1998 Nissan Pathfinder Service and Repair Manual
This 1998 Nissan Pathfinder factory service and repair manual is built around this exact year, engine and trim, giving you the specifications and torque sequences Nissan published for the 3.3L V6 (VG33E) in your SUV instead of generic figures pulled from another model year.
Engines covered
- 3.3L V6 — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door sport utility
Trims covered
- LE
- SE
- XE
Known issues on the 1998 Pathfinder. Four recalls are on federal record for this model year. The first covers the steering column: the strut housing can crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly, leading to grinding noises, increased steering effort, and potential loss of steering control. Two separate recalls cover exterior lighting on replacement combination lamps sold without amber side reflectors, which can leave the vehicle poorly illuminated and vulnerable to a crash without warning. The fourth covers the fuel filler tube assembly, where insufficient coating can allow corrosion and, in areas with heavy road salt, fuel leakage that could result in a fire near an ignition source. Owners have filed 159 complaints for the year, with no technical service bulletins logged. The factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind each of those systems are here.
From a steering column inspection to checking the fuel filler tube for corrosion, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the correct specification for your specific 1998 Pathfinder.
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, MINNESOT
THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE
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. O
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 CON
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
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 VE
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
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, RH
THIS MAY RESULT IN SURFACE RUST BUT NOT PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. HOWEVER, IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, IF A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT
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.
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION Do not apply Silicone-based lubricants or grease to, or around, any interior electrical components. To avoid the risk of death or severe personal injury
12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service Information lists NNA procedural recommendations for establishing good connections while performing 12V battery testing. These recommendations are exp
INTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
WHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 8 most recent of 88 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A
ON A CLEAR DAY WITH ONLY ONE OTHER CAR WITHIN SIGHT , IN THE AFTERNOON OUR PATHFINDER WAS INEXPLICABLY DRAWN SIDEWAYS OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS OUT OF CONTROL. WE TRAVELED FOR QUITE A DISTANCE ON THE G
ON A CLEAR DAY WITH ONLY ONE OTHER CAR WITHIN SIGHT , IN THE AFTERNOON OUR PATHFINDER WAS INEXPLICABLY DRAWN SIDEWAYS OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS OUT OF CONTROL. WE TRAVELED FOR QUITE A DISTANCE ON THE G
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 H
ON APRIL 7, 2004, MY SON AND I WERE INVLOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE ROLLED FRONT TO BACK AND SIDE TO SIDE LANDING IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.*AK
BRAKES FAILED. YH
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. YH
STEERING FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH/INJURIES.
Showing the 8 most serious of 159 complaints filed with NHTSA.
