MYRModel Year Report

2003 Nissan Pathfinder

● Typical for this model
2003 Nissan Pathfinder
RENDERED 2026-08-02T12:50:00.737Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of 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, 2003 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 2003: 110 complaints 2003 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
2003: 110 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 16%

16% of complaints: suspension — 18 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

Unknown . The steering column broke

NHTSA ODI report, 20250805

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16%

16% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 18 distinct reports on file.

STEERING 12%

12% of complaints: steering — 13 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Unknown . The steering column broke

NHTSA ODI report, 20250805

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 12%

12% of complaints: fuel/propulsion system — 13 distinct reports on file.

AIR BAGS 11%

11% of complaints: air bags — 12 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT 35MPH HITTING THE REAR OF A STOPPED CAR DUE TO TRAFFIC ON THE SR125 FREEWAY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THE FRONT END CRUMPLED BUT THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20151008

LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE COMING OFF RAMP DUE TO BLACK ICE CAUSING REAR END TO SLIDE OUT TO THE LEFT AT A 90 CAUSING FRONT END COLLISION TO CONCRETE ON BRIDGE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20150204

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A BARRIER ON THE FREEWAY AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20140917

SAFETY TIMELINE

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

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

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

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 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

2003 Nissan Pathfinder — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for suspension issues (18 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (18 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for steering issues (13 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 11V244000 (steering, suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V287000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 20V008000 (air bags) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1992 ▲ 2009 ▲ 1990

WORST YEARS

■ 2005 ■ 2013 ■ 2006

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder?

The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 16% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder have?

7 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.