2016 Nissan Pathfinder Engine Problems
20 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (20)
Your front differential and transmission both failed simultaneously while you were driving on a highway, requiring replacement of both components. This dual failure resulted in significant repair costs exceeding $8,000 at a dealership. The repair involved replacing both the front differential assembly and the complete transmission.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your cooling fan stopped working while your car was parked. A mechanic told you the entire cooling fan system needs to be replaced. This is important because without a working cooling fan, your engine can overheat, especially in hot weather or heavy traffic. The replacement will likely involve removing and installing a new cooling fan assembly and related components.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
I purchased this as a new used 2016 Pathfinder in October 2021. Within about 2500 miles in December of 2021, the radiator cooling fan assembly was making noise and had to be replaced. It is now May of 2022, about 3000 miles later, and the same thing has to be replaced. There were no other messages or symptoms other than the noise the fan makes when the bearings are shot. It has not been inspected by anyone other than myself and my mechanic at the time the first fan assembly needed replacement. I am about to take the vehicle to a Nissan dealer to confirm what I already know. When it is replaced I will keep the old part for inspection.
FAN BEARINGS IN THE TWIN FAN SHROUD HAVE FAILED AND ARE CREATING A LOUD NOISE AND HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO LEAD TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND POTENTIAL ENGINE TROUBLE. THE NHTSA AND NISSAN HAVE PUT OUT A TSB (NTB17-100) IN OCT 2017. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS PAST WARRANTY SEARCHING THE WEB IT APPEARS THIS HAS BEEN A VERY BIG PROBLEM FOR NISSAN PATHFINDERS. BECAUSE THE COMPLETE FAN SHROUD (2 FANS-RADIATOR AND COOLING FANS) ALONG WITH A COMPUTER MODULE ARE PART OF THE FINAL ASSEMBLY THE COST TO REPAIR IS SIGNIFICANT ($800). A FAN REPLACEMENT ALONE WOULD BE MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE BUT NISSAN ONLY PROVIDES A FULL ASSEMBLY VS COMPONENT FIX.
2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER, STARTED MAKING LOUD CLANKING NOISES AND VIBRATING IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON (STAIONARY AND IN MOTION). THE COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 33K ON THE ODO. REALLY SUPRISED THAT IS WAS SO EXPENSIVE AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY - 6 MONTHS OVER 3 YEARS.
ENTRY 02/23/2020: 2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH ABOUT JUST 36,200 MILES HAVE ENGINE COOLING FAN PROBLEMS - LOUD CLACKING NOISE AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE GOES UP OVERHEATING THE ENGINE AND SHAKING/VIBRATING STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL. IT HAPPENS BOTH WHEN DRIVING AND RUNNING ENGINE IN PARK. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE OFTEN WHEN HEATER IS TURNED ON.
DON'T EVEN HAVE THE CAR A YEAR! LOUD NOISE UNDER HOOD LIKE FAN BANG. CONSTANT ISSUE ON OTHER PATHFINDERS AS WELL. HAD TO PAY $1100 FOR COOLANT FAN REPLACEMENT THAT WAS OVERHEATING ENGINE! SHOULD RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT AS THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES! HAZARD AS CAR CAN CATCH ON FIRE FROM OVERHEATING!
ELECTRIC COOLING FAN BEARINGS BAD (85,000 MILES). RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THE DEALERS ARE AWARE OF, HOWEVER HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL, EXTENDED WARRANTY, OR OTHER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
THE DRIVERS SIDE COOLING FAN BEARING IS BAD AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE FAN WHICH IS $1,000 WORTH OF WORK AND I ONLY HAVE 34,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. EVERY MECHANIC AND AUTO PARTS PERSON SAID THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED THIS EARLY AND WITH THE MILEAGE I HAVE ON MY VEHICLE
HEATER/AC COOLING FAN CRAPPED OUT AT 45K. BEARINGS/BUSHINGS CAUSING LOUD, CRUNCHING NOISES WHEN HEAT OR AC IS ON. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME ON MY 2013 PATHFINDER.
COOLING FAN FAILURE. WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF COOLING FAN BEARINGS FAILING FROM 30-60 THOUSAND MILES. IT VIBRATES AND CAN DAMAGE THE RADIATOR CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF YOU LOOK IN FORUMS THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON. I HAVE THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND IT COMES ON SUDDENLY.
ENGINE COOLING FAN BROKE AT <60K MILES-RATTLING SO MUCH NEARLY PUNCTURED RADIATOR
BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2016 NISSAN PARTFINDER SL IN 2016 , AT 65,191 MILES ONE EVENING COMING HOME I HEARD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE , TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER , HAD IT DIAGNOSE AND WAS INFORMED THE THE RADIATOR COOLANT FAN WAS WAS DEFECTIVE . I HAD IT REPLACED NOVEMBER 11/18 2017 , COST US $1268.49 , ON 02/12/2019 THE BRAND NEW COOLING FAN FAIL AGAIN AT 112,303 MILES , TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM PREVIOUS . WE CONTACT NISSAN REGIONAL OFFICE FOR REIMBURSEMENT ON REPAIRS AND PARTS OUR RECORDS WAS DENIED . HAVE IT FIX AT THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AGAIN COST US $1016.21 PARTS AND LABOR . THE DEALERSHIP ADVISE US TO KEEP ON FIGHTING FOR THESE COSTS AND REPAIRS BECAUSE IT'S A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH ALL NISSANS COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY .
LOUD CLICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND IDLING IN PARK. AFTER RESEARCHING IT, I FOUND OUT THAT IS THE FAN HITTING THE SHROUD AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE PART IS ANYWHERE FROM $200-600 AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE LABOR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW, ALWAYS KEPT UP ON THE MAINTENANCE AND OF COURSE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT LAST WEEK AND NOW THIS HAPPENS. :(
ENGINE FAN BEGAN MAKING LOUD NOISE AT 74K MILES. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR FAN. A QUICK SEARCH UNCOVERED COUNTLESS OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME VEHICLE.
OUR NISSAN PATHFINDER 2016 WAS SUDDENLY MAKING LOUD NOISE WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT (ENGINE AREA). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT REPLACEMENT OF FAN SHROUD IS NECESSARY AND THAT'S EXPENSIVE. WE SEND CAR FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO!! THE MILES ON MY CAR IS ABOVE 50000 AND THAT'S WHEN I CAME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM IN ANY OF MY CARS SO FAR. THIS IS SOMETHING TO DO FROM THE MANUFACTURING SIDE.
AT 48,800 MILES RADIATOR FAN FAILED. AS WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY SERVICE ADVISOR AT NISSAN DEALER, A MOUNTING PART FAILED AND CAUSED THE FAN TO RUB AGAINST THE SHROUD WHEN IN OPERATION. MANY REPORTS OF FAILURE ON VARIOUS WEBSITES FOR MODEL YEARS 2014 -2016, MOST OCCURRING IN THE 50,000 MILE RANGE.
RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS INDICATED BY SEVERAL PATHFINDER OWNERS FROM 2014 UP TO THE PRESENT.
I DROVE UP TO 16,000 MILES AND THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MADE A WEIRD SOUND. I WENT TO 2 NISSAN DEALERSHIPS TO CHECK IT OUT AND IT SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR 2016 PATHFINDER.BUT WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES IT WILL CAUSE A HUMMING NOISE LIKE A BEE AND ITS REALLY ANNOYING, I WENT TO CHECK IT OUT AND IT SAID IT WAS NORMAL, WHAT DO I DO NOW?
THE RADIATOR FAN AND SHROUD ASSEMBLY AND I CANNOT FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS AT ANY DEALER, AUTO PARTS STORE NOR JUNK YARD DUE TO SO MANY PEOPLE NEEDING THESE PARTS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THEY ARE ON BACKORDER AND DONT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE CAR COULD OVERHEAT AND STALL IF THESE PARTS ARE NOT REPLACED.