1995 Nissan Pathfinder SE from North America - Comments

I have a '95 Pathfinder. It is like brand new. Runs better than most cars I test drive (I am a transmission specialist).

The chassis is in such good condition, that I haven't installed a hitch, so as not to mess it up. But I live in California. We don't have all those snow chemicals on the road like other places.

I just bought a 1994 Nissan Pathfinder last week. I purchased it in New Jersey (with a 2008 New Jersey inspection sticker) for $1500 and drove over 400 miles back to Virginia. Before I left Jersey, I put $400 worth of tires on it. On the ride back to VA I tripped 94,000 miles. I titled the vehicle, paid taxes, and put tags on it only to go get it inspected and it was rejected due to fame rot. The vehicle is useless to me now. I drove over 400 miles (6 and 1/2 hours) at speeds up to 75 miles an hour in a death trap. After the initial shock and anger, I am thankful nothing happened!

My mechanic says there is not enough good metal to repair the frame and that he wouldn't let his worst enemy drive this vehicle. What's next? I guess I am out $2000 dollars and the gas for the trip to New Jerseyand back home?

Geoffrey B.

I've had my 95 pathfinder since 2000. Great truck, it's never given my any trouble. I work in the auto parts business and have always had my vehicles maintained very well.

Well, when it came to replacing the brakes both front and rear (also two new CV axles) I noticed two big gaping holes on the side of the rear frame, just above where the shocks are mounted. I also bought four new tires just before last winter. The truck has less than 94,000 miles on it too. Looks like it will never see 100,000. The inspection is due before the end of this year.

Here's the kick in the pants.

I work at a Toyota dealership. There is a very similar problem with the Tacoma Pickup. Toyota actually cares about their customers and are buying back the defective pickups. Not only are they buying them back they are buying them at one and a half times the book value. I have seen a couple of customers bring in some real beat up Tacoma's and get good money for them. I seriously hope Nissan follows by Toyota's example before someone gets hurt. But, I guess that's the difference between Toyota and Nissan.

Toyota will act before someone gets hurt, and Nissan will play the odds and only pay the people who get hurt from their defective products.

Well...I am one of the suckers. I guess you get what you pay for. When I picked up my 95 XE Pathfinder with 150,000 miles for $1500, I thought it was a steal. Saw the rust but my emotions got the better of me.

Otherwise the thing looks and drives great. I went to get new shocks and the dealer refused to install them, and scared me so badly I went straight to a auto body shop. They are putting on a used frame for $2000, but now I am nervous of unseen rust on the inside of that one.

I can't replace it for $2000, and it books at $3700+, so I might as well and at least get a few years out of it.

Way to go Toyota with the recalls, I will never buy a Nissan again, the way they are not handling this is ridiculous. This is a MAJOR safety issue.

I also own a 95 Pathfinder that has been a good vehicle for me for the past seven years. The frame is completely rotted out and my mechanic said this is a common problem with these vehicles and pose a real safety issue. Does anyone know if in fact a class action suit has been initiated? If so, please reply on this forum as to the status.

Same happened here in Canada. We have to get our vehicles here in Nova Scotia inspected every year, last year the Provincial government instituted sweeping changes to its policy on inspections so that they are much tougher. The '93 pathfinder I bought with roughly 100miles on it ran great, and had a sticker on it, yet low and behold, when this year's inspection came up, it failed like all the rest. I'm hoping to get the frame welded but will buy a Toyota next time.

Mine too. 94 Pathy XE-V6. Body and engine great even at 195K. But frame? Gone. I imagine it'll be crushed well before the class action, and I hope you all can sue them good. But I have nothing good to say about being forced to buy a new truck. Cheap steel and shoddy manufacturing gets you that, thanks Nissan. Too bad cause I know there's another 100K left on this engine.

Add me to the list as well. I was just in an accident head-on (hit by a drunk driver). I owned a 2005 Toyota 4-runner. My car is gone, and I am in a pinch, so I bought a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder SE V6. This car is beautiful. Excellent condition with all the options.

I knew it needed a muffler to pass Emissions, so I take it to the garage for a tune-up and a muffler. The mechanic informs me that the rear frame is rotted, and if I get into an accident it will fold up like an accordion. He told me to drive locally. I was just in an accident on June 9th; I really do not want another one. I paid 3000 for this truck and thought I could drive it for at least 3 years; I guess I was wrong.

I know a guy who had a Toyota Tacoma given to him for a plow truck that was a junker; he was given a check for 9,000 for a 1993 pickup for the frame rotted. I think Nissan should stand up to this problem and help everyone out who has wasted their money on this model. I'm gonna drive it for as long as I can, but I am scared too because of the frame.

Less than two weeks to go before we have to lay our '95 Pathfinder to rest. Won't pass Virginia inspection at the end of July '08. It's shiny black body and smooth running engine has been betrayed by a mistake Nissan refuses to own. A genuine gesture of good faith would be for Nissan to offer a qualified trade-in value on a new or used replacement vehicle that equals the appraisal based on mileage and normal wear and tear, not on the frame condition. They could save face somewhat, instead of displacing guilt to the vehicle owners. A higher caliber company, large or small, would do the responsible thing.

Man, you can count me in on this flytrap deal. It stinks, because this is my second Pathfinder; a 95 XE. I should have been clued in after the first, but the drivability is great; shifting and performance. Until the manifold studs and "worpedge" on both my '91 and '95, this job is a pain to do yourself and expensive to have done. From what I seen, a hugely common problem, (and also causes hazardous fumes to enter the passenger compartment). Nissan has failed to rectify that problem as well. My first Pathfinder was great; both pimped out, cleaned regularly, and serviced by myself.

This frame malarkey is a bunch of hooey. My '91 Pathfinder rotted out in the usual spots; behind both rear tires and back of the bumper. My '95 is rotting in the areas behind the A-arm to the rear of the torsion rods. To make a long story short, the '91 frame snapped in the rear while driving over a pothole at 45 mph, and I will tell you drivability went out the window and almost caused me to his a concrete median.

Now I’m around 2 and found one with at least two years more life on the frame, and it is one of the nicest looking ones around. I just feel Nissan will forever lose respect or business from my end or anyone else in my family or close networks business. What a shame they have never tried to address either problems that I have; just stated and multitudes of you know about and are experiencing. THESE COULD BOTH BE LIFE THREATENING HAZARDS!

Unless you know what you are looking at, I don't recommend driving long distances, and make sure you fix your seatbelt buckles; another known problem. It would really stink if you were at highway speeds and oops there goes my frame and you actually hit the median at 50 to 70, I hope you had a nice experience driving your "Trashfinder."

One last thing, I've read in a couple of forums saying “it’s because the lack of care, age, or whatever.” I would like to say that I am as vigorous as it gets with upkeep and maintenance, allowing me to pay less to rectify problems on my own. Not everyone can do that, and it has nothing to do with the integrity of this vehicle. Nissan had know about their substandard metals while making these things. We as consumers buying them hoped to see changes, never happened. Nissan has no integrity. I stop to look at every single Pathfinder in my way, and lo and behold I would say 95% of the time I see the craftiness of tripe in these known spots. Nissan ought to be ashamed, and Toyota you will have my future business.

The engines last a while though, they handle good and their manuals shift smoothly, so don’t worry about the safety.

Please notify me of a class action or recall!

Not that the second will happen.

My name is Dave, contact: g1trashbag@yahoo.com

Count me in; I'm going to garage mine until a suit is in act.

I can't believe the amount of frame rot in my 94 Pathfinder; it is an extreme hazard that needs to be handled. Guess a couple of accidents later, maybe they will own up to it.

I was driving up my road with speed bumps, and lo and behold I lost the frame and brakes. Fun. Glad a kid didn't run out in front of me.

I look under my vehicle once I roll to a stop, and find my entire outer frame is gone and the unusual noise I was hearing around turns was the rearend floating. Huh.

I'm in on any suit. I loved this Pathfinder; all of 137000 miles and wanted more.

I think that if the matter isn't resolved soon though, my next truck may be a TOYOTA cause at least they are willing to fix their mistakes. Makes me know the owners are true family people.

I have a 1991 Nissan D21 pickup, four wheel drive. I bought the truck used about nine years ago. The truck runs great, but two weeks ago I was returning to my yard towing a 19 foot open boat. When I went to unhitch the trailer, the hitch was about 4 inches off of the ground. Wow, the rusted through frame bent like a bow. I have never seen such a rusted through frame. I have been driving for over 60 years. My son has a Toyota and it is in the recall. Minor frame damage. Would be interested in any recall action on the Nissan.

dmunsell01@cmcast.net

Hey guys, I cant believe I'm in here too. I just bought a very very clean truck 3 days ago, and as I was filling up the front tire with air I noticed that yes my new 1994 Pathy has a rotted frame. I went back to them and they pretty much told me to go take a hike. So now I'm out $3500 on this deathtrap. I am going back there to speak with owner on Monday; they're giving me crap about as is (to my understanding as is only implies to mechanical not structual integrity ). The general manager to me I was beat. Little do the know I am a cop in that town &%$#%^&* (^ see you guys on the road...

I have the same frame rot on my 94 truck which is now permanently parked. Great truck but can't drive it.

I tried to get satisfaction thru the Nissan corporation. They started a file for my problem, waited 2 months to tell me basically "too bad". They know about the frame problem on these vehicles, they know about Toyota's working to help with a similar problem on their older vehicles. Yet Nissan will not help. Don't waste your time.

I guess that all of us who own these vehicles will be more careful where our hard earned dollars go in the future. Speaking for myself, my money will not be spent on Nissans even tho I have been a faithful customer for many years.

I have read a lot of comments on this site and it seems to me there may be a lot of these vehicles that are accidents waiting to happen on the highways. Spread the word.

I am also like every one else here.

Count me in on any class action suit which hopefully get started.

I own a 1991 Pathfinder SE that I bought new that also has frame rot. I live in PA where salt is a major issue in the winter.

It has been repaired twice with new steel plate weld back to good metal on the frame around the fuel tank. The fuel tank also rotted out and had to be replaced.

I also had the rear stabilizer rod mounts rot out on me, and had to have them re-welded along with the front strut rod mounts, which also rotted out and had to be removed and re-welded. I also had the brake and fuel lines rot out and they had to be replaced.

The body is still in great condition with only minor rust issues. I plan to keep fixing this truck as long as I can, even though it is a real challenge to keep ahead of the rot.

Everything works and it does not use a drop of oil between changes, and it runs like new with 166k on the odometer, so that has been keeping me motivated so far to keep it running.