAKE/FLUTTER AD IT SEEMS THE HOOD IS ABOUT TO OPEN. OTHER FRIENDS/RELATIVES WITH THE SAME VEHICLE MADE IN 2015 OR 2014 HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER STATE DIT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED BUT AFTER DOING SO, THE SAME OCCURS. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TOT HE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO POSITIVE RESULT. FLORIDA TURNPIKE IS A 70 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND IT IS VERY SCARY AS THE HOOD SHAKE EVEN MORE AT THAT SPEED.

NHTSA ID

10821267

Incident

Jan 1, 2016