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2004 Nissan PathfinderProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 67 owner complaints about the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-287 the manufacturer reports only 27% of affected cars repaired.

2004 Nissan Pathfinder
72
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years62% below the Pathfinder median · #25 of 37 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Lowest repair rate 27%Owner complaints675 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage3kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 10, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder has problems

67 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
Service brakes, hydraulic122
Air bags111
Power train90
Visibility60
Fuel/propulsion system60
Engine40
Vehicle speed control40
Structure40
Service brakes30
9 other systems190

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

3 recalls

2004 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.

Best & worst years

2004 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

2004 Nissan Pathfinder safety ratings

2004 Nissan Pathfinder 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2004 Nissan Pathfinder side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2004 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-772
In owners' words

What Pathfinder owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS FAR BACK FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I THEN REALIZED THAT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD NO TAILLIGHTS AND WAS STOPPED, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND MY BRAKES SHIMMIED KIND OF LIKE I WAS HYDROPLAINING ON WATER AND THEN I HIT THE…
Complaint 10141771 · Nov 4, 2005
2004 NISSAN ARMADA DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THERE WAS A SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING, THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT ADJUST AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE NOISY. THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED, THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED, TURNED, RE-MACHINED AND MACHINED…
Complaint 10130176 · Jul 18, 2005 · 4,792 miles
THE THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE CONSUMER'S 2004 NISSAN TITAN DUE TO SEVERE SHUDDER AND VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 9400 MILES. *NM *SC *JB
Complaint 10115559 · Mar 9, 2005

Own a 2004 Pathfinder?

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