Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 8% |
| Power train | 4 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 6% |
| Engine | 2 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 4% |
| Power train | 1 | 2% |
| Power train | 1 | 2% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The car stalled three times and died in active traffic. The breakdown was so hazardous that the police department had to intervene and push the car out of the road and had to tow the car more than 3 times and was at the
NHTSA complaint: Power train
After only 110,000 miles, my local Nissan service center (Advantage Nissan, 5101 Auto Center Blvd, Bremerton, WA 98312) states that the timing chain is loose. The repair estimate is in excess of $6000. The expense is b
NHTSA complaint: Engine
A few months after purchase, the power cut off on me. Then it happened again the following year. Then the screen for backing up started going on and off. Then I started feeling like the car was loosing power. In the last
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The vehicle has developed a persistent and progressively worsening rattling noise from the engine during cold starts, along with intermittent rough operation. The symptoms are consistent with a malfunction or defect in t
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The back-up camera and display settings image is no longer visible and the dashboard indicates that it is off. The camera is black and does not display anything nor does it provides information that you are backing up.
NHTSA complaint: Back over prevention
Airbag needs replacing at 60,000 mile due to TSB# NTB19-07-1D
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
While driving, the vehicle experienced sudden and complete loss of throttle response, resulting in little to no acceleration. This occurred in active traffic and created a dangerous situation where the vehicle could not
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I own a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder with approximately 55,000 miles. The vehicle repeatedly failed Indiana emissions testing because the oxygen sensor monitor would not set to “ready,” despite multiple complete drive cycles a
NHTSA complaint: Engine
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 9 of them (17%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2020 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.