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2018 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2018 Nissan Pathfinder carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Infotainment screen and backup camera blackout.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Campaign #19V807000 · Aug 11, 2019

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

Risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Campaign #18V601000 · Jul 9, 2018

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Nissan Murano, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2017 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board.

Risk: A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number on the ABS actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 29, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign #19V654000 · Dec 9, 2019

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder.

Reported to NHTSA

Infotainment screen and backup camera blackout

BACK OVER PREVENTION

9 NHTSA complaints · 2019-08 → 2026-03

“The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention camera screen display malfunctioned, and there was a black image displayed, creating a hazard for the driver”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11728330
“The Display Control Unit (DCU) went blank on my 2018 Nissan Pathfinder. No working display causing steering wheel controls not to work. This includes being unable to use any hands-free phone calls. This is a significant safety issue”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11609050
“The Nissan DCU/Infotainment center/Radio no longer has a working display in my 2018 Nissan pathfinder (R52 model)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11514756

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

ABS and emergency brake warning lights after recall repair

SERVICE BRAKES

5 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2022-02

“The entire braking system failed without warning! My 25 year old daughter was coming up to a busy intersection that usually has semi-trucks and when she went to break the breaks failed and the pedal went to the floor”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11451298
“VEHICLE HAD NISSAN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE (ABS) ACTUATOR SAFETY RECALL REPAIRED ON 3/12/21. TEN MINUTES AFTER LEAVING DEALERSHIP ABS WARNING LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON AGAIN AND CONTINUE TO COME ON, NOT EVERY TRIP, BUT SEVERAL TIMES PER WEEK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11404295
“WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11269449

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine failure from oil sludge and metal shavings

ENGINE

7 NHTSA complaints · 2019-08 → 2025-12

“On May 7th at 1:22 PM, the engine in my 2018 Nissan Pathfinder catastrophically failed for the second time while my family was driving. The engine completely lost power in the middle of a very busy highway intersection, going over an overpass, where there was no shoulder”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11670907
“The contact had the engine taken apart by the dealer and an independent mechanic, and both discovered metal shavings inside the engine, which had resulted in the engine failure”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11702980
“The mechanic told me that the engine was full of metal shavings. So they replaced the entire with a used low mileage engine that failed the day I picked it up 3/20/23”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11513883

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front radar unavailable disabling forward collision warning

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

21 NHTSA complaints · 2018-07 → 2023-07

“THE INTELLIGENT CRUSE CONTROL SYSTEM WORK INTERMINTENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE SAFETY BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11113680
“THE FRONT RADAR SAFETY FEATURE DEACTIVATES AND THE AMBER FRONT COLLISION WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THE SPEED CONTROL FEATURE IS DISABLED WHEN THE RADAR IS NOT ACTIVE. WHEN THE SYSTEM FINALLY KICKS IN THE SPEED CONTROL SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11229544
“The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) System Warning Light and the Slip Indicator Light would come on intermittently”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11498068

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission slipping and loss of power

POWER TRAIN

6 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2025-11

“I was driving along at 35-40 mph and the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating when I gave it gas”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11569922
“WHEN DRIVING AT DIFFERING SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION REDUCES, THEN STOPS APPLYING POWER TO THE WHEELS, AND ACTS AS THOUGH IT'S IN NEUTRAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11267852
“The transmission is going bad which makes it dangerous to drive”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11696992

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag deployment without cause or non-deployment

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2019-07 → 2024-02

“Driver and passenger airbags deployed without cause while driving on busy expressway”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11548766
“This curtain airbag struck my wife in the head and prompted her apple watch to call 911”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11510500
“I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11231977

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

Rogue AWD, Murano AWD, Pathfinder 4WD: replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

20 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

3

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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