vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Nissan PATHFINDER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

67 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

76,684 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 67 complaints (13.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1725.4%
Steering behavior57.5%
Transmission and shifting34.5%
Fuel system concerns23.0%
Electrical and battery issues11.5%

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.

Air Bags
9
Fuel/Propulsion System
6
Power Train
6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
6
Engine
4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
3
Service Brakes
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags9
Fuel/Propulsion System6
Power Train6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor6
Engine4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission3
Service Brakes3

Air Bags: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Power Train: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 6; Engine: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
15
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
7
100,000 to 149,999
12
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 6

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 20 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.

2004
19
2005
5
2006
4
2008
3
2009
1
2011
2
2012
3
2013
1
2014
6
2015
2
2016
4
2017
4
2018
5
2019
1
2020
2
2021
1
2022
1
2023
1
2024
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200419
20055
20064
20083
20091
20112
20123
20131
20146
20152
20164
20174
20185
20191
20202
20211
20221
20231
20242

2004: 19; 2005: 5; 2006: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2017: 4; 2018: 5; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10072082 · 2004-05-04 (May 4, 2004)

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT MULTIPLE BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKES HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THEN VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE HAVING A NATION WIDE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN FLAW. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WHEN HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY PUT NEW BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS JUST A MONTH OLD.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072082 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10075476 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)

WHILE BRAKING FOR A RED LIGHT THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL SIMULTANEOUSLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK THIS MAY HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075476 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10113217 · 2005-03-01 (March 1, 2005)

WHILE BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL PULSATED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED/REPAIRED THE WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113217 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10147198 · 2006-01-08 (January 8, 2006)

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR, MY 2004 PATHFINDER STARTED ACCELERATING. THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED TO THE LEFT ON A 2-WAY STREET. AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS OR SO, THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN ON ITS OWN AND THE BRAKES AND STEERING STARTED RESPONDING AGAIN. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. A FEW DAYS OF DEALER CHECKING, DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING STILL HAVE NOT SHOWN THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. AN EMAIL TO NISSAN USA WAS SENT AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR A RESPON…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147198 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10548625 · 2013-10-20 (October 20, 2013)

I HAVE ANTIFREEZE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INTO EACH OTHER (TRANNY HAVE ANTIFREEZE AND RADIATOR HAVE TRANNY FLUID IN IT ) FLUID IS MILKY AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 76,684 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548625 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10619466 · 2014-08-06 (August 6, 2014)

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 83,431 miles reported. Look up ODI 10619466 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11066554 · 2018-02-01 (February 1, 2018)

MY VEHICLE WAS MOSTLY IN THE STATE OF NY (SALT BELT STATE) FROM 2004 UNTIL 2015. (11 YEARS) IT'S NOW IN VA. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTED BEYOND A NORMAL AMOUNT. THE EXHAUST ESPECIALLY HOLES ARE IN PIPING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO THE TAILPIPE. THE CARE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE METAL FILLER TUBE TO THE GAS TANK! MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ADDRESS THESE SERIOUS ISSUES AND INFERIOR METAL PIPING PROBLEMS. I'M SCARED THE VEHICLE WILL BLOW UP.IT'S DANGEROUS.

Owner-reported narrative. 134,440 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066554 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11114423 · 2018-07-29 (July 29, 2018)

THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE SENDING UNIT THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. I NEVER RECEIVED A WARNING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR RECALLS AND SAW THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THE 2005 AND OLDER MODELS OF PATHFINDERS. I TOOK MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL NISSAN. LEARNED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE WASN'T WORKING WHEN MY CAR STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO MY CAR HAVING RUN OUT OF GAS WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCID…

Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114423 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10104561 · 2004-12-27 (December 27, 2004)

THE TOP OF MY SHOE RUBS AGAINST THE WIRING HARNESS ABOVE THE ACCELLERATOR PEDAL. THIS IS DISCONCERTING BECAUSE IT SOMETIMES (DEPENDING ON THE EXACT POSITION OF THE HEEL OF MY FOOT ON THE FLOOR) REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELLERATOR PEDAL. IT TAKES AN EXTRA FRACTION OF A SECOND TO MOVE MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WILL NOT MOVE THE WIRES. I HAVE ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY WILL NOT RECOMMEND ANY CHANGES. I JU…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104561 at NHTSA ↗