Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Owners filed 67 complaints about the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder with NHTSA between Jan 2004 and Sep 2024. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (12).
Complaints
67
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Air bags11
- Power train9
- Fuel/propulsion system6
- Visibility6
- Vehicle speed control4
- Engine4
- Structure4
- Tires3
- Service brakes3
- Seat belts3
- Suspension3
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Steering2
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
19
5
4
0
3
1
0
2
3
1
6
2
4
4
5
1
2
1
1
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
12 reports2 crashes
“I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS FAR BACK FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I THEN REALIZED THAT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD NO TAILLIGHTS AND WAS STOPPED , I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND MY BRAKES SHIMMIED KIND OF LIKE I WAS HYDROPLAINING ON WATER AND THEN I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLE RAN EVEN THOUGH I HIT THEM. THIS CAUSED OVER 7,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND WHIPLASH TO ME. ALSO A POLICE OFFICER SAW THE ACCIDENT AND HE EVEN SAID HE SAW HOW FAR AWAY I WAS AND DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I DID NOT STOP. I AM A PARALLEL AND I HAVE ALREADY FOUND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NISSAN NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND IF THEY ARE NOT I WILL TAKE THEM TO COURT. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING IN TO THIS. MY HUSBAND IS ALSO A US MARINE SERVING IN IRAQ AND WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE HE WANTED ME TO BE SAFE THEREFORE I HOPE NISSAN WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THESE CARS. *NM”
Air bags
11 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“i made appointments at 2 different Nissan dealers and contacted Nissan corporate about my airbag recall. Dealers were neither able or willing to obtain parts Walzer Nissan, Coon Rapids MN and Miller Nissan, St Cloud Mn. Ive received several notices about the recall but im told Nissan is not obligated to fix the problem, just notify me”
Power train
9 reports
“I BOUGHT THE TRUCK JANUARY 4TH THIS YEAR WHENI CHECKED TRANNMISSION FLUID WASN'T ON STICK. SO I ADDED 6 OUNCES FEB 15TH AND NEXT DAY OR 2 STARTED SLIPPING HAD IT FLUSHED 500 WORTH STILL SHOT. THIS WAS 2ND TIME TYRANNY. HAD BEEN SERVICED. NISSAN YOU KNOW IT'S FAULTY RADIATORS I MEAN 124.000 MILES WASN'T NOTHING FOR A NISSAN YEARS AGO I GUESS THAT'S CHANGED. VERY DISCOURAGED NEVER OWN ANOTHER 1.”
Fuel/propulsion system
6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE ADDING FUEL IN THE TANK, THE FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT BEFORE THE TANK WAS FULL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FUELED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Visibility
6 reports
“2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, NISSAN REFUSES TO REPAIR PROBLEM. *KB THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WITHIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER UNIT, HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NISSAN STATED THEY WERE NOT GOING TO KEEP REPLACING PARTS IF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. *JB”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports
“WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR, MY 2004 PATHFINDER STARTED ACCELERATING. THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED TO THE LEFT ON A 2-WAY STREET. AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS OR SO, THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN ON ITS OWN AND THE BRAKES AND STEERING STARTED RESPONDING AGAIN. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. A FEW DAYS OF DEALER CHECKING, DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING STILL HAVE NOT SHOWN THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. AN EMAIL TO NISSAN USA WAS SENT AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE THE DEALERS SERVICE CANNOT FIND WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT AND THE PROBLEM MAY JUST RE-OCCUR AT ANY TIME. *JB”
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.