Nissan · Pathfinder · 2003
7
Recalls
110
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Nissan Pathfinder has 7 recalls and 110 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: engine and engine cooling (24 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2003 Nissan Pathfinder page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine and engine cooling with 24 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
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 non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy Status
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.
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 rupture.
Remedy Status
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 FX45 vehicles.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy Status
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy Status
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy Status
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy Status
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Buying a used vehicle checking on issues
This vehicle no longer meets the EPA TiER 3 standards That are needed to be on the road . I as the customer am not ok with this and because of this reason I’d like the entire vehicle to completely recalled . As it is not any longer fit to be on roads . The fact is that this ...
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Unknown . The steering column broke
The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated there was corrosion on the passenger’s side front struts. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who declined the repair under Manufacturer Campaign ID: R1107 with NHTSA Ca...
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NISSAN IS CLAIMING THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 WAS ALREADY ADDRESSED ON MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR A RECALL BUT THEY NEVER FIXED THIS RECALL BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO BUSY. WHEN I CALL NISSAN RIGHT NOW THEY ARE CLAIMING IT WAS FIXED ...
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FUEL GAUGE IS NOT READING CORRECTLY REPEATEDLY HAVE TO TOP OFF MY TANK THAT COSTS ME MORE MONEY THAN IT SHOULD TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK BECAUSE I RAN OUT OF GAS AND IT COSTED ME $200 TO FIGURE OUT THAT I NEED SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THE GAS GAUGE THERE'S SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOU...
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The gas gauge stopped working a few months ago. Had an appointment to have the fuel sensor replaced. The fuel sensor is fine. The mechanic said it was most likely the gauge. In researching over the past several months, this appears to be a huge problem with the 2003 Pathfinder. T...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH MUFFLERS WERE RUSTED OUT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE REAR MUFFLER AND REAR TAIL PIPE WERE DETACHED DUE TO THE RUST. IN ADDITION, FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE T...
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MY NISSAN PATHFINDERS AIR BAG DASH LIGHT IS FLASHING. I HAVE HAD IT RESET AND IT STARTS FLASHING AGAIN AFTER A FEW HOURS OF OPERATION.
AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH THE CAR BEGINS TO WOBBLE, HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM INVOLING FAULTY TRAILING ARM BUSHING/ REAR ARM BUSHING AND BEARING NEED TO BE REPLACED CAUSING WHAT IS COOMMONLY KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE. BUT LETS UP WHEN YOU LET UP OFF THE GAS? TO ME THIS ...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 110 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2003 Nissan models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2003 Nissan Pathfinder has 7 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 110 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder are engine and engine cooling (24 reports), air bags (13 reports), fuel/propulsion system (12 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 7 recalls on record for the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.