Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Nissan Pathfinder year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model. Naming may differ, or it predates EPA records.
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: 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.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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
Issue: 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.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: 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
Issue: 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.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: 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
Issue: 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.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: 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
Issue: 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.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: 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
Issue: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BRACKETS USED TO ATTACH THE TWO GAS STRUTS TO THE REAR DOOR (HATCH) MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MADE. AT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE INCREASE IN GAS PRESSURE IN THE STRUT(S) COULD CAUSE ONE OR BOTH BRACKETS TO BEND, RESULTING IN THE STRUTS DETACHING FROM THE BRACKET(S) WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING THE REAR DOOR.
Risk: IF BOTH STRUTS DETACH FROM THE BRACKETS, THE DOOR WILL RAPIDLY FALL DOWN, POSSIBLY STRIKING SOMEONE AND CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 24, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 01V282000
Issue: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DURING THE COATING PROCESS OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY, AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF COATING MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED AT THE LOWER MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN OPENING IN THE COATING WHICH CAN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL OF THE TUBE.
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN SURFACE RUST BUT NOT PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. HOWEVER, IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, IF A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL, CORROSION MAY OCCUR TO A DEGREE WHICH RESULTS IN PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. IN THIS CASE FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR WHEN FILLING THE TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE WITH AN IMPROVED COATING PROCESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 07V435000
NHTSA frontal crash test
1 open NHTSA investigation into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2001 Nissan Pathfinder 4-DR. w/SAB
The parts named most often across 239 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
2 crashes · 1 injured
1 injured
1 crash · 3 injured
2 crashes · 1 death
3 crashes · 1 fire
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
1 complaint-reported fatality on this model.
The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the door open warning light was illuminated. In addition, the vehicle dome light remained on. The contact stated when opening the rear door hatch there was an abnormal noise present. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V282000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where she was informed that the remedy parts were no longer available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact was attempting to use her brakes to slow for traffic and was unable to stop. The contact had to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard to get the vehicle to stop. The contact stated that prior to the failure her ABS warning had been illuminated for a long period of time prior to the failure. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that due to a significant amount of rust, the front suspension and struts and brake pads, and rotors had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering and Suspension). The work had been previously completed by a dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
Rear mount of front passenger control arm cracked where mounts to frame. Very little metal left where bolts hold bracket to body.
FAMILY CAR;2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER, WE GOT IN THE TRUCK AND DROVE ABOUT 250 FEET TO THE STOP SIGN. I STOP. AS I STARTED MOVING AND SUDDENLY I HEAR A POP LOUD SOUND FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND MY STEERING GOT HARD AND DIFFICULT TO STEER AND A GRINDING SOUND AS YOU TURN THE STEERING. DROVE BACK TO THE HOUSE SLOW AND PARK. OPEN THE HOOD AND I SEE THE STRUT TOWER UNDER NEATH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, THEN I LOOK BETWEEN LEFT SIDE (DRIVERS) TIRE THE STRUT TOWER JUST RIPPED FROM THE FACTORY WELD. MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WHEN THIS OCCUR. WHAT IF THIS OCCUR WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 106523 MILES AND WAS SCHEDULED FOR A PA INSPECTION.
IN APRIL 2019, I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH TOWING A SMALL TRAILER IN THE RIGHT MOST LANE OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY. AS I APPROACHED A HILL, THE PATHFINDER SUDDENLY SMELLED LIKED SOMETHING WAS ON FIRE AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND COAST TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THE BURNING SMELL LASTED ABOUT 5 MINUTES, BUT I COULD NOT TELL WHERE THE SOURCE WAS AT THE TIME. I RAN SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, INCLUDING ECU CODES, BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING INDICATIVE OF A PROBLEM OF THIS NATURE. IN JANUARY 2020, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER REPLACING SEVERAL WORN OUT DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS (CLUTCH, ENGINE, RADIATOR, ENGINE GASKETS) AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD NOT START. I FOUND A BURNED OUT FUSE TO THE ECCS2, 10 AMP CIRCUIT. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON OR RUNNING AT THE TIME. AGAIN THE SMOKE LASTED SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE COMPUTER CASING OF THE VEHICLE'S ECU. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY IMMEDIATELY AND REMOVED THE ECU FROM THE VEHICLE. I DISCOVERED A BURNED CHIP INSIDE. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF RESEARCH, I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE AND LEARN THAT THIS HAPPENS TO MANY OTHER MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES OF SIMILAR YEAR MODEL. THE CAUSE IS ALWAYS THE SAME - THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE SEALS FAIL, THEN WATER GETS INSIDE THE ELECTRIC IACV MOTOR AND WHEN THE ECU TRIES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE IACV FAILURE, IT OVERLOADS THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND SHORTS OUT THIS PARTICULAR CHIP. SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SPENDING SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE NISSAN REPLACE PARTS AND REPAIR THEIR ECU AS THESE VEHICLES ARE NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WALSER NISSAN WAYZATA (612-426-6995, LOCATED AT 15906 WAYZATA BLVD, WAYZATA, MN 55391) VIA THE AFTER HOUR SERVICE. THE CONTACT LEFT A MESSAGE FOR THE TECHNICIAN TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A REPORT. THE CONTACT WENT ON A VACATION. OVERNIGHT, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEALER CALLED THE CONTACT AND INFORMED HIM TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE PREMISES BEFORE 8AM THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS OUT OF TOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT BY THE DEALER. FOUR YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 187,000. The contact is requesting a call back from a NHTSA Supervisor or Administrator.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS FRACTURED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT TOOK PICTURES OF THE FAILURE AND SENT THEM TO KLINE NISSAN (LOCATED AT 3090 HWY 31 N, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109, (877) 284-5230). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION) YEARS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STRUCTURE) AND REPAIRED IN 2015. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED, SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN AND THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE FORWARD AND RAN INTO A CURB. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE AND ALIGN THE VEHICLE AGAINST THE CURB, ALTHOUGH THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE. KLINE NISSAN (3090 HWY 61 N, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109, (877) 284-5230) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECURRING FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT WERE THE TRUCK WILL PASS VA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THERE WAS A RECALL PERFORMED BY SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY NISSAN FOR THE RUST ISSUE ON BOTH INNER WHEEL WELLS AND STRUT TOWER AREA.
THE SUB-FRAME/CRADLE 54400-0W00 ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ROTTED OUT TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NOT PASS A PA STATE INSPECTION. THIS WAS FOUND BY MY MECHANIC WHILE HE WAS REPLACING THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES. MY MECHANIC HAS ORDERED A NEW SUB FRAME + BOLTS TO REPLACE THE ROTTED OUT SUB-FRAME. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER SUB-FRAMES ARE ROTTED OUT ON PATHFINDERS FROM 1996 TO 2004 WHICH IS WHEN NISSAN USED THIS PARTICULAR PART. MY CONCERN IS IF THIS PART FAILS COMPLETELY WHAT WILL HAPPEN??? I HAVE RESTRICTED DRIVING MY PATHFINDER UNTIL THE NEW PART IS INSTALLED. I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE WHEN IT FAILS AND IT WILL SOMEONE WILL GET HURT OR EVEN KILLED? THE CONTROL ARMS MOUNTED TO THIS PART WHICH CONTROLS STEERING. THIS PART PLUS LABOR WILL COST ME ABOUT $1500.00.
THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE WHEEL WELL, DOOR JAMS, FLOOR BOARD, AND FRAME. I WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN THE NORTH THEN MOVED SOUTH AND THE PROBLEM HAS GROWN WORSE. THE COMPARTMENT THAT IS HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING OUT AS WELL. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A SAFETY PROBLEM IF THE SPARE TIRE SEPARATES FROM ITS SUPPORTS WHILE OPERATING ON A ROADWAY. RUST HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH NO SPECIFIC START DATE NOR END DATE.
DRIVER SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER MADE A LOUD "POP" SOUND WHEN DRIVING. BOTTOM PORTION OF STRUT TOP CRACKED THROUGH. STRUT TOWER BEARING NOW MOANING WHEN TURNING, OUT OF GIMBLE.
Showing 12 of 239 complaints.