2002 Nissan PATHFINDER: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 70 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER THAT WAS TRAVELING BEHIND WAS SUDDENLY ON CONSUMERS BUMPER. CONSUMER PRESS ACCELERATED AND VEHICLE WENT FROM 75 TO 95, THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. CONSUMER STATES' IF VEHICLE SPEED EXCEEDS 95 MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL OR ANY WHERE THAT STATES VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT 95 MPH. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001628 at NHTSA ↗

MY PATHFINDER HAS MANY PROBLEMS.FIRST THE VECHLE VIRBRATES AT ALL SPEEDS,WIND NOISE FROM BOTH FRONT WINDOWS AND ROOF RACK,THERE IS ALSO A JERK WHEN YOU SHUT VECHLE OFF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN IN 4 WHEEL AUTO THIS IS NOT 4 WHEEL FLOOR SHIFT,THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX 4 TIMES AND NOW STATES THERE IS A BULLETEN STATED THIS IS NORMAL TO GET A JERK PROBLEM RELATE TO ALL PATHFINDER AND INFINTY Q-4 FROM 1998-2002.THE VIBRATION IS STILL PRESENT TOO THE DEALER HAS BALANCED ALL FOR TIRES BUT VIBRATION IS STILL THERE ALT…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003607 at NHTSA ↗

REAR RIGHT AXLE SEAL CONTAINED A CRACK AND HAD LEAKED FLUID ONTO BRAKES. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE BRAKING ABILITY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS OF THE AXLE SEAL CRACK. BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.*JB....*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003837 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND HAD BEEN FOR A FEW MINUTES. SUDDENLY, MY CAR BEGAN TO REV UP FAST THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHICH DID NOTHING. I TRIED TURNING TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. I WAS UNABLE TO AVOID HITTING HIS CAR AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED. APPROXIMATELY $8000 OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005398 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER MANUFACTURED IN APRIL OF THAT YEAR. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE LOWER ANCHORS FOR THE LATCH SYSTEM, BUT DOES HAVE A REAR TETHER ANCHOR IN THE FLOORBOARD OF THE TRUNK. I CAN NOT SECURELY INSTALL A REAR-FACING CONVERTIBLE CRS DUE TO EXTENED WEBBING ON THE SEAT BELTS. I HAVE TRIED 3 DIFFERENT CRS MODELS UNSUCESSFULLY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CAR DEALERSHIP, MAUFACTURER AND A CERTIFIED CAR SEAT SAFETY INSPECTION POINT. AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NOT A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007641 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING TWO TIRES BLEWOUT, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A TREE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009605 at NHTSA ↗

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IN MY NISSAN PATHFINDER LE DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY. I GOT IN AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME, RESULTING IN A HEAD INJURY WHEN I WAS THROWN UP INTO THE ROOF. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013801 at NHTSA ↗

VIBRATION PROBLEMS DURING HARD ACCELERATION AND CONSTANT VIBRATION BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH.... FOUR VISITS TO TWO DEALERSHIPS... UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM ... VEHICLE ALSO WAS IN TWICE FOR OIL LEAK. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 65 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016978 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-07-06 (July 6, 2010)

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.

Consequence: THE INFLATOR HOUSING MAY RUPTURE AND PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE FORTY-SIX AFFECTED VEHICLES. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 AND INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

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.

Reported: 2015-05-15 (May 15, 2015)

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.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.

Reported: 2017-02-02 (February 2, 2017)

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.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March, 31, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2020-01-09 (January 9, 2020)

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.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.