2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FRAME AND SHOCKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN TENNESSEE AND MOVED TO INDIANA LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER. SAID VEHICLE HAS ALSO MADE SEVERAL TRIPS TO MICHIGAN. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NISSAN STATING THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT HOUSING WHICH IN TURN CAN AFFECT THE STEERING. THEY MADE THIS TO SOUND LIKE A MINOR PROBLEM AND TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT IF YOU HEAR NOISE OR HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING. A CONCERN WOULD BE IF YOU ARE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO STEER CORRECTLY, HOWEVER HAS A HOUSING THAT IS CRACKED, CORRODED AND CLOSE TO FAILING. WHY WOULD NISSAN NOT RECALL ALL THE VEHICLES TO HAVE THEM CHECKED INSTEAD OF MAKING IT SOUND LIKE THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT. NISSAN'S NOTE STATES THEY ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING A REMEDY FOR THIS CONDITION AND WHEN THE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE THEY WILL SEND A SECOND LETTER ASKING OWNER'S TO BRING IN VEHICLE'S FOR AN INSPECTION AND A REMEDY. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM NISSAN SINCE MY FIRST NOTICE AND THAT WAS MONTHS AGO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000(STEERING:COLUMN). A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT STARTED TO NOTICE PULLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

I HAVE BEEN HEARING NOISES IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE, FOR MONTHS.THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. I HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED RECENTLY,WHICH IS WHEN WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM.WE DISCOVERED A ROTTED FRAME RAIL WHERE THE TOP OF THE COIL SPRING MOUNTS TO A PLATE BUILT INTO THE FRAME. THE ROT IS ON BOTH SIDES, BUT MUCH WORSE ON THE PASSENGER REAR. THE SPRING IS ABOUT TO COME THROUGH.THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!! AND IT'''S OUR CAR,AND WE DON'''T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE IT. THIS MUST BE HAPPENING TO MANY OTHERS AS WELL. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN TO A KEPT UP, BEAUTIFUL 2002 PATHFINDER?? IT MUST HAVE STARTED ROTTING YEARS AGO,PROBABLY WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES, AND THE CAR IS NOW ONLY 9 YRS OLD. THERE IS APPARENTLY NO REPLACEMENT PART FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FRONT STRUT HOUSINGS FOR ROT BUT NOT THE REARS. TO KEEP THE CAR, THE OBVIOUS, IS A COSTLY REPAIR. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING-THEY INSPECTED THE CAR IN 2007 WHEN THE CORROSION WARRANTY WAS ACTIVE ON THE FRAME.THEY SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT AND I FEEL THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE.THEY ARE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST ME SINCE I WAS TOLD "I DIDN'T SPEND ENOUGH MONEY" AT THE DEALER OVER THE YEARS FOR SERVICE.IT IS 35 MILES FROM MY HOUSE.NISSAN SAYS IT'S AN "ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE" HOW?? THERE IS NO ROT ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR ,INCLUDING THE RECALLED FRONT STRUT TOWERS. THE CAR IS ROTTING AWAY FROM BENEATH ME.I THREATENED TO SUE THEM AND THEY SAID THEY ARE "NOT OBLIGATED" TO REPAIR IT.THEY DON'T CARE.THIS ROT OF THE REAR FRAME SHOULD NEVER OCCUR AS IT HAS,STARTING PROBABLY WHEN IT WAS ONLY 6 YRS OLD,AND BE IN THIS CONDITION IN ONLY 9 YRS.THE STEEL MUST BE DEFECTED.I WILL ''NEVER'' BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. STAY AWAY FROM NISSAN PATHFINDERS.THE CAR WOULD PROBABLY HAVE RUN WELL FOR ANOTHER 5 YRS AND GONE TO 250K MILES BUT THE FRAME WILL NOT LAST.WHAT A SHAME.THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TT

2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER HOUSINGS FOR NISSAN PATHFINDERS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING BECAME SO CORRODED IT BROKE AND MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IN APRIL 2011 THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

I HAVE HAD THE PULLEY REPAIRED ON MY 2002 PATHFINDER REPAIR TWICE, IN 2006 AND AGAIN IN 2008 I BELIEVE. AND IT IS STILL GIVING ME A PROBLEM. THE DRIVER SEAT MOTOR WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD, AND IN EXTREME HOT WEATHER, MY MOTOR DRAGS, AND IT IS HARD TO START THE ENGINE. THE CD PLAYER NEVER WORK RIGHT. *KB

RECENTLY, OUR 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD TO HAVE AN ENGINE REPLACED. THE CAUSE WAS A SET OF VERY SMALL BOLTS IN THE BUTTERFLY VALVE ASSEMBLY WHICH IS NOW A PART OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ENGINE SHOP TECH NOW PERFORMING THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT MENTIONED THAT HE IS SEEING A LOT OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THESE SPECIFIC ENGINES. ALSO, THIS IS THE SECOND 2002 PATHFINDER WE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO. THE OTHER ONE WAS MY DAUGHTER'S. I AM AN OPERATIONS RESEARCH SYSTEMS ENGINEER AND KNOW THAT THE PROBABILITY OF THIS OCCURRING TO TWO VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR WITHIN THE SAME FAMILY; BOTH PURCHASED FROM THE SAME LOCATION IS A PRIME INDICATOR OF A SYSTEMIC ENGINEERING PROBLEM. THE FACTORS ARE THAT THE BOLTS WORK LOOSE AND DROP INTO THE CYLINDERS. IF THEY DO NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE CYLINDER, THEY ARE BLOWN OUT THE EXHAUST. IF THEY DO GET CAUGHT BY THE PISTON, THEY SCRATCH THE WALLS OF THE CYLINDERS ALLOWING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OIL TO BE FORCED INTO THE CHAMBER WHERE IT IGNITES AND IS EXHAUSTED. THE SUBSEQUENT REPAIR IS COSTING $5200. IN BOTH OF THESE SITUATIONS, THE OIL RESERVOIR WAS EMPTIED WITHIN 2-3 DAYS. I KNOW THIS AS I CONSTANTLY CHECK VEHICLE FLUIDS (I WAS AN ARMY OFFICER AND HAD A MOTOR POOL). I CAUGHT A LOW OIL QUANTITY IN BOTH VEHICLES; REFILLED THE RESERVOIR; AND CHECKED IN A FEW DAYS TO FIND THEM NEAR EMPTY AGAIN. I ALSO KNOW THAT HAD THE OIL RUN OUT WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AN ENGINE SEIZING COULD POTENTIALLY OCCUR, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, ON BOTH VEHICLES, I TOOK THE VEHICLES TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR. THEY SEEMED TO BE UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTIC ACTION AT A COST OF $2000 THAT ONLY WOULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND NOT REPAIR IT. A NON-NISSAN TECH RECOMMENDED THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT GIVEN HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE VEHICLES AND THE RECURRING PROBLEM. I REPORTED THIS SITUATION TO NISSAN MOTOR C *TT

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER, 4WD, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS 167000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER PREVIOUSLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 7 MAY 2011. I WAS DOING 35 MPH AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SLOWING AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I TAPPED AND RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STILL THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND, ALTHOUGH LACKING POWER, STOPPED THE VEHICLE. I STARTED THE ENGINE AFTER MY STOP. THE ENGINE REVVED TO 6000 RPM PLUS. I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. IT AGAIN REVVED TO 6000 RPM PLUS. I WORKED THE THROTTLE CABLE BY HAND, PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES. IT STARTED NORMALLY AND RPM WAS NORMAL - APPROX. 800 RPM. I DROVE HOME WITHOUT MISHAP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY DEALER ON 9 MAY 2011. WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH MECHANIC DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE AND THROTTLE CABLE WERE REPLACED. DEALER STATES THAT HE IS 90% CERTAIN THAT THIS WILL HAVE RESOLVED/FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

RECALL ISSUED FOR NISSAN PATHFINDER -1996-2004- STEERING COLUMN- CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON SOME LISTS, WELL IT DOES FALL WITHIN THE MODEL YEARS AND I WANT IT CHECKED. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WAS NOT HELPFUL, ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER, HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. RECALL ISSUED FOR NISSAN PATHFINDER-1996-2004- FRONT SUSPENSION-CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON SOME LISTS, WELL IT DOES FALL WITHIN THE MODEL YEARS AND I WANT IT CHECKED. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WAS NOT HELPFUL, ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER, HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. THE INTERIOR PANEL LIGHTS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO, NOT SAFE IF DRIVING AT NIGHT, THIS OCCURS VERY OFTEN AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS REPORTED ISSUE BY NISSAN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HIT A BUMP AND MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THE STRUT TOWER CAME LOOSE FROM THE WELDS IN THE WHEEL HOUSING AND PUSHED UP THE STRUT HOUSING INTO THE BRAKE CYLINDER AND BURST THE BRAKE FLUID LINE CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. CONTACTED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IN WISCONSIN THE WINTER WEATHER IS BAD AND THE RUST AND CORROSION IS NOT UNUSUAL. THE DEALERSHIPS BODY DEPARTMENT SAID IT WOULD COST $2,800 TO REPAIR SO SINCE THE CAR WAS 9 YEARS OLD AND HAD 152,000 MILES ON IT I PURCHASED A NEW CAR. *TR