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: visibility
7 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Dec 28, 2012
THE WIPERS STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Visibility, Jul 13, 2006
2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, NISSAN REFUSES TO REPAIR PROBLEM. *KB THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WITHIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER UNIT, HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NISSAN STATED THEY WERE NOT GOING TO KEEP REPLACING PARTS IF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. *JB
Visibility, Jun 27, 2006
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY CRACKED IN A SPIDER WEB PATTERN, NO HIT WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED AN OBJECT IMPACTED THE WINDSHIELD FROM OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT VISITED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR A SECOND OPINION WHO DETERMINED THE IMPACT CAME FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THINKS THE WINDSHIELD WAS DEFECTIVE.
Visibility, Jun 8, 2006
ON JAN. 18, PARKED VEHICLE, UPON STARTING UP,WIPERS DID NOT WORK. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN HEAVY RAIN OVER 2 MILES WITH NO WIPERS. 2-3 HOURS LATER, I CHECKED ON THE CONDITION OF THE WIPERS,THEY OPERATED PROPERLY. THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED 3 DAYS LATER. VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT SERVICE DEPT. ON 1/20 TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. SERVICE DEPT. UNABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM. CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE. ON 1/20/06, TICKET # 5207119. I FILLED OUT SURVEY AFTER PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER WAS TOLD BY HIS DSM, NOT TO CHANGE PARTS FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGING PARTS. ON 1/31/06 SERV.DEPT. CHANGED WIPER SWITCH UNDER GOOD WILL. WHEN ASKED IF SERVICE MGR. WOULD SEND REPLACED PART TO BE TESTED, HE STATED THAT IF HE REPORTED THE PART UNDER WARRANTY, HE WOULD BE CHARGED IF THE PART WAS NOT BROKEN. ON 5/18, WITH 2 WITNESSES, WIPERS DID NOT GO ON. A SHORT TIME LATER WIPERS BEGAN TO WORK. I BROUGHT VEHICLE ON 5/25 SERVICE MGR. WAS GOING TO ATTEMPT TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. UNABLE TO DO SO. ON 5/25 CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAINED SITUATION, PROCEEDED TO OPEN TICKET # 5343456.PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE FORWARDED TO A REGIONAL OFFICE UNLESS THE SITUATION COULD BE DUPLICATED. 5/31/06, SPOKE TO SERVICE MGR, GAVE HIM THE TICKET NUMBER TO CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SPOKE TO NISSAN CUST SERV ON 6/2/06 AT 4:50 PM. I REQUESTED TO HAVE NISSAN CHANGE PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ON TUES. 6/6/06 , I SPOKE TO REGIONAL OFFICE, INFORMED ME OF SAME NISSAN POLICY,NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS RECREATED AND DIAGNOSED. 6/7/06- CONTACTED ATTORNEY GENERAL, LEMON LAW DIVISION. INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT COVERED UNDER LEMON LAW. I WAS TOLD TO FILE COMPLAINT WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE 6/8/06 '' SPOKE TO TECHNICAL OFFICE OF NYDMV,DIRECTED ME TO NHTSA SITE. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY PARTS UNLESS THEY CAN RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE THE WIPERS HAVE STOPPED WORKING SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING.*JB
Visibility, Jun 29, 2004
NISSAN PATHFINDER LESS THAN 1 MONTH OLD, 1000 MILES AND THE HEATING/AC UNIT IS NOT WORKING. BLOWER IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. *AK
Visibility, Apr 3, 2004
SPONTANEOUS SHATTERING OF THE REAR HATCH GLASS IN MY 2004 NISSAN ARMADA. *NM
Visibility, Jan 27, 2004
2004 NISSAN ARMADA: SUBJECT:AUTOMATIC WINDOWS. BROUGHT TO THE MARKET YEARS AGO, THEY HAVE UNTIL NOW WORKED IN AUTOMATIC MODE FOR THE "ROLL DOWN" OF WINDOWS (MAINLY DRIVERS WINDOW). THE NEW ARMADA ALLOWS FOR "ROLL-UP" OF WINDOWS IN THE AUTOMATIC MODE ALSO. AS I WORK IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY I CAN RECALL THIS OPTION COMING TO MARKET AND DISCUSSING THE DANGERS TO SMALL CHILDREN WHO WOULD ACCIDENTALLY ROLL UP A WINDOW ON LIMBS AND NECK. IT SHOULD BE SELF EVIDENT. NISSAN NEEDS TO DISCONTINUE IF NOT RECALL. THERE CAN ONLY BE INJURIES, DEATH AND LAWSUITS GAINED FROM THIS VEHICLE OPTION. *JB