Head-to-head reliability

Nissan Pathfinder vs Toyota Camry

How the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Nissan Pathfinder741 complaints · 16 recalls Fewer issues per year
Toyota Camry2,083 complaints · 28 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Nissan Pathfinder averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Nissan Pathfinder has 741 complaints and 16 recalls on record; Toyota Camry has 2,083 complaints and 28 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryNissan PathfinderToyota Camry
Total complaintsAll model years combined741 Better2,083
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns16 Better28
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints25 Better177
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years74.1 Better208.3
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints21 Better161
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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 Pathfinder

  1. 01ENGINE180
  2. 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER164
  3. 03SERVICE BRAKES133
  4. 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM124
  5. 05POWER TRAIN106
In owners' words — ENGINE

On April 7, 2025, the dealership attempted to sell me a vehicle that was experiencing an engine condition running too lean. I declined that vehicle due to safety concerns. On April 8, 2025, the salesperson contacted me again and stated that a different vehicl…

I own a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder with approximately 55,000 miles. The vehicle repeatedly failed Indiana emissions testing because the oxygen sensor monitor would not set to “ready,” despite multiple complete drive cycles and no check‑engine light or stored faul…

Toyota Camry

  1. 01POWER TRAIN385
  2. 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER332
  3. 03ENGINE309
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES288
  5. 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

The contact owned a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH there would be a loud noise emitting from the rear-end of the vehicle that seemed as if the vehicle was running rough. The contact stated that while being idl…

My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…

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 Pathfinder — 16 recalls

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Disc — Caliper
#25V173000

The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Murano, Pathfinder, and INFINITI QX60 vehicles. One or both front brake caliper assemblies may have reduced strength and could break. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard n…

The risk: A broken front brake caliper can cause a loss of front brake function, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front brake caliper assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or INFINITI's customer servi…

Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module
#24V154000

The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…

The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…

Seat Belts — Pretensioner
#24V176000May 2024

The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The lap belt pretensioner in the left-side front seat belt assembly may be improperly secured, due to a missing rivet. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor V…

The risk: An unsecured lap belt pretensioner will not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left-side front lap seat belt pretensioner assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. O…

Latches/Locks/Linkages — Hood — Latch
#21V706000Oct 2021

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…

Toyota Camry — 28 recalls

Wheels — Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
#23V432000

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.

The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…

Seats
#24V128000

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…

The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification
#23V865000

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…

The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…

Seats
#24V128000

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…

The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…

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.

YearNissan PathfinderToyota Camry
2026797
202543140
20247246
202310060
202213357
20210154
202052264
201974388
201876729
2017184148
Years to scrutinize: the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder drew the most complaints (184); the 2018 Toyota Camry drew the most (729). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Pathfinder or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Nissan Pathfinder vs Toyota Camry — comparison facts
Comparison
Nissan Pathfinder vs Toyota Camry
Nissan Pathfinder total complaints
741
Toyota Camry total complaints
2,083
Nissan Pathfinder total recalls
16
Toyota Camry total recalls
28
Nissan Pathfinder avg complaints/year
74.1
Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
208.3
More reliable overall
Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan Pathfinder top complaint area
ENGINE
Toyota Camry top complaint area
POWER TRAIN