← New search

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

Other model years Selected 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 reports
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2002
Structure

FRAME CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. LOCATION OF THE CORROSION IS NEAR THE REAR TIRES ON BOTH SIDES IN THE WEEL WELL. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THEY CAN NOT MAKE THE REPAIR DUE TO LIBALITY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED "THIS IS A COMMOND PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE". ALSO I WAS TOLD NO…

Read full complaint

FRAME CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. LOCATION OF THE CORROSION IS NEAR THE REAR TIRES ON BOTH SIDES IN THE WEEL WELL. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THEY CAN NOT MAKE THE REPAIR DUE TO LIBALITY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED "THIS IS A COMMOND PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE". ALSO I WAS TOLD NOT TO TOW A TRAILER WITH THIS VEHICLE, THE FRAME WOULD NO LONGER SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT. BOTTOM LINE THE FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST OUT IN 8 YEARS. NOW WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS $26,000.00 VEHICLE????*AK

NHTSA ODI #762156

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS IS THE 13TH MANIFOLD STUD THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY WANT TO REPLACE ALL 6 AGAIN AT A COST OF $636.00. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS ALSO AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SEPAREATES FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE ASLO …

Read full complaint

THIS IS THE 13TH MANIFOLD STUD THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY WANT TO REPLACE ALL 6 AGAIN AT A COST OF $636.00. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS ALSO AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SEPAREATES FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE ASLO LOGGED A COMPLAINT WITH THE EPA. THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER MODEL YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756519

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

4 EXHAUST BOLTS HAVE SHEARED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS, BUT ONLY COVERED VEHICLES FROM 1995 AND NEWER AND UNDER 100,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #756089

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHEN IN FORWARD GEAR AT IDLE THE ENGINE ACCELERATED UP TO 5000 RPM. I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT STOP THE AUTO FROM CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF MY GARAGE CAUSING DAMAGE TO SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE GARAGE. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ABOUT TEN TIMES APPROXIMATELY TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (PUYALLUP …

Read full complaint

WHEN IN FORWARD GEAR AT IDLE THE ENGINE ACCELERATED UP TO 5000 RPM. I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT STOP THE AUTO FROM CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF MY GARAGE CAUSING DAMAGE TO SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE GARAGE. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ABOUT TEN TIMES APPROXIMATELY TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (PUYALLUP NISSAN, PUYALLUP, WA.) STATE "THIS HAPPENS" WITH PATHFINDERS AND THEY STATED THERE IS NO KNOWN CORRECTION FOR IT. IN ANOTHER CIRCUMSTANCE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #754841

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2001
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, CONSUMER RELEASED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, AND CONSUMER FELT THROTTLE STICKING, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN AFTER CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, CONSUMER USED BOTH FEET TO APPLY BRAKES, WITNESS STATED REAR WHEELS WERE SPINNING, VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEH…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, CONSUMER RELEASED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, AND CONSUMER FELT THROTTLE STICKING, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN EVEN AFTER CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, CONSUMER USED BOTH FEET TO APPLY BRAKES, WITNESS STATED REAR WHEELS WERE SPINNING, VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, DEALER CLEANED CARBON BUILD UP IN THROTTLE CHAMBER HOUSING, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE, THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE IN SEPTEMBER 1997, SAME REMEDY APPLIED. *AK THE VEHICLES BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #897691

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2001
Structure

WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT AUTOMATIC LOCK WOULD LOCK ALL THE DOORS. SOMETIMES WOULD UNLOCK, AND THEN RELOCK BY ITSELF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897156

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Tires

MICHELIN LTX M/S P23575R15 FAILED WHILE DRIVING. LEFT FRONT TIRE UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. TWO RUPTURES OCCURRED ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. BOTH RUPTURES WERE RADIAL, EACH 3-4 INCHES LONG AND APPROX. 18 INCHES APART. NO APPARENT OBSTACLES WERE ENCOUNTERED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE TIRE PREVIO…

Read full complaint

MICHELIN LTX M/S P23575R15 FAILED WHILE DRIVING. LEFT FRONT TIRE UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. TWO RUPTURES OCCURRED ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. BOTH RUPTURES WERE RADIAL, EACH 3-4 INCHES LONG AND APPROX. 18 INCHES APART. NO APPARENT OBSTACLES WERE ENCOUNTERED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE TIRE PREVIOUSLY APPEARED IN GOOD CONDITION. I QUESTION IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE TIRE RETAILER CONSIDERS THE FAILURE CAUSED BY "ROAD HAZARD". I DISAGREE AND WOULD LIKE AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION. *AK (TIRESIZE: P23575R15)

NHTSA ODI #747194

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

IN DEC OF 1999 AN EXHAUST LEAK STARTED. COSTS $650 TO REPAIR SINCE MANIFOLDS WARP AND BREAK BOLTS OFF IN ENGINE BLOCK. THE BOLTS THEN HAVE TO BE BORED OUT AND THE HOLES IN THE ENGINE HAVE TO BE RETAPPED FOR THREADS. HE SAID IT WAS SURPRIZING THAT BOTH SIDES WEREN'T BAD BECAUSE PATHFINDERS WHERE "KNOWN" FOR THIS FAILURE AND HE…

Read full complaint

IN DEC OF 1999 AN EXHAUST LEAK STARTED. COSTS $650 TO REPAIR SINCE MANIFOLDS WARP AND BREAK BOLTS OFF IN ENGINE BLOCK. THE BOLTS THEN HAVE TO BE BORED OUT AND THE HOLES IN THE ENGINE HAVE TO BE RETAPPED FOR THREADS. HE SAID IT WAS SURPRIZING THAT BOTH SIDES WEREN'T BAD BECAUSE PATHFINDERS WHERE "KNOWN" FOR THIS FAILURE AND HE SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKED LOOK AT THAT TIME, I SHOULD EXPECT IT TO FAIL ANYWAY SOMEDAY BECAUSE THEY ALL DO. ABOUT 1-YEAR LATER, THAT OTHER MANIFOLD DID FAIL IN THE EXACT SAME WAY AND IT COST ME $600+ AT ANOTHER SHOP TO GET THAT ONE REPLACED AND RETAPPED AFTER DRILLING OUT BROKEN BOLTS. THE MECHANIC AT THAT SHOP SAID THAT HE WAS SURPRISED BOTH SIDES WEREN'T BAD SINCE ALL PATHFINDERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM AND I EXPLAINED THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. WHY ISN'T NISSAN BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS???*AK

NHTSA ODI #746787

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2001
Tires

TREAD SEPARATION. *AK WILDERNESS HT LT235/75R15 BELT SEPARATION DAMAGE TO DRIVVERSIDE REAR QUATER PANEL AND SIDE DOOR FROM EXPLODING TREAD.*JB

NHTSA ODI #889286

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2001
Tires

ALL FOUR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #560251

Official recalls

2

02V125000 · 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

1

RQ02009 · 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.