What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2004 Nissan Pathfinder

Early-defect pattern

31.4% of complaints about the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder came in its first year of service — a higher share than 98% of the 236 2004 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (17 complaints), typically at 8 mo or about 3,000 miles.

Complaints
86
Median age at failure
8.7 yr
Median mileage
76,684 n=61
Crash / fire / tow
3.5% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Service brakes, hydraulic
17 reports · 3,000 mi
8 mo
11.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V008000 2020-01-09
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

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

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

15V287000 2015-05-15
Air bags

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.

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.

11V244000 2011-04-20
Steering:column

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 MATI

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.

09E025000 2009-05-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E046000 2007-07-03
Equipment

CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.

THIS HARNESS WOULD RESULT IN POWER FROM THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GOING TO THE TOWING VEHICLE DASH LIGHT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN THE TRAILER BRAKES. THIS RESULT WOULD BE THE LACK OF TRAILER BRAKING WHEN THE TOWING VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE TOWING VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER

06E049000 2006-05-24
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

In owners’ own words

Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 8 mo in service
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
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 8 mo in service
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
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 8 mo in service
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

Other Pathfinder model years

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