2018 NISSAN PATHFINDER Complaints

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. My wife could have been struck by oncoming traffic while we were pushing the vehicle to safety. There was no protection or space to safely move out of traffic. This is the second catastrophic engine failure on this vehicle. The first engine failed just over two years prior and was replaced by the dealership. Despite the replacement, the second engine also failed, repeating the same critical failure that Nissan Pathfinders from this model year are widely known to experience. There were no prior warning lamps or engine codes during this incident. The engine immediately lost power and locked up while in motion. This vehicle was properly maintained, and all scheduled services were performed by licensed service providers. Additional Supporting Evidence: •Incident Date: May 7th at 1:22 PM •Photos of the disabled vehicle on the side of the highway provided. •Screenshot of text message conversation at the time of the incident (attached). •This failure is consistent with multiple NHTSA complaints, owner reports, class-action lawsuits, and technical service bulletins regarding systemic engine failures in the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder.

The disabled vehicle when delivered by flatbed car hauler unit to the nearest dealership, Petro Nissan, 47 miles from the breakdown site would not move at highway speed but only jerked/bucked and crept along at little more than a fast walk. This condition was last experienced when the vehicle had been on a remote undulating interstate for about 2 hours. The check engine light had reappeared after being recently reset and the engine revving and loss of ground speed started causally then increased in frequency and intensity until totally failing to the point of forcing me to creep with emergency flashers in mode on the shoulder to reach an exit two miles ahead. The high RPM revving coupled with the ground speed loss condition initial stages occurred each of the two prior days. Two Nissan NA dealerships in those two days had performed diagnostics and service. On each prior day the check engine light, the high revving engine RPM, and the ground speed loss occurred. On each day a potentially serious safety issue arose. Initially an attempt to match speed and merge with traffic at an onramp and again when (using cruise control) during which the vehicle system attempted an automatic acceleration to maintain speed on rolling hills. Both conditions forced me to the shoulder to avoid a potential accident from immediate and drastic ground speed loss and engine revving at or above 4500 RPM After each of these incidents a Nissan NA dealership was consulted and services were performed. In each case I postulated to the service advisors that the transmission sounded/felt like it was slipping on acceleration when the vehicle/ transmission had heated up from extended driving. Both days service advisors checked for diagnostic codes of transmission issues but never mentioned emission issues aside from mass air flow sensor or ABS sensors apparently either not seeing or not looking beyond transmission related codes. The first dealer, Illini Nissan, ran diagnostics on 1/6/25,

The engine began to fail because of a lack of adequate breathability into the crankcase, causing high crankcase pressure, excessive oil blowby, severe exhaust smoke, severe engine sludge, severe engine shuddering, and lack of response to the power steering because of engine power loss. The failure of the PCV system was at fault. Produced codes P0300, P0306, and P0430. Engine sludge needed to be cleaned, PCV hoses and PCV needed to be replaced, spark plugs needed to be replaced because of blowby, and valve covers also needed to be replaced because of sludge clogging the PCV baffles within the valve covers.

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the brake pedal was depressed because the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that the air bag then deployed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the steering wheel remained inoperable. The contact towed the vehicle to his place of employment. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000.

The Display Control Unit (DCU) went blank on my 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. No working display causing steering wheel controls not to work. This includes being unable to use any hands-free phone calls. This is a significant safety issue. Nissan has a voluntary recall for this problem on the 2018 and 2019 Pathfinder, but for whatever reason my VIN Is not included. Multiple attempts to have Nissan fix and they refuse. I can’t tell you how unsafe it makes traveling with no working display and no hands-free phone capabilities. Requesting your assistance to require Nissan to recall this problem on the 2018 Pathfinder.

While driving the car it randomly turns off and turns back on it also jerks initially. All lights on the dashboard turn off and back on, speakers make a loud BOOM sound! Have experienced the car not starting. Bought a new battery thinking that was the issue, it wasn't.

While driving the airbag passenger light went on then off then the red airbag light on the dashboard started flashing and continues to flash.

I was driving along at 35-40 mph and the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating when I gave it gas. Nearly empty at the time so I thought maybe it was a gas issue. I drove it a couple of days after that and it drove just fine. I filled her up with premium gas, thinking that it would fix the problem. The third time I went to drive it was last Friday, [XXX] It would barely accelerate. it took about maybe a quarter to 1/3 of a mile for it to get up to 40 mph, during which time I have my foot smashed on the gas pedal all the way down to the floor. I went to pick up my dogs, pet food, which was 5 miles away. I made it there. I was not sure that I would make it back. I live in Colorado Springs, which is a city full of very much traffic, and I was afraid that my vehicle was going to stop in the middle of the road and I was going to get creamed by an oncoming car. I just purchased this vehicle back in October. I have barely driven it myself, as I don’t go out that often. The main reason for this vehicle is my profoundly disabled child to her doctors appointments and back. Now if we stop in the middle of the road and my daughter is killed by an oncoming car because this car just stops working… what a tragedy that would be. I went online and looked up this issue on Reddit and other forums. I found a post all the way back to 2013 from a gentleman who had the same exact issue. Now I’m not sure why. In 10 years you guys have not insured that Nissan fixes this issue but I find this to be pathetic. A six-year-old car should not be doing this. Now I am paying $380 a month and have a $20,000 loan on a vehicle that I cannot even drive, for fear that I will die in it. Somebody needs to figure this out, and Nissan needs to stop producing garbage vehicles that put peoples lives at risk. You guys need to ensure this gets done, that’s part of your job. 100% certain that I am not the first person that has submitted a complaint about this to you guys. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.

Second row seat on the passenger side base will not fold down after the release handle was pulled so occupants in the 3rd row can exit the vehicle. The latch will not engage to its in a locked position.

The vehicle had 58,827 miles when the fuel pump failed on 12/27/2023. The vehicle stalled at a 4-way intersection during an errand run. The vehicle would not move when shifted into drive and eventually die. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop (Greg's Japanese Auto), where a certified technician confirmed and replaced the fuel pump.