2014 Nissan Pathfinder

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder has 585 owner complaints, and the highest count, 218, concerns transmission and drivetrain. Combined mpg: 21 to 26 on gasoline, with a 5-year fuel cost of $12,490 to $15,470 at U.S. average prices. It has 5 overall NHTSA stars. Recall campaigns that may apply to it total 12, covering door latches and locks, engine cooling, hybrid system, and others.

Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.

Fuel economy
21–26 mpgcombined; city 19–25, highway 25–28; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,490–$15,470U.S. average; Ohio $11,160–$13,820 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
12over its history, 1 replaced by a later one; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
585filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Versions

NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2014 Pathfinder, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 585 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Pathfinder. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power train218616
Air bags936013
Unknown or other88112
Engine64005
Visibility/wiper55001
Structure49203
Service brakes388012
Electrical system34405
Vehicle speed control26000
Fuel/propulsion system15000
Suspension14000
Latches/locks/linkages10000
14 more parts
Steering9100
Seats8000
Exterior lighting7000
Seat belts6102
Wheels6000
Engine and engine cooling5200
Visibility4000
Equipment adaptive/mobility3000
Service brakes, hydraulic3100
Fuel system, gasoline2000
Tires2000
Equipment1000
Hybrid propulsion system1100
Trailer hitches1010

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006837
  2. 2007561
  3. 2008328
  4. 200937
  5. 201040
  6. 201145
  7. 201223
  8. 2013890
  9. 2014585
  10. 2015321
  11. 2016107
  12. 2017186
  13. 201878
  14. 201976
  15. 202053
  16. 2022136
  17. 2023104
  18. 202485
  19. 202554
  20. 202611

Every Pathfinder year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2014 Pathfinder over its history, 1 replaced by a later one. A replaced campaign is listed at the end as history, not as a separate repair. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Latches/locks/linkages: hood

NHTSA campaign 22V420000 · reported Jun 13, 2022 · 322,671 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.

Risk: An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are R22A2 R22A3 and R24B7.

NHTSA's record and documents

Engine and engine cooling: engine; Hybrid propulsion system

NHTSA campaign 21V774000 · reported Oct 4, 2021 · 7,634 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, 2015-2016 Murano Hybrid, and 2014-2017 INFINITI QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software may shut down the hybrid system and the engine under certain conditions, causing a loss of drive power.

Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the HPCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R21B4 and R21B5.

NHTSA's record and documents

Exterior lighting: brake lights

NHTSA campaign 21V020000 · reported Jan 20, 2021 · 264,431 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The location of the brake light switch may cause the brake light switch relay to repeatedly open and close. Overtime, this can cause the relay to stick in the "ON" position, with the brake lights remaining illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, this may interfere with the brake-shift interlock, allowing the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "Park" position, without depressing the brake pedal.

Risk: Continual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash. With the brake override activated, the driver will not be able to accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver can shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, either re-install the brake light switch or swap positions with the Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD) switch; depending on the model year vehicle. In addition, the brake light relay will be replaced with a new one. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall PC786. Note: this recall supersedes 16V-380.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: sensor

NHTSA campaign 16V244000 · reported Apr 26, 2016 · 3,296,947 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: frontal; Air bags: sensor

NHTSA campaign 15V681000 · reported Oct 20, 2015 · 919 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Risk: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Structure: body

NHTSA campaign 15V033000 · reported Jan 26, 2015 · 170,665 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to November 18, 2013, 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid vehicles manufactured July 18, 2013, to November 18, 2013, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles manufactured November 29, 2011, to June 14, 2013, and 2014 QX60 vehicles manufactured May 16, 2013, to November 18, 2013, and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles manufactured July 18, 2013, to November 18, 2013. In the affected vehicles the hood release cable assembly may have been installed incorrectly preventing the latching claw from fully engaging. The secondary latch may remain in the open position when the hood is closed.

Risk: If the primary hood latch is released and the secondary latch fails during operation of the vehicle, it could cause the hood to open during vehicle operation impairing the driver's vision, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the angle of the hood release mechanism to provide additional length to the release cable, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service brakes

NHTSA campaign 15V012000 · reported Jan 14, 2015 · 893 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to November 5, 2014, and 2014-2015 Nissan Rogue vehicles manufactured August 12, 2014, to November 15, 2014. During the assembly process, the front wheel hub assembly fasteners may not have been properly torqued.

Risk: The under-torqued fasteners may result in a brake caliper separating from the wheel assembly causing a reduction in braking performance or reduced steering control. These conditions increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and tighten any loose bolts to the proper specification, free of charge. The recall began February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

NHTSA campaign 14V229000 · reported May 2, 2014 · 334 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Pathfinder and Rogue vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The right side wheels of the affected vehicles may have one lug nut each that was not properly tightened.

Risk: If the lug nut becomes loose from not being properly tightened, it may fall off, allowing the other lug nuts to become loose, possibly resulting in a wheel separation, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten any loose lug nuts to the correct specification, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by the end of June 2014. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: frontal; Electrical system: software

NHTSA campaign 14V138000 · reported Mar 25, 2014 · 989,701 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Risk: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system: software; Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

NHTSA campaign 13V445000 · reported Oct 17, 2013 · 151,695 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles manufactured April 18, 2012, through September 20, 2013; model year 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles manufactured September 15, 2011, through January 16, 2013; and model year 2014 Infiniti QX60 vehicles manufactured January 17, 2013, through September 20, 2013. In the affected vehicles, during light braking on rough roads, the antilock brake system (ABS) brake pressure output software may lead to an increase in stopping distance.

Risk: The increased stopping distance may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ABS, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: frontal

NHTSA campaign 13V456000 · reported Sep 26, 2013 · 2,310 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014 Pathfinders manufactured from July 25, 2013, to September 5, 2013 with Almond interiors only. The instrument panel tear seam on the passenger frontal air bag was incorrectly cut on the back side of the instrument panel which could cause the air bag to not deploy properly.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the improper air bag deployment may increase the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected instrument panel assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

1 replaced campaign (history)

Exterior lighting: brake lights

NHTSA campaign 16V380000 · reported May 31, 2016 · 79,853 vehicles potentially affected

Replaced by campaign 21V020000, as NHTSA's record says: history, not a separate repair.

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to June 13, 2013. The brake light switch may have been installed incorrectly causing the relay to make intermittent contact and repeatedly cycle. This may result in the relay remaining in the "ON" position, causing the brake lights to remain illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, the brake light switch may interfere with the brake-shift interlock, allowing the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "Park" position, without depressing the brake pedal.

Risk: If the brake override is activated, the driver will not be accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. If the brake lights remain illuminated, other drivers may fail to stop when the vehicle actually brakes, increasing the risk of a crash. If the driver inadvertently shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, the vehicle may rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake light switch and, as necessary, replace the relay, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 246 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2014 Pathfinder, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: power train (82), equipment (66), electrical system (56), engine (18), engine and engine cooling (16).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Defect petition DP22005
Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
Electrical systemJan 27, 2023Closed Aug 7, 2023
Petition withdrawn
NHTSA's record and documents
Preliminary evaluation PE21022
Hood Latch/Bell Crank Assembly
Latches/locks/linkagesDec 9, 2021Closed Jul 8, 2022
NHTSA's summary names recall 22V420000
NHTSA's record and documents
Engineering analysis EA15004
Occupant Classification System Failure · covers 2 makes
Air bagsAug 31, 2015Closed May 2, 2017
NHTSA's summary names recall 16V244000
NHTSA's record and documents
Recall query RQ15001
Occupant Classification System Failure · covers 2 makes
Air bagsMar 18, 2015Closed Sep 1, 2015
Upgraded to EA15004
NHTSA's summary names recall 14V138000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2014 Pathfinder.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2014 Nissan Pathfinders for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.

Specs

EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–7 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Pathfinder
Front-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylAutomatic (variable gear ratios)Regular Gasoline20 / 26 / 22
Pathfinder
4-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylAutomatic (variable gear ratios)Regular Gasoline19 / 25 / 21
Pathfinder Hybrid
Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl, superchargedAutomatic (variable gear ratios)Regular Gasoline25 / 28 / 26
Pathfinder Hybrid
4-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl, superchargedAutomatic (variable gear ratios)Regular Gasoline25 / 27 / 26

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data