Is the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder a bad year?
156 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Pathfinder years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder are in line with other Pathfinder years. Suspension stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 Pathfinder owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 120,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 43 (28%) | 100k–149k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Body structure | 18 (12%) | 98k–165k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 17 (11%) | 107k–166k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 8 (5%) | 95k–143k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Exhaust | 25 (16%) | 36k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 16 (10%) | 63k–116k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 6 (4%) | 47k–71k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 120,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 156 complaints: 15 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 6 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Mar 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder: 9
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. 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.
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. The strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly.
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 the air bag inflator assembly process, some air bag inflators may be missing one of the wafers. The inflator housing may rupture and pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants.
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. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
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. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 27
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
Identify: A leaking strut or a shock absorber that qualifies for replacement under warranty
Vent control valve replacement
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light on/flashing
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Frame/Body Structure Corrosion
Neighbouring years
2001 Pathfinder: 230 complaints, keep it · 2003 Pathfinder: 110 complaints, keep it.
Every Nissan Pathfinder year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Pathfinder years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder a bad year?
156 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Pathfinder years. At 120,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: suspension (43), body structure (18), steering (17), fuel system (8), exhaust (25).
How many recalls does the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 20V-008), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-068), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-287), Suspension (NHTSA 11V-244) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.