2003 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder.

20022004
Complaints
147
Crashes
16
Fires
4
Injuries
8
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2003 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

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

#118 complaints

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Avg mileage:54,820 mi
#218 complaints

SUSPENSION

Avg mileage:135,640 mi
Crash-related:1
#313 complaints

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Avg mileage:137,047 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,820
SUSPENSION
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
135,640
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
137,047
STEERING
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
135,984
AIR BAGS
12
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
131,995
STRUCTURE:BODY
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
160,004
ENGINE
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
105,969
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
35,399
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
76,833
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
48,134
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
99,016
SERVICE BRAKES
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
124,006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
26,384
SUSPENSION:FRONT
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
90,000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
2,600
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
123,008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
175,000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
50,950
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
1,750
STRUCTURE
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
155,000
TIRES
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
125,000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
19,000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
142,000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
10,580
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
2,700
POWER TRAIN
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
STEERING:COLUMN
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2003 Nissan Pathfinder

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,790,513 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.

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.

Other Nissan Pathfinder Years

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

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