Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 1997-2003 models built after October 1996
Tested vehicle: 1997 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4-door 4wd
The Nissan Pathfinder was redesigned for the 1996 model year, and the Infiniti QX4 was introduced in 1997. All 1997 and later Pathfinder and QX4 models manufactured after October 1996 include structural changes to improve occupant protection in frontal crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door). The QX4 was discontinued after 2003, but the Pathfinder was continued through the 2004 model year before it was redesigned again.
The Institute has evaluated the crashworthiness of a 1997 Pathfinder with the structural changes in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics Dummy movement was reasonably well controlled. There was too much upward and rearward movement of the steering wheel. During rebound, the dummy's head hit the B-pillar. |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test -- plus the footwell intrusion -- indicate the driver's survival space wasn't maintained well.
Major intrusion in the driver footwell area trapped the dummy's right foot.
There was too much upward and rearward movement of the steering wheel.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CF97002 |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 27 |
| Left (cm) | 31 |
| Center (cm) | 33 |
| Right (cm) | 25 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 35 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 15 |
| Right (cm) | 15 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 13 |
| Rearward (cm) | 10 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 13 |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CF97002 |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 607 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 50 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 39 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.38 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 36 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force - left (kN) | 1.8 |
| Femur force - right (kN) | 2.6 |
| Knee displacement - left (mm) | 8 |
| Knee displacement - right (mm) | 10 |
| Maximum tibia index - left | 0.56 |
| Maximum tibia index - right | 0.47 |
| Tibia axial force - left (kN) | 2.3 |
| Tibia axial force - right (kN) | 2.4 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 88 |
| Right | 144 |