Menu

2003 Nissan PathfinderProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 110 owner complaints about the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-287 the manufacturer reports only 27% of affected cars repaired.

2003 Nissan Pathfinder
58
CarFlaw IndexSolid year28% below the Pathfinder median · #20 of 37 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 27%Owner complaints11017 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage52kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 3, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder has problems

110 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling250
Suspension211
Air bags145
Steering142
Fuel/propulsion system130
Structure120
Service brakes, hydraulic92
Engine60
Fuel system, gasoline50
9 other systems214

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

2003 Nissan Pathfinder recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

36%repaired · 2021 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 20V-008 · Jan 9, 2020 · 307,962 vehicles · 111,354 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

27%repaired · 2017 Q1

Air bags

Recall 15V-287 · May 15, 2015 · 1,090,569 vehicles · 297,865 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

52kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 20 engine and engine cooling complaints. 95% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles19under 100k miles1100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Pathfinder year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Pathfinder median. How we score

'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Nissan Pathfinder safety ratings

2003 Nissan Pathfinder 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · still open
    Led to recall 18V-039
  2. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
  3. Frame/Body Structure CorrosionPE11004 · closed Jun 30, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-244
  4. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 14V-428
In owners' words

What Pathfinder owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

THE PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST SYSTEM SEPARATED (RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH) AT THE MUFFLER ASSEMBLY. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD EXHAUST SYSTEM ON THE CAR. THE FIRST ONE WAS REPLACED WHILE UNDER WARRANTEE BECAUSE OF A CO2 CANISTER FAILURE. *TR
Complaint 10509294 · Apr 23, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT…
Complaint 10410829 · Jul 7, 2011 · 175,000 miles
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE. TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AND THEY SAID THE PASSENGER SIDE RESONATOR WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE OUTBOARD SEAM. THE DRIVER SIDE RESONATOR WAS LEAKING OUT OF BOTH THE OUTBOARD AND INBOARD SEAM. THE EXHAUST COULD BE VERY EASILY FELT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THERE…
Complaint 10311834 · Feb 18, 2010 · 75,000 miles

Own a 2003 Pathfinder?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.