Most common 2004 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Share of the 67 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Pathfinder complaints by model year
Best Pathfinder years: 2012, 2011, 2020. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2025, 2022, 2015. Compare all years →
2004 Nissan Pathfinder recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags
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 cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: 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.
Suspension › Front
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…
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder:
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Frame/Body Structure Corrosion
In their Defect Information Report (DIR) of April 20, 2011, Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified NHTSA that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder and 1997-2003 Infinity QX4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.The vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
What 2004 Nissan Pathfinder owners say
Brakes
Takata recall: I brought the vehicle new, and around the 4th year, I started to notice that the brake light would come on. The first few repairs the brakes pads changed, line, cylinder, and full brake replacement:, but the issue persisted over the years without any mechanic that could provide me with an explanation of this problem. My main reason for writing this is because of the inherent danger of this brake issue. This problem has occurred while I was driving at highway speeds. Talking to other owners in social media groups this brake issue seems to be an issue with the Pathfinder armada/titan models. This is a danger, please investigate.
Takata recall so yesterday while driving on the highway us 31 and it was raining I lost all functions of my brakes with my 3 year old daughter in the vehicle. This was the scariest experience ever I thought we were going to die. After coming to a complete stop and makeing a few phone calls I was advised to turn the vehicle off and turn it back on the brake light went off and brake functions started working properly. Really considering getting rid of my truck after this incident. We could have died.
Air bags
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 bags deployed and ruptured, projecting fragments, but was not struck by any fragments from the deployment. The contact sustained hearing loss from the decibel level of the air bag deployment inside the vehicle but did not seek medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was deemed a total loss. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V008000 (Air Bags). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000.
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. Ive received several notices about the recall but im told Nissan is not obligated to fix the problem, just notify me
Transmission & drivetrain
I bought the truck January 4th this year wheni checked trannmission fluid wasn't on stick. So I added 6 ounces feb 15th and next day or 2 started slipping had it flushed 500 worth still shot. This was 2nd time tyranny. Had been serviced. Nissan you know it's faulty radiators I mean 124.000 miles wasn't nothing for a Nissan years ago I guess that's changed. Very discouraged never own another 1.
I am the owner of a 2004 Pathfinder with 75,000 miles. My wife was driving around March 15 when my engine began to produce a loud knock. She immediately pulled over and called a tow truck. She had the vehicle towed to Nissan dealer. The knock was still there. They investigated and stated the we needed a new engine. A simple internet search will find numerous reports of this happening on altimas, sentras, and pathfinders because the screws were not properly locked at the factory, making this a manufacturers defect. Something that should have been dealt with by issuing a mandatory service. My vehicle is currently undrivable for fear of further damage, as we await a response from Nissan north America on what action, if any, they will do to investigate.
2004 Nissan Pathfinder engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder a good car?
Based on 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Pathfinder rates better than average: 63% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Pathfinder at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder?
The brakes — 15 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › rotor. Next are the air bags (11) and transmission & drivetrain (9).
How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2004 Nissan Pathfinder, the most recent from January 9, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Pathfinder?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2011 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2025, 2022 and 2015. See the full Nissan Pathfinder years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Pathfinder problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 77,000 miles; 43% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.