2018 Nissan Pathfinder: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Feb 7, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · MI

The disabled vehicle when delivered by flatbed car hauler unit to the nearest dealership, Petro Nissan, 47 miles from the breakdown site would not move at highway speed but only jerked/bucked and crept along at little more than a fast walk. This condition was last experienced when the vehicle had been on a remote undulating interstate for about 2 hours. The check engine light had reappeared after being recently reset and the engine revving and loss of ground speed started causally then increased in frequency and intensity until totally failing to the point of forcing me to creep with emergency flashers in mode on the shoulder to reach an exit two miles ahead. The high RPM revving coupled with the ground speed loss condition initial stages occurred each of the two prior days. Two Nissan NA dealerships in those two days had performed diagnostics and service. On each prior day the check engine light, the high revving engine RPM, and the ground speed loss occurred. On each day a potentially serious safety issue arose. Initially an attempt to match speed and merge with traffic at an onramp and again when (using cruise control) during which the vehicle system attempted an automatic acceleration to maintain speed on rolling hills. Both conditions forced me to the shoulder to avoid a potential accident from immediate and drastic ground speed loss and engine revving at or above 4500 RPM After each of these incidents a Nissan NA dealership was consulted and services were performed. In each case I postulated to the service advisors that the transmission sounded/felt like it was slipping on acceleration when the vehicle/ transmission had heated up from extended driving. Both days service advisors checked for diagnostic codes of transmission issues but never mentioned emission issues aside from mass air flow sensor or ABS sensors apparently either not seeing or not looking beyond transmission related codes. The first dealer, Illini Nissan, ran diagnostics on 1/6/25,

Filed Jul 25, 2023 · Acceleration, Brakes · LA

Front collision shuts off intermittently for no reason. Causes cruise control to shut off immediately and disabled collision avoidance breaking. If cruise is on and approaching slower vehicle car will not slow down causing driver to break aggressively.

Filed Feb 22, 2022 · Driver assistance, Transmission · MN

Multiple times (greater than 10) at highway speeds Forward collision avoidance warning light displayed and applied automatic braking. This has happened with and without cruise control engaged. Vehicle feels like transmission slips then reengages while traveling at highway speeds. Repair shop has been unable to reproduce.

Filed Jun 29, 2020 · Driver assistance · UT

The vehicle automatic braking system/cruise control would not operate when a warning message unavailable front radar obstruction was displayed. It is possible that when the message occurs, the brakes can stop at highway speeds.

Filed Jun 26, 2020 · Brakes, Electrical · 21,000 miles · ME

The collision detection radar system that controls the automated braking system and adaptive cruise control keeps failing. The radar sensor has already been replaced once and now needs to be replaced again. The warning light comes on regardless of whether the car is stationary or moving.

Filed Dec 9, 2019 · Brakes · 45,000 miles · IN

I keep getting a warning flashes on the dashboard to indicate the problem: 'front radar unavailable due to obstruction.' the sensor frequently deactivate itself, disabling cruise control and the emergency braking system. The symbol looks like a crash is going to happen. It has happened while in motion and no other cars are around, and while other cars are around and on city streets and highways.

Filed Aug 5, 2019 · Acceleration · 3,000 miles · NY

The cruise control is very sluggish. Once the cruise control is set, if you are to step on the gas to get around a car quicker or if you press the cancel button, step on the gas and then resume, you have to take your foot off the gas and let your speed slow down 5 - 10 MPH under what you have the cruise set for before it will engage again. I have been almost rear-ended a few times while getting the cruise to engage again. Nissan states that that is they way the cruise control is designed. Nissan's service manager had this same thing happen to him in another nissan vehicle but not all nissan vehicles do this

Filed Jun 28, 2019 · Brakes · 3,250 miles · MD

Faulty radar on my nissan pathfinder is compromising my emergency braking system. It frequently deactivates itself thereby disabling my cruise control and the emergency braking system. A warning flashes on the dashboard to indicate the problem: front radar unavailable. In my view the emergency braking system is unreliable. A recall and a fix should be ordered.

Filed May 29, 2019 · Acceleration, Brakes · 4,000 miles · NV

Front radar modular intermittently unavailable. Article found stating nissan was working on a fix, is it available yet? 2 dealership service departments and an agent at nissan USA knew nothing about it. While driving with the intelligent cruise control on, suddenly it shuts off and a message on screen states, unavailable front radar obstruction. 2-15 minutes later it allows start up again. This seems to be totally random. Happened numerous times on a 2500 mile trip.

Filed Feb 9, 2019 · Steering · 9,588 miles · FL

We have had our car into the dealer 9 times since june 2018. They have been replacing the cruise control sensors and the car started pulling to the right very hard. We have worked thru the dealer, the corporate headquarters, contacted the bbb auto and have an open account there. We got our car back yesterday and took it for a long ride on highway 95 north this afternoon and for 100 miles the car kept pulling to the right and then to the left and continued for every mile. We turned off onto a 3 lane road and were going slower and it went across all three lanes each way, left and right. I took video while my husband drove. It is a very dangerous situation. We were entering the highway via a cloverleaf turn and the car almost ran into the guardrail. We contacted the dealership at 3:30 and they told us they were closing soon so we could not bring the car in. They said an expert from nissan corporate said the car worked just fine. My husband says its not tires, the steering is binding and he has advised me not to drive the car. We asked to have an appointment for monday but they said the manager charlie had been made aware of the issue and would talk on monday. I emailed the corporate person but it is saturday. We have decided to file this complaint as it could be happening all over.