FaultScore

2001 Nissan Pathfinder brake problems

12 of the 299 complaints about the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder are about the braking system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 24,000 miles.

D

12

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 6 50.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2 16.7%
Caliper 1 8.3%
Parking Brake 1 8.3%
Rotor 1 8.3%
Service Brakes 1 8.3%

Brakes across every Nissan Pathfinder year

1995 11 2.7%
1996 15 3.7%
1997 16 4.0%
1998 18 4.5%
2000 11 2.7%
2001 12 3.0%
2003 13 3.2%
2004 20 5.0%
2005 20 5.0%
2013 67 16.6%
2014 41 10.2%
2015 25 6.2%
2016 14 3.5%
2017 11 2.7%
2018 21 5.2%
2019 13 3.2%
2022 34 8.4%
2023 20 5.0%
2024 21 5.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 10,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE AFTER BEING RESET BY A TECHNICIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA complaint #10690456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles Morris Plains, NJ Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO AN UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THEN IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHILE EXTENSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERE BODY DAMAGE. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 07/08/11

NHTSA complaint #10403879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

PARKING BRAKE

2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS EXPERIENCED TWO EVENTS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. THE FIRST EVENT INVOLVED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WITHOUT THE DRIVER PULLING UP ON THE EMERGENCY HANDLE. IMMEDIATELY UPON THE BRAKE LOCKING UP, THE DRIVER PULLED UP AND DOWN ON THE HANDLE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THANKFULLY RELEASED ITSELF. THE SECOND EVENT OCCURRED TWO WEEKS LATER WHEN ALL FOUR BRAKES FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL - IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ENGAGING ANY OF THE BRAKES. AFTER PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL OVER AND OVER, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED JUST SHORT OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM AT THE INTERSECTION. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY ALLEGEDLY ANALYZED ALL OF THE BRAKING SYSTEMS AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ABS SYSTEM THAT MIGHT BE MALFUNCTIONING, BUT WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM(S) COULD BE. SINCE THE VEHICLE IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR DAILY USE, WE ARE DRIVING IT WITH SOME CONCERN AND CONSTANT WORRY.

NHTSA complaint #10292888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS EXPERIENCED TWO EVENTS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. THE FIRST EVENT INVOLVED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WITHOUT THE DRIVER PULLING UP ON THE EMERGENCY HANDLE. IMMEDIATELY UPON THE BRAKE LOCKING UP, THE DRIVER PULLED UP AND DOWN ON THE HANDLE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THANKFULLY RELEASED ITSELF. THE SECOND EVENT OCCURRED TWO WEEKS LATER WHEN ALL FOUR BRAKES FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL - IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ENGAGING ANY OF THE BRAKES. AFTER PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL OVER AND OVER, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED JUST SHORT OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM AT THE INTERSECTION. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY ALLEGEDLY ANALYZED ALL OF THE BRAKING SYSTEMS AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ABS SYSTEM THAT MIGHT BE MALFUNCTIONING, BUT WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM(S) COULD BE. SINCE THE VEHICLE IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR DAILY USE, WE ARE DRIVING IT WITH SOME CONCERN AND CONSTANT WORRY.

NHTSA complaint #10292888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,000 miles Staten Island, NY Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE PARALLEL PARKING VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARD AND HIT A BRICK WALL WHILE THE BRAKES WAS STILL BEING APPLIED BY THE CONSUMER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED , AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10081490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Stamford, CT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

WE PURCHASED A NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER (VIN #[XXX]) IN JULY 2001 FROM WHITE PLAINS NISSAN, INC. IN WHITE PLAINS, NY. OCTOBER 12, 2003: THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. I REMOVED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THAT PART OF THE CALIPER BROKE OFF, AND WAS LEANING AGAINST THE INSIDE PART OF THE RIM, AT WHICH POINT I PUT THE TIRE BACK ON, AND BEGAN CALLING NISSAN TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT (THE CAR IS STILL UNDER ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY). OCTOBER 13, 2003: WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER IN STAMFORD, STAMFORD MOTORS, INC., NISSAN DIVISION. WHEN MY WIFE OLGA DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP, SHE STATED CLEARLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS (BROKEN CALIPER) AND ASKED HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO GET IT FIXED UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. SHE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT, ACCORDING TO THE PIECE OF PAPER GIVEN TO HER BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, SHE COULD GET CHARGED FOR THE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, WHILE IT WAS OBVIOUS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT WAS STANDARD PROCEDURE, AND SHE HAD TO SIGN IT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, NOBODY CONTACTED ME OR MY WIFE AND WE HAD TO CALL OURSELVES. WHEN MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN UPDATE, THEIR SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] SAID THAT THE PART WASN'T GOING TO BE COVERED, BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THE PART HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH. WHEN MY WIFE ASKED [XXX]. TO ELABORATE, HE SAID THAT THESE PARTS RARELY BREAK UNLESS TAMPERED WITH, AND BECAUSE THERE WAS A SCRATCH ON THE OUTSIDE ON THE CALIPER, THEY THINK THAT SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO CHANGE THE BREAK PADS HIMSELF, AND BROKE THE CALIPER. WE HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THE PART TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT SHOPS, INCLUDING A METAL EXPERT, ALL OF WHICH RECOGNIZED A FATIGUE FAILURE AND NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY TEMPERING. WE ARE INTENDING TO PURSUE THIS MATTER FURTHER, UNTIL NISSAN DECIDES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS VERY SERIOUS CUSTOMER CARE ISSUE. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

NHTSA complaint #10049179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,250 miles Rockwall, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

PREMATURE WEAR AND WARPAGE OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE 34,000 MILES AND HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS MACHINED 2 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10038886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penson, AL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THERE IS SOME SHAKING IN FRONT END BETWEEN 55 MPH AND 70 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER 8 TIMES, BUT SO FAR NO REMEDY.*AK ALSO, THE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY ROAR OR SKIP.

NHTSA complaint #886961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gilbert, AZ Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

EXCESSIVE EFFORT NEEDED TO ENGAGE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHER THAN 30 MPH SPEEDS OR WHEN VEHICLE LOAD IS HEAVY, DRIVER HAS TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL ALL WAY TO FLOOR TO GET THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. *AK THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND INDICATED TO BE NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #882894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THERE IS AN EXTREMELY LONG AMOUNT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL( APPROX 1/2 WAY TO FLOOR) BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. ALSO, AFTER THE BRAKES ENGAGE IT REQUIRES A LOT OF PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS ON ALMOST EVERY TIME I ENGAGE THE BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #737829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronx, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKE SYSTEMS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM AUTOMOBILES OR THE OWNER SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM REMOVED.

NHTSA complaint #737492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sherwood, OR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES FELT VERY SPONGY WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MA Y RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CHARACTERISICT OF VEHICLE. *AK PEDAL MOVEMENT BEFORE BRAKES ENGAGE WAS EXCESSIVE. CONSUMER HAVE TO PUMP PEDAL BEFORE THE BRAKES BECOME FIRM.

NHTSA complaint #876211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Nissan Pathfinder problems

← Full 2001 Nissan Pathfinder report