2002 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder.

20012003
Complaints
206
Crashes
19
Fires
1
Injuries
7
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2002 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#134 complaints

SUSPENSION

Avg mileage:124,204 mi
Crash-related:1
#216 complaints

STEERING

Avg mileage:129,392 mi
Crash-related:1
#314 complaints

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Avg mileage:47,890 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder.

SUSPENSION
34
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
124,204
STEERING
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
129,392
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
47,890
STRUCTURE:BODY
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
117,725
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
113,616
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
88,965
AIR BAGS
8
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
141,333
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
146,026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
64,710
ENGINE
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
142,810
POWER TRAIN
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
50,990
SUSPENSION:REAR
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
81,660
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
119,008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
54,000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
41,250
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
149,750
EQUIPMENT
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,750
SERVICE BRAKES
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
72,360
SUSPENSION:FRONT
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,000
INTERIOR LIGHTING
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
SEAT BELTS
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
25
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
88,000
SEATS
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
28,500
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
70,534
TIRES
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
185,602
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
118,000
WHEELS
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
109,000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
15,000

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2002 Nissan Pathfinder

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,790,605 vehicles.

20V008000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~307,962 affected

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.

17V068000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~46 affected

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.

15V287000AIR BAGS
~1,090,569 affected

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.

11V244000SUSPENSION:FRONT
~195,991 affected

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.

11V244000STEERING:COLUMN
~195,991 affected

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.

10V312000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
~46 affected

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.

Other Nissan Pathfinder Years

Wider context: See the full Nissan Pathfinder reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2002 Nissan Pathfinder

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