Problems · by component

2002 Nissan Pathfinder engine and engine cooling problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder cite engine and engine cooling, 23% of all 171 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
40
23% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2011Engine and engine cooling, Seats, EquipmentODI 10419832
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10414634
“I OWN A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 97,000. MILES ON IT. THERE IS A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAT HAS BEEN GETTING LOUDER OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS AND RECENTLY I HAVE BEGUN TO SMELL EXHAUST INSIDE THE CAR. THIS APPARENTLY IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY NISSAN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10320123
“1: EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER, 71,000 MILES. LOUD EXHAUST SOUNDS. DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT CAR (CHARGED $50 TO LOOK) AND REPORTED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM PIPES GOING INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ARE CRACKED - AGAIN - ALREADY REPAIRED ONCE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR/REPLACE WITHOUT CHARGE. THIS IS A RECURRING DEFECT AND POSSIBLY AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM. THE PIPES CARRY EXHAUST FROM ENGINE INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MUFFLER AND THEY ARE LEAKING AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR THIS VEHICLE OR MANY OTHERS ONLINE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SPECIFICALLY TOLD ME, "WE SEE THIS ALOT" ?!?! DEFECTIVE! NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT, I NEED ASSISTANCE ENSURING THAT THE DEALERSHIP TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR A RECURRING ISSUE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10281012
“1. EXHAUST LEAK SOUNDS, EXHAUST INTO CAB OF VEHICLE, LOUD RATTLING SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING. 2. NOTICED AROUND 60,000 MILES, PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE! 3. TAKEN TO NISSAN, NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY FOR DEFECT. NISSAN CLAIMED CRACKED PIPES, NO RECALL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10279489
“EXHAUST SYSTEM PROBLEM ON 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. JUST PAID $645.00 TO HAVE TWO CO2 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACE ON VEHICLE AND THEN WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY RESONATORS REPLACE IN ORDER TO PASS THE EMISSION CONTROL TEST. I HAVE BEEN SMELLING EMISSION FROM THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS CO2 SENSORS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10277675

Showing 6 of 40 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2002 Pathfinder problem areas