2000 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe corrosion-related front-end damage: the strut tower or housing area rusting, cracking or separating from the body, sometimes to the point where the vehicle can no longer be driven. Steering complaints typically follow from the same condition, with the strut pressing on or breaking the steering column, and complaints often mention that a prior suspension recall repair did not cover later rust found nearby. Secondary reports involve the fuel filler pipe rusting through and leaking, and a smaller number describe transmission failure.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front strut tower/housing rust and separation

   • 43 complaints (38%)
   • median 137,000 mi at 11.4 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2024

   Complaints describe rust, cracks or complete separation at the front strut tower or housing where it meets the inner fender and frame, frequently on the driver's side and often noticed after hitting a pothole or bump. Owners report the strut pulling loose, the ride becoming excessively bouncy, and in some cases the strut pushing up toward the hood or into the steering column. Several say a dealer or body shop declined to repair the rust, referring them elsewhere or stating it was outside the scope of recall work, and some note rust returned in areas already repaired under a campaign. Mostly reported between roughly 100,000 and 180,000 miles, often in vehicles registered in states that use road salt in winter.

   Recall 11V2440005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the front strut towers and inner fenders from above and through the wheel wells for rust, cracking or separation, especially on the driver's side, and ask whether recall 11V244000 was performed and whether the surrounding sheet metal was examined at that time.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The strut tower on my 2000 Nissan Pathfinder broke loose from the vehicle and pressed up on the steering column causing sever stress on that unit. I was able to notice it prior to breaking the steering column joints and found a qualified body shop to press the unit back together and weld support brackets to hold the strut tower in place.”

   NHTSA complaint #10386914, filed 2011-03, 125,000 miles

   “My 2000 Nissan Pathfinder started handling bad so I took it to a mechanic and the problem was that the front passenger side control arm bracket that holds the control arm to the frame had totally rusted away and the control arm was not connected to the frame. I took the car to the dealership and they fixed a rust problem associated with the front strut recall but did not acknowledge the control arm issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10610999, filed 2014-07, 132,649 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering column breakage and stiff or loose steering

   Mentioned in 14 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe steering that suddenly becomes stiff, loose or hard to control, sometimes with a banging or rubbing noise from the front end. Several complaints state the steering column broke or the shaft was damaged after the strut tower moved against it, leaving the vehicle unable to be steered. Others say a dealer told them the vehicle was not covered by the recall, or that the recall repair could not be completed, and some report the column failure occurred after a prior recall repair. Reported mostly from about 80,000 to 180,000 miles, often alongside rust found at the strut tower; some complaints were filed within months of recall repair work.

   Recall 11V2440002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the wheel through its full range with the engine running and listen for rubbing or banging near the column, check for play or stiffness, and confirm in writing with a dealer whether the steering/suspension recall applies to the specific vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The steering column broke while my daughter was driving,making it impossible to steer the vehicle. She lost control of the vehicle. Nhtsa lists my vehicle as being involved in a recall. But Nissan says there is no recall for the vehicle. Please let me know if the NHTSA information is correct, and what I should with Nissan's contention that there is no recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10669292, filed 2014-12, 150,000 miles

   “Car veered off road to right unexplainable causing me to hit a guard rail dead on the end. Airbags never deployed either. I thought I did something but got the recall notice right after my accident. Unfortunately, I had already settled with the insurance company on a payout and they took possession of the car so I have no way of verifying that this is what caused it but I honestly believe it was!”

   NHTSA complaint #10476910, filed 2012-09, 109,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Frame and underbody rust

   • 40 complaints (36%)
   • median 133,824 mi at 11.2 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Complaints describe rust rot in the frame rails, wheel-well aprons and side members, sometimes found at annual safety inspection or after a knock from underneath. Owners report cracks spreading along the inner fender near the strut mount, welds that fail because the metal is too thin to repair, and shops or dealers stating the damage is not repairable or not worth the cost. A few mention the side step tubes rusting through until they no longer support weight. Reported from about 50,000 miles upward, most commonly past 100,000 miles, and associated with vehicles used in winter road-salt areas.

   Recall 11V244000Recall 07V4350001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the vehicle put on a lift before buying and look along the frame rails, wheel wells and side steps for perforation or flaking rust; ask where the vehicle was registered, since road-salt exposure is the common thread in these reports.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I believe there is a design flaw in the steps on the side of the SUV. They are in the shape of tubes, and have rusted out. I had them removed, as the rusted steps could no longer support a person's weight. I have noticed that all 2000 pathfinders with the step tubes are either rusted out, or have been replaced with a different design that does not allow for water to get into the tubes and create rust.”

   NHTSA complaint #10430191, filed 2011-10, 80,000 miles

   “A rusting of the lower area on the side running boards. I received a recall notice that the salt in the northern states (I used to live in pittsburgh pa) caused a recall of insufficient coating in the gas tube area. I believe this same reason for this recall (salt used during the winter months) is the same reason for the rusting that has shown up in only two spots on my vehicle (same exact spot on both sides).”

   NHTSA complaint #10230054, filed 2008-06, 98,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Rusted fuel filler pipe and fuel smell or leak

   • 10 complaints (9%)
   • median 92,810 mi at 9.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2014

   Owners report a strong fuel odor, fuel dripping under the vehicle after filling, or gas overflowing at the filler neck, traced to a filler pipe or tube rusted through. Some say water entered the tank through the same corrosion. Several complaints note the vehicle was repaired under the fuel filler pipe recall but leaked again later, or that their vehicle was not included in the recall despite similar symptoms. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 150,000 miles; one owner noted a long back order on the replacement part.

   Recall 07V435000

   What to check: Fill the tank and check the filler neck and tube for wet spots, rust or a fuel smell, and confirm whether recall 07V435000 was completed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder. The muffler and undercarriage of the vehicle is rusted from the front end to the rear. The dealer confirmed that there was no undercarriage coating. The failure is related to NHTSA campaign id number 07v435000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap). The current and failure mileages were 25,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10229507, filed 2008-06, 25,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder. The vehicle was parked in the garage with a full tank of gas. The contact smelled a strong gas odor in the house and inspected the vehicle. He then noticed gas on the garage floor. He removed the vehicle from the garage and discovered that the gas filler tube had rusted through, allowing fuel to leak from the vehicle. The contact purchased the part and replaced the component. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10205451, filed 2007-10, 75,000 miles

Buying note. These reports center on rust in the front structure and fuel filler area rather than engine or electronics, so a lift inspection and a check of recall status are the most useful steps before purchase. Owners also describe steering and transmission trouble at higher mileages, so it is worth confirming that both have been serviced and that any prior recall work was actually performed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.