Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Altima vs Nissan Pathfinder
How the Nissan Altima and Nissan Pathfinder compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Nissan Altima vs Nissan Pathfinder: The Altima has 118 complaints per year and 22 recalls, while the Pathfinder has 36 per year and 5 recalls. Altima owners report sudden power loss and transmission failures; Pathfinder owners report brake wear and AC issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Altima or Nissan Pathfinder more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima, a midsize sedan, shows a high complaint rate of about 118 per year over the past decade, with 22 recalls. Owners report sudden power loss, electrical glitches, and transmission issues that can leave them stranded or in dangerous situations. The pattern suggests a car that may be affordable but could come with significant reliability headaches.
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder, a midsize SUV, has a much lower complaint rate of about 36 per year, with 5 recalls. Owners report issues with rear air conditioning lines corroding, premature brake wear, and electrical glitches that affect the radio and shift warnings. While not without problems, the Pathfinder appears to have fewer and less severe complaints overall.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Altima | Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,181 | 360 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 | 5 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 96 | 12 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 118.1 | 36.0 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 73 | 6 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Nissan Altima
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER237
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM206
- 03POWER TRAIN193
- 04ENGINE157
- 05SERVICE BRAKES148
Owners report sudden dashboard warning lights, the car dying while driving, and alternator failures without warning. These issues can cause unexpected breakdowns and may leave you stranded.
The gear shifter can detach, leaving the car stuck in Drive, and the car may shut off and restart on its own. These are serious safety concerns that affect control and reliability.
The high-pressure fuel pump can loosen due to failed mounting threads, causing oil leaks and sudden loss of power. This is a critical failure that could lead to accidents.
“I was driving to work. As I was doing so multiple lights came on my dashboard and it started dinging. At the same time my car immediately shot left so hard into the concrete median barrier at 70 mph. It all happened so fast I was not able to see what lights c…”
“I took my car into the dealer to ask a question. Upon arriving I tried to open the drivers door after I turned the ignition off to exit the car and the drivers door would not open. The service man tried to open it from the outside with the same results. Final…”
Nissan Pathfinder
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER79
- 02SERVICE BRAKES75
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM64
- 04ENGINE63
- 05POWER TRAIN47
Owners report premature rear brake wear, needing replacement by 27,000 miles. This is an unexpected expense and a safety concern if not addressed promptly.
The radio volume may increase on its own, and the dash may show 'check shift level position' warnings. These glitches are annoying and may indicate deeper electrical issues.
The vehicle may stall after restarting, with warning lights flashing, and may not restart. This can leave you stranded and is a serious reliability issue.
“I am reporting a systemic safety defect regarding the rear Air Conditioning (AC) lines/hoses in the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. The rear AC lines are prematurely corroding and leaking refrigerant, mirroring a previous recall Nissan issued for the front AC lines d…”
“I am writing regarding the defective condition of the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder (approx. 16,431 miles) purchased on Nov 10, 2025. With the onset of spring, the A/C system has failed, blowing only ambient air. This aligns with known manufacturer defects: Jump Tub…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Nissan Altima — 22 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot…
The risk: A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Iden…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Altima vehicles. The bolts connecting the electronic power steering unit to the steering rack may loosen, resulting in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
The risk: A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC997.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
Nissan Pathfinder — 5 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Pathfinder vehicles. The third-row headrests may have an improper weld or misaligned internal components, which can allow the headrest to move or detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehic…
The risk: Headrests that move or detach may not adequately restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace all three third-row seat headrests, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC844.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Pathfinder vehicles. The second-row seat back frames may have insufficient welds that could separate.
The risk: Seat backs with separated welds may fail to adequately restrain occupants during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replaced the seat assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall ar…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Pathfinder vehicles. Insufficient welds may allow the secondary hood latch retainer bracket to detach from the front bumper assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…
The risk: A detached secondary hood latch may allow the hood to open if the primary hood latch is not engaged, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the secondary hood latch bracket as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for thi…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 INFINITI QX60 and Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The second-row seat track may be missing a mounting bolt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly…
The risk: A missing mounting bolt may allow the seat track to move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat track and install a new mounting bolt as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numb…
Buyer analysis
Nissan Altima or Nissan Pathfinder: which should you buy?
The Nissan Pathfinder has fewer complaints per year (36 vs 118) and fewer recalls (5 vs 22), indicating a more reliable ownership experience. While both have issues, the Altima's higher frequency of serious failures like sudden power loss and transmission problems makes it a riskier choice.
Key differences
- Altima has 3.3 times more complaints per year than Pathfinder (118 vs 36).
- Altima has 22 recalls vs Pathfinder's 5, indicating more widespread defects.
- Altima owners report dangerous sudden power loss and gear shifter detachment; Pathfinder owners report less severe issues like brake wear and AC corrosion.
- Pathfinder has zero reported deaths, while Altima has one, though both have crash-related complaints.
- Inspect the alternator and electrical system for signs of failure, as owners report sudden death without warning.
- Check the gear shifter for looseness or detachment, a known issue that can leave the car stuck in Drive.
- Check the rear AC lines for corrosion or leaks, a common issue on the Pathfinder.
- Inspect the rear brakes for premature wear, as many owners report needing replacement before 30,000 miles.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system and alternator on the Altima.
- Test the gear shifter on the Altima for any play or unusual movement.
- On the Pathfinder, check the rear AC lines for corrosion and have the rear brakes inspected.
- Ask for service records to see if recalls were addressed on either vehicle.
- Take both vehicles for a test drive, paying attention to any warning lights or unusual behavior.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Nissan Altima | Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 |
| 2024 | 41 | 0 |
| 2023 | 29 | 101 |
| 2022 | 20 | 133 |
| 2021 | 69 | 0 |
| 2020 | 177 | 52 |
| 2019 | 226 | 74 |
| 2018 | 223 | 0 |
| 2017 | 390 | 0 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Nissan Altima or Nissan Pathfinder in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Altima vs Nissan Pathfinder
- Nissan Altima total complaints
- 1,181
- Nissan Pathfinder total complaints
- 360
- Nissan Altima total recalls
- 22
- Nissan Pathfinder total recalls
- 5
- Nissan Altima avg complaints/year
- 118.1
- Nissan Pathfinder avg complaints/year
- 36.0
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Nissan Altima top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Nissan Pathfinder top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER