Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 10 | 15% |
| Air bags | 8 | 12% |
| Power train | 8 | 12% |
| Visibility | 6 | 9% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 6% |
| Tires | 3 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
On October 23 2023 I purchased from Firestone where I have been a customer for some 30 years paying nearly $1000 for 4 tires. 1) On January 6, 2024 the first tire on the front driver"s side had picked up a nail GEICO r
NHTSA complaint: Tires
i made appointments at 2 different Nissan dealers and contacted Nissan corporate about my airbag recall. Dealers were neither able or willing to obtain parts Walzer Nissan, Coon Rapids MN and Miller Nissan, St Cloud Mn.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Pathfinder equipped with Bridgestone Tires, Tire Line: Dueler H/L Alenza, Tire Size: 255/65/R16, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle was swaying from sid
NHTSA complaint: Tires
I do not have an actual incident to report, but just trying to find out how you can get all these letters and calls from 3rd party companies to STOP! I have contacted my dealership and have entered my VIN on the NHTSA.go
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact owned 2004 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle crashed into the rear driver’s side of the vehicle. The driver’s side front and rear curtain air ba
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY SHIFTER KEEPS GETTING LOCKED 8N THE PARK POSITION. I HAVE REPLACED THE SHIFTER SOLENOID BUT IT DID IT AGAIN IN A WEEK..
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF RECALL, ON 2014. I GOT TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REPAIRED. THEY TELL ME THEY WILL COLLING BACK WHEN THE PART ARRIVED TO THE CENTER BUT THEY DONT.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
DRIVING AT 25 TO 50 MPH THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD RHYTHMICALLY. CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT OF IT.
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may caus
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious inj
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. N
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,
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
Fix: 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. O
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
| Reliability raw | 70 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 29 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 10 of them (15%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 70/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.