Is the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder a bad year?
321 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 77, 7.7× a quiet Pathfinder year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 23k–74k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2015 Pathfinder owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 42,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 77 (24%) | 23k–74k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 74 (23%) | 38k–61k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 27 (8%) | 15k–64k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 27 (8%) | 37k–68k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 26 (8%) | 15k–61k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 12 (4%) | 27k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 10 (3%) | 34k–65k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 55 (17%) | 5k–41k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 42,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 321 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 6 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
9 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Since the purchase of the vehicle, my Nissan pathfinder has failed to accelerate either at a stop or during normal speed.
2015 Nissan pathfinder sometimes will not go when the gas pedal is pressed from a stopped position. 3 different times this has happened to me and my wife.
I have a 2015 Nissan pathfinder starting at 64000 miles I have taken the car in several times due to the heating and cooling system.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 42,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder: 5
On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed. An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Continual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. 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.
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. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated.
During the assembly process, the front wheel hub assembly fasteners may not have been properly torqued. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 109
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
DTC P17F0 or P17F1 stored in the TCM
Fluid leak caused by transfer assembly right side drive shaft oil seal
Clicking noise from front or rear axle during take-off/acceleration
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Hood Latch/Bell Crank Assembly
Neighbouring years
2014 Pathfinder: 574 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2016 Pathfinder: 105 complaints, keep it.
Every Nissan Pathfinder year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Pathfinder years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder a bad year?
321 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 77, 7.7× a quiet Pathfinder year. At 42,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 23k–74k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (77), engine (74), electrical system (27), speed control (27), brakes (26). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 23k–74k miles.
How many recalls does the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Latches and locks (NHTSA 22V-420), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 21V-020), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-244), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-681) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.