Wrench.Pro

2004 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2004 Nissan Pathfinder has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Brake rotor wear and pulsation under braking.” 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.

Save this car as:

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 2004 Nissan Pathfinder.

Reported to NHTSA

Brake rotor wear and pulsation under braking

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

9 NHTSA complaints · 2004-05 → 2005-11

“WITHIN EVERY 2500 MILES FRONT ROTORS PREMATURELY WORE OUT. BRAKE ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES WITHIN ONE YEAR. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10099576
“WHILE BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL PULSATED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED/REPAIRED THE WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10113217
“BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND TURNED SEVERAL TIMES. HOWEVER, THEY KEPT WEARING OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10083557

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel gauge reading inaccurately

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2014-01 → 2018-07

“ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10925758
“THE FUEL GAUGE READ I HAD A QUARTER TANK OF GAS, BUT I RAN OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10715496
“AFTER A GAS FILL, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FUEL INDICATOR SHOWED ZERO FUEL EVEN WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10562392

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Shifter stuck in park

POWER TRAIN

3 NHTSA complaints · 2008-01 → 2020-10

“MY SHIFTER KEEPS GETTING LOCKED 8N THE PARK POSITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11372333
“I'M TOLD THE WHOLE SHIFT MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($900)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10247237
“THE SHIFTER ON MY PATHFINDER WAS STUCK IN PARK, THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER SOLENOID WHICH NOW THE SHIFTER IS DOING FINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10216046

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission slipping and failure to shift

POWER TRAIN

4 NHTSA complaints · 2013-10 → 2017-03

“I HAVE ANTIFREEZE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING INTO EACH OTHER (TRANNY HAVE ANTIFREEZE AND RADIATOR HAVE TRANNY FLUID IN IT ) FLUID IS MILKY AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10548625
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10648357
“TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10619466

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Intermittent windshield wiper operation

VISIBILITY

3 NHTSA complaints · 2006-06 → 2012-12

“2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, NISSAN REFUSES TO REPAIR PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10162659
“ON JAN. 18, PARKED VEHICLE, UPON STARTING UP,WIPERS DID NOT WORK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10159325
“THE WIPERS STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10490294

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag recall notices and repair availability

AIR BAGS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2015-02 → 2024-06

“Dealers were neither able or willing to obtain parts Walzer Nissan, Coon Rapids MN and Miller Nissan, St Cloud Mn”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11593579
“I GOT TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11342705
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10850715

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine knock and internal component failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2009-06 → 2014-01

“I WAS DRIVING ON JUNE 6TH WHEN MY ENGINE BEGAN TO PRODUCE A LOUD KNOCK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10273084
“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AROUND MARCH 15 WHEN MY ENGINE BEGAN TO PRODUCE A LOUD KNOCK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10454671
“GOING ABOUT 30MPH, IN TRAFFIC, WITH FAMILY INSIDE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10562389

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering vibration and vehicle wobble

STEERING, SUSPENSION

2 NHTSA complaints · 2014-10 → 2014-11

“WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH STEERING VIBRATES AND THE VEHICLE REAR END WOBBLES WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, THAT WAS VERY NERVE WRECKING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10649996
“I WAS GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE, AND MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE PATHFINDER STARTED WOBBLING SO ROUGHLY THAT I PULLED OVER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10652875

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)

46 crashes 1990–2024

How the 46 occupant deaths break down

35

driver deaths

11

passenger deaths

46

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2004 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.

3

complaints mentioning a crash

0

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 2004 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.

Check another vehicle →