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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic12
  2. Air bags11
  3. Power train9
  4. Fuel/propulsion system6
  5. Visibility6
  6. Vehicle speed control4
  7. Engine4
  8. Structure4
  9. Tires3
  10. Service brakes3
  11. Seat belts3
  12. Suspension3
  13. Engine and engine cooling3
  14. 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
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
200419
20055
20064
20070
20083
20091
20100
20112
20123
20131
20146
20152
20164
20174
20185
20191
20202
20211
20221
20231
20242

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

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2005Service brakes, hydraulicCrash reportedODI 10141771

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2024Air bagsODI 11593579

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2017Power trainODI 10958735

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2018Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11122952

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2006VisibilityODI 10162659

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2006Vehicle speed controlODI 10147198
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.