2002 Nissan Pathfinder
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.
- Complaints
- 156
- Recalls
- 9
- Investigations
- 2
- Top problem
- Suspension
Campaigns on file for 2002
Opened by NHTSA
29% of complaints
Complaints per year
2002: 156 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 19 |
| 1988 | 17 |
| 1989 | 15 |
| 1990 | 40 |
| 1991 | 40 |
| 1992 | 30 |
| 1993 | 49 |
| 1994 | 101 |
| 1995 | 170 |
| 1996 | 159 |
| 1997 | 217 |
| 1998 | 149 |
| 1999 | 104 |
| 2000 | 112 |
| 2001 | 230 |
| 2002 | 156 |
| 2003 | 110 |
| 2004 | 67 |
| 2005 | 1,050 |
| 2006 | 837 |
| 2007 | 561 |
| 2008 | 328 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2010 | 40 |
| 2011 | 45 |
| 2012 | 23 |
| 2013 | 890 |
| 2014 | 576 |
| 2015 | 321 |
| 2016 | 105 |
| 2017 | 186 |
| 2018 | 78 |
| 2019 | 76 |
| 2020 | 53 |
| 2022 | 136 |
| 2023 | 107 |
| 2024 | 89 |
| 2025 | 57 |
| 2026 | 15 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Suspension
29% · 45 reportsMost commonly citing rear and front.
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, 2024-03-16
Also filed under Structure
Engine and engine cooling
24% · 38 reportsMost commonly citing exhaust system and catalytic convertor.
Structure
12% · 19 reportsMost commonly citing body and frame and members.
Steering
11% · 17 reportsMost commonly citing steering wheel/handle bar.
Vehicle speed control
7% · 11 reportsMost commonly citing accelerator pedal.
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, 2018-03-30
Also filed under Service brakes
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, 2003-02-06
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, 2002-06-03
Safety timeline
9 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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2002Complaint volume 156 complaints filed for this model year.
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2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 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…
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.
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R
2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 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…
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.
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2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…
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.
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2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…
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.
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2010-08-19Air bags10V312000 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…
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…
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2011-01-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 2011-06-30 Frame/Body Structure Corrosion
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2011-08-25Steering, suspension11V244000 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…
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.…
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2015-06-15Air bags15V287000 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.
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2017-03-31Air bags17V068000 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.
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2020-02-12Air bags20V008000 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.
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2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Buy-smart checklist
2002 Nissan Pathfinder — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Suspension: 45 reports on file for this year.
- Engine and engine cooling: 38 reports on file for this year.
- Structure: 19 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 10V312000 · Air bags
- Recall 11V244000 · Steering, suspension
- Recall 15V287000 · Air bags
- Recall 17V068000 · Air bags
- Recall 20V008000 · Air bags
Other years of this model
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 29% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder have?
- 9 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.