Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension64
- Steering24
- Service brakes, hydraulic14
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Tires13
- Power train12
- Air bags11
- Electrical system11
- Structure11
- Seat belts6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 32 injuries and 3 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 8 1996 Pathfinder vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 1 person died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder failed the safety check 1.26% of the time — 14% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 164,682 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
26 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 15.3–15.5 L/100 km (about 15 mpg US), CO₂ 352–357 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathfinder 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.3 | 14.1 | 15.3 |
| Pathfinder 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 13.6 | 15.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder.
| 2011165 21 Apr 2011 | Structure On certain vehicles operated in areas of heavy road salt usage during winter months, a mixture of snow/water and salt may enter an assembly location hole in the… |
| 1996035 21 Feb 1996 | Brakes NOTE: THERE ARE TWO DEFECTS IN THIS RECALL. (1) DUE TO THE THICKNESS OF THE CARPET PADDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND T… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Nissan told its dealers about the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635795 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSFER CASE DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 633637 | SUBJECT REGARDING BEARING NOISE FROM TRANSFER CASE COMPANION FLANGE. *JG |
| 632164 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 632155 | SUBJECT REGARDING ROOF CONSOLE TEMPERATURE DISPLAY READS INACCURATELY. *TT |
| 631976 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONFIGURATION, CLASSIFICATION NUMBER TE02-005. *SLC |
| 631971 | INFORMATION ON NISSAN REVISED TPS ADJUSTMENT PROCDURE. *SLC |
| 631766 | INFORMATION REGARDING ESSENTIAL TOOL: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TEST CONNECTOR. *SLC |
| 631760 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. *SLC |
| 631339 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSFER CASE NOISES. *JG |
| 630810 | CONCERNS WITH MANUAL TRANSFER CASE NOISES. *JB |
| 629210 | SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT |
| 629186 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK NOISE FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING. *TT |
| 625172 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIND UP CLUNK (OLD PROCEDURE),( AMENDMENT). *YD |
| 625166 | SUBJECT REGARDING IDLER PULLEY NOISE (AMENDMENT). *YD |
| 625022 | SUBJECT REGARDING SUNGLASSES HOLDER LID WILL NOT OPEN/CLOSE PROPERLY. *YD |
| 624064 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO REVISED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES.*JB |
| 623162 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING INNER TIE ROD WRENCHES. *SB |
| 623114 | SUBJECT REGARDING ESSENTIAL TOOL - REAR AXLE BEARING REMOVAL KIT. *TTTHE KIT IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL AND AND WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SENT TO ALL NISSAN DEALERS. |
| 621762 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SQUEAK / RATTLE NOISE AT THE REAR HATCH. *TT |
| 618806 | VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JN8AR05Y * XW360090 MAY EXHIBIT IDLE SPEED FLUCTUATION; INCORRECT IDLE SPEED; INCREASED ACCELERATOR PEDAL RESISTANCE AND / OR DIFFICULTY ACCELRATING SMOOTHLY FROM A STOP. *TT |
| 613988 | SUBJECT REGARDING VG33E PISTON REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 613407 | SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLES WITHIN VIN JN8AR07S4XW350 THAT EXHIBIT WIND-UP CLUNK. *TT |
| 612637 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JN8AR07S4XW350146 AND EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK NOISE FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING. *TT |
| 612636 | THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CONCERNS WITH THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR BECOMING LOOSE AND / OR FALLING OFF. *TT |
| 610989 | SUBJECT REGRDING SUNSHADE CLIPS BREAK OR DEFORM ON VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JN8AR0788XW350101. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Frame/Body Structure Corrosion
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation