YearToAvoid

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 15 Pathfinder years

The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder has 574 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 93, ranking 2nd worst of 15 model years. Transmission & Powertrain issues dominate at 37% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 42,000, earning it an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other Pathfinder years.

Complaints
574
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
19 / 3
Injuries / deaths
32 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
22.5 city / 26.5 hwy

Top 2014 Nissan Pathfinder problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain214 (37%)
  2. Airbags92 (16%)
  3. Other91 (16%)
  4. Engine86 (15%)
  5. Structure & Body66 (11%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers58 (10%)
  7. Brakes41 (7%)
  8. Electrical System39 (7%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires20 (3%)
  10. Fuel System15 (3%)

What owners report

  • Transmission jerks or shudders at speeds under 30 mph, sometimes continuing after a dealer software reprogram.
  • Transmission failure reported alongside unrelated motorized rear lift gate malfunctions.
  • Brakes reportedly fail to engage or lose stopping power, in one case leading to a crash into a fence.
  • Emergency brake light illuminates unexpectedly during driving, followed by braking failure.
  • Smoke odor and cabin smoke reported with later diagnosis of a leaking, failed transmission.
  • Loss of motive power while driving uphill in icy conditions, linked to a catalytic converter warning light.
2014 Nissan Pathfinder complaints: complaints filed per quarter362013 Q42015 Q32017 Q22019 Q12020 Q42022 Q32024 Q22026 Q1
737 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q3 (36).

2014 Nissan Pathfinder recalls

11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V420000Jun 13, 2022Structure & Body322,671 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.

    Risk: An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are R22A2 R22A3 and R24B7.

  2. NHTSA 21V020000Jan 20, 2021Electrical System264,431 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The location of the brake light switch may cause the brake light switch relay to repeatedly open and close. Overtime, this can cause the relay to stick in the "ON" position, with the brake lights remaining illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, this may interfere with the brake-shift interlock, allowing the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "Park" position, without depressing the brake pedal.

    Risk: Continual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash. With the brake override activated, the driver will not be able to accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver can shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, either re-install the brake light switch or swap positions with the Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD) switch; depending on the model year vehicle. In addition, the brake light relay will be replaced with a new one. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall PC786. Note: this recall supersedes 16V-380.

  3. NHTSA 16V380000May 31, 2016Electrical System79,853 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to June 13, 2013. The brake light switch may have been installed incorrectly causing the relay to make intermittent contact and repeatedly cycle. This may result in the relay remaining in the "ON" position, causing the brake lights to remain illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, the brake light switch may interfere with the brake-shift interlock, allowing the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "Park" position, without depressing the brake pedal.

    Risk: If the brake override is activated, the driver will not be accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. If the brake lights remain illuminated, other drivers may fail to stop when the vehicle actually brakes, increasing the risk of a crash. If the driver inadvertently shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, the vehicle may rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake light switch and, as necessary, replace the relay, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

See all 11 recalls for the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder →

2014 Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22.5 MPG
Highway
26.5 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,725
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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.

2014 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
2012Best023216
2013Avoid1008901121.5
2014Avoid935741124
2015Avoid86320523
2016Good43105222

All Nissan Pathfinder years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Compared to other Pathfinder model years, the 2014 ranks poorly, sitting 2nd worst out of 15 years with a complaint index of 93 and 574 complaints, giving it an 'Avoid' verdict.
What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder?
Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top problem area, accounting for 37% of complaints (214 total), with a median failure mileage of 42,000.
Does the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2014 Pathfinder, covering areas including Structure & Body, Electrical System, Airbags, Brakes, and Suspension, Wheels & Tires.
How does the 2014 Pathfinder compare to the 2013 and 2015 models?
The 2013 Pathfinder has a higher complaint index of 100 (890 complaints, also 'Avoid'), while the 2015 has a complaint index of 86 (320 complaints, also 'Avoid'). The 2014 falls between them at 93.
Were there any fires or crashes reported for the 2014 Pathfinder?
NHTSA data shows 19 crashes, 3 fires, and 32 injuries reported among the 574 complaints for the 2014 Pathfinder, with no deaths recorded.

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.