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2011 Nissan Pathfinder problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
48% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 33%).
Does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 15 of 31 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%), and the largest group is filed under engine (10). For comparison, the 2010 scores 55%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2011 compares with other Nissan Pathfinder years
Of the 12 Nissan Pathfinder years with enough complaints to score, the 2011 is the 6th-best on engine and transmission share (48%). The worst is the 2017 (65%), the best the 2022 (25%). By volume, the 2011 drew 45 complaints (15 drivetrain), against 40 for the 2010 and 23 for the 2012.
Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid and best years →
2010 Pathfinder problems · 2011 · 2013 Pathfinder problems · 2014 Pathfinder problems · 2015 Pathfinder problems · 2016 Pathfinder problems · 2017 Pathfinder problems · 2018 Pathfinder problems · 2019 Pathfinder problems · 2020 Pathfinder problems · 2022 Pathfinder problems · 2023 Pathfinder problems
The rest of the picture on the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 15 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2011 Nissan Pathfinder engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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…
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.
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2011 Nissan Pathfinder? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
Does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 15 of 31 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder is air bags: 12 of 45 complaints (27%) name it, followed by engine (10) and power train (7). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 48% of the relevant total.
Is the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 48% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 12 Nissan Pathfinder years we score, it ranks 6th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 2 in total: 11V592000 (engine and engine cooling). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Nissan Pathfinder years are better?
Among the Nissan Pathfinder years we track, the 2022 (25%), the 2018 (32%) and the 2019 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (48%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-pathfinder
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.