Nissan Pathfinder

barakoutie · February 2005

My 2005 LE purch. 11/04 has the same noise coming from the same general location. It's intermittent, though, but annoying enough. I've read the other post where the sound was traced to the A-pillar handle, but I have not yet tested this on my vehicle. I'm not looking forward to stuffing Kleenex into my new car!!!

windego · February 2005

What a contrast to the First Drive article from September.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId
=102983

Perhaps you should try and redo the review with another vehicle or another reviewer. Which are we to believe? Especially considering other sites reviews and the popularity so far of the new PF.

gjaugie · February 2005

After 10 years of driving Eddie Bower Explorers (1995 and 1999 models) I needed a change. I couldn't bring myself to buy yet another Ford Explorer and have the same problems pop up at the same mileage over and over again. Too bad, because the Explorer had the most comfortable drivers seat of any vehicle I've owned. The field of alternatives is limited in the mid-size SUV market where styling and quality are crucial. The American choices were out for the same reasons Ford was no longer a contender. Styling had become boring with most of the market settling on the rounded look. The only two choices for me in the Japanese market that fit my narrow mold were the 2005 4Runner and the 2005 Pathfinder. I figured a Japanese product would make up in quality where the Ford, GM , and Dodge products were lacking. And, my new SUV had to be built on a truck chassis and it had to fit in my garage. No back row seating was necessary but they want us to have it whether we want it or not. Toyota still hasn't given in to that in the current 4Runnerand I applaud them for that. My choice between these two came down to styling. I had been seriously considering the 4Runner and I test drove it twice. The ride was nice and the quality was as expected from a Toyota. The drivers seat wasn't roomy enough for a tall person like me at 6'1". And I wasn't crazy about the overall styling, especially the wind deflector over the back window. Then I went to the Nissan dealer on the suggestion of a friend who had heard about the new models. The 2005 Pathy had just arrived on the lot in October 2004 and I might have been the first person to sit in one. I was taken by the rugged squared off styling that was so different from everything else out there. I found myself slipping into impulse-buy mode and there was no stopping me. The test drive was fine for the limited driving you can do on side streets. Within a week I found a good deal on the showroom floor model at another dealership. It had come right off the auto carrier and into the showroom, as shiny as a new car can be with 2 miles on the odometer and never having seen the sun or wind. I sat in it and then bought it on the spot; the LE model, storm gray with dark interior, complete with the nav system and DVD entertainment system. As fully loaded as it comes. I had high hopes for my new Pathfinder. I rolled it out of the showroom on November 4 and for almost a month I never saw another one on the road but mine. I've now had it 4 months and 4,500 miles. Here's my 5,000 mile report card a little ahead of schedule. I don't expect much to change in the next 500 miles.
Exterior Styling - Still the main (if not the only) reason to buy this rig. There's nothing else like it right now and that may be reason enough to have one. It's clearly a guy's truck and women seem to recognize that. They like to drive it when we let them, but they also know we belong behind the wheel. The styling almost makes me look past the other issues I have with this truck.
Interior Styling - Eye catching and impressive for an SUV. Everyone who sits in it for the first time comments on the look and style of the interior. And what's not to like. It's a work of art in design and aesthetics. Functionality is another thing.
Driver Confort and Controls - Like I said, I'm a tall guy. Ford knows Americans can be tall and they build their trucks with that in mind. The Japanese don't rate that as high in the ranking of creature comforts. One thing that seems common to the Japanese made SUVs is that the driver's seat sits too high for a tall guy. I can't quite get the seat adjusted to where I want it and I'm always aware of this limitation. The stereo is nice enough and the controls are easy enough to use. The climate control system is another matter. Rather than easy push buttons they have chosen knobs that require turning to adjust virtually everything in the heating and AC department. This is slow and frustsating even after the overly long learning curve. After 4 months I'm still trying to master this system. Driver visibility is also a concern of mine. The view out the front windshield is fine. However, the view to the sides and rear is limited by the large B pillars and small back window. I'm always concerned when backing out of my garage or a parking space that I might not see another car or pedestrian. I spend more time double checking out of caution.
Other Interior Issues - Like I said before, the car makers feel we need three rows of seats whether we want them or not. That 3rd row doesn't belong in a mid-size SUV. Space is already limited and we want that room to haul BBQ's and appliances and lumber. All the extra mechanical gizmos required for those extra seats just takes up more room that is already presious to us. Skip the 3rd row seats. People who really want them can get a mini van or a full size SUV. More is not always better. Second row passengers also feel the pinch to their foot room because of all the hinging needed to move the seats around. Forget the 3rd row in favor of cargo room and passenger leg room. Rattles and squeaks are another annoyance. I know this is a truck, but I bought a Nissan, not a Rambler. I'm disappointed by the degree of rattles and squeaks coming from all areas of the interior after only a few thosand miles of freeway and city driving. Woe to the off roader who hopes to hear the nuances of his stereo above the rattles coming from the dashboard. The dash rattle has been mentioned several times on this site. Soon that will be the least of your concerns.
Interior Materials - Someone else mentioned this and I noticed it too. The carpet quality is less than expected for this vehicle. I didn't notice at first because the floor mats cover most areas of the carpet. I don't expect this carpet to hold up over many years of hard wear, especially the cargo area where the carpet is already showing signs of wear from sliding boxes and what not over the uneven surfaces. The plastic panels also concern me. The dash and door plastic surfaces are the same material as the carge area which are already scratched and gouged from moving things in and out. In time the dash and door panels will be scarred from normal wear and tear way beyond how they should be. I think the plastic is too soft and prone to gouges and marks that won't buff out. The Explorer had a more durable interior for heavy use.
Ride Quality - The ride was nice and smooth on the test drive where speeds were under 50 mph. Not so good at freeway speeds. On anything but the smoothest roads there's a rather severe front end vibration and steering wheel shimmy at speeds over 60 mph. I know I shouldn't expect car ride quality in an SUV on a truck chassis, but this is considerably worse than expected. It could be a tire balance issue but it isn't a problem on very smooth freeway sur

gjaugie · February 2005

Here's the rest of the message that got cut off...

Ride Quality - The ride was nice and smooth on the test drive where speeds were under 50 mph. Not so good at freeway speeds. On anything but the smoothest roads there's a rather severe front end vibration and steering wheel shimmy at speeds over 60 mph. I know I shouldn't expect car ride quality in an SUV on a truck chassis, but this is considerably worse than expected. It could be a tire balance issue but it isn't a problem on very smooth freeway surfaces, which tends to rule out balancing as the cause. Add a few bumps and the front end is shaking like crazy, mostly from the left front it seems. I can even see the hood vibrating as the wheel shimmy sets in. I've also noticed a loud squeaking or creaking coming from the rear chassis area over bumps and during turns at lower speeds. Could be some of the frame or suspension bolts need tightening or maybe it's coming from the rear coil springs. This will be an issue for the dealer at the first oil change.
Drive Train - For the first 2,000 miles the engine and tranny were smooth and shifting was almost seamless. Then all of a sudden shifting began to feel sloppy like the tranny was slipping between gears, most noticeably from first to second. It's also developed a low end vibration that seems to be coming from the tranny at lower rpm's. It's almost like the engine is lugging and the vibration is very annoying. Also the engine doesn't feel as responsive and it doesn't down shift as tightly as before. Perhaps just a computer issue or maybe a problem in the torque converter. Definitely the biggest issue I have at this point and it will be the first item on the list when it goes to the dealer for warranty work.
Conclusion - I regret to say my new Pathfinder has not met expectations. By purchasing Nissan I had hoped for a reasonably trouble free ownership experience. I'm hoping many of these problems can be resolved by the service department. It's always frustrating to have to lose time from work to take a brand new vehicle to the dealership for repair. I will get to find out how responsive Nissan is to my complaints. Maybe the next 5000 miles will be more enjoyable. Would I buy this vehicle again right now? Hard to say, but maybe not. We'll see how happy I am after a round at the service department.

lbinh · February 2005

Great job on the report. Very organized and detailed. I hope they iron out the issues for you.

It is a new vehicle plant in the US which the new 05's are rolling off from. The factory has major teething problems as previously mentioned. Hopefully they will nip it in the bud as soon as possible and come up with the fixes you need. Previous R50 Pathfinders were built solid as a rock and hopefully they come up to speed on the newer models.

Quality issue: Is it because the '05 Pathfinders(titans, armadas, QX56) are built here in the new US plant that Nissan has to resort to using lower quality materials and build in order to offset the higher production costs??

dbauer · February 2005

the pathfinder, frontier, and xterra are all built in the smyrna, TN plant.

the new plant is in canton, MS

4rider · February 2005

This report is very thorough and alraming. What is going on at Nissan USA? Everytime they come up with a supposedly good new produdct, they seem fall way off the expectation from the consumers. Just look at the Quest, Armada and now Path. I was anticipating the 05 Xterra but not I am not sure I want to take the plunge after seeing so many quality issues on new Nissans.

zzr12 · February 2005

Thanks for the excellent info. I had the opportunity last year to wait for the 05 or purchase an 04 LE. After some research on Nissan's newer products in terms of quality and reliability I decided to buy the 04. I couldn't be happier. After 12,000 km I have yet to hear a squeak or a rattle, even in -35 C. I have not returned to the dealer since the day I picked it up last March. I was asked by several people if they should purchase an 04 or 05 and I always recommend the 04. This once again confirms my opinion. Hope things get better for you.

kuryakin46 · February 2005

just join the forum, Frank good decision.
My wife has the 2001 le 4x4, purchased two month after they roll out to the market, 38,000 plus on the odometer and it is rock solid, only oil changes and the rear bottoming issue which nissan
quickly fixed it. Hoping that the 2005 model we will have the same experienced as the 2001 model so, we purchased le 2x4 this time because of the
added third row seat for hauling kids to schools. To my disappointment it didn't meet my expectations, rattle on the engine compartment
which was the intake manifold issue (replacement parts on order by the dealer), brakes squeaks when backing out from the garage and poor radio
reception. Hopefully they will fixed all this issues and enjoy driving my pathy, Have 1,270 miles on it now. Overall I like my pathy.

stranded1 · February 2005

Hi, I have a 95 Pathfinder and my battery died but, the hood release isn't working for some reason. It just won't pop up in order for me to lift the lever. It's been sitting in my driveway for 1 week!!! Anyone have any ideas??? Does this have to do with the cold weather?

pathstar1 · February 2005

For all with cable operated hood releases - BE GENTLE! If you break the cable you are in trouble (unless you really like difficult mechanical problems). Be sure to lubricate the mechanism from time to time.

If you can still feel resistance when you pull the hood release your cable is still connected. Have someone hold the release in the activated position (gently) and work the hood - sometimes thumping it with your fist will let it release - sometimes you have to push the hood side to side or front to rear. Once you get it open, you will need to adjust it so it works properly again. If you have never lubricated it this is the time - use a spray on grease such as door hinge lub.

If you have no resistance when operating the release lever your cable is either broken or the end has slipped out of the notch. You will have to access it from under the vehicle. Study another vehicle like your own to see what you will have to do to release the latch - usually there is a tab that has to be pushed back (it has a slot in it and the cable end goes there to pull it back). Sometimes you can push the hood up enough to get a screwdriver in to push the release, sometimes you have to access it from below.

Good luck!

nittanylion · February 2005

I have an '01 Path. LE with 85,000 miles on it. Have only done oil changes and new tires at 83,000 miles! (mostly highway driving) Other then a new rattle in the driver's left side woodgrain plastic AC vent, the SUV has been great! Time for a new one. I did extensive research and test driving. Lexus 330, 4R, MDX, Chose the Pathfinder for engine and great new look. Truck had to come from a dealer in Jacksonville so it had 150 miles on it. LE with Nav. and a few others. Storm gray with graphite interior...sharp! Dealer in Jacksonville had added mud guards, wheel locks, front end hood smoke protector, cargo rubber mat and net (Small rubber mat and net). I paid $200 over invoice and paid dealer cost for cargo mat, wheel locks and hood protector. Did not pay for mud guards. This dealer (Bill Ray Nissan) was the only Orlando rarea dealer to meet my faxed offer. The truck has been great...almost 1,000. I have had none of the above problems. Bought the truck end of January. I am wondering if the Jacksonville dealer maybe worked out some of the above listed concerns while they had it? The highway I drive has a stretch of uneven pavement...construction. Truck still rides great. No engine noise. No pillar rattling, etc. Rarely have passengers but the time I did, they could not believe how smooth the ride was. (Back seat still a little cramped and I keep third row down for carting stuff.) I would defintely buy again so far! Keeping my fingers crossed! (Email me if you need salesman's name.)

smokey75 · February 2005

Wow... 85,000 miles & only oil changes? Remind me not to buy that PF when you sell.

pathstar1 · February 2005

Not sure what you think should also be done, smokey75. There is only one grease nipple on the truck, and while the front wheel bearing repack is specified that is about it. Valve lash is to be "checked", not adjusted (it is done with shims, so adjusting is a relative term). I do coolant every two years, mileage not consulted. Same for brake fluid. Trans. oil change is not called for in the manuals, though it's probably a good idea every 50,000 km (30,000 mi.) or so. Transfer case and diff. oil is called for at 48,000 km. Other than "inspections" that's about it according to the manuals.

I think he was refering to no mechanical failures, not lack of maintenance. Mine is in the same catagory, no failures yet (other than warrenty replacement of two O2 sensors), but I'm only just over 50,000 km.

That's why I buy these vehicles (Toyota and Nissan). Same thing happened with my previous 1990 4Runner. Eleven years and 130,000 km with no mech. failures on it as well.

nittanylion · February 2005

no mechanical failures.....thanks pathstar1. That is exactly what I meant. The car has been kept in meticulous condition. Have a good dealership near me where all service has been done as prescribed in the manual. I have not had any problems until the slight rattle or vibration in the driver's side left AC vent (the plastic woodgrain) just started. Don't worry smokey75, the truck is not forsale!!!!

psells · February 2005

This is changing the subject but could anyone tell me what body/ chassis the 2000, 2001 Pathfinder is built on? Is it on a car frame or a truck frame? Thanks very much, Patti

markjenn · February 2005

The 2nd generation Pathfinders (1996-2004 I think) are build on a unibody (car type construction) rather than body-on-frame like a truck. The 1st generation and the current 3rd generation are truck-chassis based. I think the current Pathfinders are built on a modified Frontier chassis, but I could be wrong on this.

- Mark

dbauer · February 2005

the f-alpha platform underpins the titan/armada, and is modified slightly to fit under the frontier/xterra/pathfinder.

psells · February 2005

Okay thanks, I was told by a car dealer that the 2001 Pathfinder was built on a car body, Maxima; but I wondered about that! I wonder if any years were built on car frames instead of truck frames?

pathalogical · February 2005

Has anyone removed the spare tire ? My PF is coming up on two years old and that tire has been underneath there all this time. Just wondering if it collects alot of dirt and if road salt residue may harm the finish on it if not cleaned regularly. I may have to wait until summer to clean both sides of it. I think next dealer visit I will ask them to swap it with one other tire so it too can get some mileage on it.

smokey75 · February 2005

PATHSTAR... as far as what I "think should also be done" I would include everything you just listed. When he said he had only done oil changes that is what I was referring to.

calgaryphil · February 2005

I usually lower it, clean it and check the air pressure twice a year (spring/fall). It gets pretty filthy and collects alot of gravel, dirt, etc. on the top surface.

scanty · February 2005

Nope. The 2001-2004 Pathfinder and QX4 might share a 3.5L VQ V-6 with the Maxima, but the similarities end there. It's pretty obvious when the Max is FWD and the Pathy is RWD or 4WD.

It's only been in the last few years that Nissan consolidated most of it's platforms, with the FM (350Z, G35, FX), the FF-L (Altima, Maxima, Murano, Quest), and F-Alpha (Titan, Armada, Frontier, Pathfinder, Xterra, and QX56).

rockymtnpaths · March 2005

Hello all, this is my first post on this forum, I am taking delivery of a 05 Path LE in a couple of weeks. Any input into what to expect or look for, I am a little apprehensive after reading some of the posts on the poor quality of the 05, I am coming over from Toyota trucks since 82, this will be my first Nissan, RockyMtnPaths.

markjenn · March 2005

Psells, the dealer is basically correct - a 2001 PF is built on a "car body", in that it is a unibody design where the body and frame are integrated together like most cars are these days. The frame of the vehicle is essentially the sheet metal of the body with some reinforcements added to provide strong attachment points where the suspension and drivetrain bolt on and to provide strength where needed. There is no separate frame that the body bolts to.

Almost all cars these days are built on unibodies as they're lighter, smoother on the road, and make for a quieter ride. Trucks tend to use body-on-frame because it provides a better platform for distributing the stresses of heavy loads and it allows a single chassis design to be used in all sorts of different truck designs.

The time of body-on-frame design in cars ended fifteen or so years ago. SUVs can go either way these days with those SUVs emphasizing more comfort and better highway manners going unibody (e.g., Highlanders, Pilots), and those emphasizing towing, ruggedness, and off-road capability going body-on-frame (e.g., 4Runner, current Pathfinder). The Pathfinder started as body-on-frame, went to a unibody for the year you're interested in (I doubt it is based on the Maxima since the Maxima was strictly FWD, but I don't konw), and then in 2005 went back to a truck-based design.

- Mark

rockymtnpaths · March 2005

"Any input into what to expect or look for"

I should have been a bit more specific! I am referring to the day that I inspect and take possession, Rocky Mtn Paths

toddyboy · March 2005

Hi all,
I just became a proud owner of a 2001 pathfinder LE. I love everything about it, but I would like to upgrade the VCR with a DVD player. Has anyone done this in the past? Any recommendations?

Thanks,
TB

nosyt · March 2005

Hey guys, soon-to-be Pathfinder owner here..

I may purchase a '95 soon with leather, and i'm wondering if it is possible to slap a '91-'93 bumper on there? Will i have to do any modifications, or will it just bolt right on? I really like the pre'-03 front bumpers a lot better than the later models.

Also, where's a good place to find a pre'03 bumper and other spare parts?

My other choice is to buy a '91-'93 Pathfinder for a lot cheaper and get the interior redone with leather, i'm wondering if you guys know a place that does this, or somewhere I can pick up some leather seats.

Basically I just want a '91-'93 style bumper and a leather interior...

Do you guys have any suggestions/recommendations? Is the '95 model that much greater than the '91-'93 models feature-wise, or are they about equal?

Thanks in advance, i really appreciate any input.

markjenn · March 2005

Doesn't the 91-93 and the 95 have the same basic bumper design? These are both 1st generation vehicles. I guess I'm unclear what is different about the bumpers that you're after.

Swapping new parts will be cost prohititve. Junkyards are where you get parts for this sort of swap.

Aftermarket leather is a common upgrade done in shops that specialize in interor work. These shops are common, but you want to find one with a good reputation. A quality job will likely run you $1500 or so, so you want to be sure you aren't investing too much in an old car where you'll never get your money back out if you sell.

- Mark

smokey75 · March 2005

I'm not sure if the bumper will fit but I would look at http://car-part.com/ to find a used bumper. It searches a nationwide database of junk yards for the specific part your looking for. I've had good luck with them.

nosyt · March 2005

In '93, Nissan did a mild modification of the front bumpers. The most obvious change would be the fog light placement- right beside the signal lights. I like how plain and 'rugged' the previous style was, so that's what i'm trying to change. All i'm wondering is if the mounting is different between these two bumpers so I know if i'll run into problems trying to put it on after I find one.

Also, I dont really mind putting out the $1500 to get my interior leather'd....that's a great price to me. I plan on doing a lot of work to this car, it'll be my project car so I dont really mind the depreciation factor on reselling it. Thanks.

zancr · March 2005

Rocky Mountain,

I'd take everyone's criticism with a grain of salt. Most gripes are minor and nit picky in my opinion. I'm sure there are legitimate problems but it is a vehicle and perfection is an impossibility. Anyway, as for the walk through, someone mentioned something about the drivers door not being right. Ours is fine and I haven't heard anyone else mention it. For the walk around look for things like scratches, dings or marks on the interior. Other than this if there's something, you'll be covered under warranty anyway. Basically, it's nothing to stress over, just enjoy the new car feeling and write things down as they come up. We love our 05 SE 4x4; not an LE with all the whistle, but all that extra stuff would only confuse me.

rockymtnpaths · March 2005

Zancr,
Thanks for your input, I look forward to participating in this forum, Michael.

jager32 · March 2005

I've been waiting for this kind of comparo before buying.

April Car & Driver

1st Jeep GC 0-60 6.8
2nd Nissan PF OR 0-60 7.5
3rd Mitsu Montero 0-60 10.2
4th VW Toureg 0-60 9.8
5th Toyota 4Runner 0-60 7.2
6th Ford Explorer 0-60 8.2

Just one up from the Explorer, ouch that has to hurt for Toyota fans. Even with the new V8 in 05 4Runners, the PF is about dead even. No quality issues mentioned like in the Edmunds review, but this was more of an off road test than a full review.

The Edmunds review caused me pause because of their comments on interior quality, but maybe they got a lemon.

cheerioboy26 · March 2005

That SUV comparison was on the C&D TV show Saturday. (Spike TV, might repeat during the week). Larry Webster (host) said the only reason the Jeep won was b/c of the Hemi.

rockymtnpaths · March 2005

Seeing that the 05LE spare is an matching alloy, would it make sense to rotate the spare into your regular tire rotation? Regards, Michael.

calgaryphil · March 2005

Absolutely it would make sense for an 05 LE if it is a matching alloy. Although I have a full-sized spare on my 2001 LE, it is on a steel rim so cannot be rotated....unfortunately.

stuartbonia · March 2005

I need to take my 2002 LE in for the scheduled 30,000 mile service.

I called today to get a price. They told me it was $499. Although they have to do a number of things for this service, the price seemed outrageous.

What have some of you paid for this service?

jgriff · March 2005

My biggest gripe with the PF, is the lack of leg/knee room in the 2nd row. You're paying the price for having that 3rd row. It would have been nice if the 2nd row would move back & forth.

markjenn · March 2005

I'd say that $500 is about average for the 30K, maybe a little high. If they truly do all the checks, it's not totally out of line, but you can certainly do better at an indepedent shop. And if you have multiple Nissan dealers, shop around - prices vary significantly.

You might also find out if they're doing services not specified in the OM, although my experience is that they'll push hard to have you stick with their 30K "package".

- Mark

utter · March 2005

I owned a Nissan PF 1996 up until early last year. I loved the car because I rarely had any problems with it and it drove nicely. However, the car was somewhat unbearable for anyone besides the driver to sit in. I was wondering how the comfort has improved with newer models.

jgriff - I never experienced to many complaints about leg room in my old Nissan, have they changed the spacing for the new ones then?

dbauer · March 2005

"I was wondering how the comfort has improved with newer models."

unless you are over 6'4", no problems.

"have they changed the spacing for the new ones then?"

see above

utter · March 2005

6'4"? Ever since the accident, nope. ;-)

Thanx...these threads are really long.

archimedes · March 2005

I currently own a 2001 2wd QX4 with about 100K miles. It is a very solid vehicle, and seems like it could easily go to 300K or more without major problems. However, I am considering trading or selling it and purchasing a 2001-02 Pathfinder with 5-speed tranny and LSD, possibly 4wd, for the fun and versatility factors. Had an Altima for 10 years with 5-speed and enjoyed it. My question is how much of a difference in overall quality is there between the QX4 and the Pathy? I was told once by an Infiniti service manager that the Infiniti gets all of Nissan's top quality parts, while the Nissans get moderate quality parts. Infiniti hype or some truth to that?? It seems like the Pathy and the Q may be almost identical mechanically, but can't find much documentation on that.

I'm working on talking myself out of this due to the cost of the trade. But, anyone out there, driving a Pathy with 5-speed with strong preference one way or the other? I do tow a small pop-up periodically, and I understand the auto. is better for towing, but I would think that is more important for heavier loads.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

scanty · March 2005

So the Infiniti is JDM "Prime" while the Pathfinder is JDM "Choice"? I don't think so. Under the skin, they are mechanically identical. Same unit body, same suspension, same engine, etc. The QX4 will have more luxurious items in the interior, like the seats have higher quality leathers, HID's on the more recent versions, and I think the 4WD from the QX is only available on the LE Pathfinder, but those differences don't amount to much. And they are both nearly bulletproof. 300k should be easy for either of them.

The only real negative about getting a 5-speed SUV is when you try to get rid of it. It might be a fun toy for you, but it's an odd duck when it comes time to sell it. 99% of buyers want the slushbox.

You already have the 240 HP engine, so there's no need to trade for that.

You can only get the 5-speed on the Pathfinder SE, so you'd be giving up most of the "luxury" goodies.

If you don't really need 4WD, I'd stick with what you have. Maybe spending a few bucks to get it professionally detailed and having the dents bumped out will make it feel "new" for you.

eck2 · March 2005

gjaugie you said "It's also developed a low end vibration that seems to be coming from the tranny at lower rpm's. It's almost like the engine is lugging and the vibration is very annoying"

I have this too. Has this been resolved?

jgriff · March 2005

jgriff - I never experienced to many complaints about leg room in my old Nissan, have they changed the spacing for the new ones then?

Im 61, and when Im get into the back seat of the 05 PF my knees are pressed right up against the front rows, unless the front seats have been move up a lot. It would have been nice if the 2nd row move forward & backwards ie. Pilot.

Ive test driven several 02 & 03 PF and found the 2nd row to be very adequate. To me a flat 3rd row is a nice-to-have but not a requirement. I would just as soon have more room/comfort in the 2nd and NOT have the 3rd row.

In the end I will most likely go with the new Xterra, as I like the more rugged looks and smaller footprint, which I feel give it more agile.

keeferb · March 2005

I have leased a '98 PF and currently am leasing an '01. I am also 6'1" and have found the 2nd row legroom a little tight in both of these models unless the front seat is moved up. I thought for sure Nissan would address this in the '05 since this is one of the few complaints about this truck. However, they opted to squeeze in the 3rd row since that is the trend these days. By the way, that 3rd row is only for children. I attempted to sit back there and they almost had to use the jaws of life to get me out. That being said, I still think the '05 is a great truck and we'll be leasing another one when our current lease expires next month. It has great looks, a great engine, and a great ride. The 2nd and 3rd row leg room is not a 'need' for us. If it was, we'd be looking at something else. Just my $.02...

kmk · March 2005

I am intereseted in buying a 2005 Pathfinder, does anyone have one? How do you like it, any problems?

viking03 · March 2005

Hello,

My leather-wrapped steering wheel is starting to crack and erode after about 1.5 yrs of ownership (2003 model). I am wondering what you all have done to refurbish/protect your leather steering wheels. What products are out there that have worked for you?

I live in southern california so I get A LOT of sun - not good for interior or paint I'm afraid. I do use a sun shield underneath the windshield on a daily basis but the top and left side of the steering wheel are still starting to dry out/crack.

Thanks for any insight.

Nissan Pathfinder

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