2008 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder.

20072009
Complaints
458
per 10K Sold
136.5
US Sales
33,555
Crashes
10
Fires
0
Injuries
7
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2008 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1154 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:116,564 mi
Crash-related:1
#261 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:115,203 mi
#351 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:94,549 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder.

Transmission / Drivetrain
154
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
116,564
Engine Problems
61
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
115,203
Fuel System
51
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,549
Airbags
36
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
120,985
Gasoline Fuel System
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
89,345
Electrical Faults
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,110
Engine & Cooling
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
117,748
Unintended Acceleration
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
105,176
Suspension Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
119,400
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,372
Brakes
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
109,667
Electronic Stability Control
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Nissan Pathfinder

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~493,327 vehicles.

23V067000Air Bags:frontal
~404,690 affected

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.

10V401000Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
~7,948 affected

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

10V075000Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank
~80,689 affected

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 AND MODEL YEAR 2008 FRONTIER, XTERRA AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE MOLDED FUEL TANK SHELLS CAN DEFORM, CAUSING THE FUEL SENDER FLOAT ARM TO CONTACT AN EMBOSSMENT MOLDED INTO THE TANK SHELL CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE TO SHOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER TANK WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY.

Other Nissan Pathfinder Years

2008 Nissan Pathfinder — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2008 Nissan Pathfinder has 458 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 154 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (154 complaints, avg 116,564 mi); Engine Problems (61 complaints, avg 115,203 mi); Fuel System (51 complaints, avg 94,549 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 109,040 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder include 10 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 493,327 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Pathfinder reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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