1994 Nissan PATHFINDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
127,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 63 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 12.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Tires: 3; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 45 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 7; 1996: 2; 2000: 12; 2001: 10; 2002: 6; 2003: 8; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004904 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
TRANSMISSION BLEW. THESE CARS ARE SOLD AS CARS WHO HAVE A VERY LONG ENGINE LIFE. I JUST LOVE MY CAR AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT I ONLY GOT 125K OUT OF IT. THE BODY AND ALL OTHER PARTS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE. I SERVICE THIS CAR RELIGIOUSLY. I SEE ON YOUR SITE A FAIR AMOUNT OF OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. I LOVE THE CAR SO MUCH, I ALMOST WANTED TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL I READ ON YOUR SITE THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL. WILL MOST LIKELY PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005560 · 2003-02-09 (February 9, 2003)
RIGHT AND LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 98,385 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016398 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)
THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS RUSTED OUT. MAINLY ABOVE THE REAR AXLE MOUNTS. THIS CARS HAS BEEN WASHED AND UNDERCARRIAGE CLEANED CONSTANTLY. IT SEEMS THAT THE METAL WAS NOT PURE BUT PROBABLY RECYCLED. THUS THE RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NISSAN DIDN'T WANT TO HELP, JUST PUT THE COMPLAINT ON FILE. SO WAY TO KEEP CUSTOMERS COMING BACK! THIS WAS A 26,000 DOLLAR CAR NOW WORTH 0 ! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 139,368 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022550 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH, CONSUMER HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE RAIN AND FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, AND HIT A MERIDIAN. CONSUMER FELT THAT TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE MASTERCRAFT M/S P23575R15. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025501 · 2003-07-06 (July 6, 2003)
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAVE FAILED. RECALL NEEDED REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE AGE/MILEAGE. TSD HAS BEEN ISSUED SO COMPANY RECOGNIZES PROBLEM BUT IS NOT TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY. ALSO, MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE.*AK IN ADDITION, VEHICLE SOMETIMES "STICKS" IN 1ST GEAR (A/T). FLUID HAS BEEN CHANGED AND PROBLEM IS INTERMITTANT. SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AS WELL. SOLUTION WOULD BE HELPFUL.
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030908 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES, A BOLT ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD WARPING AWAY FROM THE ENGINE. BOLT WAS REPLACED, BUT FUTURE PROBLEMS WERE PREDICTED BY THE MECHANIC.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045435 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)
UPON TAKING IN THE VEHCILE FOR ROUTINE MAINETENCE, OIL CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION, & WINETRISE SPECIAL. WAS INFORMED THAT MY EXAUSHT MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACING, AFTER THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH TWO MAJOR INSPECTIONS NOT OVER A YEAR AGO. 1) FOR PURCHASEING A USED VEHICLE AND 2) FOR OUT OF PROVINCE INSPECTION. NISSAN CANADA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 99,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050251 · 2003-12-08 (December 8, 2003)
AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS VERY LOUD, AND THE EXHAUST SOUNDED AS IF T MARBLES WERE RATTLING AROUND. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR VEHICLES OF SAME MAKE/MODEL AND CERTAIN YEARS, BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE BOLTS TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OVERHEATED AND BROKE OFF INTO THE MANIFOLD COVER. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050251 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V125000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 2002-05-02 (May 2, 2002)
ON CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V170001 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1996-09-10 (September 10, 1996)
THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO DESIGN DIMENSIONS. IF THE SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED SLOWLY AT AN ANGLE INTO THE BUCKLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR HARD BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗