2003 Nissan Pathfinder
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine and engine cooling is the leading concern among 110 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 25 Pathfinder model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 11 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleJan 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.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
Campaign 20V008000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsMay 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V287000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, columnApr 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 11V244000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 11, 2009
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.
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 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.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006
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.
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006
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.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: fuel/propulsion system
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 1, 2021
The gas gauge stopped working a few months ago. Had an appointment to have the fuel sensor replaced. The fuel sensor is fine. The mechanic said it was most likely the gauge. In researching over the past several months, this appears to be a huge problem with the 2003 Pathfinder. This should be recalled. I'm not sure why it it isn't since it is a wide spread issue.
Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 23, 2020
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY -- THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR 2 YEARS NOW. WHEN I FILL IT UP, IT SHOWS AS FULL, BUT WILL NEVER GO LOWER THAN JUST OVER 1/2 TANK OF GAS. I HAVE TO RESET AND WATCH MY MILEAGE EVERY TIME I FILL UP THE TANK, AND MAKE SURE I REFILL IT EVERY 225 MILES, TO ENSURE I DON'T RUN OUT OF FUEL. MY MECHANIC HAS DONE EVERYTHING HE CAN THINK OF TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT SO FAR NOTHING HAS WORKED. I NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 14, 2020
FUEL GAUGE INDICATED FUEL TANK WAS AT LEAST HALF FULL. VEHICLE DID NOT START BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF FUEL. MECHANIC REPLACED MANY THINGS UNTIL IT WAS DISCOVERED CAR WAS OUT OF FUEL. COST ME CLOSE TO $1,000. CAR COULD HAVE RUN OUT OF FUEL ON A HIGHWAY WHILE IN THE FAST LANE. MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM 74 YEARS OLD AND NEVER HAD FAILED FUEL GAUGE. I AM TOLD THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. NO WARNING WAS EVER PROVIDED BY NISSAN THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN. HOW MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 5, 2020
FUEL GAUGE IS NOT READING CORRECTLY REPEATEDLY HAVE TO TOP OFF MY TANK THAT COSTS ME MORE MONEY THAN IT SHOULD TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK BECAUSE I RAN OUT OF GAS AND IT COSTED ME $200 TO FIGURE OUT THAT I NEED SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THE GAS GAUGE THERE'S SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WHY HAS IT NISSAN DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO JUST LET THIS PROBLEM GO ON AND STICK THE CUSTOMERS THAT PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE VEHICLES. I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AFTER BEING AT THE HOSPITAL ALL NIGHT WITH MY MOTHER-IN-LAW AND ME AND MY WIFE HAD TO WALK SEVERAL MILES JUST TO GET CELL SERVICE TO GET PICKED UP AND MY CAR TOWED.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 10, 2017
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AFTER FILLING TANK. A LEAK FROM FUEL FILLER NECK WAS THE ISSUE. REPAIR WAS MADE, BUT IT WAS OVER $400. SAW 2 OTHER COMPLAINS ON NHTSA #S 10781139 AND 10703027. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON PATHFINDERS THROUGH 2001. PERHAPS IT IS TIME THIS BE INVESTIGATED ON 2003S AS WELL.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 19, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE AND SKIP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REMEDY DID NOT RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 9, 2015
EVERYTIME I FILL MY GAS TANK, THE GAS FILLER NECK LEAKS, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IT IS CAUSED BY CORROSION. I;VE CONTACTED MFCTR. NISSAN/MANUFACTURER DO NOT HAVE ANY OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE YEAR OF MY VEHICLE, THEY DO HAVE AN EXISTING RECALL SAME ISSUE/GAS FILLER NECK LEAKING ON MODEL AND YEAR OF 1997 THRU 2001
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 9, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, IT STARTED TO LEAK FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 30, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM SEEING THE FUEL GAUGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 1, 2015
THE METAL ON THE FILLER NECK ON THE GAS TANK HAS CORRODED TO A HOLE BIG ENOUGH THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FUELED GASOLINE SPILLS OUT OF THE HOLE ONTO THE BACK TIRE AND THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FUMES IN THE CABIN. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 6, 2014
COMMON COMPLAINT FROM WHAT I AM READING. 03 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 82K MILES, WITH A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL GAUGE. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP AND HE IS GOING TO TAKE A LOOK, BUT WITH THE AMOUNT OF ISSUES I AM READING ABOUT, AND THAT NISSAN RECALLED THE 06 PATHFINDER WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE, ITS JUST IRRITATING THIS IS GOING UNRECOGNIZED BY NISSAN. GAUGE READS JUST OVER HALF A TANK ALWAYS AND SINCE I AM NEW TO THE CAR I AM REALLY GUESSING ON MILEAGE PER TANK, USING THE TRIP MILEAGE TO FIGURE WHAT I HAVE LEFT. BASICALLY I HAVE BEEN TOPPING OFF EVERY OTHER DAY. IS IT A GUMMED UP TANK AND THE FLOAT STICKING? A BAD GAUGE, A BAD FUEL SENDING UNIT? A SHORT BETWEEN THE GAUGE AND SENDING UNIT? WE SHALL SEE. AND I JUST BOUGHT THIS LESS THAN A WEEK AGO, CAN I HOLD THE USED CAR DEALER RESPONSIBLE FOR IT? *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 28, 2014
2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER GAS GAUGE IS INACCURATE TO LEVEL INDICATED. ON EMPTY INDICATES FULL TANK. ONCE FILLED IT WILL REMAIN ACCURATE UNTIL 1/2 EMPTY THEN BEGINS TO CHANGE LEVELS EACH TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED. AT TIMES IT READS FULL, OTHER TIMES 1/2 FULL AND THEN JUMPING TO FULL. NO ERROR CODE. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 28, 2013
CAR REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATES 1/2 TO 1/4 TANK OF GAS BUT IS EMPTY CAUSING USER TO RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING. NO FUEL LEAK, MECHANICS CONTINUES TO STATE THEY FIND NO PROBLEM. *TR