2020 Nissan Pathfinder: Engine hesitation knocking and misfiring
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2020 Pathfinder report: engine hesitation knocking and misfiring. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 32,000 miles.
NHTSA has 17 owner complaints for the 2020 Pathfinder in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11765156 (filed 09/18/2026): “Just bought this used car this summer and worked for about 2 months then had to repair a failing radiator/condenser cooling fan assembly. seems like the same class action issue from the previous versions. hoping this can be another recall. it seems like the…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11752952 (filed 07/26/2026): “The car stalled three times and died in active traffic. the breakdown was so hazardous that the police department had to intervene and push the car out of the road and had to tow the car more than 3 times and was at the nissan dealership for over one week. i p…”
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: none clearly reported. 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
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: Engine hesitation knocking and misfiring (2020 Pathfinder)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2020 Pathfinder
Page last updated .