2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. This model year has 171 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2002 Nissan Pathfinder Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Suspension Failures
Structural Problems
Considering a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 45 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 43 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 17 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 11 | 5 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 11 | 3 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 11 | 4 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 11 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 8 | 3 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 171 most recent complaints
My complaint relates to Campaign Number 07V435000 We are the original and only owner of this vehicle. While driving the vehicle I started to notice a fuel smell, after several attempts to locate the source, one day I added fuel, I noticed a small puddle in my driveway the followi…
This relates to Campaign Number 11V244000 We are the original and only owners of the vehicle I originally brought the vehicle in for the recall and they simply sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells. Less than a month later both strut towers separated from the body of the v…
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced at a local dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension); however, the mechanic diagnosed that there was no rust in the strut housing assembly. The contac…
The contact's son owned a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that she received notification of NHTSA recall campaigns and flyers and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact stated that the vehicle was sold. The local dealer and manufacturer …
I WROTE A LETTER AND FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT A PERFORATED RUST FRAME ON MY 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 118,000 MILES. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END BROUGHT TO WHERE I PURCHASED 18 YEARS AGO TO HAVE A RECALLED PERFORMED ON THE AIR BAG FOR SAFETY BUT MY RUSTED FRAME IS NOT REC…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE PARKED THE…
I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WE LOOKED AT THE FRAME UNDER THE CARS FRONT END IT IS CLUCKING THERE IS EXCESSIVE RUST, PERFORATED STEEL AND DISCONNECTED FROM OTHER PARTS VERY DANGEROUS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FROM SMITHTOWN NISSIAN IN 2002 I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I CALLED SMITHTOWN …
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PATHFINDER TO WORK ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK WHEN I STARTED TO FEEL A SLIGHT SHAKING IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND CHATTER IN MY BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY I COULD BARELY MAKE A RIGHT TURN AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS…
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I REALIZED MY CAR WAS ACCELERATING QUICKLY WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW IT DOWN TO 65. AT THE SAME TIME I MOVED THE RUG BACK IN CASE IT WAS CAUGHT, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND I ALSO TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL…
NISSAN REPAIRED STRUT HOUSING UNDER RECALL. THEIR " BAND-AID " OF A REPAIR IS FAILING. CONTACTED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THEY DID WHAT WAS REQUIRED. HOUSING REPAIR IS COMING APART AND BRAKE LINE PULLING AWAY. WAS TOLD BUY A NEW VEHICLE. WHY SHOULD I WHEN MINE RUNS PERFECTLY FIN…
THE AREA WHERE THE CONTROL ARMS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME/BODY RUSTED OUT MAKING THE THE CAR UNSAFE TI BE ON THR ROAD. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT OTHER AREAS OF THE UNIBODY WERE ALSO RUSTING AWAY AND ADVISED JUNKING THE CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST ON THE STRUTS OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE W…
FUEL FILLER NECK CORROSION RESULTS IN LEAK IN FUEL, EVAPORATIVE, AND EMISSIONS SYSTEMS. FUEL WILL LEAK AFTER FILLING GAS TANK, CREATING SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 1997-2001 PATHFINDERS, BUT SHOULD LIKELY BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE PATHFINDERS THROUGH 2…
MY CAR WONT STOP AND WHEN I PUSH THE BRAKES IT WILL PUSH THE GAS PEDAL OR GOT STOCK AND I ALL READY HAVE A TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THAT FIRST I HIT A STORE WALL AND DAMAGE BIG TIME AND THE SECOND TIME DID A CEMENT POST SO I NEED TO KNOW IF IS THIS CAR OR WHAT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR NEAR THE FUEL TANK, BUT DID NOT OBSERVE ANY FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,700.
RECALL #11V244000 APPLIES TO MY ISSUE. BOTH FRONT APRONS ROTTED. CONFIMED BY MY LOCAL STS. MY VIN # IS NOT COVERED SOMEHOW. NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF CAMPAIGN. TOLD BY NISSAN DEALER I'M NOT COVERED.
THE FRAME ON THESE PATHFINDERS ARE RUSTING AND SHOW ROT THAT IS NOT EXCEPT ABLE OR SAFE MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE FRAME IS ROTTED.I BELIEVE THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THE MORE I SEARCH ONLINE THE MORE I SEE OTHER OWNERS GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING.NISSAN N…
TAKATA RECALL- THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST ME IN REPAIRING THE AFFECTED VEHICLE. THE CLOSEST SERVICE AREA IS 98.3 MILES ONE WAY FROM MY HOUSE IN WHICH THEY TOLD ME TO PAY FOR THE COST OF TRAVEL AND TIME OFF OF WORK OUT OF MY OWN POCKET IN ORD…
STRUT TOWER RUST DAMAGE, MY PATHFINDER STARTED HAVING THAT NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DURING MOTION. AFTER A QUICK INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP WE REALIZED THERE WAS A BIG GAP UNDER THE STRUT TOWERS IN BOTH SIDES, AND THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL, BUT THE RECALL D…
NISSAN POWER CONTROL VALVE LOOSE FASTENERS: MY CONCERN RESONATES WITH CONSUMER SAFETY THAT INVOLVES GROSS ENGINE FAILURE DURING OPERATIONS DUE TO LOOSENING INTERNAL FASTENERS/COMPONENTS. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I NOTICED AN ABRUPT AND UNUSUAL MECHANICAL GRINDING SOUND C…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder.
Recalls for 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
9 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2002 Nissan Pathfinder — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2002 Nissan Pathfinder has 171 NHTSA owner complaints, 16 crash-related, and 9 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (45 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?▾
#1: Engine Problems (45 complaints). #2: Suspension Failures (43 complaints). #3: Structural Problems (18 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?▾
The 2002 Nissan Pathfinder has 16 crash-related complaints and 1 fire reports out of 171 total NHTSA complaints. 6 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?▾
Yes — 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?▾
The 2002 Nissan Pathfinder has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Pathfinder reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.