YearToAvoid

2011 Nissan Pathfinder Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

7/100

#14 most-complained of 15 Pathfinder years

The 2011 Nissan Pathfinder ranks 14th of 15 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 7 and 45 complaints logged, making it one of the best years for this model. It carries 2 recalls, covering airbags and an engine connector bolt issue.

Complaints
45
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 20 hwy

Top 2011 Nissan Pathfinder problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags12 (27%)
  2. Engine10 (22%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (16%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain7 (16%)
  5. Brakes6 (13%)
  6. Electrical System4 (9%)
  7. Other3 (7%)
  8. Seat Belts3 (7%)
  9. Steering2 (4%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Engine warning lights cycle on and off intermittently, with some mechanics unable to find a cause even after years of the issue persisting.
  • Engine stalls or sputters at highway speeds around 40 mph, sometimes with a slipping VDC light and a grinding or humming noise afterward.
  • Drive shaft mounting bolts have detached, disconnecting the drive shaft from the front transfer case while driving.
  • Brakes have gone to the floor with no stopping power, even after replacing the master cylinder, brakes, rotors, and fluid.
  • Transmission fails to respond when the accelerator is pressed while merging, causing the engine to rev without the vehicle accelerating.
  • Passenger airbag deactivation warning light illuminates intermittently without any diagnosis or repair being completed.
2011 Nissan Pathfinder complaints: complaints filed per month6Dec 2010May 2013Jun 2014Nov 2015Sep 2016Oct 2018Jan 2020Dec 2023
58 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2010 to Jun 2025; peak Oct 2021 (6).

2011 Nissan Pathfinder recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V067000Feb 10, 2023Airbags404,690 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.

    Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.

  2. NHTSA 11V592000Dec 19, 2011Engine14,718 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 infiniti fx, model year 2012 infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength. As a result, the bolt may break at the oil filter attachment point and can cause an engine oil leak.

    Risk: If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2011 Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$5,000
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.

2011 compared with other Pathfinder years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best1440416.5
2011Best745216
2012Best023216
2013Avoid1008901121.5

All Nissan Pathfinder years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Pathfinder ranks 14th out of 15 model years, with a complaint index of only 7 and just 45 complaints, making it one of the better years for this model.
What problems does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have?
The top reported problem area is airbags, accounting for 27% of complaints, followed by engine issues at 22%. Owners also reported suspension, transmission, and brake concerns.
Does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2011 Pathfinder: one for a cracking driver's airbag cover emblem and one for engine connector bolts that may need replacement.
How does the 2011 Pathfinder compare to other years?
The 2011 model has a complaint index of 7, far below the 2013 model's index of 100 and the 2014 model's index of 93, which are the years to avoid for this model.
What is the median mileage for failures on the 2011 Pathfinder?
Across all reported problems, the median mileage at failure is 46,000 miles, though airbag issues tended to appear later, around 91,200 miles.

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.