The 2002 Nissan Pathfinder has 5 recalls, all centered on the front passenger airbag inflator, which can rupture during deployment and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a serious risk of injury or death.
All five recalls address the same passenger-side frontal airbag inflator. In a crash that triggers the airbag, the inflator can build excessive internal pressure and burst, scattering sharp metal fragments toward anyone seated in the front passenger seat. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue, which is why multiple recall campaigns exist for the same underlying defect across overlapping date ranges. One of the recalls applies specifically to vehicles where the original inflator may have been replaced with a Takata unit, either at the factory or as a service part, meaning the concern can be present even if the inflator has been swapped out before. A separate but related filing covers inflators that may be missing internal components due to a manufacturing error; in that case the airbag can deploy erratically rather than rupture cleanly, but the result is still an elevated risk of injury to the front passenger. Across all of these campaigns, the core danger is the same: the inflator does not perform as designed in a crash, and the front passenger bears the risk.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant breakdown after exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bags with new desiccated inflators at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger-side front air bag inflator may build up excessive internal pressure and rupture when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger airbag inflator may build up too much pressure when it deploys. This can cause it to rupture and send fragments toward occupants, or damage the airbag module so it won't deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
The dealer will inspect the passenger airbag inflator and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some front passenger airbag inflators may be missing internal components due to a manufacturing issue. In a crash, this could cause the airbag to deploy irregularly, increasing injury risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the front passenger-side airbag module.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
