NissanPathfinder1992Overview/nissan/pathfinder/1992/base/

1992 Nissan Pathfinder

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Pathfinder.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Nissan Pathfinder is a two-door SUV that came equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and required 3.6 quarts of 5W-30 API SM oil for service, achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 15 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 16 mpg combined; with just 36 total owner complaints logged and zero recalls, this model year stands out as notably trouble-free compared to the broader Pathfinder lineup, which saw complaint volumes climb substantially in subsequent years—peaking at 1,050 complaints in 2005 before declining—suggesting the 1992 variant benefited from a relatively mature and dependable platform during its production run.

Model year202520242023202220202019201820171992

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.

12.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 12.30 sec — 1992 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 1992 Nissan Pathfinder sits at the quietest point of the model's early record, with 36 complaints—down from 43 in 1990 and 47 in 1991—and zero recalls or federal investigations, while later model years show a steep upward trend: complaints climb to 56 in 1993, 109 in 1994, 185 in 1995, and peak at 235 in 1997, accompanied by recalls returning in 1994 and spiking to five in 1996. Technical service bulletins rise steadily across this span, from 13 in 1990 to 103 by 1997, but 1992's 36 TSBs remain modest within that arc. Within the 1992 record, the leading complaint categories are Power Train (10) and Engine & Engine Cooling (8), followed by Tires and Structure/Tires (3 each), though the data does not specify root causes; the year also logged 2 crash-related and 2 fire-related complaints. Because 1992 precedes the generation's complaint and recall surge, it reads as a relatively low-exposure year in the federal record. For a used-vehicle buyer, that makes 1992 one of the more attractive early Pathfinder years on paper, provided a thorough inspection confirms the specific vehicle's condition.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
36
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
36
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 36 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train10
Engine & Engine Cooling8
Tires3
Structure,Tires3
Electrical System2
Structure2
Seat Belts2
Fuel System, Gasoline,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 36 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 1992 Pathfinder take?

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

Does the 1992 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.