2003 Nissan PATHFINDER: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011845 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

I NOTICED AFTER I HAD STOPPED CAR AND TURNED IT OFF THAT I WAS NOT AS CLOSE TO CURB AS I WANTED TO BE. I RESTARTED VEHICLE AND PULLED FORWARD APPRIXIMATELY 1 - 1 1/2 CAR LENGTHS. PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE TO SLOWLY BACK UP WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY BEGAN TO REV AT AN EXCEEDING HIGH RPM RATE AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. ATTEMPT TO BREAK AND STOP THE VEHICLE WAS FUTILE RESULTING IN MY VEHICLE HITTING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED BEHIND ME. OTHER VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED. I DO NOT TRUST THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ERRATIC B…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028873 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE PULSATED AND MADE A RUBBING NOISE. DEALER ROTATED AND REPLACED THE ROTORS, ABS ACTUATOR, AND THE WHOLE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 4,667 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050357 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WITH THE HORN AND LIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES OR MORE AFTER THE CAR IS PARKED AFTER IT IS BEING LOCKED MANUALLY AND/OR VIA THE REMOTE. MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE, UNWILLING TO FIX THE GLITCH. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS RATHER SPORADICALLY BUT FREQUENT ENOUGH THAT IT HAS BECOME AN ANNOYANCE. PLEASE TAKE A NOTICE OF THIS ISSUE AND LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE. THANK YOU. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056297 at NHTSA ↗

WE BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN APR 2003. THE PATHFINDER'S BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN SOFT. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT DIDN'T ENGAGE UNTIL IT WENT ABOUT HALF WAY TO THE FLOOR. WE HEARD THE NOISE & HAD BRAKE PROBLEM IN THE EARLY DEC 2003. WE TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HEAR ANY NOISE & NO PROBLEM FOUND, BUT SAID THE NOISE MUST HAVE BEEN FROM THE TIRES, THEREFORE, WE NEEDED 2 NEW TIRES & AN ALIGNMENT. WHEN WE'RE PICKING UP THE VEHICLE(AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN $300 FOR 2 NEW TIRES & THE ALIGNMENT), ON…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063837 at NHTSA ↗

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: 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.