1996 Nissan Pathfinder vs 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Nissan Pathfinder | 1997 Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 159 | 217 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 87 | 94 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 18 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–16 | 15–16 |
| Median reported mileage | 123,183 mi | 114,900 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Pathfinder | Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 64 | 105 |
| Steering | 24 | 26 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 17 |
| Power Train | 12 | 19 |
| Tires | 13 | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 14 |
| Structure | 11 | 17 |
| Air Bags | 11 | 13 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 26 | 25 |
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 31 |
| Stalling | 6 | 9 |
| Won’t start | 6 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 6 |
1996 Nissan Pathfinder
1997 Nissan Pathfinder
Compare all Nissan Pathfinder vs Nissan Pathfinder years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.