Went to replace front strut rod bushings and found nearly rusted through strut/tension rod that connects the lower control arm to the frame on the driver's side. The arm was bent at the rusted section and was near failure. This potential failure may have caused loss of steering control. This is not the first rusted strut/tension rod I have found on pathfinders. We have a 1992 with the same problem. There are also other owners reporting this same problem when they replace the bushings.
The worst 1994 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine35
- Body23
- Transmission10
- Acceleration7
- Brakes5
- Tires5
- Electrical4
- Visibility3
- Fuel system2
- Suspension2
- Airbags1
- Locks1
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder
Recalls 2
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
- What is wrong
- On certain light duty pickup trucks, the latch plate used in the seat belt buckle was not manufactured according to design dimensions. If the seat belt tongue is inserted slowly at an angle into the buckle, there is a possibility of partial engagement.
- Risk
- This condition can cause the seat belt tongue to come out of the buckle in the event of a collision or hard braking of the vehicle increasing the risk of personal injury to an occupant of the seat.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the buckle and, if necessary, replace the buckle assembly with a new buckle. Owner notification began may 22, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 02V125000 · Recall details
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
- What is wrong
- The latch plate used in the seat belt buckle was not manufactured according to design dimensions. If the seat belt tongue is inserted slowly at an angle into the buckle, there is a possibility of partial engagement.
- Risk
- This condition can cause the seat belt tongue to come out of the buckle in the event of a collision or hard braking of the vehicle increasing the risk of personal injury to an occupant of the seat.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the buckle and, if necessary, replace the buckle assembly with a new buckle.
Recall number 96V170001 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder
Defect investigations
Seat belt latch failures
Takata/nissan/isuzu have determined that during the initial recall campaign (96v‑170), some vehicles that contain defective seat belt buckles were inadvertently omitted from the campaign. Nissan will recall 92,500 my1994 pathfinder and d21 pickup trucks (02v‑125).isuzu will recall 13,831 my1994/1995 rodeo, amigo, tf and pickup trucks (02v‑281) .isuzu is also recalling 618 my 1994 honda passport vehicles under recall 02v‑281 (the honda passport is manufactured by isuzu for honda and is similar to the isuzu rodeo vehicle). This investigation is closed.
RQ02009
Technical service bulletins for the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder 33
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Diagnosis of vehicle pull (DRIFT) and/or steering wheel off-center
- 12 volt battery testing for in-service vehicles service information
- Silicone-based lubricant or grease CAN damage electrical components service information
- Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
- Intelligent key replacement or swapping between vehicles
- Windshield cracking
- Removing foreign material from the window glass
- Wheel bearing collision damage
- Strut and shock absorber replacement guidelines
- Nissan: SRS precautions during service;improper maintenance, including incorrect removal and installation...
1994 Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 14 | 17 | 15 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14 | 17 | 15 |
What 1994 Nissan Pathfinder owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Took my 1994 pathfinder for front brake services. The mechanic inspected my truck and found the frame completed rusted and could not place on regular lift. I was told that entire frame needs to be replaced or rebuilt. I was told that nissan has recall on pathfinder. I followed up with nissan and was told that 1994 was not on recall list, but recall are for 1996 to 2003 pathfinder. I try to avoid highway rattler and shake too much, so I try to do city driving.
Took vehicle into repair shop getting it ready for inspection. Was told by shop that the entire rear frame of vehicle is rusted out and is non-repairable. It needless to say will not pass inspection. They informed me that this is a common problem on this make and model. I contacted the manufacturer and they are not going to do anything even though this is a major safety issue with loosing the rear wheels and control of vehicle. (toyota had same issue with frames same years and issued a recall) lives are at stake with this issue and nissan should be made to correct issue or compensate owners. Doing a search on the internet on this issue I found hundreds of posts for the exact same problem on same years. What can be done. I now have a worthless vehicle. Note: I purchased this vehicle less than a year ago. My mechanic said that it will be suicidal driving the car, and he can't repair it.
Noticed sagging bumper and took 1994 pathfinder in for repairs. Mechanic told me the rear frame was rusted beyond repair. Poked his finger through the frame with no effort. Car has been cared for and had undercoating applied. Mechanics say they see this exact problem quite often. Internet search will reveal hundreds of similar cases, including car falling apart while moving.
Tl*the contact owns a 1994 nissan pathfinder. While the vehicle was parked, the contact observed that the front driver's and passenger side main frame exhibited severe corrosion and rust. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for inspection, but they were unable to assist with the repair. Photographs were taken of the vehicle and forwarded to the manufacturer for further investigation. The contact stated that there were no resolutions with the manufacturer. The vehicle is currently not being driven due to the safety hazard. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 103,195. Updated 07/17/09. *lj updated 07/17/09.
Took vehicle into repair shop getting it ready for inspection. Was told by shop that the entire rear frame of vehicle is rusted out and is non-repairable. It needless to say will not pass inspection. They informed me that this is a common problem on this make and model. I contacted the manufacturer and they are not going to do anything even though this is a major safety issue with loosing the rear wheels and control of vehicle. (toyota had same issue with frames same years and issued a recall) lives are at stake with this issue and nissan should be made to correct issue or compensate owners. Doing a search on the internet on this issue I found hundreds of posts for the exact same problem on same years. What can be done. I now have a worthless vehicle. Note: I purchased this vehicle less than a year ago and it had a new pa inspection on it. Shop says this frame issue should have been easily seen and vehicle should not have passed inspection.
Tl*the contact owns a 1994 nissan pathfinder. When the contact took his vehicle in for inspection, he was informed that the entire frame was rusted beyond repair. The inspector was able to push his finger through what used to be a steel part of the frame. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. He spoke with the manufacturer and they stated that they could not assist. The current and failure mileages were 135,166.
I noticed during routine maintenance that the entire rear frame of my vehicle is rotted out, this seems to be a very unsafe defect. Not drivable at this time because of the chance of frame failure.
Tl*the contact owns a 1994 nissan pathfinder. Upon routine inspection, it was found that the cast iron was rusted in the vehicle from the inside out. The inspection station failed the vehicle and stated that if the contact drove over a bump too hard, the vehicle could split into two pieces. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.
Power door locks lock and unlock while I am driving. "click" "click-click" when I am driving alone and not touching any door controls. Driver door lock jams easily. Cannot unlock the door from the outside. Interior plastic parts. Gasoline door knob by driver's seat. Broken quickly. Hinge to the compartment between driver's and passenger seat.. Broken almost immediately. Interior plastic locks on doors fell off. *tr updated 11/1/07
Compare the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder
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Other model years
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Questions about the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder
Is the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Owners have filed 91 complaints about the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder, fewer than a typical Pathfinder model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder?
Engine and cooling, with 35 complaints, typically around 99,420 miles. Next is body (23).
How many recalls does the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder have?
2 recalls, covering seat belts.
What year does the Nissan Pathfinder have bad engine?
The Nissan Pathfinder model years with the most engine complaints are 2005 (433 complaints), 2006 (331 complaints) and 2007 (242 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder get?
Official estimates for the 1994 Nissan Pathfinder range from 15 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 14 city and 17 highway.
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