10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
118,984 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #11

May 012019

Pathfinder

  • 155,000 miles
At speeds over 50 mph the car begins to wobble, have been told this is a common problem involing faulty trailing arm bushing/ rear arm bushing and bearing need to be replaced causing what is coommonly known as the death wobble. But lets up when you let up off the gas" to me this a major safety issue! that many have had this problem, that I have found on on line forums.. why hasn't Nissan recalled this issue"

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #10

Nov 012018

Pathfinder

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact called to inquire about NHTSA campaign number: 11V244000 (steering, suspension). The previous owner had the recall repaired at martin Nissan (5240 golf rd, skokie, il 60077, (866) 800-1100) and they stated that the recall repair was only performed on the driver's side of the frame. The contact stated that the failure was currently on the passenger side of the frame. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Rock Island, IL, USA

problem #9

Apr 302018

Pathfinder

  • 64,325 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving over bumps in the road at various speeds, the contact heard an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the struts were rusted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (executive Nissan, 900 universal dr N, North haven, ct 06473), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V244000 (steering, suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,325.

- East Heaven, CT, USA

problem #8

Sep 032017

Pathfinder

  • 180,000 miles
NHTSA campaign number 11V244000 the strut housing corroded on the front drivers side wheel on my 2003 Nissan Pathfinder when I was driving down the highway. Had problem with steering being hard to turn I have found a recall on this problem but being that I live in Texas they will not accept this recall.

- San Angelo, TX, USA

problem #7

May 062015

Pathfinder

  • miles
Inner wheel well area rotting, near the strut mont

- West Warwick, RI, USA

problem #6

Jul 222016

Pathfinder

  • 148,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. While making a turn at 30 mph, an unknown noise was heard whenever a turn was made. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the strut tower failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V244000(steering, suspension). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 148,000.

- Utica, NY, USA

problem #5

Apr 202011

Pathfinder

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the steering wheel was extremely tight and difficult to turn left and right. The contact stated that the strut tower was separating from the frame due to extensive rust and corrosion associated with the driver side of the vehicle, near the front passenger and driver side wheel wells. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V244000 (steering, suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #4

Aug 172015

Pathfinder

  • 124,000 miles
The strut tower repair that was made by Nissan in 09/2011 as part of NHTSA recall campaign #11V24000 (strut tower corrosion recall because of salt in new england states) failed on 8/17/2015. As a direct result of the structural failure in the passenger side strut tower, the break-line severed causing an immediate breaking failure, and also made the car unsafe to drive because of the structural failure which exposed the engine compartment to the interior wheel well. As of 8/26/2015, Nissan usa Consumer Affairs div. Refused to pay for the $1,300 in repairs (parts & labor) stating that they were not responsible to make additional repairs to correct the original recall notice because the vehicle is more than 8 years old, and they already fixed it as as a level 1 repair as required under the recall. They did't care that their repair was only 4 years old and that the vehicle had a visual/safety inspection performed by a Nissan dealer less than a year ago when the vehicle was recalled to replace the air bags.

- Kinnelon, NJ, USA

problem #3

Oct 292010

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
Driving home from work on freeway with 1/4 tank of fuel - engine stalled in fast lane and would not restart. I was stuck in the traffic lane for 40 mins until the state police had a tow truck tow me away. Turns out, the fuel gauge was inaccurate because my tank was empty. My gauge goes above the F when I fill up and it is empty at just above a the 1/4 mark. Very dangerous situation and I could have been killed over a faulty gas gauge that seems to be a big problem after seeing all of the complaints on the internet. When the gauge goes bad - the low fuel warning light does not come on so I was completely caught off guard. I was a sitting duck on the freeway with cars slamming on their brakes to avoid hitting me even with my hazard lights on. Please help.

- Confluence, PA, USA

problem #2

Jun 182011

Pathfinder

  • 143,000 miles
Vehicle taken to Nissan dealership for recall campaign 11V-244 inspection and repair of strut housings and steering column. Dealership confirmed corroded strut towers were pulling away from the body of the vehicle and that it was unsafe to drive. Dealership indicated that Nissan usa refused recall because vehicle was not in a specified VIN range. NHTSA later confirmed that the recall was not limited to a VIN range and that the vehicle meets the recall criteria because it is within the applicable year range and is registered in Massachusetts. Nissan usa has not contacted me directly yet.

- Paxton, MA, USA

problem #1

Jul 132010

Pathfinder

  • 101,500 miles
While traveling at a speed of less than 30 mph in the left turn lane I heard a loud grinding noise that felt like the gears stuck. The car then suddenly and without warning, revved up, speed forward with the steering wheel locked to the right. The steering and brakes were non responsive, and I had no control. My car, at a high rate of speed, crossed three additional lanes striking a telephone pole(actually split the pole in 2 places), transformer, fire hydrant, and finally rolling down a hill where it came to rest in a parking lot. There was fire from the power lines touchin and water gushing from the fire hydrant at the same time. My father was two cars ahead of me and witnessed the entire accident. We had just left from getting the annual emissions checked on our vehicles and had traveled less than a mile towards home, when the accident occurred. I was told by the paramedics that they never saw anyone walk away from an accident this severe. I suffered whiplash, minor cuts and a 2nd degree concussion but this malfunction could have resulted in the death of me or someone else.

- Canton, GA, USA