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2002 Nissan Pathfinder Electrical Problems

5 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

5
Complaints
May 2013Dec 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (5)

mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2014

THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING THE PATHFINDER IN REGULAR DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. TO RESTART THE ENGINE I HAD TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY OFF AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE.THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING AGAIN THE SAME DAY, CRUISING ALONG AT ABOUT 50 MPH IN TRAFFIC, AND THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN WITH NO WARNING. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHOWED ALL THE TYPICAL "DUMMY LIGHTS" AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED THE FIRST TWO TIMES. WHEN WE PARKED THE PATHFINDER WE COULD SMELL GAS AT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. WE TOOK THE PATHFINDER TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR. FUEL SMELL WAS CORRECTED BY INSTALLING A FUEL PUMP SEAL AND THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM WAS RESEATED, AND REINSTALLED AFTER AN INCORRECT INSTALLATION BY A PREVIOUS MECHANIC. AFTER RECEIVING THE PATHFINDER BACK FRO OUR SHOP, THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN WHILE SITTING IN A PARKED POSITION RUNNING IN AN IDLE STATE. NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN ENGINE DIED THIS TIME (THE 3RD TIME), NO CHECK ENGINE OR CODES DISPLAYED. THEN WHILE DRIVING AGAIN AT 50 MPH IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN, NO INDICATION OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES, NO FLASHES IN HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, NO FLUX IN THE HVAC FAN, NOTHING. TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO WITH NO OTHER INDICATION THE ENGINE DIED, NO VIBRATION, NO JERKING. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, SHUT OF THE KEY, AND TRY TO RESTART WITH NO SUCCESS. I COASTED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE KEY OFF AND REMOVED IT FROM THE IGNITION AND THEN RE INSERTED IT TO RESTART THE PATHFINDER. AGAIN, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, NO CODES, NOTHING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED ONLY DAYS AGO 11/30/2014, AND IT HAS SPENT EVERYDAY IN THE SHOP TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. IT HAS ONLY 96540 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT, AND IS A VERY CLEAN VEHICLE *TR

NHTSA #: 10663147
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2013

I RECENTLY BROUGHT UP TO THE ATTENTION OF NISSAN A PROBLEM I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH MY CAR. THE "CHECK ENGINE SERVICE" LIGHT IS ON AND IT JUST DOESN'T TURN OFF. LET ME EXPLAIN. WHEN I FIRST NOTICE THE PROBLEM, AROUND 6 MONTHS AGO, I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER. HOWEVER, JUST TO HOOK UP THE CAR TO THE COMPUTER OF THE DEALERSHIP IS OVER $100. NOT TO GET FIXED, JUST TO HOOK UP. I THINK THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS. SO I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT PLACES, A LOCAL MECHANIC AND AUTOZONE, BOTH EQUIPPED WITH COMPUTER HOOK UPS, CAPABLE OF "READING" NISSAN CODES. AT FIRST, THE CODE INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE "R" VALVE TIMING SOLENOID, WHICH I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE. HOWEVER, THE LIGHT CONTINUED ON. I TOOK IT BACK, AND NOW IT WAS THE "L" SIDE, WHICH I ALSO CHANGED. THESE TWO CHANGES COST ME $500. BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUES ON. NOW IS GIVING CODES FOR THE CAM/CRANK SENSOR, DIRT BUILD UP, THE IVT CONTROL SOLENOID OPEN OR SHORTED. AT THIS POINT IS WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN. I WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER (11149465) AND EVENTUALLY TALKED TO A [XXX], 800/343-6913, EXT 458103. SHE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD IF I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER. THEY STILL WOULD CHARGE OVER $100 JUST TO CONNECT TO THE COMPUTER. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE MONIES ALREADY SPENT. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT OTHER OWNERS OF NISSAN VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST (PATHFINDER, 2002) AND PROBLEM. THAT I HAD BEEN TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UP SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW, WHICH COULD BE EASILY VERIFIED. THAT THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES.HOWEVER, THAT WAS NISSAN FINAL POSITION. I CAN PROVIDE THE BILL PAID AND DIAGNOSIS. THIS PROBLEM IS, AND HAS BEEN, A HEADACHE FOR US OWNERS, NOT TO MENTION THE EXPENSE AND TIME COMMITMENT. ALL I WAS REQUESTING WAS TO GET THIS PROBLEM FINALLY SOLVED, WITHOUT INCURRING IN ADDITIONAL EXPENSES AND UNNECESSARY WASTE OF TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10512379
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2007

2002 NISSAN SENTRA SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHT ON. OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND CODE STILL REMAINED. CONSUMER FOUND A RECALL FOR THE ECM. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS AN ERROR AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE HE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT FAILURE AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10206086
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2005

1) NISSAN PATHFINDER 2002 -AIR CONDITIONING FAN WOULD ONLY WORK ON SPEED 4 (HIGH) AND WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. RUNS CONTINUOUSLY 2) FAN WOULD ONLY SHUT OFF IF IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF - ELECTRICAL SHORT ISSUE 3) NISSAN HAD A "KIT" THAT WAS TO FIX THE PROBLEM & WAS INSTALLED AT MY EXPENSE. ONCE INSTALLED IT FIXED THE FAN ISSUE (NISSAN ISSUED A TSB 10-16-2003 - COMPONENT 353600 EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - AIR CONDITIONER) BUT CREATED ANOTHER PROBLEM. NOW FAN WON'T COME ON FOR HEAT OR DEFROSTER (WHILE ON AUTO) WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 60 DEGREES. NISSAN DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM ONLY THAT THEY ARE NOW SUGGESTING TO POSSIBLY REPLACE THE AC AUTO AMP UNIT OR THE INSIDE SENSOR OR POSSIBLY BOTH. ONLY A SUGGESTION BUT NOT A "FIX FOR SURE" AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE. I ALREADY PAID $428.42 BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS 4000 MILES OVER WARRANTY AND NOW THEY WANT TO EXPERIMENT AT MY EXPENSE FOR ANOTHER $500.00. I REFUSED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GUARANTEEING THAT THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ENGINEERS/TECHNICIANS REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE NEW ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA #: 10136776
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT
Filed: Sep 2005

I WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM 12/03. I FOLLOWED UP AND HAD IT REPAIRED OR REPLACED , AT THIS POINT I'M UNCERTAIN WHAT HAPPENED. TODAY, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS INOPERABLE AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY 800.00 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A DEVICE THAT IS APART OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST RECALL THAT WAS DONE IN '03. BECAUSE 2 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE RECALL WAS DONE, I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I AM FORCED TO MAKE ANOTHER COSTLY REPAIR. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE NUMEROUS RECALLS AND REPAIRS ON THE "NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR!" *NM

NHTSA #: 10136525

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