There are 5 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2025 Nissan Pathfinderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
While driving at highway speeds, my 2025 Nissan Pathfinder suddenly loses power and enters limp mode with no warning. The dashboard displays: “Engine Malfunction – Power Reduced – Service Now.” When this happens, the vehicle cannot accelerate and struggles to maintain speed, creating a serious safety hazard in traffic. This has occurred multiple times. First time was on January 6th - entered highway and car stalled, was able to pull over and have the car towed to the dealer and they stated, "cannot replicate the issue". Second time February 15th - car stalled on highway and Husband was able to pull over and restart the car. Third time was February 18th - car entered limp mode on the highway, car was towed to the dealer and they have yet again stated, "cannot replicate the issue". During each event, the Pathfinder rapidly decelerates, and I am forced to pull over immediately to avoid being hit from behind. The loss of propulsion happens suddenly and without any driver input. This places me and other drivers in danger, especially at high speeds and on icy Alaska roads. Two of the times was during snowstorms with low visibility. Attempts to Repair: I have taken the vehicle to the Nissan dealership. The dealer states they “cannot replicate the issue” and returns the vehicle without repair. However, the warning message and limp-mode event clearly indicate an engine or powertrain failure. The issue continues to reoccur despite these visits. Safety Concern: Because the vehicle loses power in fast-moving traffic and enters limp mode, it poses a substantial risk of collision or injury. This defect could cause a serious accident, especially at highway speeds or in winter driving conditions.
Vehicle Information •Make: Nissan •Model: Pathfinder •Year: 2025 •Mileage at Incident: Less than 2,800 miles •Purchase Date: May 2025 Summary of Problem: Since purchase, the vehicle has had repeated brake failures, unintended acceleration, lighting malfunctions, and electronic system defects. Problems are intermittent but worsening, creating a serious safety risk. Details of Incidents: 1.Steering / Handling: •Since day one, steering feels loose and “floating” at highway speeds. 2.Parking Assist & Braking: •Parking assist randomly activates upon startup with all sensors lit and beeping, requiring a restart to clear. •In garage, parking assist sometimes locks brakes, then suddenly accelerates toward wall. 3.Braking / Acceleration Failures (Sept. 3-4 2025): •While driving brakes did not slow vehicle despite increased pedal pressure; required slamming pedal to lock brakes. •On highway 65–70 mph, while pressing brake to slow for exit, vehicle accelerated past 73 mph before decelerating. 4. Lighting Failure: •Twice, headlights failed to activate in Auto mode. First incident resulted in driver being pulled over; restarting car restored lights. Second incident at dusk—only high beams worked; no low beams despite Auto mode being on. 5. Other Electrical / Mechanical Defects: •Passenger mirror sometimes stuck in folded position; driver mirror opens slowly. •Front windows occasionally fail to open/close or move very slowly. •Apple CarPlay forces return to CarPlay screen, won’t allow switching to other apps; defaults to AM/FM radio at startup.•Clicking sound from dashboard when AC is running. •AC intermittently blows hot air instead of cold.•Auto start/stop feature reactivates itself after being manually turned off. •Vehicle shakes noticeably when idling or starting, worsening. Frequency: since vehicle purchase in May 2025. Braking/acceleration failures happened multiple times. Safety Risk: Loss of braking, unintended acceleration, &lighting failures present a serious risk.
1. 1ST WEEK HAVING CAR WAS LEAVING TO GO ON A TRIP, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION. A DRIVER PULLED UP NEXT TO US AND TOLD US WE HAD NO BREAK LIGHTS. ( IT WAS STILL DARK OUTSID!) I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND HAVE MY WIFE STEP ON THE BREAKS, AND SURE ENOUGH NO BREAK LIGHTS. IT WAS SET ON STANDARD HEAD LIGHTS ON! WE FOUND THAT PUTTING IT INTO THE AUTO LIGHT SETTING THAT WE THEN HAD BREAK LIGHTS. (BREAK LIGHTS SHOULD NEVER BE DISCOUNTED)! 2. 2ND PROBLEM MY WIFE & I HAVE HAD WHEN GOING INTO TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE, IS THE CAR LOCKS INTO LOW GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT!!! MAJOR SAFTY ISSURE!!!! THIS HAS HAPPEN 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 2.5 MONTHS. ALMOST CAUSE A CAR SLAMING INTO US TWICE.
I have had my 2025 pathfinder act up over the last two months. It acts up at the most inconvenient time. I have notice that it kicks into low gear when I am pulling out into traffic. It will not disengage at all during this time. The only way that I can get out of low gear, is to pull over and stop, turn off the engine and then turn it back on. After turning off the engine and restarting it goes back to driving normal. This has happen on and off over the past two months. It has been reported to Clark Nissan in Abilene, Texas. They have not been able to have the problem appear and no engine faults are showing. I am now driving the car and if it happens again hope to video what is happening. Twice this has happen pulling into the [XXX] and have had cars come close to colliding into the back of my car. It this time I am working with the dealership and will try to record this when it happens again. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On 03/25/2025, at 7:20 a.m., my wife, on the way to drop off the kids at school, called me and said a light came on the dash and the car was stalled on the railroad track, and a train was coming. I could hear the train whistle blowing. The car would not move off the tracks and she didn't know what the light meant. She said she turned off the car and started it again and got it off the tracks before the train could hit her, but the car was still stuck in the road. I looked online and discovered it was the Automatic Emergency Brake System warning. She was able to turn around and get back home safely with the kids. I can't describe how frightening that was and I can't describe my emotions toward the Nissan electrical engineers that would chance killing my family to install some useless unwanted technology!
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026