At a glance

Reported mileage150,514 mi

LocationPa, USA

ColorBurgundy

Last listed price$1,000

Open recalls4

Vehicle identity & specifications

Make

Nissan

Model

Pathfinder

Year

1998

Trim

LE

Body style

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

Vehicle type

MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)

Engine

3.3L

Fuel type

Gasoline

Drivetrain

4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4

Doors

4

Assembly plant

MIYAWAKA, FUKUOKA, JAPAN

Manufacturer

NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY, LTD

What's a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder worth?

What comparable 1998 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.

Low

$600

Typical price

$1,481

High

$3,000

Most 1998 Nissan Pathfinder listings fall between $600 and $3,000, from 19 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 →

MPG & running costs

Official U.S. EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder.

Combined16 mpg

City14 mpg

Highway17 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$3,975

FuelRegular

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. EPA estimates for this year/make/model; actual mileage varies by trim and driving conditions.

Full vehicle history report

$14.99 USD · one-time

What a full report checks for VIN JN8AR05Y9WW226492

⚠️ 4 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 JN8AR05Y9WW226492

Safety recalls 4

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

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DURING THE COATING PROCESS OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE…

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE WITH AN IMPROVED COATING PROCESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA Campaign #07V435000 · 18/09/2007

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Common problems & what to inspect

Based on 159 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.

💥 3 involved a crash 🚑 3 reported injuries

Suspension 6 reports

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

Steering 4 reports

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

Air Bags 3 reports

🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Fuel/propulsion System 2 reports

🔍 Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

Power Train 2 reports

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

Structure 1 report

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

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 159

Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder.

SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

OUR 1998 PATHFINDER HAS WHAT IS DESCRIBED BY MANY PEOPLE AS A "DEATH WOBBLE." IT BEGAN AFTER WE BOUGHT IT IN 2003 AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. IT HAPPENED AS RECENTLY AS 2017 AND I AM BEGINNING TO BE AFRAID TO RIDE IN IT. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-70 MPH THE CAR BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT GRADUALLY GETS WORSE. REDUCING YOUR SPEED …

NHTSA ODI #11141343

STEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

I CANT EVEN DRIVE DOWN THE STREET OVER 40 WITHOUT THE VEHCLE DOING A DEATH SHAKE FROM HELL TO TOP THAT OFF DUE TO THE RECALL FOR THE STRUT PLACEMENT ERROR CAUSING MY STRUT TOWER WALL DIRECTLY BEHIND MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO ALMOST BE COMPLETLY GONE FROM RUSTING OUT. THIS IS TOTAL BULLSHIT. SOMETHING GOTTA GIVE. IM CALLING CORPORATE IN THE MORNING. HO…

NHTSA ODI #11033497

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED DURING A RAINSTORM, FLIPPED OVER, AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN ON THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, THE CONTACT AND HER DAUGHTER STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND GLASS WAS INSERTED INTO THE PASSENGER'S HEAD. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED PARTIALLY, IN A BALLOON-LIKE FASHION, AND THE POWDER F…

Crash · 2 injured · NHTSA ODI #11016265

STEERING,AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL…

Crash · NHTSA ODI #10983055

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WE OWN A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THERE IS A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE . THE ORDER OF GASOLINE WAS SO STRONG IT FILLED THE FIRST FLOOR OF MY HOME WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. HE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL OF FUEL MY RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE FILLER TUBE HAD BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. TH…

NHTSA ODI #10983153

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT ASSEMBLY WAS FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE UNI-BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAIL…

NHTSA ODI #10970892

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10725792

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WE OWN A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER AND FOR SOME REASON WE HAVE LOST OUR REVERSE BUT STILL HAVE OUR PARK, NEUTRAL AND DRIVE, AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT COULD BE THE CLUTCH PACK THAT NEEDS REPLACED BUT THEN AFTER TALKING TO THE MECHANIC THAT INSPECTED IT FOR US HE SAID THAT HE THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT A NEW TRANSMISSION. IS THERE ANY RECALLS FO…

NHTSA ODI #10721844

+ 151 more complaints on record.