Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗FRAME/BODY STRUCTURE CORROSION
- Summary
- 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, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAY ENTER AN ASSEMBLY LOCATION HOLE IN THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING, CAUSING WATER TO COLLECT AT THE MATING SURFACE OF THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL AND THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THIS SNOW/WATER AND SALT INTRUSION MAY RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN SOME SUBJECT VEHICLES.
- Consequence
- THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
- 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 NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN/BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION COULD INHIBIT A DRIVER FROM APPLYING THE BRAKES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CARPET PADDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL ADJACENT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
NISSAN/STEERING:GEAR BOX
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE WHEEL, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE STEERING TRANSFER GEAR ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY HAVING DIFFERENT LUBRICANT.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (159)
159 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The suspension is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 159 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 64 | 40.3% |
| Steering | 24 | 15.1% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 9.4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 8.8% |
| Tires | 13 | 8.2% |
| Power train | 12 | 7.5% |
| Air bags | 11 | 6.9% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 6.9% |
| Structure | 11 | 6.9% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 3.8% |
How 1996 compares with other Pathfinder years
Best and worst Pathfinder years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 30 | 0 |
| 1993 | 49 | 0 |
| 1994 | 91 | 2 |
| 1995 | 170 | 0 |
| 1996 | 159 | 3 |
| 1997 | 217 | 2 |
| 1998 | 149 | 2 |
| 1999 | 104 | 2 |
| 2000 | 112 | 2 |
| 2001 | 230 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 16 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 555 g/mi
- EPA class
- Special Purpose Vehicles
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 16 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 19 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 17 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 17 / 15 | $4,450 | 593 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1996 Pathfinder for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1996 Nissan Pathfinder FAQ
How many recalls does the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 11V244000 (steering), 96V031000 (brake), 96V034000 (steering). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1996 Nissan Pathfinder problems?
Owners filed 159 complaints with NHTSA. Suspension (64), Steering (24), Service brakes (15) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder get?
EPA rates the 3.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 15 city, 19 highway and 16 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1996 Pathfinder compare with other years?
Among the 1992–2001 Nissan Pathfinder model years at least five years old, the 1992 drew the fewest complaints (30) and the 2001 the most (230). The 1996 drew 159. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.