IllustrationDURING A ROUTINE AUTOMOBILE CHECK UP MECHANIC NOTICED THE BODY FRAME WAS RUSTED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VISA E-MAIL.*AK THE FRAME OVER THE REAR WHEELS HAD RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS NOT VISIBLE BECAUSE OF THE UNDER COATING. *JB
1994 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 97.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 18 of 91 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
Structure complaints
23 reportsCOMPLETELY CORRODED FRAME AFT, BEGINNING AT THE FRONT OF BOTH REAR WHEEL WELLS. *PH THE FRAME CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE CONSUMER COULD PUT A FINGER THROUGH THE CORRODED AREAS. *NM
THERE IS A LARGE HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. CONSUMER IS AN AUTO REPAIR MECHANIC, AND BELIEVES VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK
THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS RUSTED OUT. MAINLY ABOVE THE REAR AXLE MOUNTS. THIS CARS HAS BEEN WASHED AND UNDERCARRIAGE CLEANED CONSTANTLY. IT SEEMS THAT THE METAL WAS NOT PURE BUT PROBABLY RECYCLED. THUS THE RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NISSAN DIDN'T WANT TO HELP, JUST PUT THE COMPLAINT ON FILE. SO WAY TO KEEP CUSTOMERS COMING BACK! T…
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THE FRAME OF THE CAR HAS RUSTED OUT. MAINLY ABOVE THE REAR AXLE MOUNTS. THIS CARS HAS BEEN WASHED AND UNDERCARRIAGE CLEANED CONSTANTLY. IT SEEMS THAT THE METAL WAS NOT PURE BUT PROBABLY RECYCLED. THUS THE RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NISSAN DIDN'T WANT TO HELP, JUST PUT THE COMPLAINT ON FILE. SO WAY TO KEEP CUSTOMERS COMING BACK! THIS WAS A 26,000 DOLLAR CAR NOW WORTH 0 ! *JB
WHEN YOU ACCELERATE, BRAKE OR GO OVER BUMPS REAR AXLE MOVES AND CHANGES DIRECTION OF STEERING. CAR WILL PULL TO LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. THE CAR WILL NOT GO DOWN THE ROAD STRAIGHT. REAR FRAME SECTION RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AT MOUNTING LOCATIONS OF AXLE SUPPORT AND SPRING AREAS. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALSO FAILED STATE INSPECTI…
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WHEN YOU ACCELERATE, BRAKE OR GO OVER BUMPS REAR AXLE MOVES AND CHANGES DIRECTION OF STEERING. CAR WILL PULL TO LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. THE CAR WILL NOT GO DOWN THE ROAD STRAIGHT. REAR FRAME SECTION RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AT MOUNTING LOCATIONS OF AXLE SUPPORT AND SPRING AREAS. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALSO FAILED STATE INSPECTION DO TO BAD RUST PROBLEM. CAR HAD FACTORY UNDERCOAT INSTALLED 8 YEARS AGO. NO WAY SHOULDS A CAR FRAME RUST OUT IN 8 YEARS OR LESS. SUV IS STILL WORTH $6000.00 BUT CAN NOT BE SAFLY DRIVE. YOU CAN NOT SEE RUSTED AREA UNLESS YOU PUT CAR UP ON A LIFT. I DID NOT DO THAT BEFORE I PURCHASED SUV JUST TRADED IN THAT DAY. DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM AND DID NOT PUT ONA LIFT TO INSPECT IT. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT WITH TOYOTA OF NASHUA BUT WITH THE MFG. NISSAN. I AM SURE YOU WILL HAVE REPORTS OF SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WITH THESE SUV IN THE RUST BELT AREAS OF USA. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IS NEXT STEP. I WILL SEE IF SOMEONE CAN REPAIR WELD IN A NEW FRAME RAIL SECTION. DT
FRAME CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. LOCATION OF THE CORROSION IS NEAR THE REAR TIRES ON BOTH SIDES IN THE WEEL WELL. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THEY CAN NOT MAKE THE REPAIR DUE TO LIBALITY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED "THIS IS A COMMOND PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE". ALSO I WAS TOLD NO…
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FRAME CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. LOCATION OF THE CORROSION IS NEAR THE REAR TIRES ON BOTH SIDES IN THE WEEL WELL. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THEY CAN NOT MAKE THE REPAIR DUE TO LIBALITY PROBLEMS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED "THIS IS A COMMOND PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE". ALSO I WAS TOLD NOT TO TOW A TRAILER WITH THIS VEHICLE, THE FRAME WOULD NO LONGER SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT. BOTTOM LINE THE FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST OUT IN 8 YEARS. NOW WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS $26,000.00 VEHICLE????*AK
WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT AUTOMATIC LOCK WOULD LOCK ALL THE DOORS. SOMETIMES WOULD UNLOCK, AND THEN RELOCK BY ITSELF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP.*AK
TRANSMISSION WOULD STICK. WOULD FAIL TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. WOULD HAVE NO PRIOR WARNING WHEN TRANSMISSION STICKS. WOULD STICK IN 2ND GEAR & ONLY GOING 25MPH. ALSO, DOOR LOCKS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN WHEN KEY IS NOT IN IGNITION. WOULD WORK FINE IF KEY IN IGNITION. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER.*AK
NUTS BROKE OFF HATCHBACK HYDRAULIC CYLINDER. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL, AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK
HOLE IS DEVELOPPING COMPLETELY THROUGH FLOOR BURNING MULTIPLE HOLES IN MAT FROM EXHAUST HEAT COMING THROUGH PANEL. *AK
Official recalls
202V125000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 2, 2002
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
96V170001 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Sep 10, 1996
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUCKLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW BUCKLE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ02009 · Seat Belt Latch Failures
Opened Apr 11, 2002 · Closed Dec 17, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
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.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
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.
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
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.
Seat Belts
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.
Seat Belts
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.