1994 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Complaints

WENT TO REPLACE FRONT STRUT ROD BUSHINGS AND FOUND NEARLY RUSTED THROUGH STRUT/TENSION ROD THAT CONNECTS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE ARM WAS BENT AT THE RUSTED SECTION AND WAS NEAR FAILURE. THIS POTENTIAL FAILURE MAY HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST RUSTED STRUT/TENSION ROD I HAVE FOUND ON PATHFINDERS. WE HAVE A 1992 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER OWNERS REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM WHEN THEY REPLACE THE BUSHINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588378

Incident

May 14, 2014

Mileage

242,974 mi

TOOK MY 1994 PATHFINDER FOR FRONT BRAKE SERVICES. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED MY TRUCK AND FOUND THE FRAME COMPLETED RUSTED AND COULD NOT PLACE ON REGULAR LIFT. I WAS TOLD THAT ENTIRE FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN HAS RECALL ON PATHFINDER. I FOLLOWED UP WITH NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THAT 1994 WAS NOT ON RECALL LIST, BUT RECALL ARE FOR 1996 TO 2003 PATHFINDER. I TRY TO AVOID HIGHWAY RATTLER AND SHAKE TOO MUCH, SO I TRY TO DO CITY DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514889

Incident

May 29, 2013

Mileage

104,200 mi

TOOK VEHICLE INTO REPAIR SHOP GETTING IT READY FOR INSPECTION. WAS TOLD BY SHOP THAT THE ENTIRE REAR FRAME OF VEHICLE IS RUSTED OUT AND IS NON-REPAIRABLE. IT NEEDLESS TO SAY WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH LOOSING THE REAR WHEELS AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. (TOYOTA HAD SAME ISSUE WITH FRAMES SAME YEARS AND ISSUED A RECALL) LIVES ARE AT STAKE WITH THIS ISSUE AND NISSAN SHOULD BE MADE TO CORRECT ISSUE OR COMPENSATE OWNERS. DOING A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET ON THIS ISSUE I FOUND HUNDREDS OF POSTS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON SAME YEARS. WHAT CAN BE DONE. I NOW HAVE A WORTHLESS VEHICLE. NOTE: I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WILL BE SUICIDAL DRIVING THE CAR, AND HE CAN'T REPAIR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10402138

Incident

Jan 7, 2011

NOTICED SAGGING BUMPER AND TOOK 1994 PATHFINDER IN FOR REPAIRS. MECHANIC TOLD ME THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. POKED HIS FINGER THROUGH THE FRAME WITH NO EFFORT. CAR HAS BEEN CARED FOR AND HAD UNDERCOATING APPLIED. MECHANICS SAY THEY SEE THIS EXACT PROBLEM QUITE OFTEN. INTERNET SEARCH WILL REVEAL HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR CASES, INCLUDING CAR FALLING APART WHILE MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344323

Incident

Jun 10, 2010

Mileage

184,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE MAIN FRAME EXHIBITED SEVERE CORROSION AND RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE AND FORWARDED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,195. UPDATED 07/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/17/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10274923

Incident

Jul 12, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

TOOK VEHICLE INTO REPAIR SHOP GETTING IT READY FOR INSPECTION. WAS TOLD BY SHOP THAT THE ENTIRE REAR FRAME OF VEHICLE IS RUSTED OUT AND IS NON-REPAIRABLE. IT NEEDLESS TO SAY WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH LOOSING THE REAR WHEELS AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. (TOYOTA HAD SAME ISSUE WITH FRAMES SAME YEARS AND ISSUED A RECALL) LIVES ARE AT STAKE WITH THIS ISSUE AND NISSAN SHOULD BE MADE TO CORRECT ISSUE OR COMPENSATE OWNERS. DOING A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET ON THIS ISSUE I FOUND HUNDREDS OF POSTS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON SAME YEARS. WHAT CAN BE DONE. I NOW HAVE A WORTHLESS VEHICLE. NOTE: I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND IT HAD A NEW PA INSPECTION ON IT. SHOP SAYS THIS FRAME ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASILY SEEN AND VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257695

Incident

Feb 6, 2009

Mileage

135,166 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. THE INSPECTOR WAS ABLE TO PUSH HIS FINGER THROUGH WHAT USED TO BE A STEEL PART OF THE FRAME. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,166.

NHTSA ID

10257692

Incident

Feb 6, 2009

Mileage

135,166 mi

I NOTICED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THAT THE ENTIRE REAR FRAME OF MY VEHICLE IS ROTTED OUT, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY UNSAFE DEFECT. NOT DRIVABLE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE CHANCE OF FRAME FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246143

Incident

Sep 17, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 NISSAN PATHFINDER. UPON ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CAST IRON WAS RUSTED IN THE VEHICLE FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE INSPECTION STATION FAILED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IF THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP TOO HARD, THE VEHICLE COULD SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10245076

Incident

Oct 5, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE I AM DRIVING. "CLICK" "CLICK-CLICK" WHEN I AM DRIVING ALONE AND NOT TOUCHING ANY DOOR CONTROLS. DRIVER DOOR LOCK JAMS EASILY. CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. INTERIOR PLASTIC PARTS. GASOLINE DOOR KNOB BY DRIVER'S SEAT. BROKEN QUICKLY. HINGE TO THE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SEAT.. BROKEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. INTERIOR PLASTIC LOCKS ON DOORS FELL OFF. *TR UPDATED 11/1/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10201112

Incident

Jan 13, 2002

POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE I AM DRIVING. "CLICK" "CLICK-CLICK" WHEN I AM DRIVING ALONE AND NOT TOUCHING ANY DOOR CONTROLS. DRIVER DOOR LOCK JAMS EASILY. CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. INTERIOR PLASTIC PARTS. GASOLINE DOOR KNOB BY DRIVER'S SEAT. BROKEN QUICKLY. HINGE TO THE COMPARTMENT BETWEEN DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SEAT.. BROKEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. INTERIOR PLASTIC LOCKS ON DOORS FELL OFF.

NHTSA ID

10201111

Incident

Jan 13, 2002

BRIDGESTONE SPARE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE ATTACHED TO THE TIRE CARRIER ON THE BACK OF TH 1994 NISSAN PATTHFINDER. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NO-ONE WAS NEARBY. THE TIRE WAS RUINED, AND THE TIRE COVER WAS DESTROYED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10194126

Incident

Jun 9, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE A GENERAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE FRAME ALONG BOTH REAR AXLES WAS CORROSIVE AND THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE RESTORED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10175187

Incident

Dec 5, 2006

Mileage

165,000 mi

FRAME IN REAR WHEEL AREA RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. UNDER COATING HAD HIDDEN THIS UNTIL A SMALL CRACK HAD APPEARED. NISSAN CANADA WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE WHO INDICATED THAT NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN FOR VEHICLES OVER 5 YEARS OLD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10135324

Incident

May 11, 2005

DURING A ROUTINE AUTOMOBILE CHECK UP MECHANIC NOTICED THE BODY FRAME WAS RUSTED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VISA E-MAIL.*AK THE FRAME OVER THE REAR WHEELS HAD RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS NOT VISIBLE BECAUSE OF THE UNDER COATING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10099598

Incident

Oct 19, 2004

Mileage

138,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON 1994 PATHFINDER VEHICLE. * BF SINCE THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK 5 TIMES FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10098940

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

COMPLETELY CORRODED FRAME AFT, BEGINNING AT THE FRONT OF BOTH REAR WHEEL WELLS. *PH THE FRAME CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE CONSUMER COULD PUT A FINGER THROUGH THE CORRODED AREAS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10059416

THERE IS A LARGE HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. CONSUMER IS AN AUTO REPAIR MECHANIC, AND BELIEVES VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057996

Incident

Feb 10, 2004

Mileage

168,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10050251

Incident

Mar 11, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10045435

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

Mileage

99,420 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10030908

Incident

Aug 2, 2002

Mileage

100,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10025501

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

Mileage

106,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10022550

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

NHTSA ID

10016398

Incident

Apr 23, 2003

Mileage

139,368 mi

RIGHT AND LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10005560

Incident

Jan 6, 2003

Mileage

98,385 mi