2002 Nissan Pathfinder engine problems

Filed Jul 11, 2017 · Engine · 221,760 miles · VA

Nissan power control valve loose fasteners: my concern resonates with consumer safety that involves gross engine failure during operations due to loosening internal fasteners/components. While driving on a city street, I noticed an abrupt and unusual mechanical grinding sound coming from my vehicle (v6 pathfinder). Eventually the car would not start. After having it towed to the dealer for diagnostics and service, the technician noticed that an internal power control valve was missing from the intake after he had removed the valve cover during his troubleshooting. I purchased this vehicle new (sole owner) and have never had any work/maintenance performed that required the valve cover to be removed. After doing some research on my own, I found multiple complaints about nissan power control valve screws loosening, falling within the engine and causing severe engine failure while driving and more than $2k in repairs to the consumer. I also noted that nissan (west coast, california) recently recalled various models/multi-years, including the 2002 pathfinder, acknowledging the problem with loosening fasteners within the respective engines; however, no recall was enacted for the same models on the east coast USA. Although my vehicle was eventually diagnosed with idle air control valve and electronic control module (engine) problems, the location (within my engine) of the missing power control valve and it's fasteners is not known and I am not convinced that this foreign material (loose screws/valve) would not have been the root cause of these diagnosed failures. Please note that I have been very fortunate in that my vehicle has over 200k miles; however, there are multiple power control valves within my (these) vehicles that may be subject to failure and most importantly if other consumers may be one engine failure away from a potential catastrophic result.

Filed Apr 10, 2016 · Engine · NV

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Filed Aug 26, 2015 · Engine · 108,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the check engine warning illuminated. Prior to the failure, the vehicle stalled. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the oil pan was faulty. The failure mileage was 108,000.

Filed Dec 9, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 96,480 miles · MI

The first time while driving the pathfinder in regular driving conditions, the engine stalled at approximately 30 MPH. To restart the engine I had to put the transmission in neutral and turn the key all the way off and then restart the vehicle.the second time this happened I was driving again the same day, cruising along at about 50 MPH in traffic, and the engine died again with no warning. The instrument cluster showed all the typical "dummy lights" after the engine failed the first two times. When we parked the pathfinder we could smell gas at the rear passenger door on the drivers side. We took the pathfinder to the shop for repair. Fuel smell was corrected by installing a fuel pump seal and the fuel pump system was reseated, and reinstalled after an incorrect installation by a previous mechanic. After receiving the pathfinder back fro our shop, the engine died again while sitting in a parked position running in an idle state. No instrument cluster lights came on when engine died this time (the 3rd time), no check engine or codes displayed. Then while driving again at 50 MPH in normal driving conditions the engine died again, no indication of electrical issues, no flashes in headlights, interior lights, no flux in the HVAC fan, nothing. Tachometer dropped to zero with no other indication the engine died, no vibration, no jerking. I put the transmission in neutral, shut of the key, and try to restart with no success. I coasted the car to the side of the road and turned the key off and removed it from the ignition and then re inserted it to restart the pathfinder. Again, no check engine lights, no codes, nothing to indicate a problem. I purchased this car used only days ago 11/30/2014, and it has spent everyday in the shop trying to resolve this issue. It has only 96540 original miles on it, and is a very clean vehicle

Filed May 29, 2013 · Engine · 145,000 miles · CA

Part from butterfly valve came loose and fell inside engine. Destroyed engine.

Filed Aug 17, 2011 · Engine, Seats · GA

I have had the pulley repaired on my 2002 pathfinder repair twice, in 2006 and again in 2008 I believe. And it is still giving me a problem. The driver seat motor will not move forward or backward, and in extreme hot weather, my motor drags, and it is hard to start the engine. The cd player never work right.

Filed Jul 22, 2011 · Engine · 143,123 miles · TX

Recently, our 2002 nissan pathfinder had to have an engine replaced. The cause was a set of very small bolts in the butterfly valve assembly which is now a part of the intake manifold. My concern is that the engine shop tech now performing the engine replacement mentioned that he is seeing a lot of this type of problem with these specific engines. Also, this is the second 2002 pathfinder we have had this happen to. The other one was my daughter's. I am an operations research systems engineer and know that the probability of this occurring to two vehicles of the same year within the same family; both purchased from the same location is a prime indicator of a systemic engineering problem. The factors are that the bolts work loose and drop into the cylinders. If they do not get caught in the cylinder, they are blown out the exhaust. If they do get caught by the piston, they scratch the walls of the cylinders allowing a significant amount of oil to be forced into the chamber where it ignites and is exhausted. The subsequent repair is costing $5200. In both of these situations, the oil reservoir was emptied within 2-3 days. I know this as I constantly check vehicle fluids (I was an army officer and had a motor pool). I caught a low oil quantity in both vehicles; refilled the reservoir; and checked in a few days to find them near empty again. I also know that had the oil run out while at highway speeds, an engine seizing could potentially occur, causing catastrophic engine damage and potential serious accidents. When this occurred, on both vehicles, I took the vehicles to the same dealership for inspection/repair. They seemed to be unaware of the cause of the problem and recommended a specific diagnostic action at a cost of $2000 that only would diagnose the problem and not repair it. A non-nissan tech recommended the engine replacement given his knowledge of the vehicles and the recurring problem. I reported this situation to nissan motor c

Filed Mar 16, 2010 · Engine · 65,000 miles · CA

I own a 2002 nissan pathfinder with 97,000. Miles on it. There is a crack in the exhaust manifold that has been getting louder over the last 24 months and recently I have begun to smell exhaust inside the car. This apparently is a manufacturing defect and should be corrected by nissan.

Filed Aug 19, 2009 · Engine · 71,000 miles · TX

1: events leading to failure: 2002 nissan pathfinder, 71,000 miles. Loud exhaust sounds. Dealership looked at car (charged $50 to look) and reported the exhaust system pipes going into the catalytic converter are cracked - again - already repaired once. Dealership will not repair/replace without charge. This is a recurring defect and possibly an emissions problem. The pipes carry exhaust from engine into catalytic converter and muffler and they are leaking and this is not the first time for this vehicle or many others online. Dealership mechanic specifically told me, "we see this alot" ?!?! Defective! Nothing has been done to correct, I need assistance ensuring that the dealership takes responsibility for a recurring issue.

Filed Aug 5, 2009 · Engine · 60,000 miles · KY

1. Exhaust leak sounds, exhaust into cab of vehicle, loud rattling sounds while driving. 2. Noticed around 60,000 miles, progressively getting worse! 3. Taken to nissan, nissan refuses to pay for defect. Nissan claimed cracked pipes, no recall.