Why Buy a 1995 Nissan Transmission from Auto Power Source
Model year 1995 is the Pathfinder's last, and that is the boundary that costs buyers money. 1995 is the final WD21; the R50 that replaces it for 1996 is a different platform on different hardware, so a 1996 Pathfinder gearbox is not a 1995 part no matter how alike the two listings read. We hold 18 tested units for the year and identify each one by family before it is offered.
The hard line on this page runs between the longitudinal rear-drive units and the transverse front-drive units. The RE4R01A sits behind the Pathfinder, the 240SX and the 300ZX, with its output on a tailshaft and, on a 4x4, a transfer case behind it. The Maxima's RE4F04A, the Sentra and 200SX RE4F03A, and the Altima and Quest units are transaxles, with the differential inside the case. No adapting makes one do the other job.
1995 is also a first year twice over: the A32 Maxima replaces the A31 and the S14 240SX replaces the S13, so on both cars a part from 1994 is the wrong part. The Pickup and the Pathfinder carry over unchanged, and the Pathfinder automatic we hold is a thru-8/31/94 build listing, which is stated on the unit.
Every unit is shift-tested and inspected before listing, photographed before crating, and shipped free anywhere in the continental US with a warranty on the unit itself. If the VIN says the part we hold is the wrong part, we say so rather than shipping it and hoping, which is why this page is organised by family instead of by car.
Your 1995 Nissan Transmission Options: Compared
Most 1995 Nissan owners face four real choices when the transmission fails:
← Swipe sideways to see all columns →
| Option |
Cost |
Reliability |
Warranty |
Fitment Match |
| Used OEM (this collection) |
$$$ Best Value |
High — tested |
Included |
VIN-matched |
| New OEM (dealer) |
$$$$$ 2-4× more |
High |
Manufacturer |
Exact |
| Rebuilt / Reman |
$$$$ |
Varies |
6-12 mo |
May adapt |
| Junkyard |
$ Cheapest |
Unknown |
None |
DIY |
Tested used OEM hits the sweet spot — same engineering as new, fraction of the cost.
1995 Nissan Transmission Buying Guide
5 things to verify before buying a used 1995 Nissan transmission:
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Settle rear-drive against front-drive first. This is the only question that matters on a 1995 Nissan, and it is settled by the car. Pathfinder, Pickup, 240SX and 300ZX take the longitudinal RE4R01A or a truck manual; Altima, Maxima, Quest, Sentra and 200SX take a transverse transaxle. Nothing crosses that line, and no adapter plate changes it.
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On a Pathfinder, check the body code and the build date. 1995 is the last WD21 year, so a 1996 or later Pathfinder part is the R50 and will not fit. Our automatic is a thru-8/31/94 build listing, and the WD21 was revised within the model year, so the date matters as much as the drivetrain.
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Do not assume two RE4R01A units are the same part. The 240SX coupe, the 300ZX and the Pathfinder share the family name but not the hardware: bellhousing, tailshaft and calibration follow the vehicle, and a 4x4 adds a transfer case the coupes never had. Read which vehicle a listing came from, not just the family code.
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On the A32 Maxima, the differential splits the stock. The 1995 Maxima runs the 3.0L VQ30DE on an RE4F04A, listed both with and without the limited-slip differential. The two are not the same unit, and the listing says which one it is.
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Confirm the match with your own VIN before you order. Your VIN settles the transmission code, drivetrain and build split in one step. Text it to +1-307-441-5554 and we will confirm in writing exactly which unit fits your vehicle before you pay.
Our ASE-certified technicians verify every one of these points against your VIN before any unit ships.