RecallMyCar

1996 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder, and owners have filed 159 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
159
owner complaints to NHTSA
19 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
15–16
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: front and column (steering)

    NHTSA 11V244000 Reported 195,991 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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,…

    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…

  2. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 96V031000 Reported 1,775 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

  3. Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

    NHTSA 96V034000 Reported 1,775 vehicles potentially affected NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers are replacing the steering transfer gear assembly with a new assembly having different lubricant.

159 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder have filed 159 complaints with NHTSA; 19 describe a crash. Reports cite 28 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 121,945 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 20 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 11, 2019 · Steering

“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 part”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 28, 2017 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder (Pathfinder 2WD, Pathfinder 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined15–16 mpg
City / Highway14–15 / 17–19
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
Engine6 cyl, 3.3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Nissan Pathfinder model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Pathfinder model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1986 Nissan Pathfinder01
1987 Nissan Pathfinder219
1988 Nissan Pathfinder217
1989 Nissan Pathfinder215
1990 Nissan Pathfinder238
1991 Nissan Pathfinder139
1992 Nissan Pathfinder030
1993 Nissan Pathfinder049
1994 Nissan Pathfinder291
1995 Nissan Pathfinder0170
1996 Nissan Pathfinder3159
1997 Nissan Pathfinder2217
1998 Nissan Pathfinder2149
1999 Nissan Pathfinder2104
2000 Nissan Pathfinder2112
2001 Nissan Pathfinder3230
2002 Nissan Pathfinder5156
2003 Nissan Pathfinder3110
2004 Nissan Pathfinder367
2005 Nissan Pathfinder21,050
2006 Nissan Pathfinder3837
2007 Nissan Pathfinder1561
2008 Nissan Pathfinder4328
2009 Nissan Pathfinder337
2010 Nissan Pathfinder440
2011 Nissan Pathfinder245
2012 Nissan Pathfinder223
2013 Nissan Pathfinder11890
2014 Nissan Pathfinder11574
2015 Nissan Pathfinder5321
2016 Nissan Pathfinder2105
2017 Nissan Pathfinder2186
2018 Nissan Pathfinder377
2019 Nissan Pathfinder276
2020 Nissan Pathfinder048
2022 Nissan Pathfinder5136
2023 Nissan Pathfinder1104
2024 Nissan Pathfinder283
2025 Nissan Pathfinder151
2026 Nissan Pathfinder010

Checking a specific 1996 Nissan Pathfinder

How do I know if my 1996 Nissan Pathfinder has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V244000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Nissan models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.