2001 Nissan PATHFINDER: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAUSES EXTREME WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TIRES. I HAVE HAD THIS NISSAN PATHFINDER (2001) FOR JUST OVER A YEAR AND NISSAN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM IT WAS "BUILT TO RIDE THIS WAY". THE RESULT IS PREMATURE BREAKING PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE PUT NEW TIRES ON, TURNED THE ROTORS AND SPENT MANY HOURS BALANCING THE TIRES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE DAY ONE.

Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000278 at NHTSA ↗

FUEL/THROTTLE CONTROL: I EXPERIENCED A "SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" INCIDENT IN JULY OF 2002. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HEAD IN PARKING AND WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY WHILE APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER CURBING INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH LESS THAN 8,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ OF OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE THIS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. NO OTHER INCIDENT HAS OCCURED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS SITUATION BE…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000472 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AND IT DIDN'T SEEM THAT ANY OBJECT HIT THE GLASS PRIOR TO BEING SHATTERED. THERE WAS SOME BRUISES ON THE DRIVERS ARM FROM SHATTERED GLASS. WENT DIRECTLY TO TUSTIN NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO STATED THE GLASS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. WHILE STILL IN THE DEALER, I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT. NISSAN REP SAID THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE GLASS TO SHATTER. I CALLED AGAIN WEEK L…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008524 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING OVER AVERAGE BUMPY ROAD I HEARD A LOUD POP AND NOTICED A TINY CRACK IN BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK CONTINUED TO COVER THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK THE SUV TO A VERY WELL RESPECTED WINDSHIELD REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER THEIR EXAM GAVE ME 2 POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THIS FAILURE. #1 REASON INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH OF THE GLASS. IT IS VERY THIN FOR A WINDSHIELD (FORD WINDSHIELD RECALL) UNABLE TO HANDLE THE STRESS OF NORMAL AND EXPECTED ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS. #2 IMPROPER INSTALLATION . THIS WINDSHIELD WAS NOT STRUCK WITH ANY OBJECT. *NLM…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,640 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016917 at NHTSA ↗

IN LATE MAY OF 2003, THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY NISSAN PATHFINDER STOPPED WORKING AS FAR AS THE AUTOMATIC SEAT ADJUSTMENTS. I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD OR REVERSE USING THE SEAT'S AUTOMATIC SWITCH. THUS BEING STUCK IN A POSITION NOT EXACTLY THE WAY I WOULD NEED TO DRIVE. I CAN NOT MOVE THIS SEAT TO A PROPER AND SAFE AREA SO THAT I CAN OPERATE THE VEHICLE AS PRESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. AS WITH ANY VEHICLE, THE SEAT SHOULD BE POSITIONED RELATIVE TO THE DRIVER'S ABILITY. I HAVE TO DRIVE CLOSER TO THE STEERING WHEEL THAT I WOUL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023229 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE ROLL OVER WHICH INVOLVED A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. *MR IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S OPINION THE VEHICLE DID NOT POSSESS SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT WHICH WAS NECESSARY TO PREVENT ROLL OVER SITUATIONS, THE VEHICLE LACKED THE NECESSARY HEIGHT TO WIDTH RATIO AS WELL AS THE NECESSARY MASS TO MAXIMIZE THE SURVIVABILITY AND PREVENT OR SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN THE CHANCE OF A ROLL OVER.*TT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024640 at NHTSA ↗

PREMATURE WEAR AND WARPAGE OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE 34,000 MILES AND HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS MACHINED 2 TIMES. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. 11,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038886 at NHTSA ↗

WE PURCHASED A NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER (VIN #[XXX]) IN JULY 2001 FROM WHITE PLAINS NISSAN, INC. IN WHITE PLAINS, NY. OCTOBER 12, 2003: THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. I REMOVED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THAT PART OF THE CALIPER BROKE OFF, AND WAS LEANING AGAINST THE INSIDE PART OF THE RIM, AT WHICH POINT I PUT THE TIRE BACK ON, AND BEGAN CALLING NISSAN TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT (THE CAR IS STILL UNDER ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY). OCTOBER 13, 2003: WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049179 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-08-30 (August 30, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BRACKETS USED TO ATTACH THE TWO GAS STRUTS TO THE REAR DOOR (HATCH) MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MADE. AT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE INCREASE IN GAS PRESSURE IN THE STRUT(S) COULD CAUSE ONE OR BOTH BRACKETS TO BEND, RESULTING IN THE STRUTS DETACHING FROM THE BRACKET(S) WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING THE REAR DOOR.

Consequence: IF BOTH STRUTS DETACH FROM THE BRACKETS, THE DOOR WILL RAPIDLY FALL DOWN, POSSIBLY STRIKING SOMEONE AND CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 24, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2007-09-18 (September 18, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DURING THE COATING PROCESS OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY, AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF COATING MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED AT THE LOWER MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN OPENING IN THE COATING WHICH CAN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL OF THE TUBE.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN SURFACE RUST BUT NOT PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. HOWEVER, IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, IF A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL, CORROSION MAY OCCUR TO A DEGREE WHICH RESULTS IN PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. IN THIS CASE FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR WHEN FILLING THE TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE WITH AN IMPROVED COATING PROCESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2011-04-20 (April 20, 2011)

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.

Consequence: 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.