Your vehicle report
2002 Nissan Pathfinder
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 156
- Received Feb 2002 to Mar 2024
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Frame rusts and corrodes through16 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Exhaust manifold cracks and leaks fumes16 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed9 complaints · 5.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #20V008000Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Recall #17V068000Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with Takata air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 15 crashes, 1 fire, 6 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 16 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed
- Tires blow out or tread separates
- Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly
1 more problem
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 156 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 16 | 10% | – | NHTSA recall #11V244000 |
| Exhaust manifold cracks and leaks fumes | 16 | 10% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 9 | 5.8% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 8 | 5.1% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 5 | 3.2% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 5 | 3.2% | – | |
| Vehicle rolls backward out of park | 5 | 3.2% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 4 | 2.6% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 4 | 2.6% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 4 | 2.6% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 1.9% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 3 | 1.9% | – | NHTSA recall #17V068000 |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 3 | 1.9% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 3 | 1.9% | – | |
| Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration | 3 | 1.9% | – | |
| Air conditioner blows hot air or fails | 3 | 1.9% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #20V008000January 9, 2020307,962 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
NHTSA recall #17V068000February 2, 201746 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with Takata air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March, 31, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA recall #15V287000May 15, 20151,090,569 vehicles affected
air bags
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.
NHTSA recall #11V244000April 20, 2011195,991 vehicles affected
steering: column; suspension: front
Nissan is recalling certain model year 1996-2004 Pathfinder and model year 1997-2003 Infiniti QX4 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin. In areas of the country in which heavy concentrations of road salt are used, a mixture of snow/water and salt may enter an assembly location hole in the upper strut housing, causing water to collect at the mating surface of the strut housing panel and the inner hood ledge assembly. Over time, this snow/water and salt intrusion may result in corrosion of the strut tower housing in some subject vehicles.
The strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly. This may lead to grinding noises, increased steering effort, and possibly the steering column to break, resulting in the loss of steering control, which could result in a crash.
Remedy
Nissan will inspect the strut housing and repair the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. An interim notification letter was sent out in may 2011. The second notice was mailed on july 25, 2011. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA recall #10V312000July 6, 201046 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal
Nissan is recalling forty-six certain model year 2002 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 vehicles manufactured from august 24, 2001 through august 28, 2001. The air bag inflator contains propellant wafers that are required to properly deploy the front passenger air bag. Due to improper propellant wafer installation during the air bag inflator assembly process, some air bag inflators may be missing one of the wafers. As a result, the remaining wafers in the inflator used for the deployment of the front passenger air bag may, over time, break up into powder due to normal vibration experienced while driving. This causes the combustion rate of the propellant to increase inside the inflator, which Can lead to internal pressure rising suddenly during air bag deployment.
The inflator housing may rupture and pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants.
Remedy
Nissan will notify the owners of the forty-six affected vehicles. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module assembly with a new one free of charge. The safety recall began on august 19, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 and Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN