Rear sub frame has significant rust, snapped while driving at slow speed, there was no injury but steering was affected, no harm done this time but it is a known issue, 2wd model has a recall for the same part with the same issue
The worst 2011 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags12
- Engine10
- Transmission7
- Brakes6
- Suspension6
- Electrical4
- Seat belts3
- Steering2
- Wheels2
- Fuel system1
- Locks1
- Seats1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
Recalls 2
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
- Risk
- A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the drivers airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1‑800‑867‑7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
Recall number 23V067000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- Nissan is recalling certain model year 2011 infiniti fx, model year 2012 infiniti m, model year 2011-2012 nissan frontier, model year 2011-2012 nissan xterra, model year 2011-2012 nissan pathfinder, and model year 2012 nissan nv vehicles. Some of the bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength. As a result, the bolt may break at the oil filter attachment point and can cause an engine oil leak.
- Risk
- If there is an engine oil leak, the engine oil pressure would drop and the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector bolts free of charge. The safety recall began on january 30, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 11V592000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder 105
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Wiring harness repair information
- Certification label and VIN plate replacement service information
- VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2005-2013 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA; DRIVER AIR BAG COVER CAMPAIGN...
- CAN communication codes – diagnostic tips and guidelines
- CAN communication – network diagnostic flow chart
- Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
- Windshield cracking
- Removing foreign material from the window glass
- Window glass warranty information
- Diagnosis of vehicle pull (drift) and/or steering wheel off-center
2011 Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 15 | 22 | 17 |
| 4.0L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14 | 20 | 16 |
| 5.6L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 13 | 18 | 15 |
What 2011 Nissan Pathfinder owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My airbag light and seatbelt light are on and the horn has stopped working. Frame and front suspension is making a horrible creaking sound and has been for months. Frame seems to be rotted … I’ve taken it to multiple places to have it looked at…. I’ve also seen other complaints on here of people having the same issue! This poses a huge safety risk! Definitely needs a recall for both issues!
Through a check engine light for camshaft position sensor bank 1 so I replaced both of them well that cleared the check engine light for a min and was running good the after five min of running it started rough idling cutting off and throwing a check engine light for p0340 again I sent it to the Nissan dealer shop they said it didn’t have no check light they tested the sensors and said there good and don’t know what it could be
Frame is rotted from rust. Not drivable as drive train connection to wheels in rear end ready to fail at any moment. Rust is so bad it will require towing to be repaired. Repair estimate exceeds blue book value. $4800. 110,000 current mileage. Recall for this problem existed on this make/model for years 2004 to 2009. This vehicle is 2011 with no recall as yet.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V067000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealers: Nissan of Bradenton (1611 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton, FL 34207: (941) 755-1571) and Gettel Nissan (3530 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34239: (941) 343-4855) were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Brake are to the floor, will not come back off the floor. I have everything replace including master cylinder at Nissan. They were unable to figure out what is causing this
The Vehicle will frequently and without warning lose all power while in the roadway. Last evening I was exiting the highway when I lost engine power and power steering. The dashboard lights came on and I had to coast to the nearest driveway. This has happened multiple times before, always without warning. When I have taken it to two nissan dealerships they have told me to continue driving it until it happens again because there is no code appearing. Finally it will happen enough where there will be a code and they can repair it. It always ends up being some sort of sensor. This has been going on for approximately 4-5 years.
When I applied the brakes, a slippage and rubbing noise occurs. Moments later, I could brake. No engine lights are visible on the dashboard. This has occurred several times.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being inspected, the contact became aware of oil underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the bolt that connected the engine oil cooler and the oil filter fractured which caused the oil leak. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v592000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
Compare the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
Is the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Owners have filed 45 complaints about the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder, fewer than a typical Pathfinder model year.
What is the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder year score?
The 2011 Nissan Pathfinder scores 90 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Nissan Pathfinder: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder?
Airbags, with 12 complaints, typically around 91,200 miles. Next is engine (10).
How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder have?
2 recalls, covering air bags and engine and engine cooling.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 23V067000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Nissan Pathfinder have bad airbags?
The Nissan Pathfinder model years with the most airbags complaints are 2013 (177 complaints), 2014 (92 complaints) and 2015 (55 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder get?
Official estimates for the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder range from 15 to 17 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.0L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 15 city and 22 highway.
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