NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAY ENTER AN ASSEMBLY LOCATION HOLE IN THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING, CAUSING WATER TO COLLECT AT THE MATING SURFACE OF THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL AND THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THIS SNOW/WATER AND SALT INTRUSION MAY RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN SOME SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Safety risk
THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
Manufacturer
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
372,250
Reported to NHTSA
2007-09-18
Owners notified
2007-11-26
Defect description
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DURING THE COATING PROCESS OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY, AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF COATING MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED AT THE LOWER MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN OPENING IN THE COATING WHICH CAN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL OF THE TUBE.
Safety risk
THIS MAY RESULT IN SURFACE RUST BUT NOT PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. HOWEVER, IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, IF A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL, CORROSION MAY OCCUR TO A DEGREE WHICH RESULTS IN PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. IN THIS CASE FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR WHEN FILLING THE TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE WITH AN IMPROVED COATING PROCESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments
Manufacturer
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
31,000
Reported to NHTSA
2001-08-30
Owners notified
2001-09-24
Defect description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THE BRACKETS USED TO ATTACH THE TWO GAS STRUTS TO THE REAR DOOR (HATCH) MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MADE. AT HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE INCREASE IN GAS PRESSURE IN THE STRUT(S) COULD CAUSE ONE OR BOTH BRACKETS TO BEND, RESULTING IN THE STRUTS DETACHING FROM THE BRACKET(S) WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING THE REAR DOOR.
Safety risk
IF BOTH STRUTS DETACH FROM THE BRACKETS, THE DOOR WILL RAPIDLY FALL DOWN, POSSIBLY STRIKING SOMEONE AND CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 24, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROPERLY SEATED KEY CYLINDER CAP CONNECTOR PINS. VIBRATION CAN CAUSE THE CONNECTING PINS TO LOOSEN AND/OR FALL OUT ALLOWING THE KEY CYLINDER CAP TO DISENGAGE FROM THE KEY CYLINDER.
Safety risk
IF THIS OCCURS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ROD CAN MOVE, WHICH COULD LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLIES WITH LOOSE OR MISSING END CAP CONNECTOR PINS WILL BE REPLACED. A RING CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL OTHERS TO PREVENT LOOSENING OF THE PINS.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.
12
79,000 mi
Suspension
10
163,577 mi
Structure: body
9
110,000 mi
Equipment
6
79,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
6
40,000 mi
Steering
6
162,000 mi
Structure: frame and members
4
30,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
3
90,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields
3
152,000 mi
Unknown or other
3
115,000 mi
Wheels
3
115,000 mi
Air bags: frontal
2
90,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
2
—
Fuel/propulsion system
2
209,444 mi
Suspension: front
2
70,000 mi
Air bags: side/window
1
90,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
1
—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
1
—
Engine and engine cooling
1
—
Equipment adaptive/mobility
1
137,095 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
1
—
Exterior lighting: turn signal
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system
1
2 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
1
81,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)
1
74,000 mi
Service brakes, electric
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
96,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
1
—
Structure
1
120,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt
1
—
Vehicle speed control
1
3 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
1
—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices
1
—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior
1
—
Wheels: rim
1
67,000 mi
The 2000 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 2002 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.