MYRModel Year Report

1996 Nissan Pathfinder

◆ Worse than typical
1996 Nissan Pathfinder
RENDERED 2026-09-17T04:34:27.556Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Nissan Pathfinder Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1996 highlighted. 1986: 1 complaints 1986 1987: 19 complaints 1988: 17 complaints 1989: 15 complaints 1990: 40 complaints 1991: 40 complaints 1991 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 49 complaints 1994: 101 complaints 1995: 170 complaints 1996: 159 complaints 1996 1997: 217 complaints 1998: 149 complaints 1999: 104 complaints 2000: 112 complaints 2001: 230 complaints 2001 2002: 156 complaints 2003: 110 complaints 2004: 67 complaints 2005: 1050 complaints 2006: 837 complaints 2006 2007: 561 complaints 2008: 328 complaints 2009: 37 complaints 2010: 40 complaints 2011: 45 complaints 2011 2012: 23 complaints 2013: 890 complaints 2014: 574 complaints 2015: 320 complaints 2016: 105 complaints 2016 2017: 186 complaints 2018: 77 complaints 2019: 75 complaints 2020: 52 complaints 2022: 134 complaints 2022 2023: 103 complaints 2024: 76 complaints 2025: 49 complaints 2026: 9 complaints 2026
1996: 159 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19861
198719
198817
198915
199040
199140
199230
199349
1994101
1995170
1996159
1997217
1998149
1999104
2000112
2001230
2002156
2003110
200467
20051050
2006837
2007561
2008328
200937
201040
201145
201223
2013890
2014574
2015320
2016105
2017186
201877
201975
202052
2022134
2023103
202476
202549
20269

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

SUSPENSION 43%

43% of complaints: suspension — 68 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing rear and front.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I WAS DRIVING MY 96 NISSAN PATHFINDER STRAIGHT ON A 30MPH ROAD WHEN I LET OFF THE ACCELRATOR AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY, SHAKE AND TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH AS IF THE REAR AXLE WAS TWISTING SEPERATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130131

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 65 MPH VEHICLE WENT INTO VIOLENT BODY ROLLING AND SHIMMY CAUSING DRIVER TO ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL. BODY WAS ROLLING SEVERELY, AS IF STEERING WHEEL WAS BEING ROCKED BACK AND FORTH, HOWEVER STEERING WHEEL WAS STEADY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20121003

Also filed under STEERING

STEERING 16%

16% of complaints: steering — 25 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic power assist system and gear box (other than rack and pinion).

CRASH INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

ON SEPTEMBER 4TH 2011, I WAS DRIVING MY 96' NISSAN PATHFINDER AT APPROX. 30MPH. I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS COMING OUT OF THE TURN WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL REPEATEDLY JERKED FROM SIDE TO SIDE CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI report, 20111222

WHILE DRIVING 56 MPH VEHICLE WENT OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD AND LOST CONTROL, AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES, EJECTING THE DRIVER FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER DIED AT THE SCENE. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20040520

DRIVING AT SPEED OF 50MPH, WHEN CHANGING LANES, DUE THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND HWY CONDITION, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND TILTED OVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19960823

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 10%

10% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 16 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing gasoline and exhaust system.

SERVICE BRAKES 9%

9% of complaints: service brakes — 15 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH
TIRES 8%

8% of complaints: tires — 13 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tread/belt and temporary/emergency spare tire.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED FOR REAR-PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. (DUNLOP GRANDTREK 265/70/R15) THE TIRE CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH THE SUV, IT WAS THE (FULL-SIZE) SPARE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20060313

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 1996 — complaint volume: 159
R 19960902 — steering

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

Remedy: DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE STEERING TRANSFER GEAR ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY HAVING DIFFERENT LUBRICANT.

Campaign 96V034000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19960902 — service brakes, hydraulic

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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CARPET PADDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL ADJACENT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Campaign 96V031000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

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 S

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.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

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 N

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.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20110128 — PE (closed 20110630)

Frame/Body Structure Corrosion

R 20110825 — steering, suspension

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,

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. O

Campaign 11V244000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Nissan Pathfinder — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for suspension issues (68 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for steering issues (25 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (16 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 96V034000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V031000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 11V244000 (steering, suspension) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1992 ▲ 2009 ▲ 2010

WORST YEARS

■ 2005 ■ 2013 ■ 2006

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder?

The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 43% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder have?

5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-16 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.