How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder have?

The 2002 Nissan Pathfinder has 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 2002 Nissan Pathfinder has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?

Of 206 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is suspension.

2002 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Nissan Pathfinder has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,594,614 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 206 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

AIR BAGS 20V008000 2020-01-09 307,962 affected

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with…

Consequence

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

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.

AIR BAGS 17V068000 2017-02-02 46 affected

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with Takata air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating…

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March, 31, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

AIR BAGS 15V287000 2015-05-15 1,090,569 affected

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to…

Consequence

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 occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and…

SUSPENSION 11V244000 2011-04-20 195,991 affected

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO,…

Consequence

THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

AIR BAGS 10V312000 2010-07-06 46 affected

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING FORTY-SIX CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 PATHFINDER AND INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 24, 2001 THROUGH AUGUST 28, 2001. THE AIR BAG INFLATOR CONTAINS PROPELLANT WAFERS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO PROPERLY DEPLOY THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG. DUE TO IMPROPER PROPELLANT WAFER INSTALLATION DURING…

Consequence

THE INFLATOR HOUSING MAY RUPTURE AND PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE FORTY-SIX AFFECTED VEHICLES. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 AND INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Complaints by component

SUSPENSION

STEERING

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

AIR BAGS

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE

Total complaints206

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“This relates to campaign number 11v244000 we are the original and only owners of the vehicle I originally brought the vehicle in for the recall and they simply sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells. Less than a month later both strut towers separated from the body of the vehicle while my…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2023-10-10

“This relates to campaign number 11v244000 we are the original and only owners of the vehicle I originally brought the vehicle in for the recall and they simply sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells. Less than a month later both strut towers separated from the body of the vehicle while my…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2023-10-10

“This relates to campaign number 11v244000 we are the original and only owners of the vehicle I originally brought the vehicle in for the recall and they simply sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells. Less than a month later both strut towers separated from the body of the vehicle while my…”

STEERING · reported 2023-10-10

“My complaint relates to campaign number 07v435000 we are the original and only owner of this vehicle. While driving the vehicle I started to notice a fuel smell, after several attempts to locate the source, one day I added fuel, I noticed a small puddle in my driveway the following morning. I…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2023-08-20

“The contact's son owned a 2002 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that she received notification of nhtsa recall campaigns and flyers and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact stated that the vehicle was sold. The local dealer and manufacturer were not…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2022-08-09

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the front passenger's side tire vibrated abnormally. The contact stated that it was difficult to control the vehicle. There was no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated he parked the vehicle on the…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2019-12-19

“I wrote a letter and filed a complaint about a perforated rust frame on my 2002 nissan pathfinder with 118,000 miles. I had problems with the front end brought to where I purchased 18 years ago to have a recalled performed on the air bag for safety but my rusted frame is not recalled. The…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2019-12-17

“I brought it to my mechanic we looked at the frame under the cars front end it is clucking there is excessive rust, perforated steel and disconnected from other parts very dangerous. I bought this car new from smithtown nissian in 2002 I am the original owner. I called smithtown nissan they said…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2019-12-15

Defect investigations

Investigation EA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant…

Investigation EA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open