1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
214
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
15
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER
The 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER has received a total of 214 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING:COLUMN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING. 15 technical service bulletins have been issued by Nissan North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Suspension (30 complaints), Suspensionrear (22 complaints), and Steering (13 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, potentially affecting up to 484,652 vehicles.
Recall 11V244000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT
| 195,991 vehicles affected
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD...
Consequence: THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
View full details →Recall 11V244000 — STEERING:COLUMN
| 195,991 vehicles affected
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD...
Consequence: THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
View full details →Recall 06E049000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 27,176 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
View full details →Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
View full details →Recall 96V034000 — STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
| 1,775 vehicles affected
Defect: DUE TO THE TYPE OF LUBRICANT USED IN THE STEERING TRANSFER GEAR ASSEMBLY, THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (LESS THAN -30 C) COULD INCREASE TO THE POINT WHERE SOME DRIVERS WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE WHEEL.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE WHEEL, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE STEERING TRANSFER GEAR ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY HAVING DIFFERENT LUBRICANT.
View full details →Recall 96V031000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
| 1,775 vehicles affected
Defect: DUE TO THE THICKNESS OF THE CARPET PADDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL COULD CATCH A DRIVER'S RIGHT FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD INHIBIT A DRIVER FROM APPLYING THE BRAKES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CARPET PADDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL ADJACENT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER
214 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT THE DMV, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR STRUT WAS RUSTING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING MADE AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNSURE HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 293,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT THE DMV, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR STRUT WAS RUSTING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING MADE AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNSURE HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 293,000.
CAR HAS MANY AFTER MARKET PARTS WHICH ARE OLD AND RUSTED WHICH CAUSES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN EVEN AFTER REPLACING MANY PARTS ALSO WHEN SEARCHING GOR PARTS ITS HARD TO FIND I HAVE TO GET PARTS FOR A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER WHEN MY VEHICLE IS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER
CAR HAS MANY AFTER MARKET PARTS WHICH ARE OLD AND RUSTED WHICH CAUSES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN EVEN AFTER REPLACING MANY PARTS ALSO WHEN SEARCHING GOR PARTS ITS HARD TO FIND I HAVE TO GET PARTS FOR A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER WHEN MY VEHICLE IS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER
CAR HAS MANY AFTER MARKET PARTS WHICH ARE OLD AND RUSTED WHICH CAUSES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN EVEN AFTER REPLACING MANY PARTS ALSO WHEN SEARCHING GOR PARTS ITS HARD TO FIND I HAVE TO GET PARTS FOR A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER WHEN MY VEHICLE IS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER
Safety Rating for the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER
Nissan North America, Inc. has issued 15 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
NTB11066G — STRUCTURE
Nissan is conducting a voluntary safety recall campaign on certain model year 1996 - 2004 Pathfinder vehicles that are currently registered in Salt States to inspect for corrosion, and if necessary repair the front strut housing panels. In additionto the recall campaign, in the interest of customer satisfaction, owners of...
NTB02035 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSFER CASE NOISES. *JG
300102 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONFIGURATION, CLASSIFICATION NUMBER TE02-005. *SLC
NTB010027 — STRUCTURE:BODY
SUBJECT REGARDING SUNGLASSES HOLDER LID WILL NOT OPEN/CLOSE PROPERLY. *YD
NTB99041 — STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JN8AR05YXW317099 MAY EXHIBIT WIND NOISE(S). *TT
NTB98102 — SUSPENSION
VEHICLE EXHIBITING STEERING SHIMMY WHILE DRIVEN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH (W/O BRAKING),DUE TO OUT-OF-BALANCE FRONT OR REAR TIRES / WHEELS AND / OR INSUFFICIENT STEERING RACK SLIDING FORCE ADJUSTMENT. *TT
NTB98079 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CONCERNS REGARDING THE CENTER EXHAUST TUBE BRACKET CRACKED / BROKEN ON VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JULY 1, 1996. *YC
NTB98-008 — TIRES
EXPERIENCING A RATTLE NOISE FROM SPARE TIRE CARRIER. *YC
NTB97043B — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
INFORMATION ON QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM - REAR BRAKE TUBE CAUTION. *TT
NTB98009 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JN8AR05Y7WW251388 MAY EXHIBIT AN A/C IDLE PULLEY BEARING NOISE. *YC
Showing 10 of 15 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the NISSAN PATHFINDER
- 1991 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 49 complaints
- 1992 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 38 complaints
- 1993 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 67 complaints
- 1994 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 108 complaints
- 1995 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 218 complaints
- 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER (current)
- 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 293 complaints
- 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 194 complaints
- 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 144 complaints
- 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 166 complaints
- 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 299 complaints
Other NISSAN Models
- NISSAN ALTIMA — 20,037 total complaints
- NISSAN ROGUE — 9,608 total complaints
- NISSAN MAXIMA — 8,834 total complaints
- NISSAN SENTRA — 8,129 total complaints
- NISSAN MURANO — 7,410 total complaints
- NISSAN VERSA — 4,436 total complaints
- NISSAN FRONTIER — 4,425 total complaints
- NISSAN TITAN — 4,412 total complaints