NissanPathfinder2016Overview/nissan/pathfinder/2016/base/

2016 Nissan Pathfinder

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Pathfinder.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2016 Nissan Pathfinder is an SUV paired with an automatic transmission using variable gear ratios, returning EPA fuel economy of 20 city, 27 highway, and 23 combined mpg. With 105 total owner complaints and 2 recalls—engine issues leading the complaint areas—this model year falls well below the Pathfinder's historical trouble peak of 1,050 complaints in 2005 and sits closer to the low end of the model's 1990–2026 complaint range, which bottoms out at 7 in 2026. That places the 2016 in a relatively stable chapter of the Pathfinder's reliability history, where the volume of reported problems is moderate rather than severe, though prospective researchers should note that engine-related complaints remain the primary area of concern.

Model year202520242023202220202019201820172016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy20/27/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP235/65R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter165460Z000
Spark plug22401EW61C
Battery244103JA2A
Front wiper blades288903JA2D alt 288903JA1B
Serpentine belt117206TA0A
Thermostat13050ZA000 alt 212009HP0A
Cabin air filter272773JC1C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length197.2 in
Overall width77.2 in
Overall height69.7 in
Wheelbase114.2 in
Curb weight4275 lb
Track (front / rear)65.7 / 65.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 27 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Pathfinder of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 2016 Platinum
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016Platinum 3.5L V67.50 sec15.90 sec260 hpAWD
2017Platinum 3.5L V67.40 sec15.70 sec284 hpAWD
2017SV 3.5L V67.40 sec15.70 sec284 hpAWD
2014Hybrid Platinum 2.5L Supercharger I-4 + Elec7.60 sec16.10 sec250 hpAWD
2013Platinum 3.5L V67.20 sec15.60 sec260 hpAWD
2013Platinum 3.5L V67.50 sec15.70 sec260 hpAWD
2013Platinum 3.5L V68.40 sec16.50 sec260 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 22.0-26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidNissan CVT fluid NS-3
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity9.3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantUse Nissan long life coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity10.3
Power Steering FluidNissan EPS fluid

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 1st
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 1st
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0-26.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts33.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub135.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub92.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerNissan
Spark Plug Gap.035 (hybrid) in
Spark Plug Torque14 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.75-2.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity7.80-8.00 oz

Service checks

RPM51 @ idle rpm
Engine Compressionpsi 142-185 / max variation 14 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.012-0.016 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.012-0.017 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 34; Rear: 32 /; Front: 34; Rear: 32
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 91; Rear: 62 /; Front: 91; Rear: 62
ABS Sensor Torque10.2 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.024; Rear: .551
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: .0003; Rear: .0008
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0016; Rear: .002
Maximum Drum DiameterParking brake 7.520

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 105,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 105,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Keyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
Every 20,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Headlamp (inspect alignment)
At 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The current generation's arc reveals a dramatic decline in federal complaints and recalls from the 2013 redesign peak of 890 complaints and 11 recalls, steadily falling to 318 complaints in 2015. The 2016 Pathfinder sits at the trough of this descent with just 105 complaints and 2 recalls, implying Nissan successfully mitigated the early-generation bugs before a minor complaint rebound to 183 occurred in 2017. For the target year, the 105 complaints are primarily concentrated in the Engine (18), Unknown or Other (16), and Air Bags (16) categories, alongside 10 crash complaints and zero fire complaints, though the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Compared to the problematic 2013 launch year and the slightly elevated 2017 model, 2016 demonstrates the lowest complaint volume and fewest recalls of its immediate peers. Consequently, the 2016 Pathfinder represents a statistically stronger choice than earlier years in this generation, making it a good year to buy for used shoppers seeking relative stability within this production arc.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
201
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
105
Owner complaints
10 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 105 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine18
Unknown Or Other16
Air Bags16
Service Brakes8
Visibility/Wiper4
Power Train3
Latches/Locks/Linkages3
Electrical System,Engine3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V244000Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant ClassificationReported 26/04/2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50… Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control…

22V420000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:LatchReported 13/06/2022

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the… Remedy: Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 201 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
ITB09-063C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB12-103I2024-06-06Power TrainCVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA “WRITE” PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT…
NTB13-107G2024-05-20Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Pathfinder. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Pathfinder have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Pathfinder get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined mpg.