8 complaints reported

1996 Nissan Pathfinder Structure

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
8
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2013
Mar 2011

I STARTED TO EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING,FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, EFFECTING MY STEERING AND HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE,WHEN EITHER CHANGING LANES OR WHEN I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD. I HONESTLY STARTED TO BELIEVE MY CAR WAS ABOUT TO ROLL OVER, THUS CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF AND POSSIBLY OTHERS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I THEN DECIDED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL NIZZAN DEALASHIP TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD,THAT THE LEFT APRON ASSEMBLY & LEFT CLOSINGPLATE WAS SEVERELY ROTTED OUT AND SPLIT APART DUE TO CORROSION, WHICH LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER, WHICH IN TURN AFFECTS THE VEHICLE'S ALIIGNMENT. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTOBODY SHOP AND HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PARTS THAT I DESCRIBED ABOVED,ALONG WITH BOLTED ON PARTS, AN UNDERCOATING SPRAY TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE CORROSION AND THE LABOR COST CHARGED INVOLVED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2010
Nov 2009

WHEN TOWING A CAMPER WITH MY 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER THE SHOCKS GAVE OUT AND CAUSED THE BODY OF THE CAR TO DROP DOWN TO RUB ON THE WHEELS. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE CAMPER THE BODY ROSE UP TO NORMAL POSITION AND I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME AREA OVER THE REAR WHEELS ON BOTH SIDES IS COMPLETELY ROTTED. CHECKING MY SON-IN-LAWS 1995 PATHFINDER I DISCOVERED THAT HIS WAS AS BAD OR WORSE THAN MINE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2008
Mar 2004

WHILE STEPPING ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE RUNNING BOARD IT SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE RUNNING BOARD, PLACE IT INSIDE VEHICLE, AND DRIVE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RUNNING BOARD WAS RUSTED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2004
Jul 2003

SEVERE RUSTING OF FRAME, WORST AREA IS AT LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE AT TOP OF CURVE IN FRAME AT TIRE. SEVERAL BODY SHOPS AND A NISSAN DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED AT A COST EFFECTIVE RATE AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE USED AS INTENDED. IT COULD FALL APART UNDER TENSION. NISSAN CO. USA SAID IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY, SORRY FOR YOUR LUCK.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2003
Mar 2003

PASSENGER'S SIDE RUNNING BOARD BRACKET RUSTED AND COULD FALL APART. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2003
Apr 2002 Injury

WHILE DRIVING, SOMETHING FELL OFF FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND 4 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, CLAIM 46-0449-841. *SLC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2001
Feb 1998

DOOR SEALS LEAK AIR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 1997

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1996 Nissan Pathfinder has 8 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.