2002 Nissan Pathfinder reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 206
- 5 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SUSPENSION
- 34 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 7 injuries · 1 fire
What owners report fails — 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
- SUSPENSION 34
- STEERING 16
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM 14
- STRUCTURE:BODY 11
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10
5 recalls on record for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
- NHTSA 20V008000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 17V068000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- NHTSA 15V287000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with met
- NHTSA 11V244000 · 2011 · SUSPENSION:FRONT THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASE
- NHTSA 10V312000 · 2010 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL THE INFLATOR HOUSING MAY RUPTURE AND PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Nissan Pathfinder units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
NHTSA has 206 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is suspension (34 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Nissan Pathfinder units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?
Owners most often report problems with: suspension (34), steering (16), engine and engine cooling:exhaust system (14), structure:body (11). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.