2008 Nissan Pathfinder Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

61Engine complaints

18.6%Of all 328 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN154 · 47%

ENGINE61 · 18.6%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM51 · 15.5%

AIR BAGS36 · 11%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE25 · 7.6%

Share of the 328 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder overview page.

What owners report

“I STARTED FEELING MY CAR SLIP GEARS WHEN IT REACHED CERTAIN SPEEDS, AS WELL AS THE VDC, SLIP AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. WITHIN THE…”NHTSA complaint 10618008 — filed 07/31/2014

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED…”NHTSA complaint 10616317 — filed 07/25/2014

“I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GOING ABOUT 60MPH AND THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED NEARLY GIVING ME WHIPLASH. I THEN LOOKED DOWN AT THE GAUGE…”NHTSA complaint 10611351 — filed 07/17/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder: 61 of 328 complaints on file (18.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder have in total?

328 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 9 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 7 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.