1996 Nissan PATHFINDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
110 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
121,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 53 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 110 complaints (23.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 17 | 15.5% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 26 |
| Suspension:Rear | 22 |
| Steering | 11 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
Suspension: 26; Suspension:Rear: 22; Steering: 11; Tires:Tread/Belt: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Power Train: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 13
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 57 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1996: 3; 2000: 14; 2001: 10; 2002: 8; 2003: 8; 2004: 6; 2005: 2; 2006: 7; 2007: 6; 2008: 6; 2009: 7; 2010: 6; 2011: 10; 2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 2; 2015: 5; 2017: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10001415 · 2002-12-23 (December 23, 2002)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATION PEDAL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002391 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S PULLEY IN THE ENGINE WOBBLES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FREEZE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004243 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING SHE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD ABOUT IT. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011173 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016178 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
I HAVE HAD THE ECU ON MY 1996 PATHFINDER XE REPLACED TWO TIMES WITHIN THE 1 YEAR OF OWNING IT. AT THIS RATE I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028418 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
SEVERE RUSTING OF FRAME, WORST AREA IS AT LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE AT TOP OF CURVE IN FRAME AT TIRE. SEVERAL BODY SHOPS AND A NISSAN DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED AT A COST EFFECTIVE RATE AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE USED AS INTENDED. IT COULD FALL APART UNDER TENSION. NISSAN CO. USA SAID IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY, SORRY FOR YOUR LUCK.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033240 · 2003-08-21 (August 21, 2003)
THIS CAR IS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH A SLEW OF PROBLEMS RANGING FROM: TICKING GAS, AND BRAKE PEDAL, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS/ VIBRATING, HEAT SHIELD, UNEVEN WEAR OF TIRE,LEAKING SUNROOF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033240 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034347 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. WHEN PLACING VEHICLE INTO GEAR MUST APPLY PRESSURE TO ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT RELEASES SUDDENLY IN A WAY WHICH CAUSES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ALSO VEHICLE SHAKES WHILE DRIVING . DEALER HAS REPLACED BALL JOINTS, BUT PROBLEM. STILL EXISTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034347 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V244000 · Suspension:Front | Steering:Column
Reported: 2011-04-20 (April 20, 2011)
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, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAY ENTER AN ASSEMBLY LOCATION HOLE IN THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING, CAUSING WATER TO COLLECT AT THE MATING SURFACE OF THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL AND THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THIS SNOW/WATER AND SALT INTRUSION MAY RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN SOME SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Consequence: THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V031000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
Reported: 1996-02-22 (February 22, 1996)
DUE TO THE THICKNESS OF THE CARPET PADDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL COULD CATCH A DRIVER'S RIGHT FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD INHIBIT A DRIVER FROM APPLYING THE BRAKES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CARPET PADDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL ADJACENT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V034000 · Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
Reported: 1996-02-22 (February 22, 1996)
DUE TO THE TYPE OF LUBRICANT USED IN THE STEERING TRANSFER GEAR ASSEMBLY, THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (LESS THAN -30 C) COULD INCREASE TO THE POINT WHERE SOME DRIVERS WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE WHEEL.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE WHEEL, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE STEERING TRANSFER GEAR ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY HAVING DIFFERENT LUBRICANT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗