MYRModel Year Report

2004 Nissan Pathfinder

▲ Better than typical
2004 Nissan Pathfinder
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:30:43.433Z

This year had at least 30% fewer 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
67
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 2004

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Service brakes

30% of complaints

Complaints per year

1986: 1 complaint 1986 1987: 19 complaints 1988: 17 complaints 1989: 15 complaints 1990: 40 complaints 1991: 40 complaints 1991 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 49 complaints 1994: 101 complaints 1995: 170 complaints 1996: 159 complaints 1996 1997: 217 complaints 1998: 149 complaints 1999: 104 complaints 2000: 112 complaints 2001: 230 complaints 2002: 156 complaints 2003: 110 complaints 2004: 67 complaints 2004 67 2005: 1,050 complaints 2006: 837 complaints 2007: 561 complaints 2008: 328 complaints 2009: 37 complaints 2010: 40 complaints 2011: 45 complaints 2011 2012: 23 complaints 2013: 890 complaints 2014: 576 complaints 2015: 321 complaints 2016: 105 complaints 2016 2017: 186 complaints 2018: 78 complaints 2019: 76 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2022: 136 complaints 2022 2023: 107 complaints 2024: 89 complaints 2025: 57 complaints 2026: 15 complaints
1986: 1 complaint 1986 1987: 19 complaints 1988: 17 complaints 1989: 15 complaints 1989 1990: 40 complaints 1991: 40 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1992 1993: 49 complaints 1994: 101 complaints 1995: 170 complaints 1995 1996: 159 complaints 1997: 217 complaints 1998: 149 complaints 1998 1999: 104 complaints 2000: 112 complaints 2001: 230 complaints 2001 2002: 156 complaints 2003: 110 complaints 2004: 67 complaints 2004 67 2005: 1,050 complaints 2006: 837 complaints 2007: 561 complaints 2007 2008: 328 complaints 2009: 37 complaints 2010: 40 complaints 2010 2011: 45 complaints 2012: 23 complaints 2013: 890 complaints 2013 2014: 576 complaints 2015: 321 complaints 2016: 105 complaints 2016 2017: 186 complaints 2018: 78 complaints 2019: 76 complaints 2019 2020: 53 complaints 2022: 136 complaints 2023: 107 complaints 2023 2024: 89 complaints 2025: 57 complaints 2026: 15 complaints 2026
1986: 1 complaint 1986 1987: 19 complaints 1988: 17 complaints 1988 1989: 15 complaints 1990: 40 complaints 1990 1991: 40 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1992 1993: 49 complaints 1994: 101 complaints 1994 1995: 170 complaints 1996: 159 complaints 1996 1997: 217 complaints 1998: 149 complaints 1998 1999: 104 complaints 2000: 112 complaints 2000 2001: 230 complaints 2002: 156 complaints 2002 2003: 110 complaints 2004: 67 complaints 2004 67 2005: 1,050 complaints 2006: 837 complaints 2006 2007: 561 complaints 2008: 328 complaints 2008 2009: 37 complaints 2010: 40 complaints 2010 2011: 45 complaints 2012: 23 complaints 2012 2013: 890 complaints 2014: 576 complaints 2014 2015: 321 complaints 2016: 105 complaints 2016 2017: 186 complaints 2018: 78 complaints 2018 2019: 76 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2022: 136 complaints 2023: 107 complaints 2023 2024: 89 complaints 2025: 57 complaints 2025 2026: 15 complaints

2004: 67 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19861
198719
198817
198915
199040
199140
199230
199349
1994101
1995170
1996159
1997217
1998149
1999104
2000112
2001230
2002156
2003110
200467
20051,050
2006837
2007561
2008328
200937
201040
201145
201223
2013890
2014576
2015321
2016105
2017186
201878
201976
202053
2022136
2023107
202489
202557
202615

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

30% · 20 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY

Air bags

16% · 11 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The contact owned 2004 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle crashed into the rear driver’s side of the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2021-12-10

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-06-10

Vehicle light for air back going on in the seatbelt doesn't work well

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-01

Also filed under Seat belts

Power train

13% · 9 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission.

Show complaint excerpts

I am the owner of a 2004 Pathfinder with 75,000 miles. My wife was driving around March 15 when my engine began to produce a loud knock. She immediately pulled over and called a tow truck. She had the vehicle towed to Nissan dealer.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-04-10

Fuel/propulsion system

9% · 6 reports

Visibility

9% · 6 reports

Most commonly citing windshield wiper/washer and windshield.

Show complaint excerpts

2004 Nissan armada: subject:automatic windows. Brought to the market years ago, they have until now worked in automatic mode for the "Roll down" Of windows (Mainly drivers window).

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-01-27

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2007-08-17Equipment07E046000 Certain hopkins aftermarket trailer brake control connection harnesses sold for use on certain models of Nissan vehicles which are listed above. The internal part numbers within hopkins are…

    Remedy: Hopkins will notify owners and replace the original harness with a revised harness free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2007. Owners can contact hopkins at 800-835-0129.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2011-01-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 2011-06-30 Frame/Body Structure Corrosion
  6. R
    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.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  9. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2004 Nissan Pathfinder — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 20 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 11 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 9 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E046000 · Equipment
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 11V244000 · Steering, suspension
  • Recall 15V287000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V008000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder is rated "better than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 30% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder have?
7 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.