2001 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

What owners report

Complaints about the 2001 Pathfinder cluster around front and rear suspension problems, with the front strut towers corroding or cracking and rear control-arm bushings wearing so the vehicle sways at highway speed. Owners also report rust in the firewall and subframe, a fuel filler tube that rusts and produces a gas smell, and the stock Bose/Clarion 6-disc CD changer failing with an ERR2 message. Many of these appear at high mileage, typically above 100,000.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front strut tower corrosion and cracking

   Mentioned in 14 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe rust eating through the front strut tower until it cracks or tears away from the body, sometimes with a loud pop and then heavy or lost steering assist. Several bought the vehicle after it had been inspected under the regional strut-housing recall and later found the area corroded again, and complaints say repairs were often declined or limited to an anti-corrosion spray. Some report the strut housing or bearing had separated when inspected by an independent shop. Mostly reported from roughly 110,000 to 210,000 miles on vehicles in states that use road salt.

   Recall 11V2440004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect both front strut towers and inner wheel wells for rust, cracks or old repairs, especially on a vehicle that spent time in a northern state. Ask for documentation that the strut-housing recall work was actually performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Regarding pe11004 - my left front strut tower has completely failed. There is a heavy amount of corrosion around the area, and the thin metal, once corroded, ripped like paper around the base of the tower. Handling of the vehicle became very poor, and steering became more difficult. I believe it also put stress on the brake lines, as I could feel pulsing in the brake pedal while going over bumps with the bad tower.”

   NHTSA complaint #10393688, filed 2011-03, 268,000 miles

   “The sub-frame/cradle 54400-0w00 on the passenger side is rotted out to the point that it will not pass a pa state inspection. This was found by my mechanic while he was replacing the front rotors and brakes. My mechanic has ordered a new sub frame + bolts to replace the rotted out sub-frame. I wonder how many other sub-frames are rotted out on pathfinders from 1996 to 2004 which is when Nissan used this particular part. My concern is if this part fails completely what will happen??? …”

   NHTSA complaint #11191510, filed 2019-03, 164,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Rear-end sway or wobble at highway speed

   • 32 complaints (14%)
   • median 129,500 mi at 10.5 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2018

   Owners describe the rear of the truck swaying or fishtailing side to side at highway speed, sometimes triggered by a bump, a rut or wind, and often worse with cruise control engaged or with a trailer behind. Many say letting off the accelerator is the only way to settle it. Complaints mention worn rear control-arm or sway-bar bushings, broken sway bars and control arms as the suspected cause, and several say shops had trouble diagnosing it. Usually reported from about 60,000 to 200,000 miles, most often at 50 mph and above.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive it at highway speed over uneven pavement and note any side-to-side movement. Have the rear control-arm and sway-bar bushings, links and bar inspected before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was on the frwy. And my Nissan Pathfinder started to wobble like, it was going to flip over. I was driving about 60-65 and was headed in a straight direction. I took my foot off of the accelerator and the wobble seemed to go away. I was on the frwy. So I sped up to the legal limit, and now I'm going around a curve and, the wobble was intense , it scared me to death. Since, I have had the struts, shocks replaced twice. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10572655, filed 2014-03, 72,000 miles

   “While driving the vehicle on 5/15.2008 I noticed a strange noise emanating from the outside rear area of the vehicle. The next day while having the vehicles tires replaced a shop employee pointed out to me that the sway bar was broken in half. This is not a normal wear and tear occurrence and was not due to any mistake or misuse of the vehicle by me. I have not driven the vehicle since and the broken part has not been replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10229238, filed 2008-05, 201,000 miles
3. 3
   Equipment

   Bose/Clarion 6-disc CD changer ERR2

   • 38 complaints (17%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2011

   Owners report the factory 6-disc changer displaying ERR2 or ERR3, grinding and refusing to play or eject discs, sometimes with discs stuck inside. Some had the unit replaced or repaired only to have it fail again within a few years, and complaints say the dealer quoted high prices for repair or replacement. Reported anywhere from roughly 60,000 to 110,000 miles, often several years after purchase.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test every audio source and try loading and ejecting a disc. Confirm whether the changer has been replaced or rebuilt and whether any discs are still trapped inside.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased an 2001 Nissan Pathfinder in 2003 and the bose radio w/ 6 cd clarion player. Err 2 coded 3-months after I purchased it. I had an extended warranty, it was replaced with a refurbished system of the same. It is 8/08 and the system is broken again, and not covered. What are the chances that this vehicle could go through 2 radios in only 63,000 miles?? Ridiculous!!! Nissan will not stand by the cheap parts used by clarion in the radio (as researched on the net). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10237258, filed 2008-08, 62,600 miles

   “My 2001 Nissan Pathfinder 6 disc cd changer went out on me the other day with the dreaded err2 message. This is clearly a defect that the manufacturer is not taking care of. Something must me done.”

   NHTSA complaint #10212688, filed 2007-12, 111,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Frame and firewall rust

   • 18 complaints (8%)
   • median 123,500 mi at 12.9 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2019

   Owners describe rust perforating the frame, firewall and lower body, with mechanics telling them the structure was compromised and the vehicle should not be driven. One report notes the firewall corroded to the point that the windshield pulsated, and another describes the subframe rotted through at the point of a state inspection. Dealers and manufacturers in these complaints generally declined repairs or offered only surface treatment. Mostly reported between about 89,000 and 165,000 miles, on vehicles used in salt-belt states.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Put the vehicle on a lift and check the frame rails, subframe, firewall and floor pan for perforation or heavy scale. Ask where the vehicle spent its life and whether it was undercoated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The body and frame and suspension rusted from what I read online pathfinders are known to rust away from the frame and etc. My car has been well taken care of with original paint and its rusting everywhere.”

   NHTSA complaint #10786661, filed 2015-10, 89,000 miles

   “My car body structure was broken into two pieces, and it is not operable. The passenger front side strut tower on my 2001 Pathfinder was completely rusted through. The strut tower was disconnected from the body due to the rust. When the tower finally let go, the steering was affected causing issues steering the vehicle. The problem was not only on the passenger side. There is a significant amount of rust on the driver side under carriage of the vehicle as well as the rest of the frame body structure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10560913, filed 2014-01, 122,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Filler tube rust and gasoline smell

   • 17 complaints (7%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2018

   Owners report a strong gasoline smell around a parked vehicle traced to a rusted or cracked fuel filler tube or hose. Several complaints say the dealer pointed to the regional filler-pipe recall but told them their vehicle was not included, or that the campaign had expired, so the repair was on the owner. Some had the filler tube assembly replaced and the odor went away. Typically reported between about 95,000 and 150,000 miles, again concentrated in cold, salt-using states.

   Recall 07V4350001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Smell around the fuel filler area with the vehicle parked and look for rust or dampness at the filler neck and hose. Ask whether the filler-tube recall was completed for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The filler pipe on my Nissan Pathfinder is rusted and causing a gas smell. Have called Nissan on recall campaign 07v435000 and they claim the car is not covered, even though the problem is identical to the recall campaign.”

   NHTSA complaint #10291107, filed 2009-11, 99,575 miles

   “The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The vehicle was parked when the contact stated that he noticed a strong odor of gasoline from the vehicle exterior. He then inspected the vehicle and discovered that the odor was coming from the filler tube. The dealer advised the contact of a potential recall on the vehicle under NHTSA campaign id number: 07v435000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10365763, filed 2010-11, 105,000 miles

Buying note. The 2001 Pathfinder's age makes rust the deciding factor: have the front strut towers, frame, subframe and firewall inspected on a lift, and confirm which regional recalls were actually completed. Suspension bushings, the filler tube and the factory CD changer are common wear and repair items to budget for.

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.