I have heard that this engine has been uses in a wide array of other vehicles.

Does anyone know more about this? What have been some of the major changes and/or breakdowns throughout its life?

Thanks for any help you may be able to provide.

I had the VG30E engine in my 90 Pathfinder. It's really reliable but still a little underpowered.

Visit FreshAlloy's engine matrix page and scroll down to the VG series...

http://www.freshalloy.com/site/features/tech/engines/home.shtml

VG33E was used in the Frontier from 99 on, the Pathfinder from 96-00 (and Infiniti QX4), and the FWD Quest (and Mercury Villager) from 99-02. Its predecessor, the VG30 and injected VG30i and VG30E, was used in the earlier Quest and Pathfinder, as well as the Hardbody truck, 200SX, older Maximas (late 80s, early 90s), the Z31 300ZX (incl. turbo VG30ET) and Infiniti M30. The DOHC version (VG30DE and twin-turbo VG30DETT) was used in the Z32 300ZX, and Infiniti J30.
Of course these engines also saw service in several overseas-market vehicles too.

Brent