When Nissan blows, it really blows...

My husband and I bought a 2002 Pathfinder from my Uncle and Aunt (who reported no problems with the vehicle). They acquired the SUV new.

At 65,287 miles, the timing chain tensioner broke and we were forced to have the engine rebuilt. At 75,000 miles, the engine inhaled a screw from the butterfly assembly. Again, we were forced to have the engine rebuilt.

Total cost: $8000 (out of pocket) in eight months.

Nissan refuses to return my calls.

While the Pathfinder is a good looking vehicle and, when it is driveable is a lot of fun---I caution all of you Pathfinder owners---the car can inhale thousands of dollars in a heartbeat.

If you have a similar experience, please e-mail me @ schimkesusan@gmail.com

I own a 1993 Pathfinder and know it's a great car. Granted all cars have flaws , this car has some like it got a bad seam in the radiator when it was under warranty. Free replacement just super! It has some electrical issues that I am getting fixed like windshield wipper fluid stop comming out. Cigarette lighter stopped working , I only used it for charging cell phone never for smokes. The AM/FM cassette stereo blew one of it's boosters and the 4 big speakers not the tweeters. The thing people should check on the older models is the frame next to the rear tires rots out. But cutting it out and welding a patch isn't too bad if caught early. The older models have much smaller motors that have lower gas mileage and horsepower.The charging system is great on the pathy , the interstate that came with it when it was new lasted 13 years. The car was garage keep in heater garage in the winter. That helps alot. I love the car.

I've owned 2 Pathfinders. The first was a 1993 and it was flawless. I put 200 000 Km on it. I then opted for a new Pathfinder in 2002 and I ended up with lemon. I have only put 108 000 Km on it and I feel that I have been spending more time at the dealer than driving. I have had problems with everly part of this machine including the engine and transmission. The engine started to consume oil at only 66 000 Km, and the engine was replaced witout cost at 80 000 Km. The transmission started to become noisy at 48 000 Km after I had the oil changed at the dealer during a maintence service. Nothing was done about it and it continues to make a whinning noise. I had this vechile serviced only at the dealer. The service isn't the greatest, yet they have been taking care of most of my problems, but sometimes, unfortunately, adding a few more. I use my Pathfinder for towing a travel trailer which it does effortlessly, but the fuel consumption doubles. I like this vechile and will continue to drive it for several more years, but I don't think I will buy another unless I hear that Nissan makes some huge changes in quality. I have given this vechile a high rating because I feel that I did buy a LEMON.

I absolutely love my 94 nissan pathfinder XE but there are a lot of problems with mine, bottoms rusted away, i burst my clutch line and had to buy a new one, stereo was withered away when i bought it, honestly looked like this car was left to rot but! an incredible car, handles extremely well on and off-road steering as a tad bit loose but its still incredible, stops fairly well but my brakes are about to go on me, i'm getting all the rust fixed, its gonna be expensive but i'll get to it so even if this car is left to wither away, it'll still have the strength and stamina to come back to life, i drove this car daily and not even so much as a hitch with it except when my battery died on me but thats another story, as far as accidents go... i got a little tap from a chevy suburban and it destroyed my bumper and fender but cant expect my car to be in excellent condition after a encounter such as that

2006 Nissan Pathfinder is exceptional! I thought I would never say it, but I am glad to own a Import. I was getting tiresome of the domestic product and service I was receiving....... and I know why the largest companies in the world (aka GM, Ford, Dodge) are all in dire straits. I purchased the SE model and it's loaded with everything but leather and navigation system. The 4WD system is great in fulltime (auto), part-time 4H/4L. The DVD with wireless headsets was worth it's weight in gold with screaming kids in the back. The moon roof, sidewall air bags and 10 speaker Bose stereo system is top notch. The V6 power plant with 270 HP & torque is far superior to a domestic V6/V8..... even the 5.4 L V8 Triton in my Ford F-150..... and all the competitors V6's and small V8's in their SUV's. The VDC (vehicle dynamic control) is fantastic and I like the option to be able to turn it off when I want. It helps tremendously in Calgary Alberta winter's and icy roads. The 3 rows of seating allow kids and young adults to sit in the very back, but clumbersome for adults to make it back past folded/flipped seats. All seats, except for drivers of course, fold flat and make the storage enormous. Rear heat and air conditioning vents and controls make it comfortable and controllable in the back. The rear glass door and hatch open independently or together which allows flexability. Pet peeves include no 'all-on interior light switch' as the interior illumination is controlled by ceiling switches and map lights. Nissan service can't seem to change the oil without the upside down engineered filter dumping all over the skid plate and then splattering down the underside of the vehicle and onto my clean garage driveway & floor.

As for mileage, I have recorded close to the posted values of 20 MPG City/ and 27 MPG Hwy with the 4.0L V6. Mileage is drastically reduced in 4WD Auto & 4H.

This vehicle is very 'tight' and drives on rails with significant amounts of power and torque. I recommend this vehicle for anyone is in search of a solid SUV. I only have 1 year and 16,000 mi/20,000km, but am very impressed thus far and hope it continues.

I bought a brand new 2005 Pathfinder last April and this is the best car I ever had. The 270 horsepower 4 liter engine is just awesome and has more acceleration than most V8's found on some SUV's. My Pathfinder is the Off Road SE model that seats seven. I once drove my Pathfinder from Los Angeles to Vegas and back going over the mountains with ease.

I am slowly giving Nissan respect back to their 4x4's. They had problems in the early models with the steering tie-rods breaking under acceleration. I am glad to see that they have fixed that problem.

DavidTx - I bought my 1994 Pathy in May 2004. I like the way it looked and test drove in town. I live in Wyoming and drive to work all over the state and it is dissapointing me in performance.Going up hills it loses power, it shifts down when it should not.If someone could give me some input as to what kind of power it should have i would appreciate it.

I have a 2004 Pathfinder SE - The Handling is incredible and the interior Comfort is very nice. I have not had an oppurtunity to test it in the snow yet, but I am anxious for the next winter to test it.

The Pathfinder is a very good choice but definetely not the best. It has a pretty old design, and is pretty small inside. Its mechanically built perfectlly, and all models have had outstanding reliability. If you dont need a large midsize, then get this one. If you need something bigger, go for a Envoy XL or an Explorer.

I have a 93' Pathfinder. It is my first car and I love it. I can take it everywhere and it is so reliable. It has over 210k miles on it and I haven't had any problems with it and, from what I know, the previous owners had little to no trouble with it.

Have owned ford explorers, Range Rover, MB ML320, lots of jeeps, and the 2001 pathfinder by far is the best. Very reliable, lots of performance, and a beast in deep snow. Great confort on the highway. highly recomend.

I just purchaced a 1995 XE. I traded a GMC 4x4 for it. It rides great, and enjoys predictable handling in the snow and ice. It is amazing that people buy domestic vehicles when better money spent is in the import market. My GM could barely defrost the windows and this Pathfinder makes enough heat to melt steel. Driver ergonomics is excellent, seating is comfortable, and it seems powerful enough, but a little thirsty at the pump. I would definately recommend this vehicle.

I have had my Pathfinder for 4 years, and have had absolutely no problems with this. Handles great, looks great, and would highly recommend this SUV to anyone.

VALUE/PERFORMANCE/SAFETY/PRICE RATIOS BEATS MOST SUVS....240HPS....

I have a 1993 Nissan Terrano (known as Pathfinder in the US). The engine is great, car like ride quality, great sound system. Very reliable.

I have a 2001 Pathfinder LE 4x4. This is the best SUV on the road in the 30k price range, and drove them all. My old '95 Explorer was an okay vehicle but not in the same league as the Pathy. The new for 2001 240 hp engine is impressive and the 6 CD stereo is awesome! Handles like a car, off roads like a mountain goat. Toyota has got some catching up to do. I'm very pleased.

I bought a new Pathfinder XE in 1993, and over the years I've put almost 100,000 miles on it, including several cross-country trips, some off-road driving, and lots of commuting to work in the city. In all that time I've never had a single major problem. The Pathfinder has been perfect for me in almost every way. I've moved a lot, so the extra space has really come in handy for hauling large amounts of stuff. I have a dog I take with me almost everywhere, and the ability to put the back seat down gives him a lot of room when he's riding with me. I treat the car very poorly, but it doesn't seem to mind. The only thing I've ever needed to repair is the radio, which started having wiring problems about a year ago. Overall, this car has greatly exceeded my expectations.

I have a '97 Pathfinder and it has given me everything that I could have asked for. Unlike the 4Runner and Explorer, both of which I test drove, the Pathfinder handles and drives like a car. It is a very smooth ride. It is also great in all kinds of weather with the 4 wheel drive performing great in the snow and slush. Additionally, I recently moved to SF (after 2 years of CT winters) and it has handled the hills and perils of city driving without a single problem. The only negative is that it really gobbles up gas, but that is to be expected. I always recommend the Pathfinder whenever someone asks about SUVs.

We have a '92 Pathfinder and absolutely love it! No problems with it whatsoever (130K miles)! We're military and have lived in the all kinds of extreme weather and it has held up beautifully (even in the ND winters!). Nissan makes great cars!

A nice vehicle, but a surprisingly cramped interior. I don't fit in the back seat very well...

I have a 1994 Pathfinder. It is an awesome vehicle on and off road. This suv goes anywhere, and it has the durability and reliability that much of it's competition falls short on.

Very reliable, drives more like a car, but the other SUVs have made great strides in the past few years and are probably better all-around vehicles.

I have a '95 pathfinder, and I would not give up my truck for anything. It has great pickup and so far has not had any mechanical problems. It also holds up extreamly well in accidents. I would definately buy another.

Ford Explorers are better trucks performance wise and cost wise and it pays to buy American. U.S. jobs and our economy depend on it.

Nissan Pathfinder is a good SUV. It provides good protection, interior is nice + comfortable, and there's plenty of room for people and personal belongings.