FaultScore report
Owners have filed 67 complaints about the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder with NHTSA between 1995 and 2011. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 25 of 33 worst.
FaultScore 36/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Nissan Pathfinder.
How this is worked out67
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
141,500 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 4 fires
Median failure at 184,200 miles
Median failure at 176,613 miles
0 crashes, 1 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 100,000 miles
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
BURNED THROUGH FLOOR, PAN OVER EXHAUST PIPE. FLAMMABLE PADDING UNDER CARPET CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #764995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH DESTROYED THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: RADIO, TRANSMISSION, ALTERNATOR, REAR DEFROSTER, REAR WIPERS, REAR WINDOW LOCK, POWER WINDOW MOTOR, TURN SIGNALS, RELAYS, TRANSMISSION SENDING UNITS. AT APPROXIMATELY 82000 MILES THE BATTERY EXPLODED EATING THE PAINT OFF THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER. WITHIN A MONTH, I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN I SAW SMOKE IN THE INTERIOR ACCOMPANIED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTING SOUNDS. THE WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN, HORN WENT OFF, POWER LOCKS POPPED, AND THE SOLENOIDS IN THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPONENTS. ONLY THREE FUSES WERE BLOWN SO THE FUSE BLOCK WAS INEFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING FIRE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE EXCEPT INTERMITTANT SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT RADIO SPEAKERS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #745796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH DESTROYED THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: RADIO, TRANSMISSION, ALTERNATOR, REAR DEFROSTER, REAR WIPERS, REAR WINDOW LOCK, POWER WINDOW MOTOR, TURN SIGNALS, RELAYS, TRANSMISSION SENDING UNITS. AT APPROXIMATELY 82000 MILES THE BATTERY EXPLODED EATING THE PAINT OFF THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER. WITHIN A MONTH, I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN I SAW SMOKE IN THE INTERIOR ACCOMPANIED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTING SOUNDS. THE WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN, HORN WENT OFF, POWER LOCKS POPPED, AND THE SOLENOIDS IN THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPONENTS. ONLY THREE FUSES WERE BLOWN SO THE FUSE BLOCK WAS INEFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING FIRE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE EXCEPT INTERMITTANT SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT RADIO SPEAKERS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #745796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH DESTROYED THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: RADIO, TRANSMISSION, ALTERNATOR, REAR DEFROSTER, REAR WIPERS, REAR WINDOW LOCK, POWER WINDOW MOTOR, TURN SIGNALS, RELAYS, TRANSMISSION SENDING UNITS. AT APPROXIMATELY 82000 MILES THE BATTERY EXPLODED EATING THE PAINT OFF THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER. WITHIN A MONTH, I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN I SAW SMOKE IN THE INTERIOR ACCOMPANIED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTING SOUNDS. THE WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN, HORN WENT OFF, POWER LOCKS POPPED, AND THE SOLENOIDS IN THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPONENTS. ONLY THREE FUSES WERE BLOWN SO THE FUSE BLOCK WAS INEFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING FIRE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE EXCEPT INTERMITTANT SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT RADIO SPEAKERS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #745796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
I HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH DESTROYED THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: RADIO, TRANSMISSION, ALTERNATOR, REAR DEFROSTER, REAR WIPERS, REAR WINDOW LOCK, POWER WINDOW MOTOR, TURN SIGNALS, RELAYS, TRANSMISSION SENDING UNITS. AT APPROXIMATELY 82000 MILES THE BATTERY EXPLODED EATING THE PAINT OFF THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER. WITHIN A MONTH, I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN I SAW SMOKE IN THE INTERIOR ACCOMPANIED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTING SOUNDS. THE WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN, HORN WENT OFF, POWER LOCKS POPPED, AND THE SOLENOIDS IN THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPONENTS. ONLY THREE FUSES WERE BLOWN SO THE FUSE BLOCK WAS INEFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING FIRE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE EXCEPT INTERMITTANT SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT RADIO SPEAKERS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #745796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
I HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH DESTROYED THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: RADIO, TRANSMISSION, ALTERNATOR, REAR DEFROSTER, REAR WIPERS, REAR WINDOW LOCK, POWER WINDOW MOTOR, TURN SIGNALS, RELAYS, TRANSMISSION SENDING UNITS. AT APPROXIMATELY 82000 MILES THE BATTERY EXPLODED EATING THE PAINT OFF THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER. WITHIN A MONTH, I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN I SAW SMOKE IN THE INTERIOR ACCOMPANIED BY ELECTRICAL SHORTING SOUNDS. THE WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN, HORN WENT OFF, POWER LOCKS POPPED, AND THE SOLENOIDS IN THE TRANSMISSION BURNED OUT ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPONENTS. ONLY THREE FUSES WERE BLOWN SO THE FUSE BLOCK WAS INEFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING FIRE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE EXCEPT INTERMITTANT SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT RADIO SPEAKERS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #745796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THIS IS THE SECOND 1993 NISSAN PATHFINDER I HAVE OWNED AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME. THE REAR CROSSMEMBER COMPLETELY RUSTS OUT AND FALLS OFF THE PROBLEM IS VARY DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO OTHER DRIVERS BUT IT ALSO SEVERS THE REAR BRAKE LINE. I WAS DRIVING IN MY ALLY HIT A POT HOLE DOING MAYBE 10 TOPS WENT TO STOP AND COULD NOT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR MYSELF. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON ALL THE OLD MODEL FRAMES CUS IT IS A CONTINUES PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10379381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THIS IS THE SECOND 1993 NISSAN PATHFINDER I HAVE OWNED AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME. THE REAR CROSSMEMBER COMPLETELY RUSTS OUT AND FALLS OFF THE PROBLEM IS VARY DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO OTHER DRIVERS BUT IT ALSO SEVERS THE REAR BRAKE LINE. I WAS DRIVING IN MY ALLY HIT A POT HOLE DOING MAYBE 10 TOPS WENT TO STOP AND COULD NOT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR MYSELF. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON ALL THE OLD MODEL FRAMES CUS IT IS A CONTINUES PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10379381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
REAR SUSPENSION HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO EXTREME RUSTING OF FRAME RAILS. EXCESS MOVEMENT OF REAR AXLE FROM SEPARATION DAMAGED THE BRAKE LINE AND CAUSED LOSS OF REAR BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10257222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR SUSPENSION HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO EXTREME RUSTING OF FRAME RAILS. EXCESS MOVEMENT OF REAR AXLE FROM SEPARATION DAMAGED THE BRAKE LINE AND CAUSED LOSS OF REAR BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10257222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
*NOTE: THE TIRES IN QUESTION ARE SIZE 235/75R15...THIS SIZE OPTION WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE DROP DOWN BOX./// BLOWOUT AND NEAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AFTER FURTHER EVALUATION IT WAS DETERMINED THE SIDEWALLS OF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD COLLAPSED UPON ENTERING A SLOW CURVE. THE CONDITION HAD EXISTED EARLIER AS THE SIDEWALLS WERE WORN TO THE THREADS BEING EXPOSED. AFTER FURTHER EVALUATION ;ALL FOUR TIRES SEEM TO HAVE A VERY FLIMSY AND SUB-STANDARD SIDEWALL CONSTRUCTION. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL ALL FOUR TIRES CAN BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10209737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
I'M A CONSUMER WHO JUST HAD FOUR NEW COOPER DISCOVERER AST II TIRES INSTALLED ON A '93 NISSAN PATHFINDER. ALL FAILED WITHIN 709 MILES, APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH OF DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING TWO WEEKS AND 555 MILES, THE FRONT LEFT TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OUT IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT APPEARED TO FAIL AT THE BEAD. MY TIRE DEALER TURNED THE TIRE OVER TO A COOPER REP WHO EXAMINED THE TIRE AND SAID THE SHOP INSTALLED IT IMPROPERLY, LEADING TO THE FAILURE. THE SHOP DISAGREED WITH THE FINDING, BUT THEY REPLACED THE TIRE FREE OF CHARGE. TWO WEEKS AND 154 MILES LATER, I NOTICED THE THREE OTHER COOPERS WERE FAILING. THE REARS HAD SOFTBALL-SIZED BULGES ON THE TIRE WALL EXTENDING FROM THE BEAD TOWARD THE TREAD. THE RIGHT FRONT HAD A BASEBALL-SIZED BULGE IN THE SAME LOCATION. ALL THE BULGES WERE ON THE INBOARD, WHITEWALL SIDE OF THE TIRE. MY SHOP'S OWNER PERSONALLY PULLED THE TIRES, EXAMINED THEM, AND FOUND BARE BEAD WIRE ADJACENT TO THE BULGE. THE BARE WIRE WAS 1-2 INCHES LONG. HE SAYS THE LOCATION OF THE BARE WIRE/BULGE FALLS ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE TIRE DURING MOUNTING--A SPOT NOT CONTACTED BY THE MOUNTING BAR DURING INSTALLATION. FURTHERMORE, HE SAID HE FOUND NO SCUFFING INSIDE THE TIRE INDICATING CONTACT WITH THE MOUNTING BAR AND NO LOOSE RUBBER INSIDE THE TIRE, FURTHER INDICATIVE OF DAMAGE DURING MOUNTING. HE TRUSTS HIS INSTALLER, A 10-YEAR EMPLOYEE WHO INSTALLS 100 TIRES A WEEK. HE'S CONVINCED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVELY MANUFACTURED. MY DEALER HAS FOLLOWED UP WITH COOPER. THE COMPANY INSISTS THE TIRES WERE DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION, BUT IT WENT AHEAD AND CREDITED THE SHOP THE COST OF THE TIRES. MY DEALER HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE ON A COOPER LIFELINER SLE TIRE A MONTH EARLIER, AND COOPER DENIED ANY PROBLEMS ON THEIR PART IN THAT INCIDENT AS WELL. THE TIRES ARE COOPER ASTII, P235-75-15 I PULLED ONE DOT#...3D1TCLA2305 THANKS --- BRUCE STOFF, ITHACA NY.
NHTSA complaint #10138302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
FRAME VERRY RUSTY AND BROKE IN REAR OF VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #10120229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THERE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE MANIFOLD STUDS BREAKING, RESULTING IN AN EXHAUST LEAK INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH CAUSES EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10099726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS DUE TO POOR QUALITY EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND/OR BOLTS.
NHTSA complaint #10046869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHUAST MANIFOLD STUDS KEEP BREAKING CAUSING LEAKAGE, FUMES, AND NOISE. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 45K MILES AT $500 TO $1200 PER INCIDENT. HAVE FILED COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS (INCIDENT 4259794). NISSAN DECLINED TO ASSIST BECAUSE THEY SAID VECHICLE WAS BEYOND USEFUL SERVICE LIFE. EVEN IF THAT WERE TRUE, THE REPAIRS I'M PAYING THEM FOR OVER AND OVER SHOULD HAVE A USEFUL SERVICE LIFE. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL DEALERS THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. COMMON NISSAN, FIX THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. I JUST WANT TO HAVE IT FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL WITHOUT HAVING TO KEEP ON PAYING FOR THIS. CHECK OUT THIS FORUM HTTP://FORUMS.VMAG.COM/SUVPATHFINDER0200 WHERE THERE ARE LITERALLY 100'S OF COMPLAINTS.
NHTSA complaint #10037263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE REAR END FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF BODY ROT, AND IF IMPACTED IN AN ACCIDENT, IT WOULD DISINTEGRATE.
NHTSA complaint #10009995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD RUSTED ON 2 OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10008739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ODOMETER FRAUD.
NHTSA complaint #10005781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS ARE BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. DEALERSHIP WANTS $1400.00 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF AND DOES NOTHING TO COMPENSATE THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR. CAUSES EXHAST LEAKS INTO THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10005540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
BURNED THROUGH FLOOR, PAN OVER EXHAUST PIPE. FLAMMABLE PADDING UNDER CARPET CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #764995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED,AND BOLTS WERE BROKEN, CAUSING EXHAUST FUMES TO LEAK INSIDE VEHICLE WHEN OUTDOOR VENT WAS OPEN.CONTACTED DEALER.THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8014491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
EVERY TIME VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP ENGINE DIES OUT. TAKES NUMEROUS TRIES TO GET VEHICLE TO RESTART. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL.
NHTSA complaint #8007148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
BROKEN ENGINE EXHAUST STUDS; ALSO, OCCURRED IN 1994,1995 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #756504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #753843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
BOTTOM OF VEHICLE/ RUNNING BOARD, AND REAR BUMPER BECAME RUSTED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #897190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
BOTTOM OF VEHICLE/ RUNNING BOARD, AND REAR BUMPER BECAME RUSTED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #897190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
BOTTOM OF VEHICLE/ RUNNING BOARD, AND REAR BUMPER BECAME RUSTED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #897190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE PASENGER DOOR BY USING THE KEY, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DOOR FOR THIS ON A PREVIOUS OCCASION IN WHICH THEY REMOVED THE DOOR PANEL AND CHANGED A BROKEN CLIP. YH
NHTSA complaint #562115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE BRAKES FAILED AND WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #562115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING BELT OF THE VEHICLE BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALER REPLACED.THE PISTONS STUCK IN A CLOSED POSITION AND IT BENT THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING PARTILA REFUND FOR BENT VALVE AND PISTON THAT WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #562115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.