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2003 Nissan PATHFINDER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

110 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

100,750 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 110 complaints (16.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1715.5%
Steering behavior1715.5%
Fuel system concerns1110.0%
Engine operation32.7%
Transmission and shifting10.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
18
Suspension
18
Fuel/Propulsion System
13
Steering
13
Air Bags
12
Structure:Body
8
Engine
6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System18
Suspension18
Fuel/Propulsion System13
Steering13
Air Bags12
Structure:Body8
Engine6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic6

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 18; Suspension: 18; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Steering: 13; Air Bags: 12; Structure:Body: 8; Engine: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
13
25,000 to 49,999
8
50,000 to 74,999
12
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
26
150,000 and above
15
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00013
25,000 to 49,9998
50,000 to 74,99912
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,99926
150,000 and above15

Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 15

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 30 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003
6
2004
5
2005
8
2006
1
2007
6
2008
10
2009
6
2010
5
2011
6
2012
3
2013
6
2014
7
2015
10
2016
4
2017
8
2018
5
2019
4
2020
5
2021
1
2025
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20036
20045
20058
20061
20076
200810
20096
20105
20116
20123
20136
20147
201510
20164
20178
20185
20194
20205
20211
20254

2003: 6; 2004: 5; 2005: 8; 2006: 1; 2007: 6; 2008: 10; 2009: 6; 2010: 5; 2011: 6; 2012: 3; 2013: 6; 2014: 7; 2015: 10; 2016: 4; 2017: 8; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2025: 4

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10016918 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT RED LIGHT AND IN PARKING LOT. LOW BRAKE PEDAL WHEN APPLIED, FOOT HITS GAS PEDAL WHILE BRAKING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT OTHER PATHFINDER OWNERS REPORTED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 1,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016918 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026228 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *MR. WHEN THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND PULSATED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 20 MPH. THE ROTORS WERE TURNED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026228 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068572 · 2004-04-21 (April 21, 2004)

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD ON WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEAT BELT BRUISES, AND HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068572 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10108455 · 2005-02-02 (February 2, 2005)

VEHICLE DIES RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED AFTER THE ENGINE HAS REACHED NORMAL RUNNING TEMP. SO FAR ONLY OCCURS IN BELOW 32 DEGREE OUTSIDE TEMPS. USUALLY RESTARTS (ONCE DIDN'T AT ALL) CONTINUES TO DIE AFTER ABOUT 1/10 OF A MILE 2 OR 3 TIMES AND MOST OF THE TIME I CAN INCH MY WAY HOME. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY DEALER BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE IT. THEY HAVE SO FAR REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR AND SWITCH AND HAVE A FUEL PUMP RELAY ON ORDER BASED ON A BULLETIN THAT THEY ADMIT DOESN'T MATCH MY SYMPTOMS. I HAVE CONTA…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108455 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10111809 · 2005-02-19 (February 19, 2005)

THIS IS MY SECOND AND A FOLLOW-UP COMPLAINT TO THIS WEBSITE. VEHICLE DIES RUNNING AFTER ENGINE REACHES NORMAL TEMP AND SO FAR ONLY IN FREEZING OUTSIDE TEMPS. RESTARTS, DIES, RESTARTS, DIES, ETC. DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED VEHICLE BACK FROM DEALER WITH A FUEL PUMP RELAY REPLACEMENT. ON THE VERY FIRST COLD DAY (15 DEGREES) SINCE IT WAS RETURNED, I HAD A REPEAT EPISODE OF MY PRIOR COMPLAINT. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR THE FOURTH TIME. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 10,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111809 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10488758 · 2012-12-14 (December 14, 2012)

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON FREEWAY WITH 1/4 TANK OF FUEL - ENGINE STALLED IN FAST LANE AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I WAS STUCK IN THE TRAFFIC LANE FOR 40 MINS UNTIL THE STATE POLICE HAD A TOW TRUCK TOW ME AWAY. TURNS OUT, THE FUEL GAUGE WAS INACCURATE BECAUSE MY TANK WAS EMPTY. MY GAUGE GOES ABOVE THE F WHEN I FILL UP AND IT IS EMPTY AT JUST ABOVE A THE 1/4 MARK. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OVER A FAULTY GAS GAUGE THAT SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM AFTER SEEING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. WHEN THE GAUGE GOES BAD …

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488758 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10513390 · 2013-05-24 (May 24, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WAS PROVIDING INACCURATE GASOLINE FUEL LEVEL READINGS. THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD INDICATE THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL WHEN THERE WAS NO GASOLINE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO LACK OF GASOLINE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FUEL LEAK. THE FLUTE WAS REPLACED ON THE FUEL TANK AS A PRECAUTION BUT NO A…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10513390 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10047189 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)

2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. IT JERKS INTO GEAR OR DRAGS BEFORE SHIFTING. DEALER HAS BEEN NON-RESPONSIVE AND HAS CLAIMED NO EXISTENCE OF SERVICE BULLETINS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047189 at NHTSA ↗