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1992 Nissan Pathfinder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder are lower than the model-year median of 97.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 30 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

30 reports
115,680 miles · May 2, 2012
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 NISSAN PATHFINDER EQUIPPED WITH SIGMA STAMPEDE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED ALONG THE SIDEWALL WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE FUEL HOSES WERE FRACTURED AND LEAKING FUEL. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HELPED RECONNECT THE FUEL HOSES AND INSTALLED A SPARE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 NISSAN PATHFINDER EQUIPPED WITH SIGMA STAMPEDE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED ALONG THE SIDEWALL WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE FUEL HOSES WERE FRACTURED AND LEAKING FUEL. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HELPED RECONNECT THE FUEL HOSES AND INSTALLED A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRE WAS 19,505. UPDATED 05/31/12*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10457123

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2012
Fuel System, GasolineStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FUEL LEAK AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME RAIL WAS RUSTED AND THERE WERE SEVERAL HOLES IN THE FRAME. THE MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO OPERATE. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A FUEL LEAK AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME RAIL WAS RUSTED AND THERE WERE SEVERAL HOLES IN THE FRAME. THE MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,581.

NHTSA ODI #10452645

150,000 miles · Feb 6, 2006
Electrical SystemFire

1992 NISSAN PATHFINDER PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS IGNITED SPONTANEOUSLY. FIRE DEPARTMENT OPENED CAR AND EXTINGUISHED BLAZED. OBSERVED MELTED DASH BOARD BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL AND DETERMINED THAT CAUSE WAS ELECTRICAL. CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND FOUND THAT ENGINE WAS INTACT. DISCONNECTED CAR BATTERY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10149533

131,715 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Structure

1992 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS PROBLEMS WITH REAR SUSPENSION FRAME.*MR WHEN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS BROKEN, BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE NO ONE EVER MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME BEING RUSTED. THE CONS…

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1992 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS PROBLEMS WITH REAR SUSPENSION FRAME.*MR WHEN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS BROKEN, BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE NO ONE EVER MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME BEING RUSTED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM DURING MAINTENANCE. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME MEMBERS WHICH ANCHORED THE UPPER LINKS OF THE REAR SUSPENSION TO THE LADDER FRAME HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND/OR BROKE FREE FROM WHERE THEY WERE WELDED TO THE MAIN FRAME. *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10051826

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

NAR 03/03/2003. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE FAILED TO PASS A CALIFORNIA SMOG TEST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10009740

5,100 miles · Jan 21, 2003
Power Train

IN ORDER FOR THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE TO DISENGAGE THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A TURN CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED ALL IS NORMAL. TS

NHTSA ODI #10004187

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY 11/99. REPLACED AT DEALER W/REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN 11/01 AND MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #754734

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2001
Structure

WHILE CLEANING VEHICLE INTERIOR ON 10/07/2001, I LIFTED THE REAR SEATS UP TO CLEAN UNDER THEM. SOME TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT AND A VINYL TOOL BAG ARE STORED, AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, UNDER THE LEFT REAR SEAT. I LIFTED THE VINYL BAG TO CLEAN UNDER IT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FLOOR WAS RUSTED THROUGH UNDER THE BAG (OVER 6 INCHES) AND …

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WHILE CLEANING VEHICLE INTERIOR ON 10/07/2001, I LIFTED THE REAR SEATS UP TO CLEAN UNDER THEM. SOME TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT AND A VINYL TOOL BAG ARE STORED, AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, UNDER THE LEFT REAR SEAT. I LIFTED THE VINYL BAG TO CLEAN UNDER IT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FLOOR WAS RUSTED THROUGH UNDER THE BAG (OVER 6 INCHES) AND EXPOSING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TO EXHAUST FUMES AND THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I WOULD NEVER HAVE DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEN IF I HAD NOT LIFTED THE VINYL TOOL BAG.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753062

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2001
Equipment

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER TO HAVE A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCING PERFORMED, WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED HOME HE PERFORMED HIS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR (BRIDGESTONE DUAL AT D693 31X10.50 15LT6) TIRES HAD BETWEEN 45 AND 50 PSI BUT THE RECOMMENDED VEHICLE MANUFACTURER'S PRESSURE IS 26 PSI …

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CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER TO HAVE A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCING PERFORMED, WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED HOME HE PERFORMED HIS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR (BRIDGESTONE DUAL AT D693 31X10.50 15LT6) TIRES HAD BETWEEN 45 AND 50 PSI BUT THE RECOMMENDED VEHICLE MANUFACTURER'S PRESSURE IS 26 PSI CONSUMER RETURNED VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE THEY MUST HAVE OVER INFLATED TIRES, CONSUMER ASKED FOR WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION THAT HIGHER PRESSURES SHOULD BE USED, BECAUSE AS STATED ON THE DOOR PLATE OF VEHICLE JAMB IT SAYS 26 PSI, DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT FIRESTONE HAD BEEN RUNNING ADS ABOUT THE CORRECT PRESSURES FOR THESE TYPES OF VEHICLE'S, HOWEVER DEALER DID CHECKED A FIRESTONE MANUAL WHICH INDICATED THAT TIRE PRESSURE SHOULD BE 26 PSI, CONSUMER INQUIRED AS TO WHY HE WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MECHANIC THEN HANDED HIM A BROCHURE ENTITLED INFLATE ROTATE EVALUATE THAT CLEARLY STATED LOOK FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED AIR PRESSURE LISTED ON THE STICKER OF YOUR VEHICLE'S DOOR JAMB, AFTER CONSUMER POINTED OUT THAT THE DELAER'S RECOMMENDATION AND THE BROCHURE WERE TOTALLY INCONSISTENT THE DEALER LOST HIS TEMPER AND ORDERED THE CONSUMER OUT OF THE STORE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #560910

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2001
Power TrainInjury

WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK, IT SUDDENLY LUNGED BACKWARDS, SHIFTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE PARK OR NEUTRAL AND KEY COULD NO BE TURNED, VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO REST AFTER IT HIT A PARKED VEHICLE, 1 PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #560049

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.