RoadVitals

2001 Nissan Pathfinder Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Feb 24, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 230 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Feb 24, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE AFTER BEING RESET BY A TECHNICIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID
10690456
Incident
Jul 4, 2002
Mileage
10,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 31, 2011
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO AN UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THEN IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHILE EXTENSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERE BODY DAMAGE. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF

NHTSA ID
10403879
Incident
May 26, 2011
Mileage
64,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 19, 2009

2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS EXPERIENCED TWO EVENTS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. THE FIRST EVENT INVOLVED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WITHOUT THE DRIVER PULLING UP ON THE EMERGENCY HANDLE. IMMEDIATELY UPON THE BRAKE LOCKING UP, THE DRIVER PULLED UP AND DOWN ON THE HANDLE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THANKFULLY RELEASED ITSELF. THE SECOND EVENT OCCURRED TWO WEEKS LATER WHEN ALL FOUR BRAKES FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL - IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ENGAGING ANY OF THE BRAKES. AFTER PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL OVER AND OVER, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED JUST SHORT OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM AT THE INTERSECTION. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY ALLEGEDLY ANALYZED ALL OF THE BRAKING SYSTEMS AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ABS SYSTEM THAT MIGHT BE MALFUNCTIONING, BUT WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM(S) COULD BE. SINCE THE VEHICLE IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR DAILY USE, WE ARE DRIVING IT WITH SOME CONCERN AND CONSTANT WORRY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10292888
Incident
Oct 17, 2009
Mileage
55,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 7, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE PARALLEL PARKING VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARD AND HIT A BRICK WALL WHILE THE BRAKES WAS STILL BEING APPLIED BY THE CONSUMER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED , AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081490
Incident
Jun 20, 2004
Mileage
17,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 4, 2003

WE PURCHASED A NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER (VIN #[XXX]) IN JULY 2001 FROM WHITE PLAINS NISSAN, INC. IN WHITE PLAINS, NY. OCTOBER 12, 2003: THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. I REMOVED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THAT PART OF THE CALIPER BROKE OFF, AND WAS LEANING AGAINST THE INSIDE PART OF THE RIM, AT WHICH POINT I PUT THE TIRE BACK ON, AND BEGAN CALLING NISSAN TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT (THE CAR IS STILL UNDER ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY). OCTOBER 13, 2003: WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER IN STAMFORD, STAMFORD MOTORS, INC., NISSAN DIVISION. WHEN MY WIFE OLGA DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP, SHE STATED CLEARLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS (BROKEN CALIPER) AND ASKED HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO GET IT FIXED UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. SHE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT, ACCORDING TO THE PIECE OF PAPER GIVEN TO HER BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, SHE COULD GET CHARGED FOR THE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, WHILE IT WAS OBVIOUS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT WAS STANDARD PROCEDURE, AND SHE HAD TO SIGN IT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, NOBODY CONTACTED ME OR MY WIFE AND WE HAD TO CALL OURSELVES. WHEN MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN UPDATE, THEIR SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] SAID THAT THE PART WASN'T GOING TO BE COVERED, BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THE PART HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH. WHEN MY WIFE ASKED [XXX]. TO ELABORATE, HE SAID THAT THESE PARTS RARELY BREAK UNLESS TAMPERED WITH, AND BECAUSE THERE WAS A SCRATCH ON THE OUTSIDE ON THE CALIPER, THEY THINK THAT SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO CHANGE THE BREAK PADS HIMSELF, AND BROKE THE CALIPER. WE HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THE PART TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT SHOPS, INCLUDING A METAL EXPERT, ALL OF WHICH RECOGNIZED A FATIGUE FAILURE AND NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY TEMPERING. WE ARE INTENDING TO PURSUE THIS MATTER FURTHER, UNTIL NISSAN DECIDES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS VERY SERIOUS CUSTOMER CARE ISSUE. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

NHTSA ID
10049179
Incident
Oct 12, 2003
Mileage
24,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 14, 2003

PREMATURE WEAR AND WARPAGE OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE 34,000 MILES AND HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS MACHINED 2 TIMES. *PH

NHTSA ID
10038886
Incident
Sep 29, 2001
Mileage
11,250 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Apr 27, 2001

THERE IS SOME SHAKING IN FRONT END BETWEEN 55 MPH AND 70 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER 8 TIMES, BUT SO FAR NO REMEDY.*AK ALSO, THE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY ROAR OR SKIP. *YH

NHTSA ID
886961
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Mar 13, 2001
Crash reported

EXCESSIVE EFFORT NEEDED TO ENGAGE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHER THAN 30 MPH SPEEDS OR WHEN VEHICLE LOAD IS HEAVY, DRIVER HAS TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL ALL WAY TO FLOOR TO GET THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. *AK THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND INDICATED TO BE NORMAL. *YH

NHTSA ID
882894
Incident
Dec 9, 2000
Brakes
Filed Dec 15, 2000

THERE IS AN EXTREMELY LONG AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL( APPROX 1/2 WAY TO FLOOR) BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. ALSO, AFTER THE BRAKES ENGAGE IT REQUIRES A LOT OF PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS ON ALMOST EVERY TIME I ENGAGE THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
737829
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Dec 8, 2000

BRAKES FELT VERY SPONGY WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MA Y RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CHARACTERISICT OF VEHICLE. *AK PEDAL MOVEMENT BEFORE BRAKES ENGAGE WAS EXCESSIVE. CONSUMER HAVE TO PUMP PEDAL BEFORE THE BRAKES BECOME FIRM. *YH

NHTSA ID
876211
Incident
Nov 4, 2000
Brakes
Filed Dec 7, 2000

ABS BRAKE SYSTEMS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM AUTOMOBILES OR THE OWNER SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM REMOVED. *AK

NHTSA ID
737492
Incident
Nov 4, 2000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .