Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Nissan Pathfinder

Looking at getting a used SUV and these seem to have a good reliability record -- anyone have first-hand experience, good or bad?

what exactly are you going to be doing with this rig? is it going to be a street car that goes occasionally off-road, Or is it going to be one that will be going off road on a regular basis? Is it going to be a hunting rig?

Street car that occasionally gets driven on bad unpaved roads -- not offroad -- and in snow/mud/etc.

ok. for that, a pathfinder is a pretty good rig. I dont have much expierence with them, but from what i have herd they are good rigs. Have you thought of a bronco?

The Pathfinders are not very peppy, but they do get pretty good gas mileage. If you want a nice riding SUV that will take you off-road and gas mileage is not a big issue, consider a 1995-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with the 5.2 Litre V8. I have owned a variety of SUVs over the past 20 years and have come to like the car-like ride of the Jeep GC Limited more than any other. The newer Explorers/Mountaineers have more room, but they don't ride any better and they can't come close to the GC on gravel or dirt.

The only modification that I consider necessary is the addition of a set of Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks. I have run several GC over 200,000 miles without any major component failures and that is something that I can't say for the Ford or GM products that I have owned. My current hunting rig is a 1993 GC Limited with 156,000 on the original motor, transmission, transfer case, and exhaust system. 1 note of caution, the full time 4x4 transfer case will wear such that on really hot days the limited slip (viscous cuppler) doesn't slip like it should. For whatever reason, this has only happened to me on days that were over 100 degrees F and only when I was making sharp corners while parking. Oh ya, I also put synthetic gear lube in the differentials and run full synthetic in the engines.

Jeff

My wife has a 91 pathfinder for 7 years now. It has 160,000 w/ one timing belt change before we bought it at 60,000. I replaced the starter. That is the only thing we have done with it. As soon as my truck is paid off I think we will get another used one that is just a couple of years old. We have taken it on some pretty decent off road trips and it performed fine. The new pathfinders are pretty peppy and the newest model has even more seating. To sum it up we have been very happy with it. Try test driving them as well as other models to see if it fits you.

Better do that timing belt again if you have 100k miles on it. It will really spoil your day if you break it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

badger

Thanks all -- honestly could get away with a truck-like ride since I drive a Mazda P/U now. It started out well but at 160K has needed a new transmission, catalytic converter, and now the ignition switch is going bad.

Unfortunately 260Remguy's extreme conditions that cause Jeep trouble are routine here (extreme heat) and I probably make about 10 sharp turns a day while parking! (Everyone's favorite solution to the parking crunch here is to paint the lines closer together.)

O sure and why don't you just get a 7.7 Arrisaka to hunt with while your at it!!!!!!

The viscous coupler thing only happened with 1 of the 6 GC Limiteds that we have had and I am told that it is about a $700 fix. The 2 times that it happened to me both occurred after I had driven a couple hundred miles in temperatures over 100 degrees F with a full load of family and vacation stuff. The problem went away as soon as the transfer case cooled down, but it is something to consider. I'm about 6' and prefer not to have the sun roof option, as it lowers the interior overhead a couple of inches. I can't figure out the value/attraction of sun roofs, but Jeep likes to install them in the GC Limiteds. I have yet to drive a 6 cylinder SUV that will get up and go like the Jeep's 5.2 V8. That is a "nice to have" when you're driving in the mountains or merging into heavy Interstate traffic.

Jeff

the cherokees are pretty bulletproof and the 4.0 motor works very well. both the 5spd and the auto hang in there pretty good. the 5pd is definately more fun though. they are plentifull and pretty cheap. lots of room and good mileage.
also, parts interchange is excellent in the mid 90's to end of production.
woofer

We've owned a couple of Cherokees and a couple of GCs with the 4.0 Litre straight 6. In the Cherokees, they are kind of peppy, but in the GCs they just don't have the pep to get you merged into 75 MPH Interstate traffic as well as I would like. Besides that, all of the 4.0s that I have had, have leaked oil and gotten gas milage only 1 or 2 MPG better than the average on my 5.2 Litre GCs. For me, the '97 and '98 GC Limiteds with either the 5.2 or 5.9 Litre V8s are the way to go!

Jeff

Haven't owned a Pathy, but am on my second Nissan PU, and will likely go with a new Xterra.

Pathyfinders from 96-2000 use the 3.3 liter VG V6. 170 HP. Not too bad as far as pep. If mileage is comparable to the Frontier, then expect 17-19 depending how much city/highway/how fast etc...

Pathfinders from 2000.5-2004 use the 3.5 liter VQ V6. Same as used in the Maxima and Altima. 240-250HP. Must be very peppy. Mileage dropped slightly. Went from frame/body to unibody construction. Front suspension went to McPherson strut from torsion bar/A-arm. Many Nissan off-roader types were not happy about this.

2005 Pathfinders get the new 4.0l VQ engine. I'm not sure if the Pathfinder comes with the manual, but the 2005 Xterra and Frontier have the 6sp Manual as either standard or option/ depending on equipment group. The Auto is now a 5sp. Mileage has bumped up slightly, even as HP has moved from 180 to 265 (In the Frontier) Pathy now is back to Steel frame and A-arm front/ Independent rear suspension. I'm thinking the new engine/transmission combo is going to equal boogity boogity boogity...

Haven't had a lick of trouble with my 2 PUs. Put 100K on the first one ( bought it w/55K on the odometer) Changed the shocks and the timing belt when I bought it. Changed the fan belts when I changed the timing belt, and did 2 tune ups in 100K. Otherwise it was just oil, one set of brake pads, and a new battery in 5 years.

Second one now has 85K on it. On my second set of front brake pads. Rears still look good. I'm using synthetic oil, and change filters every 4K, oil every 8K. It's time for a tune up, shocks and a new timing belt. Otherwise, no issues whatsoever...

Regards,
Scott