1993 Nissan Pathfinder

REF. SERVICE BULLETIN #: FC0009202 / NHTSA ITEM #: SB035797 -- EXHAUST NOISE AND EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE DUE TO BROKEN MANIFOLD STUDS. AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, THE RIGHT MANIFOLD STUDS BROKE AT 36,705 MILES AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY NISSAN. AT 48,654 MILES, THE LEFT MANIFOLD STUDS BROKE AND WAS REPAIRED AT MY COST (APPROX $350). NOW, AT 113,500 MILES, THE LEFT MANIFOLD STUDS APPEAR TO BE BROKEN AND REQUIRE REPAIR. NISSAN REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR 1993 ENGINES. FOR 1995 & 1996 MODELS, THEY'VE EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES. THEN, IN 1997, THEY INTRODUCED A NEW DESIGN WHICH CHANGED THE BOLT SIZE FROM 8MM TO 10MM BOLTS (RECTIFYING THE KNOWN PROBLEM). EVEN WITH SUCH AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, NISSAN REFUSES TO WARRANTEE THE REPAIRS! I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT A RECALL BE ISSUED REQUIRING NISSAN TO UPGRADE THE ENGINE/EXHAUST SYSTEMS IN THE PRE-1997 NISSAN PATHFINDERS (IN THAT, THIS BROKEN MANIFOLD STUDS PROBLEM WILL CONTINUE TO REOCCUR EVERY 50,000 MILES OR SO). THANK YOU. SINCERELY, MICHAEL J. *AKGALL. *AK

ON JUNE 14, 2000 MY SPOUSE AND I WERE RETURNING FROM VACATION DRIVING APPROX. 70 MPH ON I-35 EAST OF GREENVILLE, TX AND HAD JUST PASSED AN 18 WHEELER WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. WE WERE IN THE LEFT HAND LANE AND WERE VERY FORTUNATE IN MOVING IN FRONT OF THE 18 WHEELER AND OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WITHOUT ROLLING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS VERY SCARY. THE TREAD CAME OFF AND TORE UP PART OF THE FENDER AREA AND WRAPPED UP OVER THE REAR BUMPER AND BROKE THE RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE PROCESS TO BE REIMBURSED BY FIRESTONE FOR OUR REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE REGIONAL FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. IN FORT WORTH SUGGESTET THAT IN ADDITIONAL TO THE $400.00 AMOUNT REQUESTED FOR NEW TIRES THAT WE ALSO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE $80.00 EXPENSE TO HAVE THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. WE SUBMITTED ALL APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK ON AUGUST 16, 0000. AS OF OCTOBER 4, 0000 (SEVEN WEEKS) WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM FIRESTONE. WE ARE VERY UPSET WITH THEIR LACK OF RESPONSE. PLEASE ADVISE. BY THE WAY, WE HAD NINE TIRES ON TWO VEHICLES WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. FIVE OF THE TIRES (GOODYEAR) WERE REPLACED VERY QUICKLY AFTER WE RAISED CANE AND NO REIMBURSEMENT IS REQUIRED ON THESE FIVE TIRES. THANKS! (TIRESIZE: 23575R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

THE DEALER REPLACED TWO STUDS WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY (6 YEAR / 60K MI). I RECENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR A TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AND INSPECTION. THEY INFORMED ME I HAD THREE MORE BROKEN OR CRACKED STUDS. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME IT WOULD COST AROUND $1000.00 TO REPLACE ALL THE STUDS. I HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL PATHFINDER BULLETIN BOARDS AND THIS IS A COMMON FACTORY DEFECT FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF PATHFINDER. I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD COVER THE COST OF PARTS AND AT LEAST 50% OF THE LABOR FOR REPAIRS.