10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
56,808 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #10

Jun 252019

Pathfinder

  • 223,000 miles
I was driving on a highway when I realized my car was accelerating quickly without my foot on the gas pedal. I put my foot on the brake to slow it down to 65. At the same time I moved the rug back in case it was caught, but that was not the problem and I also tapped the gas pedal to see if it was stuck and it was not. I continued to drive for 15 miles with my foot on the brake the entire time until I exited the highway and was able to enter a parking lot where I depressed the brake as hard as I could. The car was shaking and the engine was revving and the car was trying to push forward. I was afraid putting it in neutral would not work so I threw it in to park and the engine continued to rev as the car jerked to a stop. I put on the emergency brake and turned it off. As I exited the car, I could smell burning and moved away from the car. I was shaking uncontrollably and broke down after that. I called the Nissan dealer that services my car to say what happened and it would be towed there. I called my insurance roadside assistance to tow the car. The tow truck driver turned the car on to put it in neutral and it immediately began revving up again so he turned it off and popped the hood and showed me where the throttle was and the wires going to it and he fiddled with those and started the car again and he put it in neutral and towed it to the dealership.

- Suwanee, GA, USA

problem #9

Feb 252018

Pathfinder

  • 10 miles
My car wont stop and when I push the brakes it will push the gas pedal or got stock and I all ready have a two accidents because of that first I hit a store wall and damage big time and the second time did a cement post so I need to know if is this car or what

- Wenatchee, WA, USA

problem #8

Jun 132014

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 163,000 miles
Accelerator stuck as I was exiting the freeway. The vehicle became very hard to stop. After shutting off the engine and restarting the engine raced to high RPM's before I shut it off. Will take to the mechanic.

- Pleasant Grove, UT, USA

problem #7

May 072011

Pathfinder 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,000 miles
I own a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder, 4WD, automatic transmission. The vehicle has 167000 miles. I have never previously had a problem with the vehicle. I was driving the vehicle on 7 May 2011. I was doing 35 mph and noticed that the vehicle was not slowing after I took my foot off of the accelerator pedal. I tapped and released the accelerator pedal and still the vehicle did not slow. I immediately shut off the ignition and, although lacking power, stopped the vehicle. I started the engine after my stop. The engine revved to 6000 RPM plus. I shut off the ignition and started the engine again. It again revved to 6000 RPM plus. I worked the throttle cable by hand, pumped the accelerator pedal several times. It started normally and RPM was normal - approx. 800 RPM. I drove home without mishap. I took the vehicle to my dealer on 9 May 2011. Was told that problem occurred with mechanic driving the vehicle. The idle control valve and throttle cable were replaced. Dealer states that he is 90% certain that this will have resolved/fixed the problem.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #6

May 012005

Pathfinder 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2002 Nissan Pathfinder experiencing problems with sudden acceleration. Consumer had the cruise control disconnected to see if that will solve the problem.

- Keizer, OR, USA

problem #5

Feb 152004

Pathfinder

  • miles
When driving 35 mph vehicle accelerated. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership to be inspected, and mechanic was unable to resolve the problem.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #4

Jun 302003

Pathfinder 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,070 miles
With the automatic transmission in reverse and my foot on the brake, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to around 6000 RPM while backing into a parking space. I came within a foot of the bumper of the vehice parked in the space behind the one that I was parking in. I had to turn the ignition switch off to stop the vehicle as the brakes would not stop it. I re-started the vehicle in "park" and the engine was still racing at about 4500 RPM. I turned the ignition off again and re-started the vehicle and this time the engine idled normally. I took the vehicle to the Nissan dealer in toms river, NJ on July 2, 2003 and explained what had happened along with the fact that the "service engine soon" light was on. The dealer was unable to find a problem and stated on the repair form "tech test drove vehicle and also checked to stored failure codes. No codes detected, unable to duplicate sudden acceleration issue". when I picked the vehicle up, they told me that the vehicle was fine and safe to drive. I also contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs on the day of the incident and after picking up the vehicle from the dealer. On both occasions, Nissan stated that they were not aware of any sudden acceleration problem with the 2002 Pathfinder and that there was nothing else that they could do if the dealer was unable to diagnose and repair the problem. I made both Nissan and the dealer aware of the fact that there were two (2) complaints of this type on your web site for the 2002 Pathfinder and I even gave the dealer a copy of the complaints that I printed from your site. I also see on your site that there are five (5) complaints of sudden acceleration for the 2001 Pathfinder and three (3) complaints for the 2000 model year. I hope that your Agency will investigate my complaint, as Nissan and the dealer both state that there is no problem of sudden acceleration with the Nissan Pathfinder.

- Forked River, NJ, USA

problem #3

Feb 042003

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Sandy, UT, USA

problem #2

Dec 302002

(reported on)

Pathfinder

  • miles
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.

- Moss Point, MS, USA

problem #1

May 302002

(reported on)

Pathfinder 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The throttle on the vehicle stuck when parking the vehicle. The vehicle "flew" into my place of business barely missing an employee. The vehicle has $9,500 worth of damage and I am terrified that the throttle will again stick after the body work is completed. Although there was considerable damage to the front, side, and back the air bag also did not deploy and I wound up with a broke wrist. I want to know where I can get assurance that the throttle will not agai N stick.

- Noblesville, IN, USA