2019 Nissan Pathfinder: Timing chain pieces ruined the engine
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2019 Pathfinder report: timing chain pieces ruined the engine. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 83,000 miles.
NHTSA has 16 owner complaints for the 2019 Pathfinder in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11757320 (filed 08/16/2026): “There was built up sludge in my engine that caused it to fail, and i was charged to replace it…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11702032 (filed 11/29/2025): “Check engine light came in. took into repair shop to change oil and diagnose issue. it was about 7,000 miles since previous oil change with full synthetic oil. drained oil was full of metal shavings. refilled oil and ran engine. metal shavings was again observ…”
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). 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 $17,720 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: Timing chain pieces ruined the engine (2019 Pathfinder)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2019 Pathfinder
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 Toyota 4Runner: Engine blew up · 2014 Hyundai Sonata: Seized engine · 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe: Engine seized · 2015 Subaru Forester: Blown engine · 2018 Ford Edge: Leaking coolant killed engine · 2019 Ford Fusion: Coolant intrusion cracked short block
Page last updated .