2003 Nissan Pathfinder Problems and Repair Histories
2003 Nissan Pathfinder problems reported via the Car Repair History and Car Reliability Surveys
See what people are saying about 2003 Nissan Pathfinder problems
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Nissan Pathfinder
2003 Nissan Pathfinders for which no problems have been reported are not displayed. So the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder problems and repair histories you see here should not be used to infer car problem frequency.
For 2003 Nissan Pathfinder problem frequency, check the Car Reliability Survey result. For the problems behind the score, check the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder problems and repair histories that follow it.
Nissan Pathfinder Reliability through March 31, 2013
General NotesModels and statistics marked with an asterisk (*) have very low sample sizes. These results, visible only to logged-in members, provide only a rough estimate of car reliability.Any result under 20 repair trips per 100 cars is likely a result of the small sample size, and should be expected to increase to 20 or so in future updates.
New models often start out with high repair rates, and then improve as the manufacturer identifies and addresses common problems. MethodologyOnly successfully completed repairs are currently included in the analysis. Routine maintenance, most wear items, recalls, and problems fixed with just a reflash or warning light reset are not included.
| Year | Make/Model | Trips/Year/100 Cars | Compared to all models for the same year | |
| 2003 | Nissan Pathfinder | 17 Pathfinders, 8.3 months of data per Pathfinder, average 116400 miles Small sample size. Join or 17 Pathfinders, 8.3 months of data per Pathfinder, average 116400 miles Small sample size. sign in to view |
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Non-members can see only ten 2003 Nissan Pathfinder problems and repair histories. Log in or join us to see them all.
Repair costs are in local units.
2003 Nissan Pathfinder 4dr SUV
240-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic RWD
| Nissan Pathfinder in British Columbia, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Dec | 2011 | First odometer entry | ||
| Dec | 2011 | 152 | Replaced Front Driveshaft U-joints and re-balanced driveshaft. Replaced both front drive axles. Drivetrain vibration problem not solved. No solution found yet. Low Beam Drivers side headlight not working. Replaced Daytime Running Light Module. Local Dealer quoted $299.00 for the module. Ordered online from US for $152.00. Oil cooler leaking oil. Replaced O-rings. | |
| Mar | 2012 | 108500 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Nissan Pathfinder in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Oct | 2010 | 139000 | First odometer entry | |
| Nov | 2010 | 140000 | 215 | Leaking oil badly. Oil cooler o-ring failed. Replaced o-ring and bracket. |
| Jul | 2012 | 189000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Nissan Pathfinder in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2010 | 119000 | First odometer entry | |
| Dec | 2010 | 120000 | 0 | Heater didn't work. Mechanic inspected and estimated cost to fix. Cost was about same as the value of vehicle. |
| Jan | 2011 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2003 Nissan Pathfinder 4dr SUV
240-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic 4WD, part-time w/low range
| Nissan Pathfinder in Michigan, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2010 | 112000 | First odometer entry | |
| Jan | 2012 | 126000 | 200 | replace front brake pads and repack bearings |
| Oct | 2012 | 137300 | 75 | replace headlight |
| Mar | 2013 | 144000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Nissan Pathfinder in Colorado, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Sep | 2011 | 57000 | First odometer entry | |
| Oct | 2011 | 58000 | 120 | Had an oil leak that required then to reseal the oil pan. |
| Jan | 2012 | 64000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Nissan Pathfinder in Minnesota, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Dec | 2008 | 55000 | First odometer entry | |
| Apr | 2012 | 84000 | 225 | Rear portion of exhaust system (second muffler) had to be replaced due to corrosion. |
| Oct | 2012 | 88300 | 800 | Leak in EVAP vent solenoid required it's replacement along with EVAP Canister as screws holding onto the canister were corroded and could not be removed. I'm told this is a common problem on vehicles in the 'rust belt'. |
| Mar | 2013 | 92000 | 1200 | Intermittent overheating... first thought to be a faulty thermostat, turned out to be partly clogged radiator. Disappointing with this few miles on the vehicle... |
| Nissan Pathfinder in Illinois, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Mar | 2013 | 192000 | First odometer entry | |
| Apr | 2013 | 192000 | 1900 | The car would take a while to shift into second gear and then it wouldn't go into reverse at all. |
| Nissan Pathfinder in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Mar | 2009 | 108000 | First odometer entry | |
| Apr | 2009 | 109700 | 550 | Replacement of timing belt and fan belts. |
| Dec | 2009 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Nissan Pathfinder in New York, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Sep | 2008 | 150 | Drive belts. $0 cost to replace DC outlet fuses and passenger side seat belt | |
| Nissan Pathfinder in Massachusetts, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Aug | 2011 | 109000 | First odometer entry | |
| Oct | 2011 | 111000 | 525 | drive train vibration. dealer recomended new drive shaft @$700.00 rebuilt front and rear D.S. new u joints and balance. problem still exists. going to another shop for further diagnosis. |
| Nissan Pathfinder in Wisconsin, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2008 | 87000 | First odometer entry | |
| Oct | 2011 | 117000 | 600 | Engine surging during acceleration. Vacuum line was rotted under intake manifold. Manifold had to be removed to replace. Lot of labor. |
| Jan | 2012 | 118000 | 340 | Muffler needed replacing due to corrosion. |
| May | 2012 | 121500 | 50 | Front brakes required replacing |
| Jul | 2012 | 122000 | 130 | Resonator Failed, replaced |
| Dec | 2012 | 128000 | Most recent odometer entry. | |
| Nissan Pathfinder in Washington, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Sep | 2009 | 500 | Throttle body replacement | |
| Jan | 2010 | 102000 | 80 | Broken/rusted flange between muffler and rear resonator - pipe welded to repair |
| Jul | 2010 | 106000 | 0 | Transmission leaking fluid, suspected bad seal. Did not repair - Traded in. |
| Nissan Pathfinder in New Jersey, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Mar | 2010 | 94000 | First odometer entry | |
| Apr | 2010 | 95000 | 100 | There was some sound from exhaust system, silencer got rusted and broke from the joint, I asked them to weld, but it seems there is something loose inside exhaust system as I still hear sound sometime. |
| Jan | 2011 | 98000 | 150 | Engine light came on, valvoline oil change guy put code reading machine and said it is due to fuel filter and fuel system cleanup. After fuel filter replace and fuel system cleanup everything is fine. |
| Nissan Pathfinder in Maryland, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2008 | First odometer entry | ||
| Nov | 2008 | 1000 | replacement of fuel vapor switch and cannister. the switch melted a year ago. covered under an extended warranty, labor would have been a lot less, but they didn't catch the cracked cannister when replacing the switch. | |
| Jun | 2010 | 105000 | 125 | car had code 1490, bought the bypass valve, but discovered the wires to the valve were broken- this is more likely the cause of the problem, replaced the vacuum bypass valve anyway- it was not returnable. |
| Sep | 2010 | 109000 | 220 | Dealer found that the solenoid for the evaporative emissions system was bad, replaced. Hopefully this is the final step for this problem- all of the parts for the evaporative emissions system have been replaced. The left side "screw" for the driver's power seat adjustment is broken, dealer wanted a discounted $1100 to repair. Will look for a used seat track assembly, or attempt to repair the screw myself. |
| Mar | 2013 | 140000 | 220 | Replaced front brake rotors due to warping as evidenced by shake in the steering wheel. |
| Nissan Pathfinder in Ontario, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| May | 2009 | 82460 | First odometer entry | |
| Dec | 2009 | 89900 | 300 | While changing oil, I removed the rear drum on driver side and noticed wheel cylinder leaking. |
| Apr | 2012 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
2003 Nissan Pathfinder 4dr SUV
240-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic 4WD w/low range
| Nissan Pathfinder in California, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2008 | 66000 | First odometer entry | |
| Aug | 2009 | 74000 | 54 | Driver window pinch stop mechanism too sensitive. Window hit top and dropped 4 inches when closing with one stop button. |
| Sep | 2009 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Nissan Pathfinder in New Hampshire, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Apr | 2010 | 105000 | First odometer entry | |
| May | 2010 | 106000 | 0 | Needed new exhaust from cat back. Rotors machined. General tune up. Needs to still go back for new plugs and to check on "check engine" light that is showing an emissions code having to do with the fuel tank. |
| Jun | 2011 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Nissan Pathfinder in Pennsylvania, United States | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Jul | 2011 | 71000 | First odometer entry | |
| Apr | 2012 | 80000 | 70 | Exhaust system leaking. Common problem with this era Pathfinder. Installed repair kit designed for this specific problem. |
| Dec | 2012 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Nissan Pathfinder in Alberta, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2008 | 148800 | First odometer entry | |
| Oct | 2009 | 164260 | 200 | Faulty daytime running light (DTRL) control unit. No power to driver-side low beam. Replaced for $200. |
| Apr | 2010 | 174220 | 0 | Rust in the rear wheel wells when sold, common problem with these. |
| Nissan Pathfinder in United Arab Emirates | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2008 | 77500 | First odometer entry | |
| Sep | 2009 | 93000 | 1500 | AC Blower inside cabin making irritating rattling noise - Blower motor was broken, required replacing. |
| Jul | 2010 | 104940 | 1700 | Car lost power and engine switched off while at traffic lights. I was able to restart the car immediately but engine light would not go off. 2 sensors were replaced and Full Major Service was carried out. |
| Dec | 2010 | 110980 | 150 | Engine Light came on and as a result cruise control would not function. Took it in, engine light was due to "Brake light switch" malfunction - the shop replaced the switch and engine light is gone and cruise control works again. |
| Jul | 2011 | 116400 | 3550 | AC Compressor Died. Dealer wanted 6000 AED to fix, took to independent mechanic, replaced with genuine used compressor for less than half the cost. Fixed a few other issues as well (broken Antenna) |
| Nov | 2011 | 121360 | 2500 | There were a number of gaskets leaking, they were all changed. |
| Sep | 2012 | 130820 | 250 | Car randomly doesnt start - problem isolated to starter motor. Starter motor was cleaned |
| Oct | 2012 | 130820 | 350 | The problem in September came back and this time replaced the starter motor and the coil |
| Dec | 2012 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
| Nissan Pathfinder in British Columbia, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Mar | 2011 | 73780 | First odometer entry | |
| Mar | 2012 | 83700 | 150 | EVAP System |
| Nissan Pathfinder in Quebec, Canada | ||||
| Month | Year | Odometer (in miles) |
Cost | Problem/Repair Description |
| Nov | 2008 | 50220 | First odometer entry | |
| Jul | 2009 | 53320 | 285 | Broken emergency brake cable |
| Aug | 2009 | 55180 | 150 | Anti-roll bar link kits replaced (both sides). |
| Jul | 2010 | Most recent odometer entry. | ||
Expert 2003 Nissan Pathfinder Repair Advice
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What People Are Saying about Problems with the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
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