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2002 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2002 Nissan Pathfinder has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Front strut tower and frame corrosion.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder.

Reported to NHTSA

Front strut tower and frame corrosion

STEERING, SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE

40 NHTSA complaints · 2002-11 → 2024-03

“THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT TOWER HAD TORN FROM THE FRAME AND BODY AND WAS NOW PUSHING AGAINST BOTH THE STEERING SHAFT AND MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS BENT UP AT AN ANGLE. MY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS NOW SUPPORTING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11256630
“NOT PLEASED WITH THE WAY NISSAN REPAIRED THE STRUT HOUSING RECALL ON MY PATHFINDER! THERE WAS A FOOT LONG GASH THAT WAS ABOUT 3IN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10693636
“NISSAN REPAIRED STRUT HOUSING UNDER RECALL. THEIR " BAND-AID " OF A REPAIR IS FAILING. CONTACTED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THEY DID WHAT WAS REQUIRED. HOUSING REPAIR IS COMING APART AND BRAKE LINE PULLING AWAY. WAS TOLD BUY A NEW VEHICLE. WHY SHOULD I WHEN MINE RUNS PERFECTLY FINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11173083

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Exhaust leaks at catalytic converters and resonators

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

28 NHTSA complaints · 2004-06 → 2010-03

“THE EXHAUST "RESONATORS" ON MY 2002 PATHFINDER BEGAN TO LEAK AT A WELDED SEAM AT ABOUT 28,000 MILES. THE NISSAN DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE EXHAUST PIPES AND INSISTED ON INSTALLING A PATCH KIT. THIS KIT ONLY LASTS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AND THEY BEGIN TO LEAK AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10262597
“BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS SPLIT AT SEAMS CAUSING NOISE AND EXHAUST LEAKS AT 80,000 MILES. NON-NISSAN SHOP REPLACED BECAUSE OF CHEAPER THAN HAVING NISSAN DEALER REPLACE. COMPLAINTS MADE TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND RESPONSE WAS "WHAT DO YOU WANT NISSAN TO DO ABOUT IT?"”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10205247
“2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER - SPLIT SEAMS IN RESONATORS / CATALYTIC CONVERTER THE EXHAUST ON THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN A BIT NOISY SINCE IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10223819

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear-end wobble at highway speeds

SUSPENSION

8 NHTSA complaints · 2009-12 → 2017-03

“VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTABLE AND STARTS TO WOBBLE (REAR SUSPENSION) AT 55 MPH AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS.. FEELS LIKE VEHICLE WILL LOSE CONTROL.. NEED TO BRING SPEED DOWN TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10565091
“DRIVING AT 65 MPH., THE PATHFINDER ROCKS (WOBBLES) SIDE TO SIDE AND THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER FOR THE DRIVER TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF VEHICLE, THE DRIVER MUST RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE'S SPEED TO SLOW DOWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10457426
“CAR DEVELOPS A VIOLENT WOBBLE AT 55-75 MPH WHEN YOU ENGAGE OR RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS A PROBLEM ON ALL NISSAN PATHFINDERS AFTER APPROXIMATELY 100K MILES. THE REAR TRAILING ARM LINK BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 100K MILES IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10294457

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Loose intake power valve fasteners inside engine

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

5 NHTSA complaints · 2008-11 → 2017-07

“PART FROM BUTTERFLY VALVE CAME LOOSE AND FELL INSIDE ENGINE. DESTROYED ENGINE. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10513985
“RECENTLY, OUR 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD TO HAVE AN ENGINE REPLACED. THE CAUSE WAS A SET OF VERY SMALL BOLTS IN THE BUTTERFLY VALVE ASSEMBLY WHICH IS NOW A PART OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10414634
“WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL NISSAN CUSTOMERS SINCE 1987 AND MY 2002 PATHFINER STARTED MAKING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10248558

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden acceleration and stuck throttle

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

11 NHTSA complaints · 2002-05 → 2019-06

“WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO AROUND 6000 RPM WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE. I CAME WITHIN A FOOT OF THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICE PARKED IN THE SPACE BEHIND THE ONE THAT I WAS PARKING IN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10025567
“ACCELERATOR STUCK AS I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HARD TO STOP. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE RACED TO HIGH RPM'S BEFORE I SHUT IT OFF. WILL TAKE TO THE MECHANIC. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10604650
“THE THROTTLE ON THE VEHICLE STUCK WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE "FLEW" INTO MY PLACE OF BUSINESS BARELY MISSING AN EMPLOYEE. THE VEHICLE HAS $9,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND I AM TERRIFIED THAT THE THROTTLE WILL AGAIN STICK AFTER THE BODY WORK IS COMPLETED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #762475

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel filler neck corrosion and fuel leak

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2013-12 → 2024-03

“THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL STARTED TO LEAK. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FILLER NECK WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10556606
“FUEL FILLER NECK CORROSION RESULTS IN LEAK IN FUEL, EVAPORATIVE, AND EMISSIONS SYSTEMS. FUEL WILL LEAK AFTER FILLING GAS TANK, CREATING SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11100032
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL WOULD SPEW BACK OUT OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V435000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10660465

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt retraction and locking failure

SEAT BELTS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2003-04 → 2014-10

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELTS FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN RELEASING THE BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10651356
“SEAT BELTS NEVER RETRACTED COMPLETELY. THEY REMAIN LOOSE AROUND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, OFTEN HANGING OUT THE DOOR WHEN ANYONE EXITS THE VEHICLE AND IS CAUGHT UNDER THE DOORS. ALSO, DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AROUND BABY CAR SEAT. SOMETIMES HANGS LOOSE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10209637
“THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IN MY NISSAN PATHFINDER LE DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY. I GOT IN AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME, RESULTING IN A HEAD INJURY WHEN I WAS THROWN UP INTO THE ROOF. *JB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10013801

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

91 crashes 1990–2024

How the 91 occupant deaths break down

68

driver deaths

23

passenger deaths

91

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2001 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

16

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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