YearToAvoid

2007 Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2007 Nissan Pathfinder has a complaint index of 79, the 5th worst year of 20 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. NHTSA logged 561 complaints, mostly transmission and engine problems, with a median failure mileage of 99,190 miles, plus one airbag sensor recall.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
79/100
#5 of 20 Pathfinder years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
561
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
11
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
5
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2010
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16.5
14.5 city / 21 hwy
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0

Top 2007 Nissan Pathfinder problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain337 (60%)
  2. Engine257 (46%)
  3. Fuel System119 (21%)
  4. Other35 (6%)
  5. Electrical System25 (4%)
  6. Airbags23 (4%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (2%)
  8. Brakes8 (1%)
  9. Steering6 (1%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers5 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the transmission shaking, vibrating, or refusing to shift out of reverse into drive.
  • Some describe sudden unintended acceleration where pressing the brake did not stop the vehicle from surging forward.
  • Others report the engine failing to respond to the accelerator pedal, then lurching forward once pressed again.
  • Several owners say coolant mixed with transmission fluid due to a hose leak, causing shifting problems and eventual transmission failure.
  • One owner reported curtain airbags failing to deploy in a rear-end crash that crushed the third-row seats.
  • A separate owner reported smoke and fire under the hood while the vehicle was parked, with no prior warning lights.
2007 Nissan Pathfinder complaints: complaints filed per quarter302007 Q12009 Q42011 Q42013 Q42015 Q42017 Q42019 Q42023 Q2
561 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q1 to 2025 Q2; peak 2014 Q1 (30).

2007 Nissan Pathfinder recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 08V690000Dec 29, 2008Airbags242,720 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Nissan is recalling 242,720 my 2005-2009 pathfinder, frontier and xterra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. In those areas of the country which use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, a mixture of snow/water and salt can enter into the front crash zone sensor (czs) housing. If this occurs, the czs may internally rust resulting in a signal interruption. If this happens, the red air bag warning light will illuminate to alert the vehicle operator.

    Risk: This issue could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front czs with a redesigned sensor. The recall began on january 26, 2009. Owners in the other states will receive extended warranty coverage for the sensor to 10 years. These owners will be notified of the warranty extension by mail and will receive a sticker to place in their warranty booklet explaining the extended warranty coverage. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2007 Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14.5 MPG
Highway
21 MPG
Combined
16.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,850
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2007 compared with other Pathfinder years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid891,050216.5
2006Avoid84837316.5
2007Avoid79561116.5
2008Caution68328415.5
2009Good1137316

All Nissan Pathfinder years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2007 Pathfinder ranks 5th worst out of 20 model years with a complaint index of 79, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other Pathfinder years.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA data shows Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 60% of complaints and Engine issues make up 46%, with a median failure mileage of 99,190 miles.
Does the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 08V690000) covering airbag sensors, affecting 2005-2009 Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2007 Pathfinder compare to newer years?
The 2007 model's complaint index of 79 is much higher than the 2009 (11), 2011 (5), and 2012 (0) model years, all of which carry Good or Best verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder?
EPA rates it at 16.5 mpg combined (14.5 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,850.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.