1991 Nissan Pathfinder

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

73/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Nissan Pathfinder, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	14	30%
Engine and engine cooling	8	17%
Tires	5	11%
Seat belts	3	6%
Steering	3	6%
Seats	2	4%
Fuel system	2	4%
Vehicle speed control	2	4%
Electrical system	2	4%
Structure	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

REAR FRAME ON THESE SUV RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT, WAS PULL A SMALL TRAILER AND THE FRAME AT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL COME APART AND WENT TO MANY JUNKYARDS TO FIND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL PATHFINDER FROM 8
NHTSA complaint: Structure

1991 NISSAN PATHFINDER DEVELOPING PROBLEMS WITH THE GOODYEAR FORTERA TIRE EQUIPMENT. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR ONE OF THE VEHICEL' S FRONT TIRES WAS CUPPED SEVERELY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO WANDER WHEN DRIVEN (GOO
NHTSA complaint: Tires

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. FIRESTONE, FIREHA
NHTSA complaint: Tires

STEERING MECHNISM HAS FAILED, CAUSING UNVEN WEAR ON THE TIRES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Steering

CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR 4 P235/75R15 FIRESTONE ATX STEEL BELTED RADIAL TIRES HE PURCHASED WHICH WERE PART OF SAFETY RECALL 00T005. *TT
NHTSA complaint: Tires

WHILE IN A CAR CRASH REAR DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS RECLINED UPON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seats

RECALL 95V103002 REPAIRS WERE PREVIOUSLY DONE. HOWEVER, SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE FAILING TO REMAIN LOCKED, PREVENTING PASSENGERS FROM BEING PROPERLY RESTRAINED. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 Nissan Pathfinder. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seat belts:front:buckle assembly 95V103002

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES A

The seven scores

Reliability raw	91	excellent
Longevity est.	82	excellent
Maintenance	76	good
Depreciation	59	average
Performance	64	average
Efficiency	29	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 75% of other
Longevity: better than 74% of other
Running costs: better than 63% of other
Value retention: better than 21% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 91: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 82: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1991 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 76: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1991 Nissan Pathfinder?

Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 14 of them (30%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1991 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1991 Nissan Pathfinder last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1991 Nissan Pathfinder?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.