2004 Nissan Pathfinder
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 67 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 25 Pathfinder model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 3 involved a crash. 2 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
EquipmentJul 3, 2007
CERTAIN HOPKINS AFTERMARKET TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL CONNECTION HARNESSES SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE. THE INTERNAL PART NUMBERS WITHIN HOPKINS ARE: 1010476025, 1040376025, 1110476025, 1170376025, 1290376025, 1010476035, 1040376035, 1110476035, 1170376035, AND 1290376035. A WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INCORRECT POSITION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HOUSING. THIS RESULTS IN AN INCORRECT ROUTING OF WIRES BETWEEN THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE TOWING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEM.
THIS HARNESS WOULD RESULT IN POWER FROM THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER GOING TO THE TOWING VEHICLE DASH LIGHT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN THE TRAILER BRAKES. THIS RESULT WOULD BE THE LACK OF TRAILER BRAKING WHEN THE TOWING VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE TOWING VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS BEING ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER BRAKE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED ABILITY TO STOP AND CONTRIBUTE TO A POSSIBLE CRASH.
HOPKINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HARNESS WITH A REVISED HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT HOPKINS AT 800-835-0129.
Campaign 07E046000 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: engine
7 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 24, 2019
DRIVING AT 25 TO 50 MPH THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD RHYTHMICALLY. CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT OF IT.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 1, 2018
MY VEHICLE WAS MOSTLY IN THE STATE OF NY (SALT BELT STATE) FROM 2004 UNTIL 2015. (11 YEARS) IT'S NOW IN VA. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTED BEYOND A NORMAL AMOUNT. THE EXHAUST ESPECIALLY HOLES ARE IN PIPING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO THE TAILPIPE. THE CARE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE METAL FILLER TUBE TO THE GAS TANK! MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ADDRESS THESE SERIOUS ISSUES AND INFERIOR METAL PIPING PROBLEMS. I'M SCARED THE VEHICLE WILL BLOW UP.IT'S DANGEROUS.
Engine, Jan 31, 2014
GOING ABOUT 30MPH, IN TRAFFIC, WITH FAMILY INSIDE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. IT STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE ENGINE ALSO STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. DROVE IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING OBVIOUS AND QUOTED A COST OF $250 TO SIMPLY INVESTIGATE FURTHER. WE AGREED. THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT AND TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED COST $2500! THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY OR HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO A CORE ENGINE COMPONENT. THEY *THINK* SOME MISALIGNMENT OF THE TIMING CHAIN MIGHT HAVE CAUSED IT. WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE. THEY ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLANT FOR SOME REASON. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMING CHAIN ISSUES REPORTED THAT HAVE CAUSED CAM/ENGINE FAILURES ON SAME/SIMILAR NISSAN MODELS/ENGINES. THERE IS ALSO A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT BEING PREPARED TO HOLD NISSAN ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE DEFECTS AND REPAIRS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 20, 2013
I HAVE ANTIFREEZE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INTO EACH OTHER (TRANNY HAVE ANTIFREEZE AND RADIATOR HAVE TRANNY FLUID IN IT ) FLUID IS MILKY AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP. *TR
Steering, Engine, Aug 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF CORROSION ON THE STRUT HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING: COLUMN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE ISSUE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RELAYS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 8, 2009
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 PATHFINDER WITH 79,000MILES. I WAS DRIVING ON JUNE 6TH WHEN MY ENGINE BEGAN TO PRODUCE A LOUD KNOCK. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME SO I COULD INVESTIGATE THE NOISE. UPON REMOVAL OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD I FOUND 1 OF THE 6 POWER VALVES HAD MOVED FROM ITS PROPER LOCATION, AND WAS ON TOP OF ANOTHER VALVE. THE 2 SCREWS MEANT TO HOLD IT IN PLACE WERE MISSING, AND I FOUND THAT 8 OF THE 10 REMAINING SCREWS TO BE LOOSE. I WAS ABLE TO FIND 1 SCREW THAT WAS SITTING DOWN INSIDE THE HEAD, ABOUT TO ENTER THE CYLINDER. I THEN PRECEDED TO REMOVE EACH SCREW, LOCKED IT, AND REINSTALL IT. HOPING THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM, I REASSEMBLED THE ENGINE, AND STARTED IT. THE KNOCK WAS STILL THERE. SO THIS MEANS THAT THE SCREW I COULDN'T FIND MADE ITS WAY INTO THE CYLINDER AND CAUSED UNKNOWN DAMAGE. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH WILL FIND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ON ALTIMAS, SENTRAS, AND PATHFINDERS BECAUSE THE SCREWS WERE NOT PROPERLY LOCKED AT THE FACTORY, MAKING THIS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH BY ISSUING A MANDATORY SERVICE, THERE BY NOT WASTING MY TIME AND MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT TAKES LESS THAN AN HOUR TO REMEDY. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDRIVABLE FOR FEAR OF FURTHER DAMAGE, AS I AWAIT A RESPONSE FROM NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ON WHAT ACTION, IF ANY, THEY WILL DO TO INVESTIGATE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 28, 2008
2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE, LOSING POWER AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 45 MPH. MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE WAS 4 QUARTS LOW ON OIL. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED ON FEB 2, 2008. AND ON APRIL 3, 2008 THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE DEALERS FAULT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE BELIEVED THEY FAILED TO PUT IN NEW OIL ON THE LAST VISIT.*JB