2014 Nissan Pathfinder Problems And Complaints

Nissan offers several products in the midsize crossover SUV category because many families turn to it and find that their requirements are being met. The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder does not have any changes for the current year but is still a car with good fuel economy, excellent interiors, and comfortable seats. The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder recalls account to 11 alongside 502 complaints.

The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder problems range from Nissan Pathfinder CVT transmission problems to brake light switch problems and engine trouble; its reliability is quite dodgy. With prices starting at an MSRP of $30,875, it competes against other segment favorites like the Ford Explorer, the Honda Pilot, and the Toyota Highlander.

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Issues and User Complaints and Problems

Mechanical problems:

1. A large number of owners have stated that the car starts showing an engine malfunction warning and that the power is reduced. The intake manifold is prone to cracking and this will cause rough idling and slow acceleration
2. The rear blower motor is used to hold the hybrid system batteries and this system has no fail-safe mechanism. The repair costs if in case it fails is very expensive
3. A large number of complaints have stated that the car gets stuck in first gear while driving. There are also several complaints about the vehicle shaking or jerking violently with shifted into Drive or Reverse. Nissan Pathfinder transmission problems are quite common and have affected a lot of cars.
4. The steering system is also quite notorious and can have several faults including reduced power assistance.
5. A few owners have reported complete power loss as well as the car producing a humming sound while slowly screeching to a stop. It seems to be related to the Nissan Pathfinder acceleration problem that is widely reported although that problem also includes cars that accelerate without any driver input.

Electrical system problems:

1. Issues with Nissan Pathfinder brake light relays are very common. However, the good thing is that the manufacturer has responded in time with a recall.
2. Multiple complaints state that electrical faults can disable the instrument panel, and this often causes drivers to panic and steer away from the road.
3. There are multiple reports of electrical failures including instrument panel not responding, headlights going out, the doors and tailgate failing to open, the front and rear view cameras failing to display information, and so on.

Safety problems:

1. The airbag sensor has reported multiple problems in many cars and often requires replacement. The issue is that the passenger is not detected even when seated. This has prompted the company to take a recall.
2. There are multiple complaints about the airbags failing to deploy during serious collisions. This fails to protect the occupants who are present inside the vehicle.
3. A few cars have had issues with the seatbelts not detecting when the passenger has already buckled them. The latch system for the child seat has also been complained to be inaccessible.
4. The seats of the cars have received several complaints because they can’t rock back and forth even when the car accelerates or brakes. However, this is due to the seat frame issue and Nissan has tried to recall cars with the problem.

Exterior problems:

1. Many owners have reported that the sunroof shattered and a loud sound was produced. The glass did not fall into many cars, fortunately.
2. There have been complaints about water leaks inside the cabin. The problem areas are several.
3. Some owners have stated that the hood opened while driving and this causes accidents because there is no visibility. There are complaints about the front passenger door handle not operating as well.
4. The rear lift-gate is known to be a problem area because despite having an automatic closing function, it may sometimes not respond as designed. Sudden closure can threaten an individual being trapped inside.
5. The hood latch mechanism can fail and completely obstruct visibility because it can hit the windshield..

Miscellaneous problems

1. Although the manufacturer Nissan has come up with an adequate number of recalls, there have been a large number of complaints stating that the parts were not made available on time.

Interior problems:

1. The sun visors of the car can fall down and obstruct vision.

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	June 13, 2022	22V420000	Malfunctioning hood hatch	On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.	The remedy is in development. Interim owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. The remedy is expected in Summer 2024.
2	January 20, 2021	21V020000	Brake light switch relay may stick	The fault with the brake light switch relay may illuminate the brake lights for longer than pedal operation	Dealers will reinstall the brake light switch or swap positions with the automatic speed control device switch
3	May 31, 2016	16V380000	Brake light switch relay may stick	The fault with the brake light switch relay may illuminate the brake lights for longer than pedal operation	Dealers will reinstall the brake light switch or swap positions with the automatic speed control device switch
4	April 26, 2016	16V244000	Passenger airbag may not deploy because of OCS error	The occupant classification system may have an error and classify an adult passenger as a child or empty, thus the frontal airbag can be turned off.	Dealers will reprogram the airbag control unit and OCS ECU
5	October 20, 2015	15V681000	The passenger airbags may not deploy because of OCS error	The occupant classification system may have an error and classify an adult passenger as a child or empty, thus the frontal airbag can be turned off.	Dealers will reprogram the airbag control unit and OCS ECU
6	January 26, 2015	15V033000	Hood release cable assembly may be damaged	The hood release cable assembly may be damaged and cause the hood to open while driving	Dealers will modify the angle of the hood release mechanism
7	January 14, 2015	15V012000	Front hub assembly bolts may fall off	The front wheel hub assembly fasteners may not have been properly tightened	Dealers will inspect and tighten any loose bolts
8	May 2, 2014	14V229000	Lug nuts may be loose	One lug nut per right side wheel may be loose	Dealers will inspect and tighten any loose lug nuts
9	March 25, 2014	14V138000	Airbag may not detect passenger	The airbag may fail to deploy because it doesn’t detect the passenger	Dealers will update the OCS software
10	October 17, 2013	13V445000	Increased stopping distance while using ABS	The ABS system pressure output may be low and increase the stopping distance	Dealers will reprogram the ABS software
11	September 26, 2013	13V456000	Passenger airbag may not deploy because of OCS error	The occupant classification system may have an error and classify an adult passenger as a child or empty, thus the frontal airbag can be turned off.	Dealers will reprogram the airbag control unit and OCS ECU

Should you buy the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder?

Although this is a car Nissan offers with a lot of promise, we find that it has too many problems scattered across too many problem areas to be fixed. The Nissan Pathfinder just fails to live up to the hype. Although it offers huge positives such as being packed with the latest technology, a comfortable ride, and great cargo space, the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder reliability score of 68/100 in the J.D. Power Consumer Rating is fair.

Especially since Nissan Pathfinder engine problems and so on are very expensive to fix, it can be quite a headache to maintain the car. We feel that you are better off going with one of its competitors, like the Honda Pilot, which is offered at a similar price but with much better reliability credentials and a great score of 84/100, making it a great used car option.