YearToAvoid

2020 Nissan Pathfinder Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 18 engine complaints for the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder, 38% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 13,350. No related recall is listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
18
38% of 48
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
13,350 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a persistent antifreeze smell inside the cabin while driving or idling, with dealers suggesting only a workaround of keeping the system on recirculate.
  • Several owners describe timing chain looseness leading to misfiring, flashing check-engine lights, and occasional failure to start.
  • Some report engine knocking or pinging along with hesitation or surging under steady throttle, which dealers characterized as normal operation.
  • Owners describe metal shavings found in the oil tied to long block engine failure and worsening knocking noise on startup or after extended driving.
  • One owner reported an oxygen sensor failure that triggered an intermittent check engine light.

When 2020 Nissan Pathfinder engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 26, 2020, latest Sep 18, 2026.

2020 Nissan Pathfinder engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Dec 2020Jul 2022Apr 2023Nov 2023Apr 2024Dec 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Mar 2026 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Pathfinder model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20109 (23%)
  2. 201110 (22%)
  3. 20126 (26%)
  4. 2013150 (17%)
  5. 201486 (15%)
  6. 201594 (29%)
  7. 201630 (29%)
  8. 201787 (47%)
  9. 201822 (29%)
  10. 201921 (28%)
  11. 202018 (38%)
  12. 202224 (18%)
  13. 202318 (17%)
  14. 202421 (26%)
  15. 202510 (20%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA lists 18 engine complaints for the 2020 Pathfinder, which makes up 38% of the 48 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder engine?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the engine complaints on the 2020 Pathfinder.
At what mileage do engine problems show up on the 2020 Pathfinder?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on this model year is 13,350 miles.
What kind of engine issues do owners report?
Owners describe timing chain looseness, misfiring, knocking or pinging noises, metal shavings in the oil, and a cabin antifreeze smell traced to the cooling system.
Were there any crashes, fires, or injuries tied to these engine complaints?
NHTSA data for these engine complaints on the 2020 Pathfinder lists 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries.

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.