Overview & Reviews

For the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder, a 25th-anniversary Silver Edition joins the lineup and options packages have been simplified.

• Powerful V6 and V8 engines
• Generous storage room
• Strong towing ability.

• Drives like a truck.
• Guzzles gas
• Less cargo space than large crossovers
• Cramped second- and third-row seats

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 11.00

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  Wish I had spent more time test driving - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Vivian JonesSmith - June 4 - 3:28 am

  I bought this vehicle used about a month ago - it is a 2011 Silver addition with 4WD - I use it daily for to/from work and have just taken my first long distance (5 hours) trip in it. My major issue is with interior space. I wanted an optional 3rd row, which this vehicle has, but if you want to bring groceries home - you cannot have the third row up. The second row is not much use except for storage, you could fit two small people, or children comfortably, but two full grown adults would have a hard time after 30 minutes. Especially if there is a full grown person in the front seat with the front seat back - it only gives about 8 inches of leg room to the second row. So basically I have a two person vehicle with 4 doors. There are very few storage compartments - so I have added a container to the back cargo area to hold the basic items I keep in a vehicle. The driver side seat does not have lumbar support (that I have found) there are multiple adjustments, but nothing that helps the lower back - the head rest juts forward more than is comfortable for my neck, so I find that if I am in the vehicle more than an hour, I am constantly adjusting the seat trying to find a comfortable position that supports my back and allows my neck to be at a comfortable angle. The radio controls are crazy - the radio is incorporated into the dash (so you have no option of ever replacing it) and you have to reach all the way across the middle of the vehicle to the passenger side to change the station - but the volume control is too near the driver - the heat/AC controls are between the volume knob and the station selection knob and I still find myself adjusting the temperature instead of the volume. There are controls on the steering wheel, but with the weird issues I am having with the radio and display, I cannot change the channel from the steering wheel if it is on XM. By the way - XM is not a visible option on the radio controls - you have to push the radio button twice and then you can access XM. I have had electrical issues with the radio - it gets stuck on a station and no matter what station I have it on when I turn off the vehicle - it turns on to the stuck station, with no volume - then it changed to another station it is stuck on. I cannot reprogram my stations - once the vehicle is turned off - they all reset to what was there before. I can change the station once the vehicle is on, but I have to adjust the radio every single time I get in. The display flashes bright then dim for no reason - I ll be driving down the road and the display flashes. There is no navigation and the display is hard to use. The temperature is very difficult to regulate - it goes from hot to cold to hot - and on the long trip I had to constantly adjust the temperature to keep the inside from being either too cold or too stuffy. If you try to use vent without AC - it blows hot like it is coming directly from the engine, so you still have to adjust the temperature to regulate the inside conditions. With all that said, I wanted a vehicle that could go off road for bike races and possibly pull a camper - in those two areas, the Pathfinder is great - awesome ground clearance and the tow package is for 6,000 lbs (though I have been advised to not tow to the max since the vehicle is older) Gas mileage is what I was expecting from reading other reviews - not the best but not the worst - I am averaging 16.5 MPG - on the tank it recommends supreme, but I cannot see a difference in MPG - though my son does say it will help with overall engine performance if the correct octane in used. If you are single and want a vehicle for off road and fun - the Pathfinder is great - if you want to take friends with you, your limit is one comfortably, you could take four, but the two in the back will not be happy after a while. I had the vehicle looked at by my garage and they said they had never seen of vehicle of this age in such good shape (mechanically) - not one single leak of any kind. So I hope the Pathfinder will make up in longevity for what it lacks in usable space and display use. Though I am already considering putting it up for sale.

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  Factory Paint Flaw - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By brittadcock - March 13 - 2:26 pm

  I bought my Pathfinder less than 2 months ago. About 3 weeks(or less) into ownership, while hand-washing my vehicle, I noticed 3 different chips in my passenger side doors. No dents. I brushed it off and thought about getting touch-up paint. While bringing the issue to the attention of my dad, a well-known, retired, body man and paint expert, we did a walk-over of the vehicle and noticed there were several chips all over the vehicle, from top to bottom. Though they were microscopic at the time, in the sunlight (this being a silver paint vehicle, they WERE hard to spot if you werent looking for them), we noticed the spots were bigger than before, and there were bubbles in the paint. My dad labeled it as something called "surface tension", which is somewhat like a pimple. He said it is something that is on the metal before the factory paint was applied and it was simply working its way up through the surface of the paint, ending as a chip. Simply put, in about 3 years, my BRAND NEW Nissan Pathfinder is going to look like a gray vehicle with patches of silver shimmer. The paint will continue to chip. I took it to the dealership, Waco Nissan, which is the same dealership I purchased the vehicle from and showed them what I was concerned about. They told me they would get in touch with the local Nissan Rep. and he would make further decisions about my situation. Later that same week, I came in to meet with the rep and he told me that all they could offer was a repaint". I have done my research and I knew that repainting is almost the same as being in an accident when it comes to resale value. Repainting my vehicle would end up costing me money when it came to trading it in;. Needless to say, I refused;. The Nissan Dealership then offered to escalate my issue to the actual Nissan company:. I waited three weeks for an answer, playing phone tag with the associate who was responsible for my case?. She would call, leave a message, say I could return her call, never answer, call a few days later, and then finally called to say they had rejected my claim|. The same day they revealed that they had rejected my request for a replacement vehicle, but before the fact, when I had taken it in for the first oil change, I talked to the owner of Waco Nissan, same person who sold me the vehicle, and he said that Nissan had not contacted him for any pictures or sent anyone else to look at the vehicle;. Basically, Nissan made their decision based on hearsay, no evidence. No one gave a crap to look at it and see what was going on with the paint, besides the original rep who came out a month ago. Since then, the chips have become more noticeable and the spots which were once bubbles have become chips. I dont know what to do, at this point, I feel that all Nissan is doing is working to get that signature on the dotted line and doesnt care to take fault for anything that happens in their factory.. I dont feel that it is fair for them to expect me to be okay with paying a new price for a car that needs to be repainted right off the lot. Simply, they dont care. The consultant who delivered the news even went so far as to offer the number for the BBB.

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  Good Choice - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By missmelo - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is a great suv. I have had it for less than a week and I am in love. The Edmunds review does not mention that the SV has a 6 disc cd changer as well. The 7 inch screen in the car is phenomenal. I love the fact that it has a rear view camera so that you can watch behind the vehicle on the screen as soon as you shift the gear into reverse. I bought a slate gray color. It has the metallic look and looks really good at night. You can also adjust the brake pads to go higher or lower so that is great for comfort. Especially if you are a short person like me you don;t have to worry about being right over the steering wheel to drive.

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  2011 Pathfinder - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By sctrooper - September 28 - 8:34 am

  I was in the market for an SUV capable of hauling my recreational vehicles, carrying a few friends around, providing quality...all without breaking the bank. I wanted the Silver Edition for the features, and would not have settled for anything less. Edmunds provides an accurate review of the vehicle, which I agree with most points. The Pathfinder definitely has a "truck" feel when driving and a somewhat stiff ride. This is probably due to the fully boxed frame and the beefy suspension which helps allow the Pathfinder tow over 6000 lbs. The interior features make it feel more upscaled, which is common with Nissan. Overall, the Pathfinder is a versatile SUV, suitable for most needs.

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  My Third and Final!! - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By markrec1 - November 15 - 11:40 am

  This is my third Pathfinder, I previously had a 1996 and 1999, both unbelievably reliable and fun to drive SUVs. This truck is a disaster, rides horribly on all road conditions and after 1 year, I am still trying to figure out why the transmission shifts at the inappropriate times. There are much better choices out there, especially if you want to achieve any type of respectable MPG.

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  Love my 2011 Pathfinder..it completes me. LOL - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By RGreene - December 10 - 3:48 am

  Its a comfortable size with plenty room. Love the way it sits up off ground. Its a comfortable quiet ride especially for a 4WD. Great all around utilitie vehicle.

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  Good All-Rounder - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By Happy Mountain Climbers - August 17 - 6:14 pm

  High marks for style, comfort, and driveability. I would like to see better mileage from a six cylinder, though. Excellent views to the rear for lane changing with just the right height for visibility all directions.

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  2011 Silver Edition Pathfinder - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By jtjnk - May 16 - 5:06 pm

  This is my 4th Pathfinder and my husband has an 06 Pathfinder SE. I traded in my 06 Sienna xle for the 11 Silver Edition. I wanted a 7 passenger 4x4. There are a lot of crossovers out there but I wanted a true 4x4 with the capacity to drive out of my driveway without me having to shovel, snow blow or plow it. I have 5 kids and I did have a Suburban but it was too big for everyday use for me, so back to the Pathfinder I went. The Pilot and the Durango were considered - Pilot was too plain inside and out and didnt seem as capable in the snow as a Pathfinder. The Durango was my second runner up but the Pathfinder was a better buy for the $$, reliability and 4x4 capability.

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  The perfect choice - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By redg - March 7 - 4:48 pm

  we bought a 3800# travel trailer and my Isuzu Rodeo just wasnt quite up to the task of towing it. I wanted a powerful V-6 with comfort. Got this car from a dealer (it was the salesmans wifes car) with 6300 miles. Ride is pretty stiff and busy but better than the Rodeo. Step on the gas and youre GONE!. It tows the trailer very well and gets good fuel mileage doing so. We spent 3 weeks on the road last year, up and down some extremely steep roads without a problem. My one complaint was the standard radio was terrible. I replaced with one from Crutchfield and now love everything about this car.

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  Definitely Recommend! - 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  By nowa - March 2 - 8:16 pm

  This is my 2nd Pathfinder. The 1st one was a 2006 and was leased. Had a Murano after that but wasnt in love with it, I missed the Pathfinder. So, here I am...with a 2011 Pathfinder Silver. Its great! I really like the improvements made to the heating/ radio controls. The inside quality is there and the styling is nice. Im averaging about 18 MPG in the city (even though its rated at 15 MPG). Its great on the hwy, very smooth and quit. Ive read reviews by car magazines and they criticized the rough ride...Im not sure where they were driving but I think its fine. Remember, its an SUV...not a Cadillac!