1995 Nissan Pathfinder SE from North America - Comments

A class action suit will have to be brought against Nissan by an attorney in order for anyone to receive compensation. If I had any sense I would have been paying an attorney instead of trying to fix the problem, but now I can't afford the attorney either. The problem with the frame is a manufacturing defect: No Weep-holes in the frame. I live in the Midwest humidity and the frame on mine also looks as if I have been driving it in the ocean. The problem is not lack of maintenance or salt, it's because the water or humidity seeps into the cracks of the frame and runs to the back where it cannot escape. That is why the back of the frame goes first. Even if you are able to repair the frame in places, it is likely only a temporary fix. My pathy has 160,000 and by looking at it on the outside, you can't tell anything is wrong with it and it runs like a champ, but it is useless and so far gone that I cannot even begin to repair anything. I could only do a complete swap and that would cost $2500. I love my pathy, but I won't sink anymore money into it as it has now cost me nearly $7000 in repairs that only keep coming back. I will never buy another Nissan because of this. If Nissan would cut corners on something as important as the frame of the vehicle, I shudder to think what else they would cut corners on.

Bought a used '95 pathfinder SE V6 in November 2005. The rust underneath looked nasty then. But, now in the Spring of 2007, the holes in the chassis on both rear sections have turned into a total crack over the rear right wheel weld. The truck gives a loud "thump, thump" when it goes over even the slightest imperfections of a road surface. The truck creaks, like it's a twin tower about to fall. It's scary to drive. We drive very slowly, under 30 miles per hour. We won't go on the highway. The boss mechanic we see tells us to drive only locally. But the workers in the shop tell us to not drive this vehicle at all. They call it a "death trap." At this point we are driving it with less than a half a tank full at a time. With the chassis just hanging on by one rusted side only (the left side), any rear end collision could create a gas tank "friction" with the body or broken chassis. Nissan should acknowledge that the chassis should not be the first thing to go on a car. The motor or the transmission or even the body should go before the chassis. Something is very wrong here with the chassis falling apart first. What is Nissan waiting for? Can't they come clean and say the design and/or materials are flawed? Maybe give rusted out/ cracked chassis pathfinder owners some meaningful rebate towards the purchase of a more safely designed and safer wearing Nissan vehicle to make good on a dangerous vehicle they messed up on back in 1995?

My 95 Nissan 4x4 XE looks great till you check under it and like the others rusted very bad. Last Nissan I will buy unless the fix this problem. I live in Kentucky and salt is not the reason for the rust.

I just bought a 1994 Nissan Pathfinder and I also am one of many with a broken frame in the rear. I tryed to fix it my self with two huge u-bolts two on each side, but the part that is hanging down from the frame does not have sufficiant material to connect it back to the frame. but this idea will work depending on where your frame broke. does anyone know if this is OK to drive like this, I mean there are two huge torsion bars and they look pretty beefy?

I have contacted Nissan and opened a file for my frame rusting on my 94' truck. I am waiting for them to get back to me now. I took it to the dealer per Nissan and they looked at it and took pictures. One of the techs said he had not seen any trucks like mine with it, but has seen Pathfinders with rust??? Will keep everyone posted with my results.

Just spoke to Nissan America, they said due to the age of the truck and mileage, that there was nothing that they could do. I kind of expected that response, so I guess, I going to keep driving it til it falls apart. I am glad I can get my own vehicle inspection done ;) Maybe I will box in the frame to make it last a couple more years, its no good to anybody else.

Just bought a 94 pathfinder... Truck is loaded, everything is power, and works. Sharp truck!!!Everything down to the engine sparkles!!! HOWEVER, today upon a close inspection, I found the frame from the wheel wells back has rusted to the point of a 1/8 to 1/4 in. rusted split in the frame, that is approx 8-12in long. This is money I really can't afford to lose!!! Going to the frame shop in the next few days... keep everyone posted! Nissan does need to be "paying " for this defective design!! Just because so much time has gone by now, doesn't undo the fact that they knew several years ago about this, and the COSTS, DAMAGE, AND EVEN DEATHS IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE!!!Let's just pursue this together, and see what we can come up with??!!!

1993 Nissan Pathfinder: Bought it for the Nissan Name...now, 8 months later, can't get it inspected due to rust that is the whole frame. Looked at it myself and just about cried! Add me to the class action law suit people. Going to have the back section replaced with a truck frame from a Nissan Hard-Body from out west to repair it.

CLASS ACTION! I'm Ready!

OK so I guess here is another 1995 Nissan Pathfinder with frame rot.

I discovered this unfortunate problem when I kept

hearing a knocking sound while driving. Looking under the vehicle I noticed part of the rear brake and sway bar assembly was hanging loose with a large matching chunk of the roting frame with it. Looking further I could see entire sections of the frame has rusted through completely. putting this into perspective the under carriage sheet metal was just fine as was the body of the vehicle.

I am the primary owner and have garaged this vehicle over half it's life. Was kept serviced and had just put new tires on this vehicle which is now junk. I have shown this vehicle to 3 body shops, 2 frame guys and all have said the same thing. Worst frame rot for a vehicle only 12 years old ever seen, too dangerous to drive. All commented the real issue was defective steel used to construct the frame and saw this as an obvious safety issue needing attention.

I did search for secret recall or warranty and found none.

Here is a great site on this... http://www.lemonaidcars.com/secretwarranties.html.

If you contact Nissan don't bother with the "corporate consumer affairs" line, use Nashville TN corporate executive line 615-725-7700 and leave msg they will return your call. Although I was "handled" with care and given lots of "concern" nothing actually was offered or

proposed of value in my case.

Hope this helps some of you out there.

I recently bought a used 94 pathfinder from a mom n pop used lot. I was getting the clunking noise too anytime I hit I bump of any sort. When I took the wheels off to check, I found the frame looked like swiss cheese from the rear wheals back. Does anyone know of any info on the web about replacing the rear frame with the hardbody 1?

I'm wondering if any comments about Nissan pathfinder frames originate in Canada. I was also just informed that the frame on my 1994 XE is finished. There is only one side of the four sided box-frame left. Is there anyone who has opened a file with Nissan Canada yet concerning this issue?

28th May, 2007.

Same problem with my 1993 pathfinder. Still has original exhaust, good motor and transmission. Body is in pretty good shape. The frame a disaster. My wife headed off to work one morning and called and said "the motor or rear end or something is falling out." I told here to slowly drive it back home. The frame had broken loose from the torsion bars on both sides. The whole frame was rotten. A little compensation from Nissan would be nice. I bought this car new and loved it like a child. I serviced and garage kept it and kept it waxed and cleaned. I have a good place to work on a project if I could find a replacement frame??

This is a very sad state of affairs as Nissan's are known for their bullet proof reliability. I've owned a 70 pickup with no rust issues. I currently own a 94 D21 pickup with only 83000 miles and complete frame rust above the right rear tire. It lacks about a 2 inch space before it is completely separated. I love this model and have been looking at 97 pickups as a replacement, the few I have seen have very little rust. I completely believe it is due to fabrication issues and insufficient drainage as previously posted. I hope those that wish to pursue law suits good luck. Any future vehicles I get I will drill holes for drainage and rhino line the underneath.

Well, went in for a wheel alignment and once my car (95 Pathy) was on the lift we discovered the rotted chassis syndrome (rear frame). As with the other comments the car is in mechanically excellent shape. This weekend I will take a detailed inspection and if I come up with a "cheap" fix I'll post it here.

Same here only twice as bad. I bought a 2WD 94 Nissan extended cab new in 94. The truck was always garage kept and never driven in bad weather. Last year the frame broke in half. Then I got a 90 4WD extended cab after that and guess what... same thing. I think I am going to sell my 97 4WD extended cab. Anyone interested? :)