2001 Nissan Pathfinder Reliability
The 2001 Nissan Pathfinder has 239 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and equipment. Compared with nearby Pathfinder model years (1999–2003), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Pathfinder's typical year, while the 2003 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
239
NHTSA owner complaints
7
Recall campaigns
19
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2001 Nissan Pathfinder complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 model year, filed between 2000 and 2024. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 68 | 28% |
| Equipment | 45 | 19% |
| Steering | 35 | 15% |
| Body structure | 30 | 13% |
| Fuel system | 23 | 10% |
| Engine & cooling | 17 | 7% |
| Speed control / throttle | 12 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 5% |
2001 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
7 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2001 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01V282000 | Aug 30, 2001 | Body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate / hinge and attachments | 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… |
| 06E026000 | Mar 23, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle… |
| 06E049000 | May 24, 2006 | Exterior lighting | 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… |
| 07V435000 | Sep 18, 2007 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly / filler pipe and cap | 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… |
| 09E012000 | Apr 7, 2009 | Exterior lighting | Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 09E025000 | May 11, 2009 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 11V244000 | Apr 20, 2011 | Steering — column | 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,… |
How the 2001 compares with nearby Pathfinder years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Pathfinder analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 113 | 5 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2000 | 128 | 6 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2001 (this page) | 239 | 7 | Suspension | Avoid |
| 2002 | 171 | 9 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2003 | 110 | 7 | Engine & cooling | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 7 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2001 Nissan Pathfinder can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2001 Nissan Pathfinder reliability FAQ
Is the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
The 2001 Nissan Pathfinder has 239 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and equipment. Compared with nearby Pathfinder model years (1999–2003), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Pathfinder's typical year, while the 2003 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2001 Nissan Pathfinder problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder are suspension (68), equipment (45), steering (35), body structure (30). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder have recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, including 01V282000 (body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate / hinge and attachments) and 06E026000 (exterior lighting). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder compare with the 2000 and 2002 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2000 has 128 complaints and 6 recalls (caution); the 2002 has 171 complaints and 9 recalls (caution). The 2001 has 239 complaints and 7 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2001 Nissan Pathfinder?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Pathfinder research
Other Nissan Pathfinder model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2001 Pathfinder, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.