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1994 problems

FaultScore report

1994 Nissan Pathfinder problems

Owners have filed 108 complaints about the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder with NHTSA between 1995 and 2014. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 28 of 33 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Nissan Pathfinder All 1994 cars

FaultScore 26/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Nissan Pathfinder.

How this is worked out

The numbers

108

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

127,500 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

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.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 18: Against the median year of the Nissan Pathfinder. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 57: 11.1% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 0: 0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1994 compares with every other Nissan Pathfinder

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 31 17 19 44 49 38 67 108 218 214 293 194 144 166 299 206 147 86 1,560 1,224 846 458 51 61 59 35 1,209 750 434 130 255 124 122 72 196 156 123 82 10

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25 26

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1994 Nissan Pathfinder

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 36 33.3%

1 crashes, 1 fires · median 99,420 mi

Body & Structure 23 21.3%

Median failure at 136,583 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 10 9.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 125,000 mi

Brakes 8 7.4%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 104,200 mi

Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 6.5%

4 crashes, 0 fires

Tires 5 4.6%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Electrical System 4 3.7%

1 crashes, 1 fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 3 2.8%

Other & Unspecified 2 1.9%

Equipment & Accessories 2 1.9%

Doors, Latches & Locks 2 1.9%

Fuel & Propulsion 2 1.9%

Suspension 2 1.9%

Median failure at 242,974 miles

Seats 1 0.9%

Airbags 1 0.9%

Exactly what failed

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.

Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 18 28.6%

Frame AND Members 14 22.2%

Exhaust System 8 12.7%

Gasoline 7 11.1%

Automatic Transmission 6 9.5%

Accelerator Pedal 4 6.3%

Engine 3 4.8%

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 3 4.8%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 11.1%

75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 11.1%

100,000 – 149,999 miles 10 55.6%

150,000+ miles 4 22.2%

When owners complained

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.

Jan 1995 peak 6 May 2014

NHTSA investigations into the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

RQ02009 Opened 11 Apr 2002 Closed 17 Dec 2002 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT LATCH FAILURES

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.

Recalls on the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

02V125000 2 May 2002

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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.

Risk: 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.

96V170001 10 Sep 1996

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1996138 13 Sep 1996 5,632 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

THE LATCH PLATE USED IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO THE DESIGN DIMENSION. THIS COULD RESULT IN PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TONGUE TO COME OUT OF THE BUCKLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR SUDDEN STOP. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND BUCKLES WITH THE AFFECTED LOT NUMBER WILL BE REPLACED.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 6 Jun 2003 Belton, SC Crash

TIRES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10022550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 26 Nov 2002 Ozone Park, NY Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #8023323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Nov 2001 Bonney Lake, WA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #754841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 12 Oct 2001 Broonall, PA Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

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.

NHTSA complaint #897691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 12 Oct 2001 Broonall, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

NHTSA complaint #897691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 19 May 2000 Eagle Creek, OR Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

THE VEHICLE'S GAS PEDAL STUCK AND WHEN TAPPED TO FREE IT, SURGED FORWARD AT CONSIDERABLE SPEED OVER A CURB, OVER THE TOP OF A FENCE WALL (ABOUT 18" HIGH AT PARKING LOT LEVEL) AND THROUGH A CYCLONE FENCE, DROPPING ABOUT EIGHT FEET TO THE SIDE OF A RAILROAD TRACK. THE DISTANCE COVERED TO GO OVER THE WALL WAS ABOUT FIVE FEET AND OCCURRED SO RAPIDLY THE BRAKES COULD NOT BE APPLIED.

NHTSA complaint #722402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 14 May 2014 at 242,974 miles Bozeman, MT

SUSPENSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10588378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 3 Jun 2013 at 104,200 miles Hillside, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

NHTSA complaint #10514889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 19 May 2011 DES Moines, IA

STRUCTURE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10402138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Jul 2010 at 184,000 miles Fairfax, VA

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10344323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Jun 2009 at 60,000 miles Fort Thomas, KY

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10274923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Feb 2009 at 135,166 miles Franklin, PA

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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 complaint #10257692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Feb 2009 at 135,166 miles Franklin, PA

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10257695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Oct 2008 at 110,000 miles Moorestown, NJ

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10246143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 10 Oct 2008 at 130,000 miles Salem, NH

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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 complaint #10245076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.