1995 Nissan Pathfinder SE from North America - Comments

I'm among all you disappointed Nissan pathfinder owners. I have a 1994 and like all of you my frame is toast. I owned a 1990 pathfinder and got that from my Dad after he passed away and fell in love with this machine. That is why I bought another one. My 1990 stood up to more than any other 4x4 I've ever seen off road, but this 1994 is just not up to par. I too be leave Nissan should at least help us in repairing our vehicles in at least supply

ing us with a replacement frame at no charge and try at least to save face in this unfortunate state we all are in. Other than the frame I can't really complain about this truck. I hope that Nissan is keeping an open mind on this problem and try in a professional way to satisfy their loyal customers and honor the company name.

OK.

94 Pathfinder. Just bought it, it's crap.

Looked underneath and noticed the rust before I bought it. I just never imagined that the entire frame could be rotted away. You can scrape away undercoating and not actually find any frame left. just layers of folded over rust.

It is a manufacturer's end of service plan.

Too bad, it seemed to be a quality vehicle otherwise.

First and last Nissan I'll ever buy.

I guess we know what they did with all those old Chevy's eh..

We have a 94 Pathfinder with the same frame rot problems.

It has approx 79,000 miles on it. Except for the usual parts replacement, batteries, tires, brakes, it's been a good vehicle.

The bumpers were rotted so bad we had to replace them.

Nissan supplied the materials and we paid for the labor.

We're out looking for another vehicle, but it will not be a Nissan.

If there's a class action suit, count me in.

I'm amazed at the level of incompetence displayed by people who buy a 13-year old truck with over 150,000 miles on it in an area that uses road salt for $500 and expects a cream puff.

I've owned a '95 Pathfinder in Tennessee for almost ten years (second owner) and it has 313,000 miles on it. I've replaced the exhaust studs twice and am on my second alternator and starter. I consider the old truck to be an excellent value.

Here's a tip... when you buy any vehicle take it to a mechanic. If you're too cheap to do that, crawl under the truck and check for signs of rust that go beyond superficial.

Then, if you get burned because you didn't do your homework, don't get on the Internet and rip what has proven to be an outstanding vehicle.

Okay then.

Would all you Nissan salesmen please stop defending an obvious flaw in an otherwise fine vehicle. There is no excuse for fabricating a frame out of origami.

There are 80 year old junkers washing out of the river bank here with less rust damage on them than the frames on these vehicles. Its not the road salt or not washing out your frame weekly that has caused this degree of failure.

The only way a law suit can be launched, is if someone can prove material non-compatibilty with the products that they used to undercoat these vehicles.

Mine looks like it had a factory trailer hitch and wiring installed. The hitch itself was undercoated, but when you scrape it off, there is a lot of rust sealed between the undercoating and the solid metal. It is possible that there was a chemical component in the undercoating that actually caused the premature deterioration of the frame.

If someone can prove this, a class action suit could be launched, and won.

Otherwise we are just a bunch of hicks who don't take care of our things, and just got what we deserved.

This is my prior post:

4th Sep 2007, 15:51

I am the second owner of a 92' SE V6 PathFinder. I bought the vehicle 5 months ago for $2,500 from a mechanic who was selling it for a customer. He stated that the frame and all was sound. I noticed the thumping when even hitting the slightest road imperfections. Thinking it was just shocks I ignored it for a few weeks. But then a strong smell of gas came about and I took it in. The right rear part of the frame above the suspension was broken in two places due to rust and completely separated breaking the gas line. I have gone to several mechanics and frame shops. They stated that it is too rusted to even patch the area on the frame. The truck has 170k miles on it. Is there a law against this kind of sale from a mechanic? Or is there some way of getting some sort of compensation for the damage?

Ejm2330@hotmail.com.

UPDATE:

I found a place that can fix the frame issue... however it will take a week and half the frame replaced for $1,400... I know it sounds stupid to pay that much for a vehicle repair that I only paid $2,500 for the vehicle itself. But I had to put in a new starter not too long ago and had a new condenser for the A/C so I put in too much $$$ already to scrap it. The repair should be done by the end of this week.

I've owned three Pathfinders, all 5-speeds; a 1987 SE two door bought new (made it to 160K before the body fell apart), a 1994 SE bought used at 60K (died of frame rot at 150K) and a 1994 XE bought used at 111K with frame trouble just starting. This last one I took right to a frame shop and had fixed before it became a disaster; it's still going strong at 176K. The first truck was made in Tennessee, and the frame did NOT rot out, but the body fell apart despite rust-proofing applied prior to purchase (I live in Road Salt City). Better steel in the frame, but newly (perhaps poorly) trained people on the body assembly line, that's my theory; especially since 1987 was the first model year. I'm guessing the other owners of older Pathfinders who reported no frame issues also had US-built trucks. Number two was made in Japan, and the frame turned to dust long before the body would have. I suspect crummy frame steel, but also better body assembly. Number three's VIN tag doesn't say where it was made, and the body is holding up nicely. Why buy a vehicle with a known frame issue? Because (by pointing out the problem to the seller) you can often pick up these trucks for a song, and the drive train (5-speed, not auto) is unkillable; this V-6 is world class. Find someone who welds well (or develop the talent yourself) and you'll have a gem. When the day comes that I can't drive a REAL Pathfinder (uni-body SUVs are NOT trucks), I suppose an XTerra will have to do. It really seems like Nissan pulled out the original Pathfinder blueprints and simply changed the sheet-metal (and not for the better; why delete the openable rear window???) ; one wonders if the frame problem was carried over... time will tell.

I am the owner of two Pathfinders.

The first, a 1991 SE is parked in a field because the coil spring bucket on the passenger side, tore away from the frame, cracking the rusted frame in the process. I can literally punch a hole in the steel frame with my finger (oxidized as it may be).

The second is a 1995 LE which was obtained recently from a relative. It also has a hole in the frame from where I inserted my finger. It is on the outside of the driver side rail, but behind the rear wheel, so I don't think it is structurally significant. The rest of the frame was able to resist penetration from my fleshy thrusts.

I am hoping for at least two winters out of it, but I am hesitant to transport my 5 year old son in something that is potentially lethal, knowing that its crumbling beneath us.

If there were a feasible way to repair it, I would do it in a second. I really enjoyed my 91 Pathy and it was very reliable.

Otherwise I am stuck with two vehicles that run great, but can't drive.

I see these comments are going back to 2004. Has "anybody" made and effort to contact an attorney to see if any thing can be done?

And yes I own a 94 Se Pathfinder that has been garaged for the last 10 years and the rear frame above the right rear tires is gone.

Mike from Ohio

neogutter@yahoo.com.

Hey everyone Same PROBLEM!!

Just bought not even 2 months ago a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder SE-v6 4x4 fully equiped with sun roof.

A couple days ago someone pointed out that my frame was rusty so when I got home I checked it out. I was hiting hit with my fist everywhere and when I was about to stop thinkin it was alright I put my thumb right through a part of the frame at the rear. I was shocked to see the inside of it I felt it with my fingers and it was all layery falling appart from the inside. I called the dealer right away.

The truck is absolutely perfect it only has 160 000 kilometers (canada) the leather seats aren't even scratched everything runs top of the line.

Anyhow called the dealer who sold me the vehicle told him The Vehicle they sold me had a major safety issue and that the frame was rotted right through so they sent me to his body shop HOpe fully they can fix this junked out frame cuz I won't be happy at all if they don't.

Anyhow seeing all the reviews here in the past year

Nissan clearly poorly made the frame The material or underneath coating was crappy or juste the design

down the line Nissan should pay for this because PEOPLE are still using theese vehicles without knowing and clearly dealers are still selling the NIssan name at a rediculous prices for the age.

BY the way the truck IS PERFECT exept that the foundation of this perfect little SUv were screwed.

I'm the original owner of a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder. March of 2007 I got rear ended at a stop sign. I spend $1300 a year on insurance and my truck was accident free. My insurance agent advised me that they are not going to cover the damage due to frame rot under part 111 section 52. My mint truck now sits in my driveway, Not fixed, Not compensated, And a letter saying that my truck cannot be registered until I fix the frame. Sign me in for the lawsuit. Any feedback greatly appeciated. Contact me at hole_beater@hotmail.com.

My wife and I bought a new Nissan Hard-body in '87 and loved the truck. We sold it (sadly), with 80,000 miles on it. The '93 POSFinder I bought 4 days ago seemed to only have surface rust at the tail of the frame. Further inspection showed that the reason the owner had an Arkansas "transporter" plate on it (in the New York metro area!) was because it wouldn't pass inspection due to frame rot. Yes, all of the Nissan salesmen desperate to save their jobs should just give themselves a promotion and start selling booze, drugs and cigarettes to kids. NEVER ANOTHER NISSAN! Linemechanic1@yahoo.com.

Just bought a 95 pathfinder xE,i just want to know if anybody know how to fix the frame and if is worth it or the cost. km toronto canada. ma email, dondad33@hotmail.com.

I got a pathfinder 1994 and the rear frame is a complete mess if there a law suit count me in pierc.7981@sympatico.ca.