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.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Suspension: front
22
150,000 mi
Steering
15
140,000 mi
Suspension
14
130,000 mi
Structure: frame and members
8
156,250 mi
Air bags
7
80,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
7
49,000 mi
Structure: body
7
159,890 mi
Tires
6
30,000 mi
Unknown or other
6
80,000 mi
Air bags: frontal
5
80,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
4
120,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control
3
49,000 mi
Equipment
3
80,000 mi
Service brakes
3
204,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt
3
—
Vehicle speed control
3
42,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
2
—
Seat belts
2
80,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion
2
—
Structure
2
50,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module
1
64,498 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch
1
—
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
1
—
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
139,000 mi
Engine
1
—
Engine and engine cooling
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system
1
130,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
1
—
Exterior lighting: headlights
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
1
—
Seat belts: front: retractor
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
1
—
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
1
—
Steering: column
1
—
Steering: gear box: shaft sector
1
—
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields
1
103,500 mi
Suspension: rear
1
125,000 mi
Traction control system
1
138,000 mi
The 1998 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2000 model has roughly the same number of 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.