Acceleration complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 9% | — |
| 2024 | 8 | 9% | — |
| 2023 | 3 | 3% | — |
| 2022 | 8 | 6% | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 7% | 70,000 miles |
| 2018 | 9 | 12% | 4,000 miles |
| 2017 | 5 | 3% | 28,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 2% | 211,000 miles |
| 2015 | 27 | 8% | 50,000 miles |
| 2014 | 26 | 5% | 52,000 miles |
| 2013 | 47 | 5% | 17,000 miles |
| 2010 | 4 | 10% | 134,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% | 75,000 miles |
| 2008 | 10 | 3% | 112,000 miles |
| 2007 | 24 | 4% | 115,000 miles |
| 2006 | 16 | 2% | 104,000 miles |
| 2005 | 31 | 3% | 106,000 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 6% | 24,000 miles |
| 2003 | 4 | 4% | 2,000 miles |
| 2002 | 11 | 7% | 163,000 miles |
| 2001 | 11 | 5% | 64,000 miles |
| 2000 | 9 | 8% | 107,000 miles |
| 1999 | 3 | 3% | 80,000 miles |
| 1998 | 16 | 11% | 125,000 miles |
| 1997 | 16 | 7% | 90,000 miles |
| 1996 | 5 | 3% | 125,000 miles |
| 1995 | 3 | 2% | 140,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Since purchasing this new Nissan in October 2025, the vehicle feels very unstable with random movement side to side on the interstate. My side impact warnings go off very frequently when traveling in my sales territory due to this. On grooved pavement, it is much worse and you feel like you the vehicle is going to go off the road. I had 2 different ride alongs with D Patrick Nissan in November and December 2025 that was undocumented but they state it is in their system. Both times they said they could not duplicate. I since have had 3 that are documented with the attached forms on this complaint. All 3 times again, they state they cannot duplicate and state I need new tires after only 28,000 miles total on the new vehicle. …
A malfunction warning light appeared on the dashboard, indicating the cruise control was no longer working and front crash indicator lights showed sensors were not working and/or turned off due to the malfunction. I believe my emergency breaking Blindspot warning, adaptive cruise control are not working at this time. The malfunction light is inconsistent and may go off and on. Town Center Nissan was able to duplicate the issue but had no fix available on 9/25/25. They agreed to communicate with the manufacturer and get back to me in a few days. They did not caution me regarding driving the vehicle and returned the keys after connecting to the Nissan diagnostic computer which pulled codes stating a front crash sensor malfunction. They stated their database included 5 other similar Nissan vehicles with similar issues.
Since we purchased the vehicle we noticed that power outlet would not work. We have taken this vehicle back to the dealership and even though they "fix it" as soon as we drive it out within in one or two hours it will give out again. The last time we took it they said not to use "off the market" cellphone chargers because that is what is making it not work. Then the AC has also stopped working a couple of times. All of sudden the truck will blow out hot instead of cold air. We have to stop the vehicle, turn it off and let it rest and then the AC will be back up. They have supposedly looked into it. Lastly, this vehicle has on several occasions not accelerated while we are on the road. Even though the speed limit is 75mph it will not move faster than 40mph. At the same time the service lights on the dashboard begin to turn on/off. …
While merging onto the parkway, the gas pedal snapped off during acceleration. There was no warning at all, it just snapped off when I stepped on the pedal. I was fortunate enough to pull over onto the shoulder of the parkway without incident, but I had no way to accelerate the car if I needed to. I was very lucky that nothing happened, but I'm very concerned about driving this vehicle and the potential danger it poses to myself and others if this happens again. I believe this is a serious issue and should be looked into with urgency. I've attached pictures of where the pedal snapped off. It appears to be a cheaply made piece of plastic that completely broke off. There is another picture with the pedal intact and circled in red, you can see an indentation towards the top of the pedal. This is where I believe the pedal broke off from.
While driving on the interstate with my family, my 2023 Nissan Pathfinder suddenly began to fail (limp Mode), forcing me to pull onto the shoulder in a dangerous situation.I was in the farthest lane to the left, with no shoulder available. I had to cruise all the way across two lanes with NO acceleration, but my flashers and the grace of god. The issue appears related to the mass airflow sensor, which was already replaced six months ago. I've had repeated issues, and neither the dealership nor Nissan has resolved it. The dealership manager even told me rudely that he would unplug the mass air flow sensor and leave it up front for me to come pick it up, because of my attitude. I told him at the beginning of the call that I was frustrated, and it was nothing personally against him. I even asked what did I say to have you make a comment like that. …
On July 20, 2026, my 2023 Nissan Pathfinder failed to accelerate after stopping at a red light. The engine did not rev, and the vehicle barely moved despite accelerator input. After 40 seconds the car start moving normally. I got the car towed to the dealership. The dealer could not reproduce the condition and reprogrammed the ECM under TSB NTB25-012. They mentioned they performed a software update and they said the issue should not returned. On July 22, 2026, the same failure occurred again at a red light. The vehicle had almost no acceleration for approximately 30-40 seconds, then suddenly accelerated and nearly struck the vehicle ahead. No collision or injury occurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealership and is considered unsafe to drive.
On January 16, 2022, my husband and I had to be escorted off of the road by a police officer. Luckily, turning off the Pathfinder resulted in resetting whatever occurred. At that time, the vehicle would not accelerate past 20 mph and showing about 4000 RPMs. This happened a few more times in our neighborhood, causing us to turn it off and restart in the middle of the road. Since then, the Nissan dealership has changed the battery, claiming that it was the only computer reading. Within two days of the new battery, it happened again to my husband in Orlando. The dealership is unable to replicate the problem, and my husband and I are afraid as he uses the Pathfinder for travel with business to Atlanta. These "revving" events occur randomly, and the dealership is unable to contact the Nissan engineers until they are able to replicate the problem. …
Since purchasing this vehicle new i have had several issues : - While driving on the highway the engine will switch into neutral -One time while pulling out of my drive way I got stuck in the middle of the road because it placed me in park for no known reason. - Sunroof Leaks, - Most recently at 93,000 miles my engine failed and I needed a full engine replacement. They didnt cover this replacement and left it in me to pay for the full replacement. (over $10K) - The Breaks needed to be fully replaced before $20,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Pathfinder years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (47), 2005 (31), 2015 (27), 2014 (26) and 2007 (24) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Nissan Pathfinder acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for any Nissan Pathfinder model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Nissan Pathfinder acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles; 37% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (36 mentions), followed by the cables (2).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.