RoadVitals

2019 Nissan Pathfinder Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Nov 29, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
20%
of 74 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Nov 29, 2025

Check engine light came in. Took into repair shop to change oil and diagnose issue. It was about 7,000 miles since previous oil change with full synthetic oil. Drained oil was full of metal shavings. Refilled oil and ran engine. Metal shavings was again observed in oil immediately. Mechanic stated vehicle needed a new engine. Noticed another complaint (#11674909) built around same time with exact same issue. Vehicle has ~160k miles with regular maintenace and only synthetic oil. There should not be engine damage at this point that would lead to a failure as this. Cost of repair is currently being worked up by repair shop but likely in $3-7k range.

NHTSA ID
11702032
Incident
Nov 29, 2025
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 24, 2025

Car started jerking multiple times and then RPM went down to zero and stopped driving while in traffic.

NHTSA ID
11689533
Incident
Feb 1, 2025
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2025

Upon a tune up request, mechanic discovered metal shavings in the engine. I got a second opinion, and was told that I needed a new engine. Vehicle is still under 100,000 miles.

NHTSA ID
11674909
Incident
May 27, 2024
Engine
Filed Jul 17, 2025

Complete engine failure. I did regular oil changes about every 4000 miles and the last one I did early at around 3200 miles the oil was sludge and after the engine knocked and low oil pressure light came on and the engine blew all within 2 miles of the light coming on and me trying to find a safe place to pull over. These engines have a defect somewhere and I know it didn't happen from improper maintenance.

NHTSA ID
11674247
Incident
Jul 14, 2025
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 16, 2025

Idle needle jumping when turning the car on. Delay in shifting gears and throttle response. Forward collision warning goes off at random times even when no cars are present.

NHTSA ID
11673929
Incident
Jul 16, 2025
Engine
Filed May 5, 2025

Fast burning oil White smoke Regular oil changes 3000k After 2k oil is extremely low 88k miles Sludge oil after 2 oil changes

NHTSA ID
11658847
Incident
May 5, 2025
BrakesEngine
Filed May 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the ABS, traction control, and check engine warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the instrument cluster had gone black. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had been a reoccurring failure for several months. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that brake fluid was leaking onto the circuit board and causing a short circuit. The dealer advised the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V807000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

NHTSA ID
11658555
Incident
Jan 13, 2025
Mileage
128,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 1, 2024

I was driving my Pathfinder and I experienced engine failure. It is a four year old engine with 170000 miles on it that has been properly maintained. The engine was knocking and would not accelerate on the highway past 40 mph. When I finally stopped the car, it would not restart. I read an article where this type of engine failure was consistent with the Rogue and Altimas that you were already investigating and I was wondering if the Pathfinder had a related investigation going on.

NHTSA ID
11605781
Incident
Jul 25, 2024
Engine
Filed Apr 26, 2022

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an oil change, he was informed that oil was leaking from the valve cover gasket cover. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 66,428.

NHTSA ID
11462249
Incident
Apr 25, 2022
Mileage
66,428 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 27, 2022

While driving the car on country road at speed around 40 miles per hour the car engine shutdown and the car slowly came to a stop. The battery light came on. I put the car in park and restarted the engine. A similar action occurred about a month ago while driving in a federal park and only moving about 20 mph.

NHTSA ID
11454324
Incident
Feb 26, 2022
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 19, 2021

VEHICLE WAS PERFECTLY FINE, BUT THEN BEGIN TO STALL OUT ON 3/1 IN MOTION ON THE STREET, WHILE TURNING, & BACKING UP. THEN ON 3/18 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP THE CAR IT COMPLETELY STOPPED. CAR IS AT THE SHOP NOW WITH REPORTED TRANSMISSION ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
11403883
Incident
Mar 17, 2021
Mileage
43,233 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2021

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR JUST SHUTS OFF FOR NO REASON IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME NOW

NHTSA ID
11391128
Incident
Feb 1, 2021
Mileage
21,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2020

AS I WAS IN THE DRIVETHRU WITH THE CAR IDLING, IT STARTED TO SHAKE AND IT FELT LIKE A THUMPING GOING ON. I PUT THERE CAR IN PARK AND IT KEPT GOING FOR ABOUT S MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE IT STOPPED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID
11330258
Incident
Jun 22, 2020
Mileage
21,749 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 7, 2020

ON TAKE OFF THE VEHICLE ENGINE HAVE A SMALL KNOCKING.

NHTSA ID
11307792
Incident
Jan 20, 2020
Mileage
5 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 28, 2020
Fire reported

OUR RENTER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GREAT UP UNTIL THE INCIDENT. STATES THAT THEY FILLED THE VEHICLE UP WITH GAS AROUND 4PM BEFORE PARKING IT JUST OUT IN FRONT OF WHERE THEY WERE STAYING. AT 1AM THEY WERE AWOKEN BY A DISTURBANCE OUTSIDE AND SOMEONE BANGING ON THEIR DOOR TELLING THEM THEY NEEDED TO COME OUTSIDE - WHEN HE ARRIVED HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED BUT IT TOOK ALMOST AN HOUR, PER RENTER, TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES AS THE VEHICLE KEPT LEAKING GASOLINE. APPARENTLY THERE IS A WITNESS TO THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRE FROM A [XXX] ([XXX]) WHO HEARD THE VEHICLE'S HORN AND OBSERVED NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE AND THEN THERE WAS AN "EXPLOSION" AS IT CAUGHT FIRE (POTENTIAL ALARM?) THE FIRE REPORT CONFIRMS THAT OUR RENTAL VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THEY INDICATE THAT THE FIRE WAS "MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION" AND "UNINTENTIONAL." THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF COMBUSTION. *** PLEASE CONTACT THE ADJUSTER WE HIRED TO ASSIST US WITH THIS MATTER. HIS NAME IS [XXX] WITH SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES. PHONE: [XXX]. EMAIL: [XXX] THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11302509
Incident
Nov 5, 2019
Mileage
12,893 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .