2017 Nissan Pathfinder: Sludged engine
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2017 Pathfinder report: sludged engine. CarComplaints.com lists 2 owner complaints, average mileage 49,400 miles.
NHTSA has 84 owner complaints for the 2017 Pathfinder in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11756766 (filed 08/13/2026): “Sludge in engine- under 100,000 miles we had been keeping up with all recommended services, and it is cosmetically perfect, but the car is now a total loss. a check engine light came on, and we began to notice a tremor/shake and took it to southern team nissan…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11709306 (filed 01/07/2026): “The contact owns a 2017 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated that while driving in a parking lot at unknown speeds, the vehicle began jerking and stalled. the battery had become inoperable. the tpms message was displayed. the failure was linked to technical s…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: new engine (1 reports) replace engine (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $23,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Estimated repair cost: engine replacement (used or remanufactured engine)
Average shop cost
$1,435
Range $800–$2,225 (labor)
8.0–16.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$2,150
Range $1,200–$3,335 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location. See the estimate for your city → · About this repair and its cost
Same repair on other models: 2012 Chevrolet Traverse: Engine seized · 2012 Toyota 4Runner: Engine blew up · 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine seized · 2018 Chevrolet Cruze: Engine failure · 2018 Ford Edge: Leaking coolant killed engine · 2019 Ford Fusion: Coolant intrusion cracked short block
Page last updated .