IllustrationAT 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.
1994 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 97.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder years →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: 18 of 91 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
91 reportsEXHAUST 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 INTER…
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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.
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
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! T…
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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
RIGHT AND LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
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…
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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 VEHICLE. THANKS
WHEN YOU ACCELERATE, BRAKE OR GO OVER BUMPS REAR AXLE MOVES AND CHANGES DIRECTION OF STEERING. CAR WILL PULL TO LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. THE CAR WILL NOT GO DOWN THE ROAD STRAIGHT. REAR FRAME SECTION RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AT MOUNTING LOCATIONS OF AXLE SUPPORT AND SPRING AREAS. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALSO FAILED STATE INSPECTI…
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WHEN YOU ACCELERATE, BRAKE OR GO OVER BUMPS REAR AXLE MOVES AND CHANGES DIRECTION OF STEERING. CAR WILL PULL TO LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. THE CAR WILL NOT GO DOWN THE ROAD STRAIGHT. REAR FRAME SECTION RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AT MOUNTING LOCATIONS OF AXLE SUPPORT AND SPRING AREAS. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALSO FAILED STATE INSPECTION DO TO BAD RUST PROBLEM. CAR HAD FACTORY UNDERCOAT INSTALLED 8 YEARS AGO. NO WAY SHOULDS A CAR FRAME RUST OUT IN 8 YEARS OR LESS. SUV IS STILL WORTH $6000.00 BUT CAN NOT BE SAFLY DRIVE. YOU CAN NOT SEE RUSTED AREA UNLESS YOU PUT CAR UP ON A LIFT. I DID NOT DO THAT BEFORE I PURCHASED SUV JUST TRADED IN THAT DAY. DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM AND DID NOT PUT ONA LIFT TO INSPECT IT. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT WITH TOYOTA OF NASHUA BUT WITH THE MFG. NISSAN. I AM SURE YOU WILL HAVE REPORTS OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WITH THESE SUV IN THE RUST BELT AREAS OF USA. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IS NEXT STEP. I WILL SEE IF SOMEONE CAN REPAIR WELD IN A NEW FRAME RAIL SECTION. DT
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE HOOD AND THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO START VEHICLE,HAD VEHICLE SERVICED.THE ENGINE HAD LOCK UP. DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO SPEAK TO CONSUMER.
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON, LOSES POWER STEERING AS A RESULT OF ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN ENGINE INJECTORS. HAD PART REPLACED TWICE.*AK
Official recalls
202V125000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
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 & remedy
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.
96V170001 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Sep 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 & remedy
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.
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
1RQ02009 · Seat Belt Latch Failures
Opened Apr 11, 2002 · Closed Dec 17, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Seat Belts
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Seat Belts
TAKATA/NISSAN/ISUZU HAVE DETERMINED THAT DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (96V-170), SOME VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM THE CAMPAIGN. NISSAN WILL RECALL 92,500 MY1994 PATHFINDER AND D21 PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-125).ISUZU WILL RECALL 13,831 MY1994/1995 RODEO, AMIGO, TF AND PICKUP TRUCKS (02V-281) .ISUZU IS ALSO RECALLING 618 MY 1994 HONDA PASSPORT VEHICLES UNDER RECALL 02V-281 (THE HONDA PASSPORT IS MANUFACTURED BY ISUZU FOR HONDA AND IS SIMILAR TO THE ISUZU RODEO VEHICLE). THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.