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2001 Nissan Pathfinder Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 230 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, most often about the suspension (30% of complaints, typically around 134,000 miles). It is 8th of 26 Pathfinder model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2001 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Suspension
68 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 134,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that when the vehicle traveled over a road bump or uneven road surface, the rear of the vehicle would shake uncontrollably. The contact researched online and found that the failure could have involved the sway bars. The contact spoke with the manufacturer…
The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving approximately 15 MPH and trying to turn the steering wheel to the right he experienced heavy resistance. He was able to successfully turn the vehicle to the right but the steering wheel was very stiff. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop on four…
Equipment
39 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: electrical.
Cd changer system no longer functional in vehicle, reported to Nissan and they refused to assist. Err2 or err3 message when trying to play any cd, bose head unit seems to work fine, problem is limited to the clarion 6-disc changer component. Othes have reported this same issue, Nissan needs to take action or face…
Second time bose 6 cd changer has failed since purchase of my certified pre-owned 2001 Nissan Pathfinder in april 2004. Same err2 message - grinding of cd's - no play, no eject. Already spent $250 getting fixed about 18 months ago - now same problem recurring.
Steering
35 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 130,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, column.
Everything was fine until the speed of 60 MPH was reached. Between 60 and 65 steering wheel started shimming, above 67 MPH shimming eased up. There is 4 new tires on the vehicle with electronic balancing. Vehicle was purchased in december of 20013 and never driven at highway speeds until the date in question, 5/27/14.…
The contact's son owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving 30 MPH, the driver noticed a creaking sound on the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger side strut assembly failed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and the contact was…
Body and structure
30 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 117,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. While the vehicle was undergoing routine repairs, the contact was informed by the mechanic that the structural integrity of the vehicle was compromised due to excessive corrosion. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe and was unable to be repaired. The vehicle…
The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was found that the frame was perforated due to rust. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who confirmed the failure and stated that the vehicle should not be driven. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…
Fuel system
28 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 105,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The vehicle was parked when the contact stated that he noticed a strong odor of gasoline from the vehicle exterior. He then inspected the vehicle and discovered that the odor was coming from the filler tube. The dealer advised the contact of a potential recall on the vehicle…
The filler pipe on my Nissan Pathfinder is rusted and causing a gas smell. Have called Nissan on recall campaign 07v435000 and they claim the car is not covered, even though the problem is identical to the recall campaign.
Engine
17 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, cooling system, engine.
The oxygen senor failed. This caused the engine warning light to illuminate. The dealership repaired the oxygen senor. Please provide more information.
I purchased an 2001 Nissan Pathfinder in 2003 and the bose radio w/ 6 cd clarion player. "err 2" coded 3-months after I purchased it. I had an extended warranty, it was replaced with a refurbished system of the same. It is 8/08 and the system is broken again, and not covered. What are the chances that this vehicle…
Brakes
11 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 20,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, disc, foundation components.
While parallel parking vehicle continued to roll backward and hit a brick wall while the brakes was still being applied by the consumer. Dealer was notified , and was unable to determine the cause of the problem.
Premature wear and warpage of the front brake rotors. I have driven the vehicle 34,000 miles and had to have the rotors machined 2 times.
Speed control
11 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, linkages, cables.
Fuel/throttle control: I experienced a "sudden unintended acceleration" incident in july of 2002. I was in the process of head in parking and was moving very slowly while applying brakes the vehicle accelerated over curbing into a wall. The vehicle stopped, the engine stopped running, and air bags did not deploy. The…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. While entering a parking space approximately 5 MPH, the contact engaged the brakes and the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. The vehicle failed to slow down and crashed into an unoccupied vehicle. The ABS warning light illuminated then immediately, the vehicle came to a stop…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
Suspension: front
Risk: The strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly. This may lead to grinding noises, increased steering effort, and possibly the steering column to break, resulting in the loss of steering control, which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
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, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin. In areas of the country in which heavy concentrations of road salt are used, a mixture of snow/water and salt may enter an assembly location hole in the upper strut housing, causing water to collect at the mating surface of the strut housing panel and the inner hood ledge assembly. Over time, this snow/water and salt intrusion may result in corrosion of the strut tower housing in some subject vehicles.
Fuel system: filler pipe and cap
Risk: This may result in surface rust but not perforation of the tube. However, in those areas of the country which use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, if a mixture of snow/water and salt makes contact with the bare metal, corrosion may occur to a degree which results in perforation of the tube. In this case fuel leakage may occur when filling the tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel filler tube assembly with a new one with an improved coating process. The recall began on november 26, 2007. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, tennessee, vermont, virginia, west virginia , wisconsin and the district of columbia, during the coating process of the fuel filler tube assembly, an insufficient amount of coating may have been applied at the lower mounting bracket. This could result in an opening in the coating which can allow water to enter and make contact with the bare metal of the tube.
Body and structure: hinge and attachments
Risk: If both struts detach from the brackets, the door will rapidly fall down, possibly striking someone and causing serious injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the strut brackets. Owner notification began september 24, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Some of the brackets used to attach the two gas struts to the rear door (hatch) may have been improperly made. At high ambient temperatures, the increase in gas pressure in the strut(s) could cause one or both brackets to bend, resulting in the struts detaching from the bracket(s) when opening or closing the rear door.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Frame/body structure corrosion
Summary
In their defect information report (dir) of april 20, 2011, nissan north america, inc. (nissan) notified NHTSA that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 nissan pathfinder and 1997-2003 infinity qx4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.the vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states including connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.the dir states in part, ...the st
Questions about the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (68 complaints, typically around 134,000 miles); equipment (39 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); steering (35 complaints, typically around 130,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 20, 2011 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Nissan Pathfinder?
- It is 8th of 26 Pathfinder model years by number of complaints, with 230 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.