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2017 Nissan Pathfinder problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
65% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 86% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 13 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 60%).
Does the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 112 of 173 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (65%), and the largest group is filed under engine (83). For comparison, the 2016 scores 40% and the 2018 scores 32%. 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 2017 compares with other Nissan Pathfinder years
Of the 12 Nissan Pathfinder years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the worst on engine and transmission share (65%). The best is the 2022 (25%). By volume, the 2017 drew 186 complaints (112 drivetrain), against 107 for the 2016 and 77 for the 2018.
Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid and best years →
2010 Pathfinder problems · 2011 Pathfinder problems · 2013 Pathfinder problems · 2014 Pathfinder problems · 2015 Pathfinder problems · 2016 Pathfinder problems · 2017 · 2018 Pathfinder problems · 2019 Pathfinder problems · 2020 Pathfinder problems · 2022 Pathfinder problems · 2023 Pathfinder problems
The rest of the picture on the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- 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 112 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2017 Nissan Pathfinder engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.
2 other recalls 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 2017 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.
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Does the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 112 of 173 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (65%). 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 2017 Nissan Pathfinder?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder is engine: 83 of 186 complaints (45%) name it, followed by power train (34) and electrical system (27). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 65% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 86% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 12 Nissan Pathfinder years we score, it ranks worst. 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 2017 Nissan Pathfinder?
No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
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 2017 (65%). 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.