At a glance

Reported mileage216,034 mi

LocationGa, USA

ColorBlack

Last listed price$1,300

Open recalls5

Vehicle identity & specifications

Make

Nissan

Model

Pathfinder

Year

1996

Trim

LE

Body style

Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]

Vehicle type

MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)

Engine

3.3L 6-cyl

Cylinders

6

Fuel type

Gasoline

Drivetrain

4x2

Doors

4

Assembly plant

JAPAN

Manufacturer

NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY, LTD

What's a 1996 Nissan Pathfinder worth?

What comparable 1996 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.

Low

$500

Typical price

$1,149

High

$2,995

Most 1996 Nissan Pathfinder listings fall between $500 and $2,995, from 7 comparable cars.

Is the seller's price fair? Get this exact VIN's current market value — retail, trade-in & loan value — in the full report.

See this car's exact value →

Full vehicle history report

$14.99 USD · one-time

What a full report checks for VIN JN8AR05S1TW035625

⚠️ 5 open safety recalls — shown above, free 🔒 Title & brand records 🔒 Accident & damage history 🔒 Salvage, total-loss & theft 🔒 Odometer & owner count 🔒 Liens & market valuation

A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.

📜 Title status Clean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon

🏷️ Title brand history Every brand ever applied, by state

🧾 Number of owners How many registrations on record

🛞 Odometer readings Reported mileage over time

🔎 Rollback check Mileage inconsistency / tamper flags

💥 Accident & damage Reported collisions and damage events

🚧 Total-loss records Insurance total-loss declarations

♻️ Salvage & auction Salvage-yard and auction history

🚓 Theft records Reported / recovered theft events

🏦 Liens & impounds Outstanding liens or impound records

🏷️ Sale & listing history Past marketplace and dealer listings

💰 Market valuation Estimated value for this exact spec

Unlock full report — $14.99 → or get up to 20 reports a month for $19.99/mo → One-time purchase · permanent access · VIN JN8AR05S1TW035625

Safety recalls 5

STEERING:COLUMN

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 O…

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.

NHTSA Campaign #11V244000 · 20/04/2011

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA Campaign #06E049000 · 24/05/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA Campaign #06E026000 · 23/03/2006

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

DUE TO THE THICKNESS OF THE CARPET PADDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL COULD CATCH A DRIVER'S RIGHT FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CARPET PADDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL ADJACENT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

NHTSA Campaign #96V031000 · 22/02/1996

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

DUE TO THE TYPE OF LUBRICANT USED IN THE STEERING TRANSFER GEAR ASSEMBLY, THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (LESS THAN -30 C) COULD INCREASE TO THE POINT WHERE SOME DRIVERS WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN TURNING THE WHEEL.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE STEERING TRANSFER GEAR ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY HAVING DIFFERENT LUBRICANT.

NHTSA Campaign #96V034000 · 22/02/1996

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Common problems & what to inspect

Based on 176 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.

Steering 8 reports

🔍 Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

Suspension 8 reports

🔍 Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

Structure 3 reports

🔍 Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

Electronic Stability Control (esc) 2 reports

🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Power Train 2 reports

🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Electrical System 1 report

🔍 Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Pre-purchase checklist

Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.

Owner complaints 176

Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1996 Nissan Pathfinder.

STEERING,SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT THE DMV, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR STRUT WAS RUSTING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING MADE AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNSURE HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. TH…

NHTSA ODI #11176224

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CAR HAS MANY AFTER MARKET PARTS WHICH ARE OLD AND RUSTED WHICH CAUSES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO BREAK DOWN EVEN AFTER REPLACING MANY PARTS ALSO WHEN SEARCHING GOR PARTS ITS HARD TO FIND I HAVE TO GET PARTS FOR A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER WHEN MY VEHICLE IS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER

NHTSA ODI #11057162

AIR BAGS

I TRIED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE NISSAN DEALER AND AFTER FINDING MY VEHICLE RETURN A POSITIVE AIRBAG RECALL ON AIRBAGRECALL.COM. THE LOCAL DEAL SAID IT IS NOT LISTED IN THEIR SYSTEM AND DID NOT OFFER TO LOOK INTO IT ANY FURTHER. I TOLD THEM THEY COULD LOOK IT UP ON AN INTERNET BASED SYSTEM TO SEE WHAT I WAS SEEING BUT THEY DECLINED. WILSON MOTOR COMPANY …

NHTSA ODI #11041478

SUSPENSION

ON A LONG ROAD TRIP FROM INDIANA TO NORTH CAROLINA, THE REAR-END OF MY VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING OR ROCKING FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE AS I WAS GOING 60 MPH OR MORE AND WHENEVER I CHANGED LANES. IT FELT VERY UNSTABLE, AS THOUGH IT MAY ROLLOVER. UPON MY RETURN HOME, I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE SWAY BAR, THE SHOCKS AND MAYBE THE TIRES. I REPLACED &…

NHTSA ODI #10766403

STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

WHENEVER I REACH AN EXCESS SPEED OF 40+ AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS THE CAR ROCKS BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLE. I AM A MOTHER OF FOUR AND THE IS A VERY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH ME AND MY CHILDREN.

NHTSA ODI #10730427

STEERING,STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER

I BOUGHT THIS CAR A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND COULDN'T DRIVE IT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT A LITTLE BEFORE I GOT MY LICENSE. SO EVENTUALLY WHEN I GOT IT ON THE ROAD I ENDED UP GETTING A REJECTION STICKER BECAUSE THE E BREAK AND A FEW OTHER REASONS. ONE THING I'VE NOTICED ABOUT MY S.U.V IS THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH IS …

NHTSA ODI #10723884

SUSPENSION

ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE THE SAME COMPLAINT, YET NOTHING IS DONE FOR THE CONSUMER OF WHAT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLE WHEN NEW EVEN THOUGH IT IS DANGEROUS AND MANY CONSUMERS SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM (OR GIVE UP AND PARK THE VEHICLE), OFTEN SPENDING THE MONEY ON THE WRONG FIX BECAUSE THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN TO THEM AND TH…

NHTSA ODI #10701539

STEERING,SUSPENSION

AS VEHICLE APPROACHED 50MPH IT WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE FORCING ME TO LET OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE SHAKING MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND WAS VERY FRIGHTENING NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT ALSO TO MY FAMILY (WE WERE ON VACATION). SINCE THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION I LOOKED FOR A RECALL. THERE WAS NONE. I DID, HOW…

NHTSA ODI #10695520

+ 168 more complaints on record.