Nissan Lawsuit Alleges Certain Pathfinder Models Suffer from Brake Pad Defect

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that certain 2022 and 2023 Nissan Pathfinders are plagued by a defect that can cause excessive and/or premature wear on the vehicles’ rear brake pads.

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The 31-page lawsuit against Nissan contends that the rear brake pads and rear braking systems in the afflicted Pathfinder models are faulty, given that regular driving “results in premature brake degradation,” and that the automaker has actively concealed the issue. The case says the brake pads in affected Pathfinder models routinely fail before the end of the parts’ expected lifespan, impacting a vehicle’s ability to stop on command.

Per the suit, Nissan has to replace the prematurely worn brake pads or braking systems under warranty, with the automaker “claiming it is ordinary wear and tear,” which forces the consumer to fork over large sums of money towards repairs.

The plaintiff, an Illinois resident, filed the suit after his 2023 Pathfinder required replacement brake pads at only 23,000 miles. According to the case, Nissan did not cover the repair costs, even though the man’s vehicle fell within the three-year/36,000-mile warranty, and he instead was forced to pay $468 out of pocket for parts and labor.

The lawsuit relays that many other drivers have expressed similar concerns with their Pathfinders, and have turned to online forums and automotive community sites in search of answers. Similarly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission (NHTSC), the 2022 Pathfinder alone has received nearly 30 unique complaints pertaining to brake problems since April 2023.

Though Nissan has so far failed to respond to the allegations, the automaker is no stranger to recalls, as certain components of the 2022 Pathfinder have been subject to five separate recalls, and one recall for the 2023 model.

Per the suit, Nissan “has known or should have known of the defect from multiple sources,” such as through robust industry-standard testing, consumer feedback, and NHTSA data. The plaintiff, like many other consumers, claims that he would not have purchased the vehicle, or would have at least paid less, had he known about the rear brake defect and its noncoverage under warranty.

Proposed class members for the Nissan Pathfinder lawsuit include all United States residents who purchased or leased a model year 2022 or 2023 Nissan Pathfinder vehicle. Check out ClassAction.org’s lawsuit list for the top class action lawsuits.