1998 Nissan Pathfinder: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 149 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is suspension (30% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2011
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 149 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“We own a 1998 nissan pathfinder. There is a strong fuel odor emitting from the . The order of gasoline was so strong it filled the first floor of my home when the vehicle was parked in the garage. He vehicle was about 1/4 full of fuel my records indicate that the filler tube had been replaced. The manufacturer has been made aware of the failure. The mileage is 153k.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · May 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. When the vehicle was taken in for inspection, the front driver's side strut assembly was fractured and separated from the uni-body. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that it was unable to be repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 176,000.”Owner report · Suspension · Apr 2017
“I cant even drive down the street over 40 without the vehcle doing a death shake from hell to top that off due to the recall for the strut placement error causing my strut tower wall directly behind my passenger side front wheel to almost be completly gone from rusting out. This is total bullshit. Something gotta give. Im calling corporate in the morning. Hopefully they dont try to beat around bush with me like they do to all there customers they do wrong.”Owner report · Suspension · Sep 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the scene. In addition, the power steering malfunctioned on several occasions. The contact stated that the steering wheel became very difficult to steer left or right. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the crash or the power steering failure. The failure mileage was 176,548.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. When the shift lever was shifted into the reverse position, the vehicle failed to operate without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.”Owner report · Power Train · May 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. The contact was unable to shift the gear into reverse. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. Updated 7/16/15*cn”Owner report · Power Train · May 2015
“We own a 1998 nissan pathfinder and for some reason we have lost our reverse but still have our park, neutral and drive, and 4 wheel drive. We were told that it could be the clutch pack that needs replaced but then after talking to the mechanic that inspected it for us he said that he thought we might be looking at a new transmission. Is there any recalls for this reason for this truck?”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · May 2015
“Tl* the contact owned a 1998 nissan pathfinder. While driving 30 mph, the contact blacked out and crashed the vehicle. The contact sustained minor facial injuries due to the air bag deployment. The contact also sustained left eye injuries, which required ongoing medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, there was an abnormal clicking noise coming from the front end of the driver's side. The contact mentioned that while making a left turn to exit the highway, the front driver's side tire fractured. The contact was able to slowly drive the vehicle to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000. Updated 10/10/14*cn the consumer stated the strut came off of the vehicle after exiting the freeway. According to the dealer both struts needed to be replaced. Updated 3/31/2015 *js”Owner report · Suspension · Aug 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that the fuel filler neck was perforated due to rust. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was confirmed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jan 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 21 of these complaints and injuries in 29 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DURING THE COATING PROCESS OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY, AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF COATING MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED AT THE LOWER MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN OPENING IN THE COATING WHICH CAN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL OF THE TUBE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE WITH AN IMPROVED COATING PROCESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1998 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Pathfinder by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
NHTSA has 149 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder. The most complained-about area is suspension (30% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Nissan Pathfinder problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 112,903 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.