What are the most common problems with the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder?

The biggest complaint group is the engine, with 17 complaints. Electrical System follows with 11. See the problems section for what owners describe.

Does the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?

Recalls are listed by code in the Recalls section of this page. The by-year fact gives the recall count for 2020.

What gas mileage does the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder get?

See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.

Is the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?

NHTSA has 48 complaints on file for this year. Read the problems section and the safety section together to judge for yourself.

Is 2020 a good year for the Nissan Pathfinder?

The by-year section on this page compares model years side by side. The complaint count for 2020 is in the by-year fact.

2020 Nissan Pathfinder Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 48 owner complaints on file for the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder^[1]. The engine group is the biggest, with 17 complaints^[2].

48owner complaints^[1]

21–23MPG combined (EPA)^[3]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints under several parts of the vehicle, and here they are from biggest group to smallest.

Engine. 17 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe a coolant smell inside the cabin, a check engine light, knocking and hesitation under steady throttle, heavy oil use, and the vehicle shutting down while driving.
Electrical System. 11 complaints^[5]. Owners describe a rear camera and parking sensors that go blank, a headlight with water inside, a heater and defroster fan that stops working, and door locks that ignore the key fob.
Unknown Or Other. 8 complaints^[6]. These reports do not point to one named part.
Power Train. 8 complaints^[7]. Owners describe slipping or lurching while driving, power that cuts out, a sudden loss of throttle response, and a leak near the axle.
Brakes. 6 complaints^[8]. Owners describe a high squeal, pads and rotors worn out again and again, a warning light for the emergency braking system, and brakes that seemed to apply on their own.
Fuel/Propulsion System. 4 complaints^[9].
Back Over Prevention. 3 complaints^[10].
Suspension. 3 complaints^[11].

Recalls

NHTSA's records show 0 recalls for the 2020 Pathfinder^[12].

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Pathfinder 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[3]	20 / 27 / 23	$2,900
Pathfinder 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[13]	20 / 27 / 22	$3,050
Pathfinder 4WD Platinum, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[14]	19 / 26 / 21	$3,200

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[4]	5	4	5	4	17.9%
SUV FWD^[15]	5	4	5	4	17.4%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2020 Nissan Pathfinder with 3.5L 6-cylinder^[16]	284 hp

How 2020 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Pathfinder model year. The 2020 is highlighted^[12].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	170	0
1996	159	3
1997	217	2
1998	149	2
1999	104	2
2000	112	2
2001	230	3
2002	156	5
2003	110	3
2004	67	3
2005	1,050	2
2006	837	3
2007	561	1
2008	328	4
2009	37	3
2010	40	4
2011	45	2
2012	23	2
2013	890	11
2014	585	12
2015	321	6
2016	107	2
2017	186	2
2018	78	3
2019	76	2
2020	48	0
2022	136	5
2023	107	1
2024	86	2
2025	55	1
2026	12	0

NHTSA's counts for the Pathfinder show 48 complaints and 0 recalls for 2020^[12]. Among the 31 model years listed, 5 have fewer complaints than 2020 and 25 have more^[12]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (12) and the most are for 2005 (1,050)^[12]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2020 Pathfinder?

The complaint record for this model year is modest in size, with 48 reports in total^[1]. Engine and electrical reports lead the list^[2]^[5]. The stories describe real annoyances and some safety worries, but only 1 complaint mentions a crash^[1]. These are unverified owner reports and they are not adjusted for sales. Check the Recalls section and the other sections on this page before you decide, and have any used one inspected.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder?: The biggest complaint group is the engine, with 17 complaints^[2]. Electrical System follows with 11^[5]. See the problems section for what owners describe.
Does the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?: Recalls are listed by code in the Recalls section of this page. The by-year fact gives the recall count for 2020^[12].
What gas mileage does the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder get?: See the fuel economy section on this page. It is built from EPA data.
Is the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?: NHTSA has 48 complaints on file for this year^[1]. Read the problems section and the safety section together to judge for yourself.
Is 2020 a good year for the Nissan Pathfinder?: The by-year section on this page compares model years side by side. The complaint count for 2020 is in the by-year fact^[12].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Nissan Pathfinder

2005 1,050 complaints, 2 recalls
2006 837 complaints, 3 recalls
2012 23 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 890 complaints, 11 recalls
2014 585 complaints, 12 recalls
2015 321 complaints, 6 recalls
2016 107 complaints, 2 recalls
2017 186 complaints, 2 recalls
2018 78 complaints, 3 recalls
2019 76 complaints, 2 recalls
2020 this page
2025 55 complaints, 1 recall

Compare all model years of the Nissan Pathfinder

Other Nissan models from 2020

2020 Nissan Rogue 152 complaints, 1 recall

All Nissan models

Similar cars from 2020: small suvs

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 217 complaints, 2 recalls
2020 Hyundai Tucson 179 complaints, 1 recall
2020 Kia Sportage 162 complaints, 2 recalls
2020 Kia Telluride 776 complaints, 7 recalls
2020 Lincoln Corsair 61 complaints, 16 recalls
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander 57 complaints, 4 recalls

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 48 owner complaints on file for the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder (1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
17 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
EPA rating for Pathfinder 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
6 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the back over prevention component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Nissan Pathfinder model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Pathfinder 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Pathfinder 4WD Platinum, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2020 Nissan Pathfinder with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 284 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2020 Nissan Pathfinder: problems, recalls and fuel economy