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: hydraulic
9 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Structure, Feb 21, 2012
THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER DUE TO SERVER RUSTING. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THAT AREA. I WAS HEARING A NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RUST HAD DAMAGE TO THAT STRUT TOWER. MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FINALLY COME ON AND I HAD S LOST OF BRAKE FLUID. THE STRUT TOWER COLAPSE SEVERING THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE. THE DEALER INSPECTED IT AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS. I,M NOT SURE WHY THE LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER WOULD BE COVERED AND THE RIGHT FRONT IN NOT. I HAD LEASED THIS VEHICAL AND WHEN THE LEASE EXPIRED WE PURCHASED THE CAR OUTRIGHT. WE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL WHEN I HAD ONE REMAINING PAYMENT ON THE CAR. NOW WITH THE CAR PAID IN FULL IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Aug 26, 2010, crash, fire
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. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 14, 2009
VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES,SOMETIMES, LIKE STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 18, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW MY WIFE AND I WERE BOTH HAVING PROBLEMS OF STEPPING ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. I ASKED THE NISSON DEALER IN MY AREA TO FIX THE BRAKE PEDAL ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE THE PEDAL DEPRESSED SO FAR THAT IT WOULD BE AT OR BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL'S LEVEL. AT FIRST THEY DECLINED. AFTER I TOLD THEM THAT THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND THAT IT WAS A "SAFETY ISSUE", THE NISSON DEALER FIXED IT. WE HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. THIS PROBLEM HAS SHOWN UP IN SEVERAL OF THE 2003 PATHFINDER COMPLAINTS. I HOPE THIS REPORT WILL SAVE SOMEONE FROM AN ACCIDENT.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 11, 2004
2003 PATHFINDER WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES. BOUGHT NEW. FRONT BRAKE JUDDER LEADING TO STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 25, 2004, crash
WE BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN APR 2003. THE PATHFINDER'S BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN SOFT. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT DIDN'T ENGAGE UNTIL IT WENT ABOUT HALF WAY TO THE FLOOR. WE HEARD THE NOISE & HAD BRAKE PROBLEM IN THE EARLY DEC 2003. WE TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HEAR ANY NOISE & NO PROBLEM FOUND, BUT SAID THE NOISE MUST HAVE BEEN FROM THE TIRES, THEREFORE, WE NEEDED 2 NEW TIRES & AN ALIGNMENT. WHEN WE'RE PICKING UP THE VEHICLE(AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN $300 FOR 2 NEW TIRES & THE ALIGNMENT), ONE OF THE TECH'S CAME INTO THE OFFICE & TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT HE'D JUST HEARD THE NOISE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. THE ADVISOR TOLD US TO TAKE IT HOME & WATCH IT FOR A FEW DAYS. THAT SAME AFTERNOON, WE HEARD IT AGAIN, & TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER THE NEXT DAY. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK EVERYTHING AGAIN. WHEN WE PICK UP THE VEHICLE, ADVISOR STILL SAID NO PROBLEM & ASSURED US THAT IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE. TWO WEEKS LATER, WE TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, & TOLD THEM WE STILL HAD PROBLEM, ADVISOR TOLD US NEEDED TO SET APPOINTMENT. BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO LATE. A WEEK LATER, I GOT AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. ON JAN 25, 2004, I WAS GOING SLOWLY (THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING SLOWLY), & HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN MY CAR & THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME BRAKED, I ALSO ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO BRAKE, I HIT THE TRUCK & SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE PATHFINDER ( LUCKILY, THE AIRBAG DIDN'T EXPLODE), & THE TRUCK WAS OK. WE CONTACTED NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THEY TOLD US WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHILE IT'S AT THE BODY SHOP BUT DIDN'T DO IT UNTIL 2 MONTHS LATER AFTER WE TOOK IT HOME. AS OF TODAY, WE'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM YET. WE WANT THEM TO REPURCHASE THE PATHFINDER BECAUSE I HAVE NO FAITH IN IT & I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 10, 2003
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE PULSATED AND MADE A RUBBING NOISE. DEALER ROTATED AND REPLACED THE ROTORS, ABS ACTUATOR, AND THE WHOLE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 27, 2003
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *MR. WHEN THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND PULSATED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 20 MPH. THE ROTORS WERE TURNED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. PH *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, May 2, 2003
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT RED LIGHT AND IN PARKING LOT. LOW BRAKE PEDAL WHEN APPLIED, FOOT HITS GAS PEDAL WHILE BRAKING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT OTHER PATHFINDER OWNERS REPORTED. *NLM