Used Nissan Pathfinder Engines
Used, remanufactured and rebuilt engines for the 1987-to-present Nissan Pathfinder — tested before they ship and covered by warranty. Tell us your Pathfinder and we’ll match the exact engine.
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Engine Options
Which engine does your Pathfinder have?
Over five generations the Pathfinder has used four-cylinder, V6, V8 and hybrid engines: a 2.4L four and 3.0L V6 in the 1987–1995 WD21, the 3.3L and then 3.5L V6 in the 1996–2004 R50, the 4.0L VQ40DE and, from 2008, an optional 5.6L V8 in the 2005–2012 R51, the 3.5L V6 in port- and then direct-injected forms, plus a supercharged hybrid four introduced for 2014, in the 2013–2020 R52, and the direct-injected 3.5L again in the 2022-on R53.
The table below lists what was offered when. The 3.0L V6 switched from throttle-body to multi-port injection for 1990 and the 3.5L from port to direct injection for 2017, and there was no 2021 model year. We confirm the engine from your VIN before quoting.
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4L four-cylinder | Code: Z24i | 1987–1989. Throttle-body injection. Offered only with the five-speed manual. |
| 3.0L V6 | Code: VG30i | 1987–1989. Throttle-body injection. |
| 3.0L V6 | Code: VG30E | 1990–1995. Multi-port fuel injection. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3.3L V6 | Code: VG33E | 1996–2000. |
| 3.5L V6 | Code: VQ35DE | 2001–2004. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0L V6 | Code: VQ40DE | All years. |
| 5.6L V8 | Code: VK56DE | Optional from 2008. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L V6 | Code: VQ35DE | 2013–2016. |
| 3.5L direct-injection V6 | Code: VQ35DD | 2017–2020. |
| 2.5L supercharged hybrid | Code: QR25DER | Pathfinder Hybrid, introduced for 2014. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L direct-injection V6 | Code: VQ35DD | Every trim. There was no 2021 model year. |
Not sure which one is yours? Request a quote and we’ll work it out from your VIN.
Before You Order
What to check before you order
Throttle-body or multi-port 3.0L
The 1987–1989 VG30i is fed by a throttle body, while the 1990–1995 VG30E has an injector for each cylinder. Their intakes and wiring differ, so a first-generation 3.0L has to match the model year.
Timing belt on the V6s to 2000
The 3.0L and 3.3L VG V6s turn their camshafts with a rubber timing belt, while every Pathfinder engine from 2001 uses a chain. Unless you know when a VG engine’s belt was last changed, have a new one fitted before it goes in.
Which 3.5L
The Pathfinder has had three 3.5L versions: the VQ35DE in the 2001–2004 R50, the VQ35DE again in the 2013–2016 R52, and the direct-injected VQ35DD from 2017. The R50’s VQ35DE sits lengthwise in a rear-drive-based SUV and the R52’s sits crosswise in a front-drive-based one, and the VQ35DD is a different engine again, so we match by model year.
V6 or V8 in the R51
From 2008 the R51 was offered with the 5.6L VK56DE V8 as well as the 4.0L V6. Tell us which yours has.
Pathfinder Hybrid
The Pathfinder Hybrid, introduced for 2014, pairs a supercharged 2.5L four with an electric motor. It is a different engine from the V6, so tell us if yours is a hybrid.
Send the VIN
A Pathfinder’s VIN tells us its engine and model year, so the engine we quote is the one that fits.
Common Problems
Common Pathfinder engine problems
Exhaust-manifold cracks and broken studs — 3.0L and 3.3L V6
The exhaust manifolds on the VG V6s crack and the studs holding them snap. The leak ticks loudest from a cold start and is easy to mistake for a lifter or bearing noise, so rule it out before deciding a 1987–2000 Pathfinder needs an engine.
Timing-chain tensioner and guide wear — 4.0L VQ40DE
The plastic shoes on the timing-chain tensioners and guides wear down and let the chains run slack. A whine from the front of the engine is the warning; if the worn parts stay in, the chains and the parts they run against are damaged.
How It Works
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- 02
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Parts shipped securely to your doorstep.
- 04
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Install with confidence — all parts are tested & covered.
Related
More for the Nissan Pathfinder
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- All Nissan enginesEngine families and other Nissan models.
FAQ
Pathfinder engine questions, answered
Which engine does my Pathfinder have?
The 2.4L four-cylinder or throttle-body 3.0L V6 for 1987–1989 and the multi-port 3.0L V6 for 1990–1995; the 3.3L for 1996–2000 and the 3.5L for 2001–2004; the 4.0L for 2005–2012, or the optional 5.6L V8 from 2008; the 3.5L VQ35DE for 2013–2016 and the direct-injected VQ35DD from 2017, including every 2022-on Pathfinder. The Pathfinder Hybrid, introduced for 2014, has its own supercharged 2.5L. Send us the VIN and we will confirm.
My 2005–2012 Pathfinder’s 4.0L whines from the front of the engine. Does it need a new engine?
Not if it is caught early. The whine comes from worn timing-chain tensioners and guides, which can be replaced with the engine in the vehicle. A replacement engine makes sense once the slack chains have damaged the engine itself.
Will a 4.0L from a Frontier or Xterra fit my Pathfinder?
All three used the VQ40DE, but the Pathfinder’s is rated at a higher output than the Frontier’s and Xterra’s. Give us your VIN and we will match the Pathfinder version.
My Pathfinder shudders or shifts badly. Is it the engine?
Check the transmission first. On 2005–2010 Pathfinders a cracked cooler inside the radiator lets coolant into the automatic, causing harsh shifts and shudder, and on 2013–2018 Pathfinders judder and shudder on acceleration are known CVT faults. Our Pathfinder transmissions page covers both.
Is the engine covered by a warranty?
Yes. Every engine we sell is covered by warranty, and extended cover is available at extra cost. The full terms are in our Warranty Policy.
Ready to replace your Pathfinder engine?
Tell us the year and have your VIN to hand — a specialist will confirm the right unit and send you a quote.
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