Does the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, the most recent reported on April 20, 2011 (Suspension: front, Steering: column). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder?

Owners have filed 230 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is suspension (68 complaints), followed by equipment (39).

How many 2001 Nissan Pathfinder complaints mention a crash or fire?

18 of 230 complaints report a crash and 2 a fire; 12 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

2001 Nissan Pathfinder recalls and problems

3 recalls and 230 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder.

recalls

230

owner complaints

complaints mentioning a crash

mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2001 Nissan Pathfinder recalls

Suspension: front · Steering: column

NHTSA campaign 11V244000 · reported April 20, 2011 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · 195,991 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: 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, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin. In areas of the country in which heavy concentrations of road salt are used, a mixture of snow/water and salt may enter an assembly location hole in the upper strut housing, causing water to collect at the mating surface of the strut housing panel and the inner hood ledge assembly. Over time, this snow/water and salt intrusion may result in corrosion of the strut tower housing in some subject vehicles.
The risk: 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.
The fix: 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.

Fuel system, gasoline: storage, tank assembly, filler pipe and cap

NHTSA campaign 07V435000 · reported September 18, 2007 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · 372,250 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: On certain vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, tennessee, vermont, virginia, west virginia , wisconsin and the district of columbia, during the coating process of the fuel filler tube assembly, an insufficient amount of coating may have been applied at the lower mounting bracket. This could result in an opening in the coating which can allow water to enter and make contact with the bare metal of the tube.
The risk: This may result in surface rust but not perforation of the tube. However, in those areas of the country which use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, if a mixture of snow/water and salt makes contact with the bare metal, corrosion may occur to a degree which results in perforation of the tube. In this case fuel leakage may occur when filling the tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel filler tube assembly with a new one with an improved coating process. The recall began on november 26, 2007. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Structure: body, hatchback/liftgate, hinge and attachments

NHTSA campaign 01V282000 · reported August 30, 2001 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · 31,000 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Some of the brackets used to attach the two gas struts to the rear door (hatch) may have been improperly made. At high ambient temperatures, the increase in gas pressure in the strut(s) could cause one or both brackets to bend, resulting in the struts detaching from the bracket(s) when opening or closing the rear door.
The risk: If both struts detach from the brackets, the door will rapidly fall down, possibly striking someone and causing serious injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the strut brackets. Owner notification began september 24, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

Suspension68
Equipment39
Steering35
Structure30
Fuel system, gasoline23
Engine and engine cooling16
Vehicle speed control11
Air bags9
Service brakes, hydraulic9
Seats8

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

Oct 11, 2024 · Structure
The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the door open warning light was illuminated. In addition, the vehicle dome light remained on. The contact stated when opening the rear door hatch there was an abnormal noise present. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V282000…

Aug 11, 2022 · Steering · 142,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact was attempting to use her brakes to slow for traffic and was unable to stop. The contact had to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard to get the vehicle to stop. The contact stated that prior to the…

Sep 10, 2021 · Structure
Rear mount of front passenger control arm cracked where mounts to frame. Very little metal left where bolts hold bracket to body.

Aug 12, 2020 · Steering · 106,523 miles
FAMILY CAR;2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER, WE GOT IN THE TRUCK AND DROVE ABOUT 250 FEET TO THE STOP SIGN. I STOP. AS I STARTED MOVING AND SUDDENLY I HEAR A POP LOUD SOUND FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND MY STEERING GOT HARD AND DIFFICULT TO STEER AND A GRINDING SOUND AS YOU TURN THE STEERING. DROVE BACK TO THE HOUSE SLOW AND…

Jan 13, 2020 · Electrical system · 198,000 miles
IN APRIL 2019, I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH TOWING A SMALL TRAILER IN THE RIGHT MOST LANE OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY. AS I APPROACHED A HILL, THE PATHFINDER SUDDENLY SMELLED LIKED SOMETHING WAS ON FIRE AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND COAST TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THE BURNING SMELL…

Pathfinder model years compared

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires
2000	2	112	9	2
2001	3	230	18	2
2002	5	156	15	1
2003	3	110	11	1
2004	3	67	3	0

Across all years, the 2005 Pathfinder has the most complaints (1,050). All Nissan Pathfinder years →

Questions

Does the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, the most recent reported on April 20, 2011 (Suspension: front, Steering: column). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder?: Owners have filed 230 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is suspension (68 complaints), followed by equipment (39).
How many 2001 Nissan Pathfinder complaints mention a crash or fire?: 18 of 230 complaints report a crash and 2 a fire; 12 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received October 11, 2024.