Nissan is recalling their 2005-2009 trucks and SUVs, which many consider to be the best in the business, due to a faulty crash sensor. In states where cold winters and snow occur, salt is used to clear icy roads and has previously only caused some rusty cars. Nissan is saying that the road salt is causing the crash sensor to corrode which in turn is causing the front-impact airbags to fail.

The recall only affects registered 2005-2009 Xterras, Pathfinders and Frontiers in heavy snow regions including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Nissan won’t leave the rest of its owners out in the cold and will be providing a 10 year warranty for the sensor in other states.

Currently there have been no crashes or injuries linked to the faulty sensor and Nissan will notify owners of the affected models in the next couple of weeks.

Press Release

NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.

Consequence:
THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

[via NHTSA]

Our buddy Andymon not only spotted what looks to be a Nissan Pathfinder test vehicle up on a car carrier, but he also had a camera with him. Woo hoo!

Spotted this today WB 80 in Fairfield CA. Disguised SUV on the back of a car carrier otherwise loaded with random used cars. Here's what I gather: Independent rear suspension, 6-lug and 6-spoke wheels, regular pull-me door handles, turn signals in the mirrors, gas tank access presumably on the left side, and an oh-shit handle on the a-pillar, Pathfinder-style. Equals next gen Pathfinder Mule or close. Am I close?

Sure looks close to us. Could be the 2008 Pathfinder V8 headed to a "Happy Days" convention. – Mike Spinelli

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Nissan Pathfinder SE, Part 1 [internal]

Another five minutes, another corporate-sponsored, customized late-model car. (Hang in, kids, we've got a whole week of this stuff to get through.) Urban-chic designer Marc Ecko unveiled a promotional Nissan Pathfinder that bears his corporate seal at a show in New York. The exterior's done in a cream Landau roof, laser-etched rims and "safety orange" side panels. The interior is rendered in cream and tan calfskin leathers, with high-contrast stitching. The Pathfinder is one of two Nissans he's creating to heighten the profile of two of his clothing lines. The other is an Armada, which we haven't seen yet, but just give it time. [Gallery] – Mike Spinelli

UPDATE: We spoke too soon — the good folks at ForbesAutos.com have a gallery of their own of the Armada.

[via World Car Fans]

Related:
Ready to Wear: Marc Ecko, Nissan Team up on Pathfinder, Armada Customs [internal]

It was purely a matter of time before urban style impresario Marc Ecko teamed up with some SUVmaker or other to create a semi-private-label promo model. Word came down yesterday that it's Nissan that will get the street-cred infusion by association, as Ecko is customizing two of its SUVs, each of which will be hooked to separate clothing lines: the Cut & Sew Nissan Armada and the *ecko unltd. Nissan Pathfinder. Both are being done up in the style of each line of urban wear — downtown luxe for the Armada and more casually chill for the Pathfinder. Ecko says the cars aren't a mashup, but rather a double label, just like in sneaker culture. Of course we're about as clear on that distinction as we are on the difference between the mass acculturation of hip-hop and the rise of, say, the market for golf accessories. But we're pretty dim sometimes.

Related:
Primp My Ride: Ancel Chickifies Mitsubishi's i Car [internal]

Why you should buy this car: The Pathfinder is an SUV from the old school: tough, reliable and capable. In SE guise, the Tennessee-built truck isn t afraid to bash some boulders and plug some mud. The Pathfinder s exemplary 6000lbs. towing capacity means one boat can pull the other. Surprisingly, the heavyweight, V6-engined SUV is faster than a speeding bullet. OK a bowling ball (imparting that exact same sense of something very heavy going very quickly). But the rest of the accommodation is spacious and inviting. And the price is right — especially in today s buyer s market.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: If you re not an off-roading, boat-towing kinda guy; if you don t live somewhere where it s a good idea to keep emergency space blankets in the glove box; it s time to face facts. Fifteen mpg ain t enough. Not for a family car that schleps five people (the Pathfinder s tippy-up way back seats are best suited to Oompah Loompas). If you re a suburban sophisticate or city slicker who simply must have an SUV, the new (though equally piggy) Ford Explorer V8 is the Ritz to the Pathfinder s Motel 6.

Suitability Parameters
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: No
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: No
· Working Stiffs: Yes
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: Yes
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Nissan
· Model tested: Pathfinder SE
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $33,240
· Engine type: 4.0-liter DOHC 24-valve V6
· Horsepower: 270hp @ 5600 rpm
· Torque: 291ft-lb @ 4000 rpm
· Redline: TBA
· Wheels and Tires: P265/70R16 BFGoodrich Long Trail OWL tires
· Drive type: four-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60: 8.4 seconds
· 1/4 mile: you d be lucky
· Top speed: don t ask, don t tell
· Fuel economy city/highway: 15/21
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: 4/5/3

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Nissan Pathfinder SE, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Exterior Design: *****
Although mid-sized SUVs are all pretty much of a muchness, the Pathfinder s designers found a way to inject a bit of minimalist magic into the basic, bland two-box form: the nose. The Pathfinder s chrome and mesh prow is the SUV s only obvious — OK, its only distinguishing characteristic. The integration of the front wheel arches into the front bumper is a stroke of genius that gives the Tennessee truck a butch yet elegant demeanor.

Acceleration: *****
Yowzir! Once again, Nissan VQ-series powerplant proves it s worth its weight in speeding tickets. The Pathfinder s direct injection 4.0-liter six may lack the aural satisfaction of a proper V8, and 270 horses ain t much for a 4693lbs. brick on wheels, but there s enough stump-pulling torque to, um, pull stumps. As a result, this big rig jumps off the line like an Olympic swimmer (and quaffs a swimming pool s worth of gas while doing it).

Braking: ****
You wouldn t expect sharp brakes on an SUV tweaked for urban duty, and by God, you don t get em. That said, the Pathfinder s mushy feeling four-wheel vented discs do a yeoman s job of hauling the leviathan down from speed. The Electronic Brake force Distribution is also much appreciated; stomp on the anchors at speed over a rough surface and the system will kick in, preventing a first-hand exploration of the SUV s crumple zones.

Ride: ****
With an independent wishbone suspension on both ends, the Pathfinder does a passable job of surmounting major surface imperfections without dislodging chicken nuggets from the young uns greasy grasp. The off-road package adds Rancho Huevos — I mean Rancho shock absorbers to the equation, but we reckon bouncing around is all part of the fun (until it isn t).

Handling: ****
While we re not so sure any SUV should tip-in with such maniacal zeal, at least the Pathfinder can carry its speed through the corners with less body roll than a Pilates instructor. The speed-sensitive (woos) rack-and-pinion steering is over-assisted, and the turning circle would shame a ferryboat, but the SUV goes pretty much where you aim it. The Pathfinder is no Cayenne-killer, but we ve driven a lot worse.

Gearbox: *****
In the interests of avoiding a mass migration to the elephant s graveyard, the new Ford Explorer has shifted to a six-speed gearbox for better mileage. Nissan is sure to follow suit. Meanwhile, the Pathfinder s five-speed is a perfectly seamless unit, with the added benefit of a shift-on-the-fly, switch-operated, two-speed transfer case (4x4 only).

Audio/Video: ***
The Pathfinder SE comes with a BOSE system as standard. You gotta give the boffins on the hill their due: their ability to tune a system to a vehicle s interior is without peer. Finding your chosen media on the undersized display is a bit difficult; wearers of polarized sunglasses will note that the LED readout uses invisible ink. The DVD player is simple and robust, although someone should make these units with MUCH bigger buttons.

Toys: ***
The Pathfinder offers four 12-volt DC power outlets, the usual convenience features and that s about it. The BYOT ethos suits the nature of the beast.

Trunk: ****
Keep the rear seats folded down, and you ve got all the space you need to haul all the stuff you need and plenty of stuff you don t but it was on sale and the credit card wasn t maxed-out — yet — so what the Hell. Of course, strictly speaking, the Pathfinder s cargo area isn t a trunk, but then, even family cars have pass-through slots and split folding rear seats these days. I m sorry; what was the question?

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Nissan Pathfinder SE, Part 1 [internal]

The Fall of the Roamin Empire is nearly complete. Full-size SUVs that guzzled while hydrocarbons burned are now paying the ultimate price. Actually, no one s paying the price; sales are so slow dealers are bestowing pet names on the behemoths loitering on their lots (like Sell You Bastard ). Theoretically, a mid-sized SUV like the Nissan Pathfinder could benefit from the jumbo SUV exodus, as SUV lovers look to downsize into something a little less piggish. Except it won t happen. I ll give you 15 reasons why

Fifteen miles per gallon. That s the Pathfinder SE s EPA urban cycle mpg. Needless to say, the figure is at least three gallons more per mile than an enthusiast could achieve without a tennis ball lodged behind the gas pedal. Use the Pathfinder to tow a boat uphill with the AC cranked-up and five adults on board, or just stick it in the high speed lane at 90mph, and the gas gauge will head for E faster than a sophomore at a college rave. V6 or no, this Tennessee SUV sucks gas with the same gay abandon as the larger dinosaurs trapped in the La Brea tar pits of today s radically evolved automobile market.

It s too bad. While lots of mid-sized SUV s are pussy-whipped soft-roaders, the Pathfinder is a genuinely trucky, ladder-framed, solid rear axle sort of beast. It may look like a Braun kitchen appliance — what with its clean lines, perfect proportions and sleek textures — but the Pathfinder will mix it with it Landies and Jeeps where Acuras fear to tread. Our test vehicle acquitted itself flawlessly at the local off-road test track, and satisfied our aversion to parallel parking by cresting curbs without complaint. You don t have to thrash the Pathfinder SE to know that it s a deeply masochistic machine, but it if you do, you will.

By the same token, the Pathfinder s up for a bit of on-road argy bargy. Like most of Nissan s VQ-engined products, the 270-horse SUV leaps off the line like a sixties muscle car. While I m not so sure that s such a good idea for a 4693lbs. vehicle destined for school parking lots, the Pathfinder has enough braking power and lateral stability to keep spirited drivers from Chitwooding into airbagland. Of course, the brick-like Pathfinder runs out of puff faster than a donut maker. And the SUV is prone to dryquaplaning over really rough surfaces at speed. But hey, it s fun while it lasts.

The Pathfinder SE s cabin reflects its mix of mechanical solidity and balls-out joie-de-vivre. It provides just enough luxury to keep passengers from pining for Lexurian pleasures, but not so much that Pathfinder parents would order their beach-departing children to exfoliate before entering. The ostensibly family-friendly tip-up third row is only suitable for misbehaving sprogs and adults schooled in the art of human origami. Even so, again, the Pathfinder is the kind of SUV you respect because you don t have to.

Ah, but can you respect a vehicle with such prodigious thirst? Nope. These days, even the relatively diminutive Pathfinder is a pariah amongst the chattering classes. Its fuel consumption also makes it showroom poison for less well-heeled drivers who used to equate cheap to buy with cheap to run. But if you re a genuine outdoorsy kinda guy/gal, live somewhere where PC still means a home computer, and don t mind throwing money at the oil companies, the Pathfinder is an excellent old school SUV. If you want one, bargain hard; the entire class has been dismissed. [by Robert Farago]

Related:
Go, Go, Ghosn!: Nissan Boosts Sales by One Million Annually [internal]