luvnmypath

I got it!!

I replaced my 94 with a 95. My mechanic beat it with a hammer to make sure it was solid before he would put it on. He also sprayed it with a primer and some kind of rust stop paint or something...I knew he'd take care of me so I didn't question all that...beyond the soundness of the frame. I live in Northern MD and the frame came out of a yard in VA. Anyone who is checking their frame don't just look at it - poke it!! Mine was undercoated out of the factory so it didn't look bad but as soon as they started poking it (with their fingers) it just started to crumble. I tried the email thing as well but there was no response. I got a reponse in about month after I sent the pics and letter to the addresses I included earlier. If you don't want to send the stuff to nissan you can send me your letters and pics via email and I'll put them in an envelope and send them on. But you have to have your contact info in the letter so they can contact you instead of me. Check out these pics

Wow, you guys are as bad as my husband, actually changing out the frame was the most economical. used frame was $600.00 labor for frame replacement about $1,800.00 I had the clucth replaced while it was all stripped down and regular maintenance and tune up, fluids, oil change, brakes checked and rotors turned if necessary. so that was the remainder of the $600.00 bringing the total to around 3K. My 1994 Pathy....priceless!!! I checked into getting a used car and just letting the pathy go but - I have had my pathy since day one - I know it's maintenance schedule and I know how well I take care of it and what it's been through. Body is in excellent condition, so is the interior and mechanically it's excellent so I couldn't see paying someone 5K plus for a used vehicle with more miles on it than what I have on mine. I've only had 138,000 on it when I did the change over. And it just wasn't in the cards to get a new one, plus I love my body style. And from the sounds of it most of you all could change out your own frame and wouldn't have to pay the labor, so you'd be a head of the game. I couldn't find anyone who was willing to take on the liability of welding the frame as some other 94 owners have so... the replacement was my only option, other than the grave yard and I just couldn't do it.

Thanks Precise1 if anyone needs any info I am willing to share what i have.

Here's a link to the national highway and transportation safety association, where i found other complaints about the same rust spots on other 94 frames. http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems...ain/results.cfm if you click on the print version another screen will pop up with the description of each complaint. Is this just an east coast problem? Has anyone in the mid-west or west coast states had this problem?

Well i haven't heard of this problem in the 87-93 or 95 models, seems to have affected the 94's. when i was seaching grave yards for a replacement frame all the 94's had the same rust pattern in exactly the same spot. the 95 frame that i eventually dug up was from an north east coast, yard and is solid. Not to mention that when they changed out the frame none of the bolts or brackets or anything else was rusted. the bolts that hold the body on came right off and went right back on they were solid. also i don't do a lot of driving in bad weather or off roading and when i do i hose the frame and park in the garage. I know, I know, I'm a wimp, but when I need the 4WD in never fails me. Had to pull a 4WD toyota truck out of the snow one winter.

About a year ago I replaced the frame on my 94 with a used 95 frame and I contacted Nissan to let them know and that this is a wide spread problem with the 94's. (frame rusts out right over the rear wheel axle) This is what they told me.... they said they haven't had enough complaints about the frame rust problem to do a recall, but if enough 94 Pathfinder owners would make them aware of the problem they would look into recalling the vechicles and we may all get some kind of reimbursement for fixing the frames. So anyone out there who has had this problem should write a letter to Nissian USA and let them know. Even if you didn't repair or replace the frame they still want to know, but you will need the vin # of the vehicle. They are willing to be very cooperative if they have enough data to address the problem. The rep that called me after I sent the letter was very nice and said I should encourage anyone who has had the problem to report it. I sent letters and photos and bills to: Nissan Technical Center North America, 39001 Sunrise Drive, PO Box 9200, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9200 and a copy to Nissan Consumer Affairs, PO Box 191, Gardena, CA 90248. I also registered a complaint with the NHTSA so that I would have something on record; they had seven other complaints about the exact same rust problem at the time I reported it.

Is there somewhere that I should post the contact information to Nissan about the frame rust problem, so that more pathfinder owners will see it? This site is the best for getting info about pathfinders and reaches a huge audience, but they may not all visit the garage or look for frame rust problems. :secret: How should I go about getting this info out there to fellow owners who have had the same problem?

I had my frame replaced on my 94 pathfinder November 04. you won't be able to find any 94 frames that aren't rusted out in the same area yours is which I'm guessing is over the rear wheels right where the rear axle connects to the the frame? My mechanic searched grave yards for about a month and came up with a 95 frame which was a direct change over. The guys at the garage were very pleasantly suprised at how easily the process went. The frame replacement only took about 3 days, while they had it stripped I had them go ahead an replace the clutch which we found out I didn't really need to but they were there. Anyway the cost for the frame was $600.00 plus labor. Funny how the frame was dangerously rotted out but nothing else under there was. I contacted Nissan about the problem and they said they haven't had enough complaints about the frame rust problem to do a recall, but if enough 94 Pathfinder owners would make them aware of the problem they would look into recalling the vechicles because of the problem and we may all get some kind of reimbursement for fixing the frames. So anyone out there who has had this problem should write a letter to Nissian USA and let them know. Even if you didn't repair or replace the frame they still want to know, but you will need the vin # of the vehicle. They are willing to be very cooperative if they have enough data to address the problem. The rep that called me after I sent the letter was very nice and said I should encourage anyone who has had the problem to report it. I sent letters and photos and bills to: Nissan Technical Center North America, 39001 Sunrise Drive, PO Box 9200, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9200 and a copy to Nissan Consumer Affairs, PO Box 191, Gardena, CA 90248. I also registered a complaint with the NHTSA so that I would have something on record; they had seven other complaints about the exact same rust problem at the time I reported it.

You bet!! It's great having a solid frame. Not sure where the '95 frame came from, my mechanic came up with it through his channels.

You bet!! Although we had no idea how bad it was until my mechanics started poking it after it was bumped. That's why they called me and said well take it to the dead car lot. I'm just super glad we caught it before anything horrible happened!

The frame replacement took a week overall. This included a new clutch, new brakes, a tune up and service and all around check up. We had to wait a day on the clutch parts so that slowed things down. Total cost for everything was $3,346.00 plus an apple pie, cherry pie and a homemade lasagne lunch with garlic bread and salad. Pictures of the rusted out frame and a few of the operation can be seen at http://cardomain.com/memberpage/743168. The guys said I was lucky nothing broke during the change over, not even the parts they had anticipated like bolts etc. They were pleasantly surprised at how smoothly it went.

Doesn't look like I'm getting my car back today, probably more like Monday. No problems have come up it's just taking a little longer to hook everything back up since I had them do the full tune up and service; only so many hours in a day.

Well I don't know, how much would a 94 path from the south or southwest run me? This operation is going to cost about $3,000 or a little less, I'll let you know for sure on Friday. My logic is I know how well maintained my pathy is, and know where all 138,000 original miles came from. There's also no dings or dents in the body no rust on the body (other than the previously mentioned rust under the back seat on the under body, which is getting plated) the interior is still in great shape, I just couldn't see junking it, if this was a viable option. I know it's dumb but I've grown quite attached to my pathy over the past 10 years, it's never let me down. The clutch will replaced today then the body bolted back to the frame and everything else hooked back up, then the test drive. So she'll be mine again by Friday if my luck holds out!!

Nah, my husband's having a cow as it is, can't you see me trying to logically explain my way into a lift kit!! Stopped by the garage this afternoon, old frame is in the lot, new frame is all dressed and rolled under the body, just waiting on the clutch, which will arrive tomorrow. It has all gone rather smoothly, so the guys tell me, they are pleasantly suprised, haven't had to replace any bolts or even any little things that you would expect to have break and what not. Rumor has it I'll be able to have my wheels back by Friday Still taking pictures so I'll have to figure out how to get them posted for anyone who is interested. Pretty Cool!!

Well the the frame change over is underway. They dropped the frame off the body and pulled the engine, transmission and transfer case today, now everything else will get dropped off the frame and they'll start putting it on the new frame ( from a '95). I got the '95 frame for $600 and I'm having the clutch replaced while they're right there, not that it was worn out but they are right there sooo. I'm taking some photos when I can get to the garage so I'll post them once it's done. Found the rust spot under the back seat that everyone talks about and will plate that while they're there too, it's worse on the drivers side over the exhaust. Other than that everything is in pretty good shape. They tell me I'll get another 10 years out of the body if I park in Arizona from now on! Anyway it stays in the garage when I'm not on the road so we'll see what happens. There's no rust on any other part of the body so I'm gonna push it as far as I can, got two kids headed to college so there's no new car in my immediate future. I'll let you all know what the final cost damage is when it's finished. :cool2:

Same with the junk frames in Maryland, if they haven't been bent in a wreck then they are rusted out. I've got one coming in from Virginia that's supposed to be solid and I've got the guys to do the change, but has anyone done this on a pathy? Am I just asking for trouble? Any heads up I should give them on trouble areas they may run into? Or if certain things should be disconnected before others? This will be their first pathy so I'm just trying to gather pointers from the experts. Got a good deal on the frame and the guys at the garage where it's gonna be done I've known for 25+ years, so there going to take care me, so cost wise it's better than buying a new one and I don't like the new body style. Around here you can't get your hands on a used one unless you want to dig deep in your pocket or they are all automatics, yuck!

I have a "94, 5 speed, SE and the frame has rusted through over the rear wheels, can't get any shops to weld it, liability issues so I want to replace the complete frame. Will this work and has anyone done this before? My mechanic is willing to do it for me but if I can give him a road map or some suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !!

Thanks for your help, but one big problem, my husband doesn't want to have the frame welded -argue- and I can't find a shop around me that will do it because of liability issues. Does anyone know how difficult or easy it is to change out the frame? My mechanic is willing to do it for me, but any advice, photos, or anything would really be appreciated. If it doesn't work the only option I have left is to part it out and get another car :oops:

Hi I'm new to your community. I've had my Pathfinder since May 1994, it's a '94 SE 4x4 5 speed and I love it!! I don't go off roading with it but it has helped out tremedously in the snow to help pull neighbors out to their lanes and driveways when they get stuck. It's been a great family vehicle and my teenagers are not embarassed when I pick them up in it. Recently I took it to my mechanic for an oil change and standard service and a check up and found that my frame over both rear wheels, mainly the right rear was all but gone. I'm so depressed, he won't let me drive it because it's dangerous to drive at this point, but I want it back. Right now I'm looking for a solid frame to replace my rotted one; can anyone help me out with that? Is this a common problem with '94's or is mine a fluke? I want to keep my Pathfinder as long as I can so I'd really like to get it fixed, the rest of it is in top notch shape so I need to get it back. I'm getting mixed information on changing out the frame, some say it won't work, it won't be the same, I'll always have problems now, etc. I figured your community would know if this is possible and maybe could send me in the right direction. Thanks for you help!! :help: