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2011 Nissan Pathfinder Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder, most often about the air bags (27% of complaints, typically around 91,000 miles). It is 22nd of 26 Pathfinder model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2011 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Air bags
12 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles.
After stopping at stop sign and turning. The airbag indicator light started flashing. Took it to the dearlership it was bought from. They "repaired" the problem. After traveling less than 2 miles from dealerships,the light started back flashing. I returned to dealership. They wanted to know if I had wrecked the…
Air blag light illuminated at 107,716 miles on vehicle. Taken into dealership and given an error code with a recommendation to replace drivers side air bag and spiral cable. Was given a quote of $1300+ to fix. This is a huge safety risk and the vehicle has never been involved in any accidents which have caused the…
Engine
10 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles.
Car is making a very loud exhaust sound. Mechanic said the manifold has a crack. This car is a 2011, and it doesn't seem possible for this age car that is driven by a female 43 year old to have such issues.
Service engine soon light continuously goes off and on. Took it to various mechanics and all say there's nothing wrong. Noticed the light goes off in certain weather, but not all the time. Since mechanics say there's nothing wrong, I can't say how it affects the vehicle. This has been an issue for 2 years.
Transmission
7 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles.
My vehicle is to the point I am afraid to drive it. Something in steering mechanism, idk but when driving any differential in the road the vehicle is all over the road.. I am a single person with grandchildren and this is not safe. It is so bad it walks into another lane of traffic. This started a few weeks ago and I…
Stopped car and transmission, brakes, steering all quit working and car would not restart. Bolt attaching transmission cable to gear box fell off!! I was very luck where it happened. Potentially extremely dangerous.
Brakes
6 complaints · 13%The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact was driving 20 MPH when the brakes were depressed and the vehicle did not respond. The brake pedal was depressed into the floorboard but did not stop the vehicle as she crashed into a stop sign. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic was performed…
I have taken my 2011 Nissan Pathfinder to the dealer over the past 4 months because of brake issues. Was given the run around but finally resolved the main issue. However, now I noticed that my seat belts never lock when riding in the car. I feel this is a major safety issue that needs to be looked into. While riding…
Suspension
6 complaints · 13%The vehicle handles smoothly on a smooth surface, but when I hit a small bump in the road, the steering wheel shimmies giving you the feeling that you might lose control. Big bumps in the road at higher speeds (60-70 MPH) are decidedly uncomfortable. I took the vehicle to a Nissan dealer and a very knowledgeable…
My vehicle is to the point I am afraid to drive it. Something in steering mechanism, idk but when driving any differential in the road the vehicle is all over the road.. I am a single person with grandchildren and this is not safe. It is so bad it walks into another lane of traffic. This started a few weeks ago and I…
Electrical
4 complaints · 9%Keyless entry doesn't work. Put in actual key still doesn't work. Car door want open for about 1-2 min of trying once door unlock put actual key in ignition and still will not start for about 2 or more mins of trying.
Seat belts
3 complaints · 7%I have taken my 2011 Nissan Pathfinder to the dealer over the past 4 months because of brake issues. Was given the run around but finally resolved the main issue. However, now I noticed that my seat belts never lock when riding in the car. I feel this is a major safety issue that needs to be looked into. While riding…
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 7%We were woken up by load popping sounds coming from outside our residence at approximately 130 am. When I looked out the window I saw that our 8 month old 2011 Nissan Pathfinder le was on fire in our driveway. This fire was so intense that the entire passenger compartment of the vehicle was engulfed with 15-20 ft high…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
Air bags: frontal
Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driverâs airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed december 8, 2023. Owners may contact nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are pc944, pc945, and pc946.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 titan, frontier, xterra, pathfinder, armada, and 2008-2009 quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 infiniti fx, model year 2012 infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength. As a result, the bolt may break at the oil filter attachment point and can cause an engine oil leak.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (12 complaints, typically around 91,000 miles); engine (10 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles); transmission (7 complaints, typically around 62,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 10, 2023 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Nissan Pathfinder?
- It is 22nd of 26 Pathfinder model years by number of complaints, with 45 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.