1997 Nissan Pathfinder Gas Tank Size & Fuel Capacity

Fuel tank capacity

20.8gal · 79 L

The 1997 Nissan Pathfinder has a fuel tank capacity of 20.8 gallons (79 liters) on every trim.

A full tank is good for roughly 354–374 highway miles or 291–312 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.

20.8 gal · Bigger than 73% of 1997 models we list.

Highway range
354–374 mi
City range
291–312 mi
Fuel
Regular unleaded
EPA combined
15–16 MPG
EPA size class
Special Purpose Vehicles

1997 Nissan Pathfinder fuel tank capacity by trim

What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table

Drive
no difference
Engine
no difference

All 5 trims

MPG and range are city / highway.

TrimEngineDrive Tank MPG city / hwy Range city / hwy
LE 4dr SUV 3.3L 6cyl 4A · RWD MPG 15 / 18Range 312 / 374 mi 3.3L 6cyl 4A RWD 20.8 gal79 L 15 / 18 312 / 374 mi
LE 4dr SUV 4WD 3.3L 6cyl 4A · 4WD MPG 14 / 17Range 291 / 354 mi 3.3L 6cyl 4A 4WD 20.8 gal79 L 14 / 17 291 / 354 mi
SE 4dr SUV 4WD 3.3L 6cyl 5M · 4WD MPG 15 / 17Range 312 / 354 mi 3.3L 6cyl 5M 4WD 20.8 gal79 L 15 / 17 312 / 354 mi
XE 4dr SUV 3.3L 6cyl 5M · RWD MPG 15 / 18Range 312 / 374 mi 3.3L 6cyl 5M RWD 20.8 gal79 L 15 / 18 312 / 374 mi
XE 4dr SUV 4WD 3.3L 6cyl 5M · 4WD MPG 15 / 17Range 312 / 354 mi 3.3L 6cyl 5M 4WD 20.8 gal79 L 15 / 17 312 / 354 mi

Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG.

How far a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder goes on a tank

Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 16 MPG, a full 20.8-gallon tank covers about 333 miles.

GaugeGallonsHighway milesCity miles
Full20.8374312
3/415.6281234
1/210.4187156
1/45.29478
1/82.64739

Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 938 gallons, roughly 45 full tanks.

In real driving: owners who log fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 16.7 MPG in the Pathfinder (7 drivers), about 347 miles on a full 20.8-gallon tank.

Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.

EPA combined
15–16 MPG
Tailpipe CO2
555–592 g/mi
Source
EPA ratings

What it costs to fill up a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder

$88.82 to fill the 20.8-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.

TankFuelUS avg / galFrom emptyFrom 1/4 tank
20.8 galRegular$4.27$88.82$66.61

By region, 20.8-gallon tank

RegionRegular / galFill from empty
East Coast$4.02$83.62
Midwest$4.27$88.82
Gulf CoastLowest$3.70$76.96
Rocky Mountain$4.46$92.77
West Coast$5.42$112.74
CaliforniaHighest$5.89$122.51

Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.

Your own price

  • 20.8-gallon tank$88.82
  • A year of driving (15,000 mi)$4,003

Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.

Pathfinder tank size in other years

The tank changed for 1997: 20.8 gal, down from 21.1 gal on the 1996 Pathfinder.

Model yearTankLongest highway range
2002 Pathfinder 21.1 gal 380 mi
2001 Pathfinder 21.1 gal 380 mi
2000 Pathfinder 21.1 gal 380 mi
1999 Pathfinder 21.1 gal 380 mi
1998 Pathfinder 21.1 gal 380 mi
1997 Pathfinder 20.8 gal 374 mi
1996 Pathfinder 21.1 gal 401 mi
1995 Pathfinder 20.4 gal 347 mi
1994 Pathfinder 20.4 gal 347 mi
1993 Pathfinder 20.4 gal 347 mi
1992 Pathfinder 21.1 gal 359 mi
Nissan Pathfinder fuel tank by model year

1997 Nissan Pathfinder fuel system recalls

NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder, out of 2 recalls in total. A recall applies only to the vehicles named in it, so check your VIN.

Storage · Tank assembly · Filler pipe and capSep 18, 2007 · NHTSA 07V435000 · Nissan North America, Inc. · 372,250 vehicles

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, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia, during the coating process of the fuel filler tube assembly, an insufficient amount of coating may have been applied at the lower mounting bracket. This could result in an opening in the coating which can allow water to enter and make contact with the bare metal of the tube.

Risk and remedy

Risk: 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 makes contact with the bare metal, corrosion may occur to a degree which results in perforation of the tube. In this case fuel leakage may occur when filling the tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Remedy: 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.

All Nissan fuel recalls Look up your tank by VIN

Frequently asked questions

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder?

The 1997 Nissan Pathfinder holds 20.8 gallons (79 liters) on every trim we list.

How many gallons and liters does the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder gas tank hold?

The 1997 Nissan Pathfinder tank holds 79 liters, or 20.8 gallons in US gallons.

Does 4WD change the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder gas tank?

No. 4WD and RWD versions of the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder use the same 20.8 gal tank.

How far can a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder go on a full tank?

About 354–374 miles on the highway and 291–312 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.

How many miles can a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder go on a quarter tank?

About 94 highway miles or 78 in town from the 20.8-gallon tank, which has roughly 5.2 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.

How many miles does a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder really get on a tank?

Drivers who log their fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 16.7 MPG in the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder (7 drivers), which works out to about 347 miles on a full 20.8-gallon tank.

What gas does the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder take?

Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.

How much does it cost to fill up a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder?

At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 20.8-gallon tank from empty costs $88.82. It ranges from $76.96 in the Gulf Coast to $122.51 in California.

How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder?

About 129 pounds for the 20.8-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.

Has the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder had a fuel pump or fuel system recall?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 fuel-system recall for the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder: 07V435000 (storage · tank assembly · filler pipe and cap). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your car is affected.

Sources

  • Tank sizes: manufacturer-rated capacities from US-market specifications, checked against independent references. Updated October 2026.
  • MPG and range: EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov). Range is tank size times EPA MPG.
  • Fuel prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 26, 2026 (this week's prices).
  • Recalls: NHTSA recall database (Nissan fuel system recalls).
  • Real-world MPG: driver-reported fill-ups shared at fueleconomy.gov (My MPG).

Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.

Other 1997 Nissan models