2002 Nissan Pathfinder problems and complaints

Owners have filed 171 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. The most-reported areas: Suspension (43), Engine And Engine Cooling (40), Structure (18).

Key takeaways

  • 171 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 16 involve a crash, 1 a fire, 6 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Suspension4325%
Engine And Engine Cooling4023%
Structure1811%
Steering1710%
Air Bags116%
Vehicle Speed Control116%
Service Brakes116%
Power Train116%
Fuel/Propulsion System85%
Equipment85%
Hydraulic85%
Electrical System74%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2002 Nissan Pathfinder 4-DR. w/SABNot ratedNot ratedNot rated3/5
2002 Nissan Pathfinder 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot rated3/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2024-03-16

My complaint relates to Campaign Number 07V435000 We are the original and only owner of this vehicle. While driving the vehicle I started to notice a fuel smell, after several attempts to locate the source, one day I added fuel, I noticed a small puddle in my driveway the following morning. I removed the wheel and the ...

Steering,suspension,structure - filed 2024-03-16

This relates to Campaign Number 11V244000 We are the original and only owners of the vehicle I originally brought the vehicle in for the recall and they simply sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells. Less than a month later both strut towers separated from the body of the vehicle while my wife was driving home, s...

Steering,suspension - filed 2023-05-02

The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced at a local dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension); however, the mechanic diagnosed that there was no rust in the strut housing assembly. The contact then stated that when he replaced the ...

Diagnose it yourself

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

More for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.