LEAKING EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM RESONATORS/CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *TR
2002 Nissan Pathfinder complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →
1. DRIVING IN WET SNOWY WEATHER WITH WIPER BLADES ENGAGED IN CONTINUOUS SLOW OPERATION, 40 KMPH. 2. WIPER LINKAGE TO MOTOR DISENGAGED, WIPERS CEASED TO FUNCTION, VISIBILITY WAS IMMEDIATELY BLOCKED. 3. LINKAGE WAS REPLACED. *TR
I HAVE TAKEN MY 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER TO THE GREENVILLE, NC NISSAN DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR AN EXHAUST LEAK. AFTER BOTH VISITS, THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED THE LEAK AS "FRONT TUBES". THE NISSAN DEALER STATES THESE ARE NOT CONSIDERED CATALYSTS. THEY STATE THE "FRONT TUBES" ARE CRACKING DOWN THE SIDES AND CAUSING AN EXHAUST LEAK ON BOTH OF THEM DIRECTLY UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE ME $1400 TO FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THEM. I HAVE TAKEN THE PATHFINDER TO AN INDEPENDENT EXHAUST SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSED BOTH "FRONT TUBES" AS CATALYTIC CONVERTERS BEING FAULTY. THE NISSAN DEALER STILL REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH THE MATTER. THIS IS A MAJOR EXHAUST LEAK HAPPENING DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I RESEARCHED THE NISSAN SERVICE MANUAL FOR THE 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER AND LOCATED THE EXHAUST DIAGRAM. ACCORDING TO THE DIAGRAM, THE PART THAT IS FAULTY IS CONSIDERED A TWC(UNDERFLOOR) WHICH IS A THREE WAY CATALYST. NISSAN IS REFUSING TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. THEY OFFER A PATCH WHICH UTILIZES AN EPOXY AND ROUND CLAMPS TO FIT OVER A RECTANGULAR CATALYST. THIS IS NOT A PROPER FIX. THEY STILL WANT TO CHARGE FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH THEIR PARTS MANUAL STATES THIS IS A CATALYST. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAD 63K MILES ON THE FIRST VISIT AND NOW ONLY HAS 70K MILES ON THE MOST RECENT VISIT. THIS IS A VERY WIDESPREAD ISSUE AMONG THE 2002 AND 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDERS. *TR
RECURRING EXHAUST LEAK, EVEN AFTER HAVING THE MANUFACTURER INSTALL THEIR OWN REPAIR KIT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW CHILD SEAT AND INSTALLED IT WITH THE LAP AND SHOULDER HARNESS. AS A RESULT, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT TIGHTEN AND/OR LOOSEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE NOT MADE FOR A MAJORITY OF CHILD SEATS. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THE SHOULDER HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO ENGAGE BECAUSE THEY WERE BEING OVER-EXTENDED. THE CONTACT MOVED THE CENTER SEAT BELT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE; HOWEVER, SHE NO LONGER HAS A CENTER SEAT BELT AND THE MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000.
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. NISSAN HAS AND UNRELIABLE PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT IN MY SUV. IT SEEMS DANGEROUS TO ME. *TR
2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS LEAKING EXHAUST TUBE THAT FAIL EMISSIONS TEST. NISSAN HAS A TSB NTB04-092 BUT DOES NOT PAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE REPAIR IS A PATCH WITH QUESTIONABLE DURABILITY. SINCE THIS LEAK IS DIRECTLY BENEATH PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, AN IDLING VEHICLE WOULD POSE A THREAT TO OCCUPANTS. *TR
COMPLAINT WITH 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER DRIVER SEATS ONLY MOVING UP AND DOWN, NOT BACK AND FORTH. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THIS REPAIR IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MECHANICS LOOKED AT IT THEN SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE MOTOR WAS NOT COVERED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WARRANTY CLEARLY STATED THAT ALL POWER SEAT MOTORS WERE COVERED. *JB
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?". UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE REPLACED AT NON-NISSAN SHOP. TOLD REPEATEDLY BY SEVERAL SHOPS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON PATHFINDERS OF THAT YEAR, MANUFACTURER DEFECT. WHEN THESE CONVERTERS ARE LEAKING EXHAUST, THEY ARE LOCATED JUST UNDER THE FRONT DOORS AND A HEAVY EXHAUST SMELL COMES OUT RIGHT AT THE DOORS, SO HAVING THE WINDOWS DOWN IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. *JB
MY 6 DISC CD CHANGER DOES NOT WORK. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED ON THIS WEBSITE, AND SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT AND HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE CD PLAYERS.
THE CONSUMER STATED TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK DUE TO THE VEHICLE MAKING A LOUD NOISE UPON EVALUATION BY THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH SEPARATED AT THE SEAMS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS VIA INTERNET THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/12/07 *TR UPDATED 09/18/07. *JB
MVC INVOLVING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY LED TO A COLLISION WITH A 2 FEET CIRCUMFERENCE ELECTRICAL POLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR
MT 2002 PATHFINDER STARTED TO DEVELOP OVERHEATING PROBLEMS AT ABOUT 97,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WATER PUMP, AND FLUSHED OUT COOLING SYSTEM. AT 120,000 MILES, RADIATOR BECAME CLOGGED WITH A SUBSTANCE THE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE IS NOW ON THE FIFTH RADIATOR, AND EACH ONE HAS BEEN PLUGGED BY THE SAME SUBSTANCE - ALUMINUM OXIDE. AT THIS POINT THERE IS NO FAILURE, BUT TECH PERSON AT DEALERSHIP BELIEVES THAT FAILURE IS INEVITABLE, AND WE REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO DATE WAS TO REPLACE ALMOST THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM THAT CAN BE REPLACED. NISSAN GLOBAL, AND NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WILL DO NOTHING. *TR
BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS SEAMS BLEW OUT WHICH MADE THE OXYGEN SENSOR GO BAD. I CALLED NISSAN DEALER IN JAMESTOWN N.Y. TO SEE FOR RECALLS, HE SAID THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN. THEY HAD ME BRING VEHICLE IN AND THEY CEMENTED THE SEALS. THEY SAID THEY HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ON THEM, AND HAD A KIT TO FIX THEM, THEY CHARGED ME $150.00 TO FIX IT. WHICH LASTED ABOUT 5 MONTHS ,AND THEY BLEW OUT AGAIN. *AK
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ON THE 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER DEFECTIVE 6-DISC CD PLAYER. THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THERE ARE OVER 400 COMPLAINTS ON ONE WEBSITE STATING THIS FACT. HTTP://FORUM.ECOUSTICS.COM/CGI-BIN/BBS/SHOW.PL?4/137782 PLEASE HELP. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWNHILL WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND ON LEVEL GROUND PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE INCURRED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED. UPDATED 09/15/06. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTER SEALS FAILED WHICH ALLOWED THE EXHAUST TO LEAK. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH LEAKS FROM THE EXHAUST LEAKIN IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PART COULD NOT BE REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER HIS WARRANTY. THE DEALERS DID REPAIR THE VEHICLES CONVERTER WITH A CLAMP. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE DEALERS ARE NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 8/16/2006 - *NM
I HAD PURCHASED 4 TIRES ( PIRELLI SCORPION 245 65R17 107 HRS APPROXIMATELY 2 YRS AGO. THE TIRES ARE DRY ROTTING BY THE BEADS AND THE TREADS. DOT 3 WEEK OF 2004. *JB
(1) NO ONE SINGLE EVENT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE, THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER TIME. (2) EXHAUST SYSTEMS "FRONT TUBE" ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE CRACKED AND SPLIT AT THE SEAMS. THE MORNING WAS QUITE COOL, DONNA STROUD WAS DRIVING TO HER NEXT MAIL DELIVERY STOP, WITH THE HEATER RUNNING FULL BLAST, WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO A SEIZURE, CLENCHED FISTS, CURLED IN WRISTS, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, AND DIZZINESS. SHE HAD TO ASK A PASSERBY TO CALL 911 AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPERATE HER PHONE WITH CLENCHED HANDS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM ARRIVED QUICKLY AND WENT RIGHT TO WORK THE EMTS ASSESSMENT REVEALED AN UNUSUAL HEART RHYTHM PATTERN AND LOW BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS. SHE STARTED FELLING BETTER AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES ON OXYGEN BUT WAS RUSHED VIA HELICOPTER TO EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE THEY RAN NUMEROUS BLOOD TEST EKGS AND X-RAYS REVELED NOTHING UNUSUAL ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE SYMPTOMS SHE EXPERIENCED. (3) NISSAN DEALER INSTALLED A REPAIR KIT TO FIX THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. THERE IS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AT HTTP://WWW.NISSANHELP.COM/BULLETINS/PATHFINDER/2002/1.HTM
1) NISSAN PATHFINDER 2002 -AIR CONDITIONING FAN WOULD ONLY WORK ON SPEED 4 (HIGH) AND WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. RUNS CONTINUOUSLY 2) FAN WOULD ONLY SHUT OFF IF IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF - ELECTRICAL SHORT ISSUE 3) NISSAN HAD A "KIT" THAT WAS TO FIX THE PROBLEM & WAS INSTALLED AT MY EXPENSE. ONCE INSTALLED IT FIXED THE FAN ISSUE (NISSAN ISSUED A TSB 10-16-2003 - COMPONENT 353600 EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - AIR CONDITIONER) BUT CREATED ANOTHER PROBLEM. NOW FAN WON'T COME ON FOR HEAT OR DEFROSTER (WHILE ON AUTO) WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 60 DEGREES. NISSAN DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM ONLY THAT THEY ARE NOW SUGGESTING TO POSSIBLY REPLACE THE AC AUTO AMP UNIT OR THE INSIDE SENSOR OR POSSIBLY BOTH. ONLY A SUGGESTION BUT NOT A "FIX FOR SURE" AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE. I ALREADY PAID $428.42 BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS 4000 MILES OVER WARRANTY AND NOW THEY WANT TO EXPERIMENT AT MY EXPENSE FOR ANOTHER $500.00. I REFUSED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GUARANTEEING THAT THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ENGINEERS/TECHNICIANS REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE NEW ISSUE. *NM
CAR HAD VIRATION DURING TEST DRIVE BEFORE PURCHASE. DEALER SAID MINOR PROBLEM AND WOULD BE FIXED. 8 TRIPS AND MANY REPAIRS AND PARTS BY DEALER OVER 3 MONTH PERIOD, SAME VIBRATION PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CAR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE OVER 55 MPH DUE TO CONSTANT VIRATION THAT I FEAR MAY DEVELOPE INTO A LARGER PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL ON HWY. DEALER NOW CALIMS HE DROVE SAME MAKE, MODEL VEHICLE AND IT HAS SAME VIRATION THEREFORE HE CLAIMS VIBRATION IS NORMAL FOR THAT YEAR VEHICLE.
I WENT TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGE AT THE GARAGE,I TOLD THE MECHANIC I COULD HEAR A HISSING NOISE FROM UNDER NEAT,LIKE A NOISE FROM THE MUFFLER.WHEN HE CHECKED HE SAID THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS SPLIT OPEN,HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER,IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POLLUTION CONTROL.WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALER HE CHECKED IT OUT AND TOLD ME ,IT WAS CALLED A TUBE OR A PIPE NOT A CATALYITIC CONVERTER NOT COVERED UNDER WARR.,BUT NISSAN SOLD A PATCH TO REPAIR THIS,AT THE TIME I HAD AROUND 44,528 MI.ON MY PATHFINDER JUST OVER THE 36,000 MI WARR.SO I CALLED NISSAN TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM AND TOLD THEM I WAS A LOYAL CUSTOMER AFTER BYING 3 PATHFINDER AND MY WIFE 2 MAXIMA,I DON'T SEEM TO HAVE GOTTEN ANYWHERE BUT SORRY.I WAS TOLD THAT A REGIONAL REP.WAS GOING TO CALL,BUT WE NEVER CONNECTED.THE SERVICE MGR.AT NISSAN TOLD ME THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM,THAT I WAS NOT THE FIRST,I HOPE THIS WILL DO SOME GOOD MAYBE GET MY MONEY BACK.REPAIR WORK DONE ON 6/18/05.THANK YOU
2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION.*MR CONSUMER HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED TO SEE IF THAT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *BF
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO TAKE AN EXIT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. NO CRASH WAS INVOLVED.*AK
WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND ONTO A MAIN STREET, DRIVING AT 20 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC , SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE , CAUSING IT TO GO OVER A CURB, UP ONTO A LAWN, ACROSS THE STREET, HITTING A MAIL BOX AND WENT BACK ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HIT AN ON COMING VAN, WENT BACK UP ONTO A CURB AND STOPPED. THE DRIVER HAD NO STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED. *JB *NM
THE EXHAUST PIPES AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT RUN UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE LEAKING CAUSING EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE EXHAUST FUMES CAUSED BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO FALL ASLEEP WITHOUT ANY SYMPTOMS OF SLEEPINESS OR DROWZYNESS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS DID NOT NEED REPLACING AND ONLY A FOAM SPRAY SEAL WAS REQUIRED. THIS DID NOT GIVE ME THE ASSURANCE I NEED TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR.*AK
CONSUMER STATED A HOLE FORMED IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK
DEFECTIVE CONVERTER PIPES. REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY MAY 03. BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED 1 YEAR LATER. BEYOND THE 12.000 WARRANTY. COST APPROX. $2,000. CREATING EMISSIONS PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH. HOWEVER, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR MALFUNCTION. I WANT THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE NISSAN FOR A SERIOUS PRODUCT DEFICIENCY. AK
WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED HIS VEHICLE, WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT. *PH THE CONSUMER HAS SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. *NM
VEHICLE JERKS SHORTLY AFTER PLACING IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THREE TIMES THE VEHICLE HAS ROLLED BACK WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION AND ONE OF THESE EPISODE'S WAS WHILE I WAS WALKING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS INCIDENT AND I AM UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROBLEM.*AK
- DECEMBER 2003, BRAKES BECAME 'SOFT' WHEN APPLIED - EXPERIENCED PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY. - JANUARY 30, 2004 - BRAKES FAILED WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH - JANUARY 30, 2004, TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPEDENT SERVICE STATION - SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THAT THEY ... "EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE, THAT THE ABS WAS ENGAGING, AND THAT CAUSED THE PATHFINER TO LOOSE BRAKES ... THAT THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR... ALLOWING NO CONTROL OVER THE BRAKES." - FEBRUARY 2, 2004, PATHFINDER TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS - NISSAN DEALER KEPT VEHICLE UNTIL FEBRUARY 9, 2004. - NISSAN DEALER STATED THAT MY NISSAN PATHFINDER WAS DRIVEN BY VARIOUS SERVICE PERSONNEL, AND THATTHE BRAKES SEEMED NORMAL. - NISSAN DEALER STATED ... "NOT SURE IF BRAKES WILL FAIL AGAIN." - NISSAN CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THAT I PICK THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND DRIVE IT... "ALTHOUGH SHE (NISSAN CONSUMER REPREPRESENTATIVE ) WAS CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKE FAILURE I EXPERIENCED WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN."
I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AT AN ATM WAITING FOR MY TURN, I HAD BEEN STOPPED FOR SERVERAL MINUTES. SUDDENLY, MY CAR REVVED UP AND ACCELERATED FORWARD FAST, BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. I TRIED TURNING TO AVOID THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. STRUCK THE TRUCK, WENT OVER A CURB, DOWN AN EMABNKMENT WHERE I STRUCK A TREE, AND ENDED UP IN A DIFFERENT PARKING LOT WHERE THE NISSAN PATHFINDER FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. AT NO TIME DID MY FOOT LEAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY CONTACTED NISSAN IN SAN DIEGO AND WERE INSTRUCTED TO NOT HAVE ANYONE TOUCH THE CAR UNTIL THEY FLEW OUT AN ENGINEER AND POSSIBLY A LAWYER. TEN DAYS LATER, THE ENGINEER FINALLY ARRIVED. HE STATED SEVERAL TIMES THAT I WOULD BE "LUCKY" IF HE WAS ABLE TO COMPILE, ANALYZE, AND PRESENT THE FINDINGS TO THE NISSAN LEGAL TEAM WITHIN THE NEXT 5 DAYS. SHOCKINGLY, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS IN SAN DIEGO NOT 2.5 HOURS AFTER I LEFT THE SHOP HERE IN UTAH (WHERE THE ENGINEER STILL WAS AND HAD NOT VISITED THE CRASH SITE YET TO DOCUMENT IT) STATING THEY HAD DETERMINED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT. BASED ON THE TIME FRAME, I CAN NOT IMAGINE THAT THE ENGINEER HAD EVEN RETURNED TO SAN DIEGO, LET ALONE DEVELOPED THE 4-5 ROLLS OF FILM HE TOOK AND ANALYZED/COMPILED EVERYTHING AND PRESENTED IT TO THE LEGAL TEAM. AS MENTIONED, THE CRASH WAS A RESULT OF A MALFUNCTION WITH THE NISSAN. I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED FOR A PRIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO THIS OCCURING. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME A NISSAN PATHFINDER
AFTER 12 MONTHS OF DRIVING BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO RESPOND DIFFERENTLY AFTER DEPRESSING IT ON SOME OCCASIONS, NOT ON OTHERS. STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE NOTICEABLY WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AT LOW SPEED, BRAKES FAILED ENTIRELY, CAUSING REAR END COLLISION, THEN, THEY BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. NO CONSISTENCY OR PATTERN DETERMINED WHETHER BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO RESPOND OR WHEN THEY WOULD RESPOND UNUSUALLY. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS INITIALLY SHOWED NO OVERT PROBLEM WITH ABS WHEN THE BRAKES WERE RESPONDING NORMALLY.*AK
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. I HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP IT. I RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE IN "PARK" AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING AT ABOUT 4500 RPM. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AGAIN AND RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THIS TIME THE ENGINE IDLED NORMALLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALER IN TOMS RIVER, NJ ON JULY 2, 2003 AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS ON. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM AND STATED ON THE REPAIR FORM "TECH TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND ALSO CHECKED TO STORED FAILURE CODES. NO CODES DETECTED, UNABLE TO DUPLICATE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUE". WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND SAFE TO DRIVE. I ALSO CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT AND AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, NISSAN STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 PATHFINDER AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT THEY COULD DO IF THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I MADE BOTH NISSAN AND THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE WERE TWO (2) COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE ON YOUR WEB SITE FOR THE 2002 PATHFINDER AND I E
VIBRATION PROBLEMS DURING HARD ACCELERATION AND CONSTANT VIBRATION BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH.... FOUR VISITS TO TWO DEALERSHIPS... UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM ... VEHICLE ALSO WAS IN TWICE FOR OIL LEAK. *JB
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
WHILE DRIVING TWO TIRES BLEWOUT, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A TREE. *AK
I HAVE A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER MANUFACTURED IN APRIL OF THAT YEAR. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE LOWER ANCHORS FOR THE LATCH SYSTEM, BUT DOES HAVE A REAR TETHER ANCHOR IN THE FLOORBOARD OF THE TRUNK. I CAN NOT SECURELY INSTALL A REAR-FACING CONVERTIBLE CRS DUE TO EXTENED WEBBING ON THE SEAT BELTS. I HAVE TRIED 3 DIFFERENT CRS MODELS UNSUCESSFULLY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CAR DEALERSHIP, MAUFACTURER AND A CERTIFIED CAR SEAT SAFETY INSPECTION POINT. AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NOT A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM.
I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND HAD BEEN FOR A FEW MINUTES. SUDDENLY, MY CAR BEGAN TO REV UP FAST THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHICH DID NOTHING. I TRIED TURNING TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. I WAS UNABLE TO AVOID HITTING HIS CAR AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED. APPROXIMATELY $8000 OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY CAR.
MY PATHFINDER HAS MANY PROBLEMS.FIRST THE VECHLE VIRBRATES AT ALL SPEEDS,WIND NOISE FROM BOTH FRONT WINDOWS AND ROOF RACK,THERE IS ALSO A JERK WHEN YOU SHUT VECHLE OFF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME AND HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN IN 4 WHEEL AUTO THIS IS NOT 4 WHEEL FLOOR SHIFT,THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX 4 TIMES AND NOW STATES THERE IS A BULLETEN STATED THIS IS NORMAL TO GET A JERK PROBLEM RELATE TO ALL PATHFINDER AND INFINTY Q-4 FROM 1998-2002.THE VIBRATION IS STILL PRESENT TOO THE DEALER HAS BALANCED ALL FOR TIRES BUT VIBRATION IS STILL THERE ALTHOUGH IS IS NOT AS BAD,AS FOR WIND NOISE THEY SUGGESTED I BUY WIND DELFECTOR FOR BOTH WINDOWS AND ROOF
REAR RIGHT AXLE SEAL CONTAINED A CRACK AND HAD LEAKED FLUID ONTO BRAKES. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE BRAKING ABILITY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS OF THE AXLE SEAL CRACK. BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED.*JB....*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 70 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER THAT WAS TRAVELING BEHIND WAS SUDDENLY ON CONSUMERS BUMPER. CONSUMER PRESS ACCELERATED AND VEHICLE WENT FROM 75 TO 95, THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. CONSUMER STATES' IF VEHICLE SPEED EXCEEDS 95 MPH VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL OR ANY WHERE THAT STATES VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT 95 MPH. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER.
THE FRONT END IS ALL RUSTED. THIS MAY CAUSE THE WHOLE FRONT TO FALL WHILE DRIVING. DT
BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL ALLOWS BRAKE PEDAL TO MOVE PAST GAS PEDAL ALLOWING CONTACT WITH GAS PEDAL WHILE BRAKING CAUSING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. DT
VIBRATION PRESENT AT 20 MPH AND THEN AGAIN MOST NOTICABLE AT 38-40 MPH. DEALER REPLACED DRIVESHAFT ASSY-REAR. VIBRATION STILL PRESENT. DT
WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, DUE TO ITS POSITION AND THE TRAVEL OF THE BRAKE PEDAL I ALSO DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FOREWARD.*AK
ALL OF THE DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK FROM THE INSIDE INTERMITTENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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