NissanPathfinder1993Overview/nissan/pathfinder/1993/base/

1993 Nissan Pathfinder

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Pathfinder.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1993 Nissan Pathfinder is a conventional SUV equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, returning EPA fuel economy of 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway from an engine whose 3.6-quart oil capacity is specified for 5W-30 API SM lubricant. With zero recalls and just 56 total owner complaints — the majority clustered in the Engine & Engine Cooling category — this model year represents a comparatively quiet point in the Pathfinder's long complaint history spanning 1990 through 2026, a record that would later peak dramatically at 1,050 complaints in 2005. For a researcher, that low complaint volume signals a model year that, while not entirely free of engine-cooling concerns, stands as one of the more trouble-free entries in the Pathfinder's broader reliability timeline.

Model year202520242023202220202019201820171993

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 API SMOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/19/16 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172 in
Overall width66.5 in
Overall height65.7 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight3735 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 19 / 16 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Pathfinder of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

12.0–12.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 12.00 sec — 1991 SE
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1992SE 3.0L V612.30 sec18.90 sec153 hp4x4
1991SE 3.0L V612.00 sec18.70 sec153 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.6 qt of 5W-30 API SM engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity6 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.6 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miSteering System (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1993 Nissan Pathfinder logged 56 federal complaints with zero recalls or investigations, with its most frequent issues concentrated in Engine & Engine Cooling (26 complaints) and Structure (7 complaints). Within the context of its generation, 1993 marks the end of a relatively stable early-1990s period where complaints hovered between 36 and 47, representing a slight uptick from 1992 but remaining well below the thresholds seen later. Crucially, 1993 sits directly before a dramatic escalation in reported problems, as complaints more than doubled to 109 in 1994 and reached 185 in 1995. Although the data does not specify the root causes for the engine complaints or the subsequent surge, 1993's position at the tail end of this low-complaint arc implies it avoids the escalating faults of the mid-1990s models. Given its zero recalls and comparatively low complaint volume right before the generation's problem rates sharply declined, the 1993 Pathfinder is a solid used purchase relative to its immediate successors.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
38
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
56
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 56 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling26
Structure7
Tires4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Power Train2
Seat Belts2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Structure1
Suspension,Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 38 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB08-097L2023-09-21SteeringDIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been…
NTB23-0492023-06-16Electrical System12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service…
NTB23-0532023-06-16Electrical SystemSILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION…
NTB13-107F2023-04-27Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB16-003C2023-04-17Electrical SystemINTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Pathfinder. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Pathfinder take?

3.6 qt of 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Pathfinder have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Pathfinder get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.