2022 Nissan Pathfinder Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
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What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes3420.4%
- Driver assistance2313.8%
- Electrical1911.4%
- Engine1810.8%
- Powertrain (other)1710.2%
- Interior & seats169.6%
- Visibility95.4%
- Body & structure74.2%
- Other / unspecified63.6%
- Airbags53.0%
- Fuel system53.0%
- Seat belts42.4%
- Suspension21.2%
- Steering21.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The rear brakes on my 2022 Nissan pathfinder are having unusual fast deterioration. I purchased the car at 13,000 miles and had to replace the rear brakes at 25,000 miles and now once again I am having to replace the rear brakes again at 52,000. This seems very odd since the front brakes have not needed replacement yet. I also have been advised to replace the rear calipers which are also very early for a car with 52,000.
First Incident- volume kept rising on its own. Would turn it down, it would go right back up. Would turn the radio off, it would turn on by itself and would keep rising until full blast. Vehicle was parked, came back from work, turned vehicle on and the volume was fine on it. Second Incident- (this has happened twice) about a month after the volume incident. This time the vehicle would accelerate by itself. No cruise control was on, vehicle would keep going faster and faster. First time this happened the vehicle needed to be towed, cops were involved. I finally was able to stop the vehicle at a red light (where it eventually broke down and would not start). Extended warranty covered the tow. There was no check engine light on. Replaced the battery as I was told the errors were pointing back to low voltage. After battery was replaced, maybe three weeks later the vehicle did the same thing on the highway again. Car speed kept increasing on its own, no cruise control or pedal input. Vehicle kept speeding. I took this vehicle to Moon Township, PA Nissan Cochran dealership and they could not replicate the issue. I have video proof the first time this happened where the vehicle kept increasing in speed without pedal input. I have two kids under the age of [XXX] , This is an unsafe vehicle and it has lost my trust completely. The extended warranty company for this vehicle said they can’t do anything since the dealership says no check engine light is on. Third incident- got into vehicle, turned the vehicle on and the parking brake would not release. The parking brake was never applied in the first place so I have no clue how or why it was on when I turned the vehicle on. I just recently called the dealership on this issue now (Moon Township, Nissan Cochran) and will see what they say. Again, no check engine light is present. I am at a loss on this vehicle. 2022 with only 45k miles on it and have never experienced this many issues with a vehicle before! It is unsafe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INF
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
First Incident- volume kept rising on its own. Would turn it down, it would go right back up. Would turn the radio off, it would turn on by itself and would keep rising until full blast. Vehicle was parked, came back from work, turned vehicle on and the volume was fine on it. Second Incident- (this has happened twice) about a month after the volume incident. This time the vehicle would accelerate by itself. No cruise control was on, vehicle would keep going faster and faster. First time this happened the vehicle needed to be towed, cops were involved. I finally was able to stop the vehicle at a red light (where it eventually broke down and would not start). Extended warranty covered the tow. There was no check engine light on. Replaced the battery as I was told the errors were pointing back to low voltage. After battery was replaced, maybe three weeks later the vehicle did the same thing on the highway again. Car speed kept increasing on its own, no cruise control or pedal input. Vehicle kept speeding. I took this vehicle to Moon Township, PA Nissan Cochran dealership and they could not replicate the issue. I have video proof the first time this happened where the vehicle kept increasing in speed without pedal input. I have two kids under the age of [XXX] , This is an unsafe vehicle and it has lost my trust completely. The extended warranty company for this vehicle said they can’t do anything since the dealership says no check engine light is on. Third incident- got into vehicle, turned the vehicle on and the parking brake would not release. The parking brake was never applied in the first place so I have no clue how or why it was on when I turned the vehicle on. I just recently called the dealership on this issue now (Moon Township, Nissan Cochran) and will see what they say. Again, no check engine light is present. I am at a loss on this vehicle. 2022 with only 45k miles on it and have never experienced this many issues with a vehicle before! It is unsafe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INF
Front collision sensor has failed, on a vehicle that had 40,000 miles. This keeps the adaptive cruise being able to be used as well as automatic emergency braking.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Components Affected: STRUCTURE:SUNROOF | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | VISIBILITY/WIPER Description of Safety Hazard: My 2022 Nissan Pathfinder suffers from a severe, chronic manufacturing defect causing substantial water intrusion into the vehicle's cabin through the sunroof assembly during rainfall. To date, the manufacturer’s authorized dealership network has attempted to repair this exact leak three separate times and has failed to cure the defect. This unfixable water leak creates two distinct, critical safety hazards: 1. Electrical Failure/Fire Risk: Water actively flows into the headliner, pooling behind the dashboard and running down the A-pillars. This directly exposes critical safety electronics—including the side-curtain airbags, rearview mirror sensors, forward-collision camera arrays, and steering column electrical modules—to active moisture. This creates a severe risk of sudden, catastrophic electrical short-circuits, unintended airbag deployment, or sudden loss of safety assist systems while operating the vehicle at highway speeds. The vehicle is currently leaking for a fourth time. Because the manufacturer's certified network is entirely incapable of sealing the vehicle or curing this defect, the vehicle remains an ongoing safety hazard to its occupants and other motorists on the road.
First Incident- volume kept rising on its own. Would turn it down, it would go right back up. Would turn the radio off, it would turn on by itself and would keep rising until full blast. Vehicle was parked, came back from work, turned vehicle on and the volume was fine on it. Second Incident- (this has happened twice) about a month after the volume incident. This time the vehicle would accelerate by itself. No cruise control was on, vehicle would keep going faster and faster. First time this happened the vehicle needed to be towed, cops were involved. I finally was able to stop the vehicle at a red light (where it eventually broke down and would not start). Extended warranty covered the tow. There was no check engine light on. Replaced the battery as I was told the errors were pointing back to low voltage. After battery was replaced, maybe three weeks later the vehicle did the same thing on the highway again. Car speed kept increasing on its own, no cruise control or pedal input. Vehicle kept speeding. I took this vehicle to Moon Township, PA Nissan Cochran dealership and they could not replicate the issue. I have video proof the first time this happened where the vehicle kept increasing in speed without pedal input. I have two kids under the age of [XXX] , This is an unsafe vehicle and it has lost my trust completely. The extended warranty company for this vehicle said they can’t do anything since the dealership says no check engine light is on. Third incident- got into vehicle, turned the vehicle on and the parking brake would not release. The parking brake was never applied in the first place so I have no clue how or why it was on when I turned the vehicle on. I just recently called the dealership on this issue now (Moon Township, Nissan Cochran) and will see what they say. Again, no check engine light is present. I am at a loss on this vehicle. 2022 with only 45k miles on it and have never experienced this many issues with a vehicle before! It is unsafe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INF
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
⸻ My 2022 Nissan Pathfinder experienced a catastrophic engine failure at approximately 70,000 miles. The vehicle suddenly developed severe engine knocking and required a complete engine replacement. There were no engine warning lights or oil pressure warning lights prior to the failure. The vehicle had been maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals, including oil changes using full synthetic oil. The Nissan maintenance system indicates oil changes at approximately 10,000 mile intervals. Because there were no warning indicators prior to the failure, the issue occurred without any notice to the driver. A sudden engine failure without warning could present a potential safety risk if it occurred while driving in traffic or at highway speeds. The repair required a full engine replacement at a cost exceeding $8,000. The vehicle was just slightly outside the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty at the time of failure. Given the relatively low mileage and lack of warning indicators before the engine failure, I am submitting this complaint so the issue can be documented and evaluated for potential safety concerns or patterns of engine failure in this vehicle model.
While driving at normal speed, the vehicle unexpectedly shifted itself into neutral twice without any driver input. During both incidents, the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion in traffic, creating a safety risk for the occupants and surrounding vehicles. Prior to and after these events, the vehicle displayed a “SERVICE A/T” message and a check engine warning light. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealership. They identified an engine-related concern (including a failed mass air flow sensor) and an electrical concern requiring attention. However, the dealership reported that they were unable to duplicate or diagnose the unintended shift into neutral, and the cause of the neutral engagement remains unknown. This issue has occurred more than once shortly after purchase of the vehicle. The warning lights and messages have been reproduced by the dealer, but the loss-of-drive event has not. The unresolved transmission or powertrain malfunction poses an ongoing safety concern.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving at normal speed, the vehicle unexpectedly shifted itself into neutral twice without any driver input. During both incidents, the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion in traffic, creating a safety risk for the occupants and surrounding vehicles. Prior to and after these events, the vehicle displayed a “SERVICE A/T” message and a check engine warning light. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealership. They identified an engine-related concern (including a failed mass air flow sensor) and an electrical concern requiring attention. However, the dealership reported that they were unable to duplicate or diagnose the unintended shift into neutral, and the cause of the neutral engagement remains unknown. This issue has occurred more than once shortly after purchase of the vehicle. The warning lights and messages have been reproduced by the dealer, but the loss-of-drive event has not. The unresolved transmission or powertrain malfunction poses an ongoing safety concern.
While driving the vehicle under normal conditions the transmission will shift itself into 'Neutral'. The unloaded engine will rev-up and the vehicle speed will decrease. 'Drive' must be re-selected on the shifter to resume driving normally. This has occurred a few times in various climates and engine temperatures(cold vs. warmed-up). Primarily taking place at speeds below 40mph. On one occasion, while parked, the transmission shifted to neutral and was stuck for several minutes. After many attempts the transmission was shifted into park and power was cycled. The issue did not come back immediately after power cycle. Replacement of the as-built OEM battery seems to have solved this issue but there was no sign of battery failure leading up to or during the phantom shifting. Battery replaced by owner when it died unexpectedly. Nissan Dealership where vehicle was purchased could not verify or corroborate the fault. According to their database there was no record of this occurring on other 2022 Pathfinders.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The front passenger seat in my 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is too low making the seat uncomfortable to sit in. Nissan told me to call the safety board to start a recall.
Heated seats appear to be on, but do not heat up. The door lock sensors on the exterior door handles do not work consistently.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at 7 MPH, the sunroof exploded outward. The sunroof cover was closed during the failure, preventing glass fragments from falling inside the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that the sunroof had exploded without impact. The vehicle was driven to the residence and was parked in the garage. The dealer was contacted and provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
While driving down the road or a smooth road 60 mile an hour 60° weather, it sound like a bomb went off inside my car after walking around my car I saw nothing wrong and then before I got in I noticed something on top of the car and it was my panoramic window blown up
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Panoramic sunroof drains failed due to being pinched by headliner. Documented water leaking into vehicle at 6060 by dealership. Water coming in along the a pillar and roof. Vehicle has been in the shop 3 separate times for gurgling noise and roof leaks. Dealership had issues re-creating issue. It’s a known engineering defect by the manufacturer but no recall has been issued.
Hi as I was driving my car on a clear road no cars near my car all of a sudden my sunroof exploded as if it was shot my a military tank we panicked thankfully tried to maintain calm and it didn’t hurt my children and thankfully no car was around as the sound did put us at panick mode which could have resulted in a car crash from the cause of the incident
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
For the past couple of months we noticed the car is swaying to one side when it accelerates. We took the car for an alignment and the problem persists. The car is now swaying aggressively to one side when driving at higher speeds. This occurs while driving in the highways. We have to be extra cautious because it can hit another car driving in the next lane. We took the car to the Weston AutoNation dealer repairs and they informed the car needs to repair tie rods and control arms. The car has never been in an accident. The car has less than 35,000 miles.
The rear breaks wore off really fast at around 10,000 miles as well as all the tires. It was inspected and the mechanic said that it’s normal for the breaks in these cars to wear off quickly. I never recieved any warning lamps about the breaks needing to be changed.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am submitting this complaint to report a serious safety issue involving the airbag system in my vehicle. The airbag warning light has illuminated on the dashboard, and I also received a notification indicating that the airbag system may not function properly in the event of a crash. This creates a significant safety risk, as the airbags may fail to deploy when needed. I contacted an authorized Nissan dealership regarding this issue. The dealership informed me that they have received similar complaints from multiple vehicles of the same generation as mine. However, they advised me to wait for a potential recall rather than proceed with immediate diagnostic and repair, stating that repairs at this time would be very expensive despite the vehicle being only three years old. Given the critical safety function of airbags, this situation is extremely concerning. A potential failure of the airbag system could result in serious injury or death in the event of an accident. I am requesting that this issue be investigated promptly to determine whether a defect exists that warrants a safety recall. It appears this may be a broader issue affecting multiple vehicles, not an isolated incident
Airbag light just came on today 10/2/25 Electronic emissions control will turn on and off the same day every few months.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
When refueling, gas pump stops prematurely before reaching full. Has happened on multiple occasions and and different gas stations. Vehicle only has 19k miles. I brought the vehicle into a Nissan dealership for further diagnosis but they could not identify the cause of the issue.
Fuel sending unit bad straight from the factory.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the seat belt alert system failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that even though all the occupants in the vehicle were wearing their seat belts, the system indicated that the seat belts were not in use, causing an audible warning chime to sound throughout the driving trip. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was purchased; Dimmitt Chevrolet (25485 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, FL 33763), and the contact was informed that the repair would not be covered under the warranty purchased by the contact through the dealer and was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer; Crown Nissan (5151 34th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33714); where a diagnostic test was performed on the vehicle, and it was believed that the failure might have started after removing the third-row seat. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,400.
Unknown when defect started to occur. Purchased vehicle with malfunctioning Rear left passenger seat belt does not connect properly and seat belt becomes disconnected.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving down a newly built road at 48 mph and all of a sudden it sounded like something was coming apart at the front right end of my vehicle. Everything sloped that way and then I was jerked to the right straight into a curb and then I hear a big boom. My psi went to 0 in my right front tire and I tried to steer left but I couldn't. My back end went into the air about 2-3 feet. I finally came to a stop on the side of the road about .3 miles from where the issue started. I was lucky I did not veer into traffic because I could not control my vehicle. After gathering myself and calling the police I got out of my vehicle to find that my front right wheel assembly fell apart. The officer and I searched thoroughly to find that I did not hit anything. The bolt was missing from one of my control arms. My wheel was turned sideways going east and west instead of North and South. I had the vehicle towed to a Nissan dealer and it has been a nightmare. The tech that is not certified or does not have the devices to make the call if it was a technical failure says that he has been told by the regional corp rep to let him no if he can locate a part that seems to be the issue. The dealer tech couldn't see anything so the regional corp tech will not come and take a look at my vehicle. My insurance has deemed it a mechanical failure and they are waiting for the results of Nissans diagnostic test which is not happening because the regional rep won't come and take a look at the car. There is no body damage except for where the front right wheel was pushed into the front right quarter panel.
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at various speeds, the rear of the vehicle was swaying. The contact mentioned the steering wheel was needed to be operated more to control the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
For the past couple of months we noticed the car is swaying to one side when it accelerates. We took the car for an alignment and the problem persists. The car is now swaying aggressively to one side when driving at higher speeds. This occurs while driving in the highways. We have to be extra cautious because it can hit another car driving in the next lane. We took the car to the Weston AutoNation dealer repairs and they informed the car needs to repair tie rods and control arms. The car has never been in an accident. The car has less than 35,000 miles.
I was driving on I-24 in my 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. I was using cruise control and I’m sure I also had steering assist engaged. I do not believe the vehicle would have reacted as it did without that. I was in the left lane, and a vehicle began to enter my lane from my right. I made a quick, evasive move to the left. On the left shoulder was a guardrail, so I corrected slightly to the right. Then the vehicle took over and we were along for the ride. It immediately turned hard to the right across the lanes, then reversed back to the left, and then back to the right. I regained control in the right lane. Fortunately, other traffic held back and we did not hit any other vehicle. We also never left the roadway or crossed over into oncoming traffic. I’m an experienced driver, so I know my control inputs were not excessive. I probably did not brake, which would have disengaged cruise and steering assist. I was simply shifting sideways, with no obstructions in front, so I did not need to brake. Things happened quickly, but I’m pretty sure I instinctively steered against the un-commanded turns. The vehicle motions reminded me of the old videos of Jeeps being rollover tested with outriggers installed. I do not recall any skidding noises or whether any wheels actually left the road surface, but my passengers said they feared we would roll. Per the Owner’s Manual, a feature called Intelligent Lane Intervention is automatically turned on when the Steering Assist system is active. The warnings say, “When the I-LI system is operating, avoid excessive or sudden steering maneuvers. Otherwise, you could lose control of the vehicle.” I can confirm that. The section on Steering Assist does not include this warning and I do not see any reference to its activating Lane Intervention. In any case, evasive steering actions are sometimes required. The system may be a little too sensitive to normal corrections or perhaps should deactivate when steering exceeds a certain amount.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .