Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Nissan Pathfinder problems

Owners filed 239 complaints about the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder with NHTSA between Sep 2000 and Oct 2024. The most-cited component is suspension (68).

Complaints
239
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension68
  2. Equipment45
  3. Steering35
  4. Structure30
  5. Fuel system, gasoline23
  6. Engine and engine cooling17
  7. Vehicle speed control12
  8. Electrical system10
  9. Air bags10
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic10
  11. Tires9
  12. Seats8
  13. Fuel/propulsion system5
  14. Visibility4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200010
200114
200211
20037
200416
20058
200615
200721
200824
20098
201012
201129
20128
20138
201414
20159
20164
20172
20188
20196
20202
20211
20221
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

68 reports2 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2022Steering, SuspensionODI 11478841

Equipment

45 reports1 crash
“I PURCHASED A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN 2004. THE BOSE 6-DISC CHANGER IMMEDIATELY FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT BECAUSE IT FELL WITHIN THE 30-DAY WARRANTY PERIOD. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT AND THEN I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE ONE DAY WHEN I TRIED TO LOAD A CD AND IT HASN'T WORKED SINCE. LAST SPRING, I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCE AND MY MECHANIC NOTED THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHT FISH-TAILING IN THE BACK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY DETERIORATION OF THE REAR BUSHINGS, AND OVER TIME, THE FISH-TAILING WOULD GET SO BAD, IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN BRAKING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN CERTAIN PATHFINDER MODELS, AND NISSAN EVEN CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN FUTURE MODELS OF THE PATHFINDER ONCE THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE POSTS TO THIS WEBSITE AS WELL AS OTHERS REGARDING BOTH OF THESE ISSUES IN THE 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. HOW CAN NISSAN NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THIS FAULTY EQUIPMENT? THE REAR BUSHING PROBLEM IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, AND I PRAY FOR NISSAN'S SAKE NO ONE IS EVER KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE A GOOD ATTORNEY WILL HAVE A FIELD DAY IN COURT WITH…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2011Suspension, EquipmentODI 10411702

Steering

35 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2020Steering, Suspension, WheelsODI 11348789

Structure

30 reports1 crash1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2024StructureODI 11619421

Fuel system, gasoline

23 reports1 related recall
“FUEL LEAK DUE TO CORRODED FUEL FILLER NECK. NISSAN ISSUED A RECALL DUE TO THIS ISSUE DUE TO ROAD SALT CAUSING CORROSION. NTB07-078 LISTS THE RANGE OF 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDERS AS JN8(*)R0(***)1W 500001 ' 617275. MY VIN #[XXX] AND THUS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN THEY INDICATE IT IS NOT. NOT SURE HOW TO PROCEED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2018Fuel system, gasolineODI 11114138

Engine and engine cooling

17 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATH FINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON FOUR PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE WATER CONTROL MODULE AND THERMOSTAT NEEDED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 215,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10427214
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.