2002 Nissan Pathfinder

◆ Worse than typical
2002 Nissan Pathfinder
RENDERED 2026-08-02T12:50:25.051Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Nissan Pathfinder Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2002 highlighted. 1986: 1 complaints 1986 1987: 19 complaints 1988: 17 complaints 1989: 15 complaints 1990: 38 complaints 1991: 39 complaints 1991 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 49 complaints 1994: 91 complaints 1995: 170 complaints 1996: 159 complaints 1996 1997: 217 complaints 1998: 149 complaints 1999: 104 complaints 2000: 112 complaints 2001: 230 complaints 2001 2002: 156 complaints 2002 2003: 110 complaints 2004: 67 complaints 2005: 1050 complaints 2006: 837 complaints 2006 2007: 561 complaints 2008: 328 complaints 2009: 37 complaints 2010: 40 complaints 2011: 45 complaints 2011 2012: 23 complaints 2013: 889 complaints 2014: 573 complaints 2015: 318 complaints 2016: 103 complaints 2016 2017: 183 complaints 2018: 76 complaints 2019: 73 complaints 2020: 50 complaints 2022: 133 complaints 2022 2023: 97 complaints 2024: 68 complaints 2025: 42 complaints 2026: 7 complaints 2026
2002: 156 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19861
198719
198817
198915
199038
199139
199230
199349
199491
1995170
1996159
1997217
1998149
1999104
2000112
2001230
2002156
2003110
200467
20051050
2006837
2007561
2008328
200937
201040
201145
201223
2013889
2014573
2015318
2016103
2017183
201876
201973
202050
2022133
202397
202468
202542
20267

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SUSPENSION 22%

22% of complaints: suspension — 34 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

This relates to Campaign Number 11V244000 We are the original and only owners of the vehicle I originally brought the vehicle in for the recall and they simply sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells.

NHTSA ODI report, 20240316

STEERING 10%

10% of complaints: steering — 16 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%

9% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 14 distinct reports on file.

STRUCTURE 7%

7% of complaints: structure — 11 distinct reports on file.

Show complaint excerpts

This relates to Campaign Number 11V244000 We are the original and only owners of the vehicle I originally brought the vehicle in for the recall and they simply sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells.

NHTSA ODI report, 20240316

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6%

6% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 10 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

MY CAR WONT STOP AND WHEN I PUSH THE BRAKES IT WILL PUSH THE GAS PEDAL OR GOT STOCK AND I ALL READY HAVE A TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THAT FIRST I HIT A STORE WALL AND DAMAGE BIG TIME AND THE SECOND TIME DID A CEMENT POST SO I NEED TO KNOW IF IS...

NHTSA ODI report, 20180330

I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND HAD BEEN FOR A FEW MINUTES. SUDDENLY, MY CAR BEGAN TO REV UP FAST THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHICH DID NOTHING. I TRIED TURNING TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AHEAD OF ME.

NHTSA ODI report, 20030206

THE THROTTLE ON THE VEHICLE STUCK WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE "FLEW" INTO MY PLACE OF BUSINESS BARELY MISSING AN EMPLOYEE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20020603

SAFETY TIMELINE

2002 — complaint volume: 156
R 20060403 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20100819 — air bags

NISSAN IS RECALLING FORTY-SIX CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 PATHFINDER AND INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 24, 2001 THROUGH AUGUST 28, 2001. THE AIR BAG INFLATOR CONTAINS PROPELLANT WAFERS T

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE FORTY-SIX AFFECTED VEHICLES. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 19

Campaign 10V312000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20110128 — PE (closed 20110630)

Frame/Body Structure Corrosion

R 20110825 — steering, suspension

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA,

Remedy: NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. O

Campaign 11V244000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150615 — air bags

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Campaign 15V287000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20170331 — air bags

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 vehicles.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March, 31, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Campaign 17V068000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20200212 — air bags

Nissan North America, Inc.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020.

Campaign 20V008000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2002 Nissan Pathfinder — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for suspension issues (34 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for steering issues (16 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (14 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 10V312000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V244000 (steering, suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V287000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 17V068000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V008000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1992 ▲ 2009 ▲ 1990

WORST YEARS

■ 2005 ■ 2013 ■ 2006

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?

The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 22% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.