2001 Nissan Pathfinder

In their Defect Information Report (DIR) of April 20, 2011, Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified NHTSA that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder and 1997-2003 Infinity QX4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.The vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states including Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.The DIR states in part, ...the strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly.This could lead to the strut housing panel separating and contacting the steering column lower shaft.Contact with the steering column lower shaft can cause steering difficulties and may require an increase in steering effort by the driver.If the steering column lower shaft completely fractured it would result in a total loss of steering control.In some cases, the strut housing panel can contact or affect adjacent brake system components.Complainants reported experiencing either steering or brake system issues, and in some cases, both.Nissan dealer's will inspect the strut housing and, based on the level of corrosion found, make an assessment as to how to remedy the vehicle (see defect information report for additional details). Brake system components adjacent to, and in the area of, the strut tower (i.e., brake master cylinder, left front brake line, ABS wire harness, etc.) will also be inspected.

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 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where she was informed that the remedy parts were no longer available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11619421

Incident

Mar 10, 2014

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 failure her ABS warning had been illuminated for a long period of time prior to the failure. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that due to a significant amount of rust, the front suspension and struts and brake pads, and rotors had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering and Suspension). The work had been previously completed by a dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

NHTSA ID

11478841

Incident

Jul 18, 2022

Mileage

142,000 mi

Rear mount of front passenger control arm cracked where mounts to frame. Very little metal left where bolts hold bracket to body.

NHTSA ID

11432536

Incident

Sep 9, 2021

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 PARK. OPEN THE HOOD AND I SEE THE STRUT TOWER UNDER NEATH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, THEN I LOOK BETWEEN LEFT SIDE (DRIVERS) TIRE THE STRUT TOWER JUST RIPPED FROM THE FACTORY WELD. MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WHEN THIS OCCUR. WHAT IF THIS OCCUR WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 106523 MILES AND WAS SCHEDULED FOR A PA INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID

11348789

Incident

Aug 11, 2020

Mileage

106,523 mi

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 LASTED ABOUT 5 MINUTES, BUT I COULD NOT TELL WHERE THE SOURCE WAS AT THE TIME. I RAN SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, INCLUDING ECU CODES, BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING INDICATIVE OF A PROBLEM OF THIS NATURE. IN JANUARY 2020, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER REPLACING SEVERAL WORN OUT DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS (CLUTCH, ENGINE, RADIATOR, ENGINE GASKETS) AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD NOT START. I FOUND A BURNED OUT FUSE TO THE ECCS2, 10 AMP CIRCUIT. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON OR RUNNING AT THE TIME. AGAIN THE SMOKE LASTED SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE COMPUTER CASING OF THE VEHICLE'S ECU. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY IMMEDIATELY AND REMOVED THE ECU FROM THE VEHICLE. I DISCOVERED A BURNED CHIP INSIDE. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF RESEARCH, I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE AND LEARN THAT THIS HAPPENS TO MANY OTHER MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES OF SIMILAR YEAR MODEL. THE CAUSE IS ALWAYS THE SAME - THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE SEALS FAIL, THEN WATER GETS INSIDE THE ELECTRIC IACV MOTOR AND WHEN THE ECU TRIES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE IACV FAILURE, IT OVERLOADS THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND SHORTS OUT THIS PARTICULAR CHIP. SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SPENDING SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE NISSAN REPLACE PARTS AND REPAIR THEIR ECU AS THESE VEHICLES ARE NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11299157

Incident

Apr 13, 2019

Mileage

198,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WALSER NISSAN WAYZATA (612-426-6995, LOCATED AT 15906 WAYZATA BLVD, WAYZATA, MN 55391) VIA THE AFTER HOUR SERVICE. THE CONTACT LEFT A MESSAGE FOR THE TECHNICIAN TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A REPORT. THE CONTACT WENT ON A VACATION. OVERNIGHT, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEALER CALLED THE CONTACT AND INFORMED HIM TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE PREMISES BEFORE 8AM THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS OUT OF TOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT BY THE DEALER. FOUR YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 187,000. The contact is requesting a call back from a NHTSA Supervisor or Administrator.

NHTSA ID

11231413

Incident

Jun 28, 2019

Mileage

187,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STRUCTURE) AND REPAIRED IN 2015. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED, SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN AND THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE FORWARD AND RAN INTO A CURB. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE AND ALIGN THE VEHICLE AGAINST THE CURB, ALTHOUGH THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE. KLINE NISSAN (3090 HWY 61 N, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109, (877) 284-5230) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECURRING FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11228822

Incident

Jun 30, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS FRACTURED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT TOOK PICTURES OF THE FAILURE AND SENT THEM TO KLINE NISSAN (LOCATED AT 3090 HWY 31 N, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109, (877) 284-5230). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION) YEARS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11228817

Incident

Jun 30, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

WINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury, do not directly spray Silicone-based lubricant or grease, or inadvertently overspray Silicone-based lubricant or grease onto any interior electrical components. These types of lubricants can be detrimental to the proper operation of electrical components.