2017 Nissan Pathfinder — Known Issues & Recalls

Your engine failed suddenly after five years of proper maintenance and oil changes, and the dealership attributed it to heavy sludge buildup inside the engine. You weren't warned about this sludge during any previous service visits, and you've discovered similar complaints from other owners with the same engine model. The engine failure created a safety risk by causing loss of power while driving, and you now need a complete engine replacement.

Your engine's timing chain failed at 88,000 miles despite regular maintenance. The timing chain synchronizes your engine's internal components, and when it breaks, it can cause sudden and severe engine damage with no warning signs beforehand.

Your PCV valve hose is becoming clogged and collapsing, which prevents proper crankcase ventilation and causes sludge to build up inside your engine. This sludge buildup damages the timing chain guides, leading to excessive engine rattling, metal flakes in the oil, loss of power, and multiple engine warning codes that can ultimately result in complete engine failure. Replacing the PCV valve hose and performing an engine flush may be necessary to address this issue.

Your 2017 Pathfinder's engine failed due to metal particles and sludge found in the oil, causing the vehicle to break down while driving. Despite maintaining the vehicle according to Nissan's recommendations, your warranty claim was initially denied twice — once by your extended warranty company and once by Nissan — until your original dealer (CarMax) submitted your maintenance records, which then got the claim approved. The repair will involve replacing the engine with a used unit.

Your 2017 Pathfinder lost all power while driving with no warning lights, and jump-starting didn't help. Weeks later, the display screen went black right before the engine died again. The dealer couldn't find a cause either time, leaving the vehicle unrepaired. The issue may involve the battery, alternator, or electrical system that controls engine operation.

Your transmission is failing at 117,000 miles, causing acceleration problems that create safety concerns while driving. This appears to be a known issue with your vehicle model. You'll likely need a transmission inspection and possible rebuild or replacement to resolve the problem.

Your CVT transmission may stop working while you're driving, which could be a serious safety hazard. This could potentially cause you to lose control of your vehicle or put your family and others at risk. The transmission may need to be inspected, repaired, or replaced to resolve the issue.

While driving, your transmission warning light came on. A mechanic diagnosed a problem with your CVT transmission and found it was shuddering, indicating it needs to be replaced. This happened at 89,000 miles. The transmission will likely need to be replaced or rebuilt, which is a major repair.

Your transmission is slipping and hesitating when you try to accelerate, especially when moving from a stop or slow speed. You've noticed shuddering when turning onto a hill or during highway passing maneuvers. This could indicate a transmission fluid issue or internal transmission wear that will need professional diagnosis and likely fluid service or transmission repair.

While driving, your Pathfinder suddenly accelerated on its own and the gas pedal became stuck. When you pressed the brake pedal, it didn't stop the vehicle effectively, resulting in a serious accident. This could involve issues with the throttle control system, gas pedal mechanism, or brake system.

Your Nissan Pathfinder may experience a leak in the CVT transmission fluid cooler hose due to weak clamps that allow the hose to detach. If this happens, transmission fluid will slowly leak out, your check engine light will come on, and if ignored, the fluid can drain completely—potentially causing overheating, noise, vibration, and even fire. Additionally, the brackets holding the rear hatch gas struts may be defective, which could cause the hatch to fall suddenly when opening or closing, or fail to lock properly while driving. Repairs will involve inspecting and replacing the transmission cooler hose with proper clamps, checking the rear hatch brackets and gas struts, and ensuring the latch mechanism works correctly.

Your 2017 Pathfinder stalled in a parking lot when the battery became inoperable, and your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light turned on. The dealer said the problem is related to your CVT transmission and isn't covered under warranty. Your vehicle hasn't been repaired yet, and the issue occurred around 100,000 miles.

Your air conditioning compressor has needed replacement multiple times within 5 years of ownership, suggesting a persistent sealing problem with either the compressor itself or the vehicle's AC system. This repeated failure is frustrating and indicates an underlying issue that isn't being permanently resolved with each replacement. A proper repair would likely involve diagnosing and fixing the root cause of the seal failure, which could involve replacing the compressor along with other AC system components or addressing a larger system design issue.

Your Pathfinder experienced acceleration problems and transmission overheating due to a leaking transmission cooler, which was replaced but the issue persisted. The rear hatch door also opened on its own while driving, and closed unexpectedly while you were retrieving items from it. These problems were reported to Nissan and the dealer, though the hatch issue's cause hasn't been identified. Fixes may involve diagnosing transmission system issues and inspecting or repairing the electronic hatch door mechanism.

Your Pathfinder's airbag system was diagnosed as faulty during routine maintenance at a Nissan dealer around 100,000 miles. The dealer found that the airbag and its sensor need to be replaced to restore proper operation. A dealer will need to replace the faulty airbag assembly and sensor module to restore your vehicle's safety system.

Your instrument panel and infotainment screen went completely black and stopped working while driving, and you couldn't control the side view mirrors. A dealer diagnosed that the display control unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The fix will involve replacing the faulty display control unit (Part Number 25391-9PJ0C).

Your Check Engine light came on, and the dealership found a Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor problem using a diagnostic scanner. This is causing your engine to struggle getting enough air, which makes it hard to accelerate smoothly. The fix will likely involve cleaning or replacing the Mass Air Flow sensor.

Your car is experiencing slow acceleration and jerking or shuddering throughout the vehicle. A repair shop identified fault codes related to your CVT transmission and fuel pump circuit as the likely causes. These problems can affect your car's ability to accelerate smoothly and safely. Repair will likely involve diagnosis and replacement of faulty fuel pump components and/or CVT transmission service.

Your low beam headlamps are becoming too dim to see safely at night, even after replacing the bulb. You may need to replace the entire headlamp assembly rather than just the bulb.

Your Pathfinder makes a constant whining noise coming from underneath the vehicle whenever it's parked or idling. This problem persists even after the steering rack was replaced, suggesting the issue may be elsewhere in the steering system.