Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | ||||||||||||||||
| 11V244000 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | from 10/01/1995 to 07/31/2004 | V (Vehicle) | 195991 | ODI | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 04/20/2011 | 04/21/2011 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | Nissan is recalling certain model year 1996-2004 pathfinder and model year 1997-2003 infiniti qx4 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin. in areas of the country in which heavy concentrations of road salt are used, a mixture of snow/water and salt may enter an assembly location hole in the upper strut housing, causing water to collect at the mating surface of the strut housing panel and the inner hood ledge assembly. over time, this snow/water and salt intrusion may result in corrosion of the strut tower housing in some subject vehicles. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | The strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly. this may lead to grinding noises, increased steering effort, and possibly the steering column to break, resulting in the loss of steering control, which could result in a crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Nissan will inspect the strut housing and repair the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. an interim notification letter to owners will be mailed on or before may 16, 2011. owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||||
| NTB99074 | 02/15/2000 | NTB98046A | 612637 | Some vehicles built before jn8ar07s4xw350146 and equipped with automatic transmission may exhibit a clunk noise from the rear end of the vehicle when stopping. *tt | 06/09/2000 |
| NTB98102 | 02/15/1999 | 604416 | Vehicle exhibiting steering shimmy while driven at speeds between 60 and 70 mph (w/o braking),due to out-of-balance front or rear tires / wheels and / or insufficient steering rack sliding force adjustment. *tt | 04/29/1999 | |
| NTB98004 | 01/21/1998 | 600369 | Informtion regarding uneven ride height. *tt | 05/12/1998 | |
| NTB97014A | 02/01/1998 | NTB97014 | 600366 | Vehicle exhibits a high pitch squeal or whistle from the front hub/brake area. *yc | 05/12/1998 |
| NTB98001 | 04/01/1998 | 600088 | Vehicles built before jn8ar057 - ww256932 may pull at a constant speed, and may exhibit excessive play in front/rear suspension. *yc | 04/23/1998 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | |||||
| NTB-11-066 | 08/10/2012 | NTB-11-066-E | 10040905 | Nissan service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. 1996-2004 pathfinder in states where heavy concentrations of road salt are used in the winter, the front driver | 09/14/2011 |
| NTB-11-066 | 08/10/2011 | 10040905 | Ready | 09/14/2011 | |
| NTB-11-066 | 08/10/2011 | 10040905 | Nissan service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. 199-2004 qx4. in states where heavy concentrations of road salt are used in the winter, the front driver | 09/14/2011 | |
| NTB-11-066 | 06/08/2012 | NTB-11-066-D | 10040905 | Nissan service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. 1996-2004 pathfinder in states where heavy concentrations of road salt are used in the winter, the front driver | 09/14/2011 |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | ||||||
| PE11004 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 01/28/2011 | 06/30/2011 | Frame/Body Structure Corrosion | 11V244000 | |
| In their defect information report (dir) of april 20, 2011, nissan north america, inc. (nissan) notified nhtsa that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 nissan pathfinder and 1997-2003 infinity qx4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.the vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states including connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.the dir states in part, ...the strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly.this could lead to the strut housing panel separating and contacting the steering column lower shaft.contact with the steering column lower shaft can cause steering difficulties and may require an increase in steering effort by the driver.if the steering column lower shaft completely fractured it would result in a total loss of steering control.in some cases, the strut housing panel can contact or affect adjacent brake system components.complainants reported experiencing either steering or brake system issues, and in some cases, both.nissan dealer's will inspect the strut housing and, based on the level of corrosion found, make an assessment as to how to remedy the vehicle (see defect information report for additional details). brake system components adjacent to, and in the area of, the strut tower (i.e., brake master cylinder, left front brake line, abs wire harness, etc.) will also be inspected. | ||||||
| PE11004 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 01/28/2011 | Frame/Body Structure Corrosion | |||
| The office of defects investigation has received 35 reports on the subject vehicles alleging a corrosion related failure of the driver's side front strut tower.in 18 of the reports there were allegations that the failures affected the vehicles steering, including five that reported the steering shaft or column broke resulting in a loss of steering.severe corrosion of the frame/body structure in the area of the driver's side front strut tower can allow the strut tower to fail.if the failed strut tower contacts the steering column upper joint, or otherwise restricts the rotation of the steering column shaft, it can result in increased steering effort, steering impediment, or a complete loss of steering control. | ||||||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | ||||||
| PE11004 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 01/28/2011 | 06/30/2011 | Frame/Body Structure Corrosion | 11V244000 | |
| In their defect information report (dir) of april 20, 2011, nissan north america, inc. (nissan) notified nhtsa that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 nissan pathfinder and 1997-2003 infinity qx4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.the vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states including connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.the dir states in part, ...the strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly.this could lead to the strut housing panel separating and contacting the steering column lower shaft.contact with the steering column lower shaft can cause steering difficulties and may require an increase in steering effort by the driver.if the steering column lower shaft completely fractured it would result in a total loss of steering control.in some cases, the strut housing panel can contact or affect adjacent brake system components.complainants reported experiencing either steering or brake system issues, and in some cases, both.nissan dealer's will inspect the strut housing and, based on the level of corrosion found, make an assessment as to how to remedy the vehicle (see defect information report for additional details). brake system components adjacent to, and in the area of, the strut tower (i.e., brake master cylinder, left front brake line, abs wire harness, etc.) will also be inspected. | ||||||
| PE11004 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 01/28/2011 | Frame/Body Structure Corrosion | |||
| The office of defects investigation has received 35 reports on the subject vehicles alleging a corrosion related failure of the driver's side front strut tower.in 18 of the reports there were allegations that the failures affected the vehicles steering, including five that reported the steering shaft or column broke resulting in a loss of steering.severe corrosion of the frame/body structure in the area of the driver's side front strut tower can allow the strut tower to fail.if the failed strut tower contacts the steering column upper joint, or otherwise restricts the rotation of the steering column shaft, it can result in increased steering effort, steering impediment, or a complete loss of steering control. | ||||||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | ||||||
| PE11004 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 01/28/2011 | 06/30/2011 | Frame/Body Structure Corrosion | 11V244000 | |
| In their defect information report (dir) of april 20, 2011, nissan north america, inc. (nissan) notified nhtsa that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 nissan pathfinder and 1997-2003 infinity qx4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.the vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states including connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.the dir states in part, ...the strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly.this could lead to the strut housing panel separating and contacting the steering column lower shaft.contact with the steering column lower shaft can cause steering difficulties and may require an increase in steering effort by the driver.if the steering column lower shaft completely fractured it would result in a total loss of steering control.in some cases, the strut housing panel can contact or affect adjacent brake system components.complainants reported experiencing either steering or brake system issues, and in some cases, both.nissan dealer's will inspect the strut housing and, based on the level of corrosion found, make an assessment as to how to remedy the vehicle (see defect information report for additional details). brake system components adjacent to, and in the area of, the strut tower (i.e., brake master cylinder, left front brake line, abs wire harness, etc.) will also be inspected. | ||||||
| PE11004 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 01/28/2011 | Frame/Body Structure Corrosion | |||
| The office of defects investigation has received 35 reports on the subject vehicles alleging a corrosion related failure of the driver's side front strut tower.in 18 of the reports there were allegations that the failures affected the vehicles steering, including five that reported the steering shaft or column broke resulting in a loss of steering.severe corrosion of the frame/body structure in the area of the driver's side front strut tower can allow the strut tower to fail.if the failed strut tower contacts the steering column upper joint, or otherwise restricts the rotation of the steering column shaft, it can result in increased steering effort, steering impediment, or a complete loss of steering control. | ||||||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER | ||||||
| PE11004 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 01/28/2011 | 06/30/2011 | Frame/Body Structure Corrosion | 11V244000 | |
| In their defect information report (dir) of april 20, 2011, nissan north america, inc. (nissan) notified nhtsa that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 nissan pathfinder and 1997-2003 infinity qx4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.the vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states including connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.the dir states in part, ...the strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly.this could lead to the strut housing panel separating and contacting the steering column lower shaft.contact with the steering column lower shaft can cause steering difficulties and may require an increase in steering effort by the driver.if the steering column lower shaft completely fractured it would result in a total loss of steering control.in some cases, the strut housing panel can contact or affect adjacent brake system components.complainants reported experiencing either steering or brake system issues, and in some cases, both.nissan dealer's will inspect the strut housing and, based on the level of corrosion found, make an assessment as to how to remedy the vehicle (see defect information report for additional details). brake system components adjacent to, and in the area of, the strut tower (i.e., brake master cylinder, left front brake line, abs wire harness, etc.) will also be inspected. | ||||||
| PE11004 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 01/28/2011 | Frame/Body Structure Corrosion | |||
| The office of defects investigation has received 35 reports on the subject vehicles alleging a corrosion related failure of the driver's side front strut tower.in 18 of the reports there were allegations that the failures affected the vehicles steering, including five that reported the steering shaft or column broke resulting in a loss of steering.severe corrosion of the frame/body structure in the area of the driver's side front strut tower can allow the strut tower to fail.if the failed strut tower contacts the steering column upper joint, or otherwise restricts the rotation of the steering column shaft, it can result in increased steering effort, steering impediment, or a complete loss of steering control. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 08/22/2012 | 120000 | ||
| At random... this pathfinder will go into a crazy death wobble, to the point to were it wants to put your head and the heads of your children threw the windows. i have replaced the shocks in the car. but yet the problem remains. my car is at the nissan dealership right now racking up a bill that i can not afford, for something they will most likely not be able to fix. i have read a hundred complaints on line that describe the same problem to a t. god help us! | |||
| 08/12/2012 | 127000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated while driving 65 mph the vehicle began to sway and then wobble violently. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and was awaiting diagnosis. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 127,000 and the current mileage was 157,000. dt | |||
| 08/22/2012 | 120000 | ||
| At random... this pathfinder will go into a crazy death wobble, to the point to were it wants to put your head and the heads of your children threw the windows. i have replaced the shocks in the car. but yet the problem remains. my car is at the nissan dealership right now racking up a bill that i can not afford, for something they will most likely not be able to fix. i have read a hundred complaints on line that describe the same problem to a t. god help us! | |||
| 08/12/2012 | 127000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated while driving 65 mph the vehicle began to sway and then wobble violently. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to a dealer and was awaiting diagnosis. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 127,000 and the current mileage was 157,000. dt | |||
| 02/11/2013 | 115000 | ||
| Vehicle sways very bad during moderate acceleration and stop if you push the brake or speed up. feels really dangerous and found others with same vehicle and same problem. | |||
| 03/14/2011 | 94000 | 1 | |
| Extreme rear end wobble (sway) at highway speeds. *tr | |||
| 07/24/2012 | 183000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for routine maintenance when the mechanic noticed a separation of the front driver side strut. the contact was advised that the vehicle was not drivable and could not be repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 183,000. | |||
| 07/24/2012 | 183000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for routine maintenance when the mechanic noticed a separation of the front driver side strut. the contact was advised that the vehicle was not drivable and could not be repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 183,000. kmj | |||
| 07/24/2012 | 183000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder se. the contact stated the vehicle was taken to a mechanic shop for routine maintenance and the mechanic noticed the separation of the front driver strut. he was informed the vehicle was undrivable and cannot be repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 183,000. mw | |||
| 06/03/2012 | 170000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact was driving 30 mph when the vehicle accelerated over a speed bump and the rear of the vehicle swayed back and forth. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer stated that the front and rear struts needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 170,000 and the current mileage was 174,000. sm. | |||
| 06/03/2012 | 170000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact was traveling 30 mph when the vehicle accelerated over a speed bump and the rear of the vehicle swayed back and forth. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the dealer confirmed the front and rear struts needed to be replaced. the manufacturers was contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 170,000 and the current mileage was 174,000. rds | |||
| 02/27/2012 | |||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact received repairs to the vehicle under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000(suspension:front). the contact stated that the sheet metal that was used to cover the rust on the strut tower per the recall would not be sufficient when driving under normal road conditions. the contact spoke with the manufacturer in regard to the inadequate recall remedy but the manufacturer did not provide a response to the contact. the vehicle had not experienced a failure. the current mileage was 180,000. | |||
| 02/27/2012 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact received repairs to the vehicle under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000(suspension:front). the contact stated that the sheet metal that was used to cover the rust on the strut tower per the recall would not be sufficient when driving under normal road conditions. the contact spoke with the manufacturer in regard to the inadequate recall remedy but the manufacturer did not provide a response to the contact. the vehicle had not experienced a failure. the current mileage was 180,000. kmj | |||
| 02/27/2012 | 180000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact had nhtsa recall campaign id number :11v244000(suspension:front) done on the vehicle, but feels the sheet metal used to cover the rust on the strut tower would not hold up under normal road conditions. the contact spoke with the manufacturer, but the contact did not get a response. the failure mileage and current mileages were 180,000.rl | |||
| 11/06/2011 | |||
| I received a recall for my 1997 nissan pathfinder strut tower housing assembly. on the recall nissan stated that the vehicles registered in certain states that uses road salt can develop corrosion that can lead to steering damages. however, the recall letter that was sent to me was stating that my vehicle was never in that states and also stated that my vehicle will not be covered for the applicable repairs. when i was in active military i was stationed to great lakes il. from september 2006 to june 2010. i was residing at 12701 w. wakefield dr. beach park il 60083. my il states driver's license number was b426-7977-2288 and was issued 09/18/2009. i'm writing this complaint to make sure that all applicable inspections and repairs for my vehicle will be covered by the manufacturer. thank you for your time. sincerely, santos balaguer | |||
| 01/19/2011 | |||
| I had to pay to repair the strut housing sheet metal, that was grinding against the steering arm, on the left side of the vehicle. the cost of the repair was approximately--and i am waiting to get the receipt,as it was paid by credit card---$1340.00. baroz was the name of the repair shop, in la jara, coloraodo. the repair was done before the recall campaign began. i am very disappointed and frustrated by nissan's lack of response, since i was informed of the recall. they state, in the document , that was sent to me, that i am eligible for reimbursement of related expense of repair. i have been trying to get a hold of nissan at 1-800-647-7261, and have not heard back from them, after numerous messages and voice-mails. nissan has not gotten back to me, after repeated attempts to reach them. | |||
| 10/12/2011 | 134000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated that while driving, the steering became hard to control. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who performed an inspection that located the failure at the front strut tower as being corroded. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 134,000. kmj | |||
| 01/19/2011 | |||
| I had to pay to repair the strut housing sheet metal, that was grinding against the steering arm, on the left side of the vehicle. the cost of the repair was approximately--and i am waiting to get the receipt,as it was paid by credit card---$1340.00. baroz was the name of the repair shop, in la jara, coloraodo. the repair was done before the recall campaign began. i am very disappointed and frustrated by nissan's lack of response, since i was informed of the recall. they state, in the document , that was sent to me, that i am eligible for reimbursement of related expense of repair. i have been trying to get a hold of nissan at 1-800-647-7261, and have not heard back from them, after numerous messages and voice-mails. nissan has not gotten back to me, after repeated attempts to reach them. | |||
| 10/12/2011 | 134000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated that while driving, the steering became hard to control. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who performed an inspection that located the failure at the front strut tower as being corroded. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 134,000. kmj | |||
| 10/12/2011 | 134000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated while driving the steering was hard to control. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who performed an inspection that located the failure at the front strut tower was corroded. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 134,000.li | |||
| 10/01/2007 | 55 | ||
| (noticed problem end of 2007/ beginning 2008 and again in 2011) i have low mileage on pathfinder and it is only driven on the freeway and in town. first noticed when driving speeds over 50 and during shifting on highway. very sloppy steering control, pathfinders rear swaying, skipping and jerking sometimes violently from side to side. very dangerous driving conditions;very good chance of flipping over.took to different auto mechanics and most could not figure out issue. it turned out that the problem was all defective - failed, broken, cracked, or /and worn bushings links both front and rear. i recently completely replaced the bushings and components and after 6500 miles they are broken/defective and the pathfinder is unsafe to drive again. i researched the bushing issues with the 1996 -2001 nissan pathfinder and most all pathfinders of this years are having this serious suspension-defective bushing issues. their have been many unanswered consumer complaints. this should have been and is a definite recall issue. protect the consumer. report this. please ck into this asap. | |||
| 12/15/2009 | 123000 | ||
| I was experiencing swaying in my rear end at highway speeds. i had a mechanic install new link bushings and link rods, both uper and lower. due to rust the securing bolts and bushings had to be torched out. this is very strange and must be due to inferior parts since i live in new mexico, a very dry climate where we do not typically experience rusting on vehicles of this age. this vehicle was originally purchased in nm and i purchased it at 40 some thousand miles and do not beleive this vehicle ever spent time in a damp climate. the above repair took care of the problem but now i have 139,000 miles on the vehicle and am having the same problem only worse. | |||
| 09/10/2008 | 140000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle is a 1997 nissan pathfinder wobbles side to side at high speeds, very bumpy suspension otherwise. replaced shocks and struts, as well as all tires, but problem remains. nissan has posted a service bulletin about a similar problem. *tr | |||
| 03/25/2008 | 154568 | 1 | |
| I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder. i experience very heavy side to side swaying of the vehicle at speeds greater than 55 mph. i have looked on the internet at other blogs and noticed that many other owners experienced the same condition. nissan is aware of the problem and has issued a tsb, (ntb98-001 )but has not issued a recall, no doubt due to the cost of the repair, which was just quoted to me by the local dealership at $1,400.00 (and two days in the shop). the problem, according to nissan and other consumers online, is the control arm bushing (front and rear) and other connecting parts. this is a very unsafe design error and should be recalled at the expense of nissan, not the consumer. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2007 | 89000 | 1 | 02/01/1997 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. while driving 40 mph or greater, the rear of the vehicle sways left to right. the dealer stated that the rear struts and tires needed to be replaced. the dealer made the replacement, however, the failure persisted. the dealer inspected the vehicle, but was unable to diagnose the cause of failure. the vehicle was taken to a different dealer and they stated that the rear upper and lower control arm needed to be replaced along with a wheel alignment and front brakes. as of july 19, 2007, the vehicle has not been repaired. the current mileage is 89,500 and failure mileage was 89,000. updated 02/01/08. *lj | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 85000 | 999 | 10/01/1998 |
| I own a 1997 nissan pathfinder. while driving on the highway the suspension failed by swaying back and forth. it felt as though the car will roll over. death, personal injury, and property damage was clearly foreseeable. in order to stop the sway, i needed to decelerate. however, as i continued to drive the suspension failed and the vehicle swayed. due to the continuous nature of this failure i had included the number 999 below in the number of failure fields to denote that he failure was continuous. january 1, 2005 as the incident date to indicated that this was an ongoing failure of the suspension. *ak | |||
| 03/13/2006 | 138000 | 1 | 01/01/2002 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while driving at speeds of 60mph or more, the vehicle violently shakes as if there may be a loss of control. the vehicle was seen by an independent repair shop for the suspension, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. the vehicle is scheduled for inspection at an authorized dealership. | |||
| 08/22/2004 | 80000 | 1 | |
| First noticed problem while driving on the highway when the car suddenly started to rock from side to side. this problem seemed to get worse and was noticed even at lower speeds. replaced front and rear suspension components and problem still exists. *jb | |||
| 10/24/2003 | 90000 | 1 | 12/21/1996 |
| While driving 35 mph, another vehicle suddenly stopped in front of the consumer's vehicle which caused the consumer to veer off the road and hit a curb. the vehicle's axle broke and was towed to the dealership for analysis. *jb the brake system resulted in a complete lost of control of the vehicle. the vehicle pulled to the right, the accelerator pedal would stick, there was a rattling/buzzing sound upon acceleration, the brakes slipped, and the accelerator did not respond at times. *scc prior to the incident the struts leaked and the left front stabilizer bar was replaced. *jb | |||
| 10/24/2001 | |||
| When driving at 50mph or higher if vehicle hit a pump or uneven patch on freeway vehicle sways and rocks, making driver unable to control steering.*ak | |||
| 07/07/2001 | 2 | 02/01/1997 | |
| Suspension causing vehicle to sway violently when going 50mph.*ak. consumer states the tires wore out at 20,000 miles, the shocks and struts were replaced at 42,000 miles, consumer was informed that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle after complaining about the vehicle swaying, however the vehicle was taken to another shop and the trailing arms were replaced which then corrected the problem, also the power steering fluid was leaking, the muffler was replaced due to rust and the exhaust manifold was cracked due to stress, the front differential pinion seal was leaking, the center cap that goes on the stock wheels on the front seat was installed.*jb | |||
| 07/03/2001 | 12 | 05/01/2000 | |
| At speeds above 45 mph vehicle for no reason suddenly begins to rock rapidly from side to side. first encountered when driving vehicle back to maine. when arrived in maine had front struts and rear shocks replaced. problem continues. at highway speed if you even slighly release the accelerator pedal to slow down or coast, vehicle immediately begins to rapidly rock side to side. called nissan, they noted no one has reported incident. have since downloaded service bulliten # ntb98001, date 9804, nhtsa item # sb600088- component suspension. staes in part ... may exhibit excessive play in front/rear suspension. please advise what service bulliten refers to. what rights does service bulliten provide to the consumer? how do i obtain correction from manufacturer? what became of issue following the service bulletin. has nhtsa received similar complaints?*ak | |||
| 04/21/2000 | 04/01/2000 | ||
| Just notice this problem at about 66,000miles vehicles wobbles side to side at acelleration 55-70mph and continues if you hit a dip, bump in the road don't know what is causing this problem need help many people have complained but nissan doesn't either.*ak | |||
| 04/15/2001 | |||
| Consumer took the vehicle in for a front end alignment when mechanic with national and battery discovered that front strut was blown,and that was causing misalignment. both front struts had to be replaced at the same time. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak | |||
| When driving at approximately 25-70 mph vehicle swayed back and forth which could cause loss of vehicle control. consumer has replaced tires/ struts/ shocks, and did wheel alignment, but defect kept occurring.*ak | |||
| 06/05/2000 | 4 | 10/01/1997 | |
| Vehicle vibrates & rocks side to side between 60-70mph. warranty has expired. consumer will contact the manufacturer. *ak | |||
| 2 | |||
| Vehicle experiences problems with suspension system which has caused premature wear of the tires, unable to be rectified after several attempts. mjs | |||
| 09/02/1998 | 07/24/1997 | ||
| Misalignment, causing tires to wear out. also, running board affects steering, causes poor handling of vehicle. | |||
| 07/04/1997 | |||
| Consumer was driving vehicle at 65 mph and was cut off. she turned the wheel to avoid impact, and the vehicle turned over. the front passenger was in a reclining position with restraints and was ejected from the vehicle and killed . the rear passenger was injured. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 11/10/2010 | 1 | ||
| 1997 nissan pathfinder. consumer writes in regards to strut towers corrosion *tgw the consumer stated the deterioration of the struts caused very noticeable shimmying and swaying of the vehicle while it was in motion. the corrosion of the struts was so severe, that the consumer needed to replace the front and passenger side struts immediately. upon inspection, the mechanic noticed that both struts were entirely corroded, to the point that the vehicle was relying on the springs for support. *jb | |||
| 10/01/2009 | 2 | 12/01/2005 | |
| 1997 nissan pathfinder. consumer writes in regards to recall for possible corrosion of the front driver's side strut tower *tgw the consumer stated in october 2009, the front driver's side brake line failed. the failure caused the brake fluid to drain from the system resulting in minimal braking action. the consumer had to use the hand brake to stop the vehicle.. approximately three weeks later, while having the muffler replaced, the mechanic informed the consumer the strut tower was disconnected from the frame of the vehicle and stated that it could lead to brake failure. the mechanic further advised the vehicle was unsafe to drive with the strut tower disconnected from the frame. while driving home, the front driver's side brake line failed for a second time in the same manner. *jb | |||
| 08/01/2011 | 150000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated nhtsa recall campaign id number: 11v244000 (suspension: front) was performed on the vehicle and it began to wobble excessively. the repair was suppose to replace the strut housing. the contact spoke to the dealer and was told to bring the vehicle back for an inspection. the contact spoke with the manufacturer, but the refuse to assist with correcting the failure. the failure and current mileage was 150,000. rvk | |||
| 08/01/2011 | 150000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated that nhtsa recall campaign id number: 11v244000 (suspension: front) was performed on the vehicle and it now runs worse. the repair was supposed to replace the strut housing. the contact stated that after the repair, the vehicle developed a horrible wobble. the contact spoke to the dealer and was told to bring the vehicle back in to be inspected. the contact feels the repair for the vehicle does not work. the contact spoke with the manufacturer, but the manufacturer refuses to correct the problem. the failure mileage and current mileages were 150,000.rl | |||
| 11/08/2010 | 157000 | ||
| Rust/corrosion in unibody at lower control arm/strut assembly on 97' nissan pathfinder passenger side. the problem/failure is equivalent in severity to the situation nissan is recalling for the driver's side. (pe11004) also (nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000). if the corrosion becomes severe enough, the stresses involved in the strut assembly operation loads, compounded by the lateral loads created by steering, and handling, may cause the lower control arm, lower ball joint/strut mount to separate from the unibody. this would invariably result in a loss of steering control, and quite probably, in a highway speed failure, throw the vehicle into a skid as the passenger side wheel stuffs itself into the wheel well area. | |||
| 05/08/2011 | 190000 | ||
| Driver's side front strut tower rusted and failed, dropped 4 inches, in contact with brake master cylinder, near steering column. vehicle quit on interstate, smoke in cabin, computer burned, wires to relay box over left strut worn and shorted, blown fuel injector relay fuses . mechanic says unsafe to drive. | |||
| 05/13/2011 | 154000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact was driving 10 mph when he heard a loud popping noise and the steering wheel began to exhibit grinding noises. the vehicle was inspected by the driver and he noticed that the strut tower was separated from the front suspension. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. the failure and current mileages were approximately 154,000. | |||
| 05/13/2011 | 154000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated that while driving at low speeds he heard a loud popping noise and the steering made grinding noises. the vehicle was inspected by the driver and he noticed that the strut tower had separated from the front suspension. the vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer nor has it been repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that there were no recalls on his vehicle. the failure and current mileages were approximately 154,000. tb | |||
| 04/26/2011 | |||
| I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder, it is grinding and almost impossible to steer. i have not been able to fix it yet because it is too costly. there is a recall on 1996-2004 pathfinders with this same problem however based on my vin mine is not included. nissan does recommend that i take it to a dealer and pay to fix it to avoid any further problems. how could i possibly have the same year, make, model and problems but not be part of the recall?? | |||
| 04/12/2011 | 191000 | ||
| 1997 nissan pathfinder left front strut tower about to collapes due to severe rot | |||
| 04/26/2011 | |||
| I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder, it is grinding and almost impossible to steer. i have not been able to fix it yet because it is too costly. there is a recall on 1996-2004 pathfinders with this same problem however based on my vin mine is not included. nissan does recommend that i take it to a dealer and pay to fix it to avoid any further problems. how could i possibly have the same year, make, model and problems but not be part of the recall?? | |||
| 04/12/2011 | 191000 | ||
| 1997 nissan pathfinder left front strut tower about to collapes due to severe rot | |||
| 04/26/2011 | |||
| I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder, it is grinding and almost impossible to steer. i have not been able to fix it yet because it is too costly. there is a recall on 1996-2004 pathfinders with this same problem however based on my vin mine is not included. nissan does recommend that i take it to a dealer and pay to fix it to avoid any further problems. how could i possibly have the same year, make, model and problems but not be part of the recall?? | |||
| 04/12/2011 | 191000 | ||
| 1997 nissan pathfinder left front strut tower about to collapes due to severe rot | |||
| 01/11/2011 | 130000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated while driving 30 mph the steering started to shake. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic shop and after inspection they found the front left mcpherson strut was rusted and corroded. the contact was informed the vehicle was unsafe to drive and it will cost $2200 to be repaired. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was 130,000...mw | |||
| 05/06/2010 | |||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder 4x4 le. while driving 20 mph over a little hill in the road the contact went to make a right turn and the vehicle went straight into a ditch. the contact was able to drive the vehicle home but the vehicle was making a noise. no physical damages were done to the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a local collision center and he was advised that the right front drivers side strut mount was completely rusted out. the collision center replaced the apron and the fender assembly. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 155,834. vwb | |||
| 11/11/2010 | 109443 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. while driving approximately 35 mph the front end of the vehicle started shaking becoming very unstable. the vehicle was taken to an auto repair shop where the technician stated the left front strut tower had ripped from the vehicle and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer. the technician at the dealer stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive and if the vehicle was repaired he would have to cover all costs. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 109,443.ds | |||
| 10/24/2008 | 118000 | 1 | |
| The left front strut tower has pushed up into the hood due to rust on the frame. after 118,000 miles, the odometer on our 97 pathfinder stopped working and we noticed that there was a very loud bang every time we hit a bump with the left front wheel, and the steering wheel would shake. we brought the vehicle to our mechanic and he determined that the frame had rotted and the strut was separated from the vehicle. he said it should not be driven. we had the pathfinder towed to a body shop for an estimate, and after placing on the frame machine determined that it would cost in excess of $2100.00 to repair and advised us not to spend the funds to repair. they told us they had never seen anything like this before, and could not believe that such a well taken care of pathfinder was not safe and ready to be crushed. we are now left with a vehicle that looks and runs fine, but cannot be driven or sold. needless to say we are grateful that we did not get into an accident or hurt anyone, but are now out $5000.00 (value of the pathfinder). *tr | |||
| 04/01/2008 | 1 | ||
| 1997 pathfinder wobbles left and right when reaching speed of 65-70 mph. stopped wobbling when releasing the gas pedal. i have replace the front struts and the two front axles..same problem still continues this is a dangerous and serious condition and nissan should address this issue and correct it!!!!...i personally know of two other pathfinder's owners that are having the same problem. *tr | |||
| 05/01/2008 | 179000 | 1 | |
| Rear bushings on nissan pathfinders. mine is a 97 model. that sways as soon as i hit 65 mph. i have to tap on the brake or accelerate for the swaying to stop. it starts again soon after. i looked online and found out about the rear bushings .www.topix.com/forum/autos/t5lstpr5onpc09ctlfor any solutions and was shocked to see that nissan has done nothing to remedy this situation. i am required to drive to work each day and just can't fanthom the thought of loosing total control of my vehicle because nissan won't recall this. *tr | |||
| 01/25/2007 | 1 | 08/01/2006 | |
| I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder se. it has a severe wobble at speeds of 50 mph and above. it is extremely dangerous. i was told it was the suspension ,so i replaced it. the wobble continued. i researched the problem on the internet and found that itwas common with every pathfinder in the 1990's after the vehicle passed approximately 60,000 miles. the low quality bushings deteriorated and could not support the vehicle. weight shifted during acceleration and the vehicle went out of control. i have pulled over numerous times because of it. it appeared that every pathfinder of this model year range was plagued by this problem. the cheapest i have found this repair was $700, however, it seemed like thiswas the fault of the manufacturer. i wouldn't be surprised to find accidents that had to do with this sub-quality part. what would it take for nissan to put forth a recall and fix this problem. *ak | |||
| 10/15/2006 | 91000 | 15 | 09/28/2006 |
| Reporting a vehicle issue that is known by nissan if a 1996-98 pathfinder exhibits the following conditions, the cause may be from worn bushing(s) in the rear suspension upper and/or lower links. excessive play in the rear axle especially during moderate acceleration or deceleration. vehicle pulling at a constant speed. excessive sway and rocking motion in the front suspension when coming to a stop. to correct these conditions, use the service procedure on page 2. this is a very dangerous condition that can easily lead to loss of control of the vehicle. it causes very violent shaking/rocking of the chassis. *jb | |||
| 09/08/2001 | 97000 | 1000 | 09/08/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated that while driving between 30 to 65 mph, the vehicle violently swayed from side to side or performed a death wobble. the vehicle was taken to the independent repair shop on 08/27/03 and the front struts were replaced. the contact has replaced the tires, struts, shocks, and had a wheel alignment, but the problem keeps occurring daily on all road conditions. there was no warning prior to the failure and the vehicle wobbles more violently as speed increases. | |||
| 05/10/2004 | 52000 | 1 | |
| While driving between 25-30 mph suddenly there was a clucking noise. consumer pulled off the road to investigate the noise. upon exiting the vehicle consumer noticed that front right tire was sticking out at an angle. also, shock absorber spring was sticking out. vehicle was towed to a dealership, who was unable to resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1997 | 4 | 01/01/1997 | |
| The feared ford explorers that roll over and the 96-98 nissan pathfinders utilize the same frame! the problem is that the engine weight is too much for the front suspension, thus, ford's roll over and nissans ruin their tires and suspension. i was made aware of the problem by an employee that worked making the frames for both vehicles. i immediately bought new rims and tires (wider for more stability and better wear). it made the situation better, but the front suspension is ruined. with the extra weight on the front, both vehicles have a noticable pigeon toe while driving and over bumps. the front tired bow out towards the bottom to compensate for the extra weight in the front. nissan knows this is a problem and refuses to do anything about it. vehicle now is very scarry to ride in, i refuse to pay $1,500 for a whole new fron suspension which is junk to begin with. please help! any info, please contact me at: lpedo@wi.rr.com - thank you!*ak | |||
| 06/15/2001 | |||
| While traveling at hwy speed of 50 mph the vehicle commence to severely vibrate and shake out of control; dealer notified and repairs was made. feel free to provide any further information on this matter. | |||
| 02/15/2001 | |||
| While traveling 50 mph or more vehicle would rock back and forth, making it hardto steer vehicle. dealer notified. feel free to provide any further infomation on this matter.*ak | |||
| 06/01/1997 | |||
| When lease expired nissan expected payment for excessive tire wear which was obviously caused by a manufacturer's defect. nissan dealers treat their customers like garbage and rip them off by blaming them for defects they know exist but refuse to admit. numerous complaints about high pitched front end noise and shimmying in the steering basically been ignored until the shimmying made it difficult to drive. i paid over $200 to get my front end realligned at 24,000 miles and was told this is common with suvs'. not according to nhtsa complaints database. nissan has everyone beat hands down! now nissan won't allow me to dispute my end of lease report when i called the number printed on the report to dispute reports. what a bunch of scheming liars! i will never give one cent to nissan again and i will spread the word to all my friends and family. | |||
| 01/05/1998 | 6 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Since purchasing this vehicle, i've had complained about the alignment (taken to deal and numerous other places) it has been aligned, tires rotated, balanced, etc. 7 (times) and i was told nothing was wrong hmmmm. had to have all four tires replaced at 30,740 miles. nissan denies its a defect on their car. i've repeatedly complained about a clunking noise in the rear (or brakes) again no problems found--cant duplicate problem. well, now i'm told my transmission needs to be replaced. the front end steering if very sensitive and when making a sudden movement, the car overcompensates tossing you throughout the cab. cd and radio as well as antenna motor have recently been replaced. this car is a lemon and dangerous!!!!!! i want my money back!!!!!!!*ak | |||
| 06/22/1999 | 1 | 09/01/1997 | |
| Premature tire wear. need two new front tires after 28,000 miles! contacted the dealer and they advised that it was the improper tire that was selected for the vehicle. i contacted the tire manufacturer and they advised it was poor engineering of the front end suspension on nissan's part. nissan has admitted that it has received numerous complaints about this problem.( dot number: tire size: p235/70r15 ) | |||
| 6 | 05/01/1997 | ||
| Problems started at 2,600 miles. tires needed to be replaced at 3,000, car shakes between 45 and 60 mph. brakes vibrate when applied, and car shimmys to a stop. vehicle had $6,000.00 in repairs to fix a rear end thump. front end bottoms out when going over large bumps, new struts were installed ,now problem is worse. vibration noise is non-fixable according to nissan. nissan service claims all problems are inherent to the vehicle. | |||
| 10/01/1998 | 2 | 12/01/1997 | |
| Since the day i purchased this vehicle i have had nothing but headaches with it and the dealership. i purchased, my second, nissan pathfinder from john elway nissan in december of 1997. from that moment on i have be living a nightmare. i spent over 8 hours in the dealership trying to get my original car (vw jetta) back so i could just leave and not get the pathfinder i had test driven. the dealership, salesman, had my keys and kept them from me and continued to work a deal so that he could get me into the new pahtfinder. i told him, several times, that i just wanted to get my keys and go. i had no intention of purchasing a car that day, all i wanted to do was test drive a few cars and check out all my options. however, this did not happen, as i said they continued to keep me there for 8+hours. when they finally pulled my new pathfinder around, it was not the original car i had test driven and i was throughly upset. it was late and i was tired, my boyfriend and his son met me there. i told them i was beat and needed to go home. so we left and decided i would go back on monday morning,utilized my option of returning their car with in 2 business days and getting mine back with no obligations. this began the nightmare all over, once again! they told me i had waived my right to return the car, showed my a page in which i initaled stating i waived my return policy. i then pointed out to them that after being in their showroom for over 8 hours, i was going through all kinds of paper work and signing where i was told to sign, next to or on the yellow highlighted marks. the option of waiving my right to return the car was only highlighted in one spot, that was to waive my right, instead of being highlighted in both spots, giving my the option to return or deny. i qucikly pointed out that this would not hold up in a court of law, they had baited me and i would have no hesitation to take it to court and fight it. they genereal manager was now brought into. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM | |||
| 03/17/1997 | 1 | 03/01/1997 | |
| Lower control arm bent causing rim of tire to bend and damage to tires due to alignment problems/pulling. mjs | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | |||
| 04/25/2011 | 180000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. while driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel became stiff as the power steering assist failed. the vehicle was driven to the contacts home where an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and advised that the front strut tower was severely corroded and fractured from the frame. the front strut was found to be rubbing against the steering shaft abnormally and causing the steering failure. in addition, the strut was pushed up approximately three inches and was beating on the air intake and the air filter. the contact stated that the brake and abs lines were also damaged and the wheel was pushing on the steering shaft. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. the manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000 ( steering: column) but the vin was not included. there was an open investigation into the falure under nhtsa action id: pe11004 (suspension:front:shock absorber steering suspension:front:macpherson strut steering:column). the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 180,000. | |||
| 11/09/2007 | 75000 | 0 | 12/01/1996 |
| I am having problems with the performance of my 1997 nissan pathfinder se (81,000 miles); at first i thought that the front shocks were shot; then a mechanic told me that no - it was the front struts. i have since found a web site with many owners of this vintage model that tell me the problem is with the 8 rear control arm bushings. nissan should issue a recall on this - this is dangerous. at very least, they should notify owners. *tr | |||
| 03/08/2006 | 1 | ||
| Front left strut tower is rotted and cracking without any apparent reason. the right side looks brand new, yet the left side is in danger of failure. *nm | |||
| 1 | 11/11/2000 | ||
| The struts are leaking. *jg | |||
| 12/13/2001 | 1 | 09/08/2000 | |
| Vehicle was rattling on right side. took vehicle to mechanic, and when mechanic moved vehicle, the right front wheel fell off. mechanic indicated strut had broken.*ak *yh | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 1 | 10/01/1997 | |
| The struts went at 52,000 miles $800 to replace, exhaust manifold needs to be replaced(warranty). today the news that the speedometer was justworn out $235, the rear suspension lincs were worn out $350, the intake pinium(sp?) was leaking $660. something has to be done about nissan and their worn out vehicles. it's not even paid for yet! | |||
| 06/01/1997 | 3 | 11/01/1996 | |
| I contacted my nissan dealer the first time the struts went out. they replaced only 1 strut not 2. when the struts went out the 2nd time i contated the dealer they said it was not their problem. when i took it to another car repair shop they advised me you never replace only 1 strut. i contacted the dealer about this they said too bad. my pathfinder still had the banging noice in the front. i took it to a couple of car places they seemed to know of the problem with this particular nissan fault. the next time the struts went out i was in idaho visiting family. it as again a very scary ordeal. i was driving on a very windy canyon road with the river right beside me. i had a number of children in the car. i had it towed to a dodge dealer in emmett idaho who advised me they knew of a report out on this make and year of vehicle. this is the first i heard of nissan acknowledging the problem. i have contacted them numerous times since. they are not willing to do anything about this or reinburse me for all the expense. my childen and i could of been killed a number of times with this reoccuring problem and nissan did not even bother to contact us. what is my choices on action to take against the company? please help me make this large company listen to one very dissatisfied and concerned person. | |||
| 06/01/1999 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| I feel, as many other 96-97 pathfinder customers do, that excessive and uneven (cupping) tire wear and premature strut failure, appear to be symptoms of a larger problem with the suspension of the 96-97, possibly 98 nissan pathfinders. nissan will not admit there is a potentially huge problem. i have web postings/e-mails confirming many customers with the same and worse problems than my own. two postings report accidents. one driver of a 1998 pathfinder lost control as the car mysteriously veered to the left, across traffic, and the driver broke a finger trying regain control. the other posting recounts a strut completely failing while the truck was in motion and sent the car spinning. nissan offered to replace the one tire that was chewed up beyond all recognition. i believe nissan is ignoring this dangerous situation in the hopes of avoiding an expensive recall. is someone going to have to get hurt before they listen? i have contacted corporate in gardena on numerous occassions only to be told that this is normal wear and tear on my vehicle. other customers repeat the same ridiculous reaction from nissan. i have a meeting with the nissan regional service manager during the week of july 17th. he has copies of the postings/e-mails that i metioned earlier sustantiating the size of this problem. the meeting should prove interesting. thank you for your time. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Front struts and shocks failed causing premature tire wear. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 11/09/2007 | 75000 | 0 | 12/01/1996 |
| I am having problems with the performance of my 1997 nissan pathfinder se (81,000 miles); at first i thought that the front shocks were shot; then a mechanic told me that no - it was the front struts. i have since found a web site with many owners of this vintage model that tell me the problem is with the 8 rear control arm bushings. nissan should issue a recall on this - this is dangerous. at very least, they should notify owners. *tr | |||
| 05/10/2004 | 52000 | 1 | |
| While driving between 25-30 mph suddenly there was a clucking noise. consumer pulled off the road to investigate the noise. upon exiting the vehicle consumer noticed that front right tire was sticking out at an angle. also, shock absorber spring was sticking out. vehicle was towed to a dealership, who was unable to resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Front struts and shocks failed causing premature tire wear. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR | |||
| 09/22/2007 | 167000 | 1 | 06/15/2003 |
| 97 pathfinder driving at 60-70mph started swaying side to side uncontrollably. noticing now even at slower speeds the problem exists. *tr | |||
| SUSPENSION - MULTIPLE AXLE | |||
| 06/15/2001 | 08/01/1997 | ||
| While traveling on the highway, the car started rocking side to side as if it wanted to roll over. had the shocks and springs replaced. this wasn't the problem. apparently because of a design flaw, the shocks wear out faster than normal. but the swaying was caused by the rear bushings going bad and wearing faster than normal. apparently nissan knows about the design flaw but isn't willing to address it or issue a recall.*ak | |||
| 04/28/2001 | 07/01/1997 | ||
| The suspension on this car had to be replaced. the problem resulted in the back end of the vehicle wobbling violently at highway speed. the cause was the failure of rubber bushings on the rear axle link assy. this vehicle is a 4wd with an off road package. even though this vehicle has never been used for off road driving, the suspension still failed and caused an unsafe condition on the highway. the required parts are backordered. | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 06/15/2009 | 170000 | 2 | |
| Our 1997 nissan pathfinder develops a rear rocking motion (sway, wobble) at highway speeds that would clearly put the vehicle out of control if not quickly stopped, which can usually be accomplished by letting off the gas. this happens continuously and repeatedly, sometimes even at lower speeds (in the 40 mph range.) the sensation is very unnerving to the driver and passengers especially since it is not due to anything the driver has done and it strikes without warning. in just a few seconds the car feels like 2 seconds more and it will flip or roll or crash into another lane! (take a ride with me, you'll see i'm not exaggerating.) the trick is to stop the rocking as soon as you notice it starting, usually by letting off the gas. this problem is well known to many pathfinder owners (in the 1996-200 range) and to nissan, which has produced a tsbs on it (ntb98-001, ntb98-012) but the company has not dealt with it as a recall. it is an expensive ($700-$1,400) repair apparently due to faulty control arm bushings, the smart repair is apparently to use polyurethane after-market bushings instead of oem (unless you want it to come back again in less than 100k.) *tw we have had this problem for 6 months and ours set in at about 170k but many other owners were reporting this problem 3 or 4 years ago at 100k. and many are not happy with how nissan has not handled this design problem they created. | |||
| 12/16/1997 | 78000 | 1 | |
| 1997 pathfinder wobbles in the rear wildly at times, usually when i hit the accelerator. *tr | |||
| 06/27/2009 | 98000 | 1 | |
| 97 pathfinder safety problem with rear suspension links. side to side sway. almost caused vehicle to flip it is so bad. numerous complaints. why has the nhtsa not done something about this problem! dangerous??? *tr | |||
| 07/01/2008 | 140000 | 1 | |
| Truck sways dangerously side to side in rear while driving at over 40mph replaced struts & shocks. mechanic suspects rear upper & lower control arm bushings very expensive usually because of labor. these parts are defective because of inferior quality. *tr | |||
| 06/26/2008 | 90000 | 1 | |
| After desperately looking for an answer to the reason why my vehicle was acting the way it was i stumbled upon an internet site with other pathfinder owners describing same things i was experiencing. i own a nissan pathfinder xe 3.3 l 4x4. the problem i am having is violent swaying of the rear end at speeds between 50 and 65 mph. the only way to get it to stop is to tap the breaks or speed up. it has almost caused an accident several times. i have tried to fix it at the cost of hundreds of dollars. nothing has worked. this is a serious issue that could lead to serious injury or death! especially considering the velocities at which it occurs. it is the consensus of the many posters on the site that the above symptoms are the result of the failure of the control arm bushings. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2006 | 1 | ||
| 1997 nissan pathfinder rear link arm bushing failure. *tr | |||
| 05/01/2008 | 179000 | 1 | |
| Rear bushings on nissan pathfinders. mine is a 97 model. that sways as soon as i hit 65 mph. i have to tap on the brake or accelerate for the swaying to stop. it starts again soon after. i looked online and found out about the rear bushings .www.topix.com/forum/autos/t5lstpr5onpc09ctlfor any solutions and was shocked to see that nissan has done nothing to remedy this situation. i am required to drive to work each day and just can't fanthom the thought of loosing total control of my vehicle because nissan won't recall this. *tr | |||
| 03/25/2008 | 154568 | 1 | |
| I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder. i experience very heavy side to side swaying of the vehicle at speeds greater than 55 mph. i have looked on the internet at other blogs and noticed that many other owners experienced the same condition. nissan is aware of the problem and has issued a tsb, (ntb98-001 )but has not issued a recall, no doubt due to the cost of the repair, which was just quoted to me by the local dealership at $1,400.00 (and two days in the shop). the problem, according to nissan and other consumers online, is the control arm bushing (front and rear) and other connecting parts. this is a very unsafe design error and should be recalled at the expense of nissan, not the consumer. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| My 1997 nissan pathfinder has the well documented death wobbles on the highway where it is nearly impossible to control the vehicle. apparently it is the rear bushings that are defective. causes severe uneven tire wear. i've heard the same story from many nissan owners. i'm frightened to even sell the vehicle for safety reasons even when i tell a buyer about the factory problem. *tr | |||
| 07/01/2007 | 114800 | 1 | 03/15/2003 |
| Car developed a side-to-side wobble, mostly in the rear, at speeds from about 50 to 65 mph. wobble is not induced by steering wheel; it just happens. it's worse when car has passengers in the back seat. the problem was solved by replacing the control arm bushings (or trailing arm bushings), only the lower control arm bushings. it is a simple solution to a very serious problem, and it is very common for 97 and 98 nissan pathfinders, and a lot of users replace many other parts (shock absorbers, tires, etc) that don't solve the problem and can cause a roll over accident. *tr | |||
| 08/05/2007 | 112000 | 1 | 05/08/2006 |
| I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder that has a very dangerous condition. at 55-65 mph it shakes uncontrollably. it has been explained to me that this is a common problem with this model and the wobble is caused by bad bushings in the rear of the suspension system. there is no doubt in my mind that this condition will cause loss of life if it has not already. in my case i escaped injury when it caused me to lose control of the vehicle. *tr | |||
| 07/08/2007 | 127 | 1 | 06/14/2000 |
| 97 nissan pathfinder - dangerously sways left to right once you drive above 60 mph. been to repairs many times and has not fixed the problem. *ak | |||
| 12/10/2005 | 50000 | 100 | 08/13/1997 |
| Tl*- the contact stated that while driving his 1997 nissan pathfinder (50000 failure mileage) at 50 mph, the vehicle began to sway from right to left without any warning. the contact had to reduce his speed in order for the swaying to stop and regain control of the vehicle. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they notified him that the rear stabilizer arms were worn and had to be replaced. the vehicle has not been repaired. *jb | |||
| 10/15/2006 | 110000 | 15 | 02/15/2006 |
| The rear end on my 97 pathfinder shifts intermittently and has almost caused me to lose control many times. after taking it into the dealer, they told me it wasn't a recall. i was very surprised cause this is a major safety hazard. *nm | |||
| 10/15/2006 | 91000 | 15 | 09/28/2006 |
| Reporting a vehicle issue that is known by nissan if a 1996-98 pathfinder exhibits the following conditions, the cause may be from worn bushing(s) in the rear suspension upper and/or lower links. excessive play in the rear axle especially during moderate acceleration or deceleration. vehicle pulling at a constant speed. excessive sway and rocking motion in the front suspension when coming to a stop. to correct these conditions, use the service procedure on page 2. this is a very dangerous condition that can easily lead to loss of control of the vehicle. it causes very violent shaking/rocking of the chassis. *jb | |||
| 07/12/2004 | 93000 | 1 | 06/12/2004 |
| 1997 nissan pathfinder 4wd, terrible wobble on uneven pavement, causing vehicle to sway out of control at high way speeds. nissan did not know why. i replaced all tires..front struts, lower ball joints..finally found on internet site, that the rear upper and lower link bushings wear. this causes the rear axle to shift, in effect,,the rear axle steers the vehicle..cause of the bad bushings. *nm | |||
| 09/08/2001 | 97000 | 1000 | 09/08/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated that while driving between 30 to 65 mph, the vehicle violently swayed from side to side or performed a death wobble. the vehicle was taken to the independent repair shop on 08/27/03 and the front struts were replaced. the contact has replaced the tires, struts, shocks, and had a wheel alignment, but the problem keeps occurring daily on all road conditions. there was no warning prior to the failure and the vehicle wobbles more violently as speed increases. | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 95000 | 1 | 02/20/2004 |
| No crash and no injury. vehicle at speeds above 40 mph begins to rock violently side to side. internet postings describes a known problem with the nissan unibody chassis that causes this problem. reat bushings need to be replaced to correct safety problem. *nm | |||
| 07/07/2004 | 97000 | 1 | |
| While driving there was heavy vibration coming from the rear. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 07/10/2004 | 1 | ||
| 1997 nissan pathfinder. sways and rocks while driving. seems very dangerous and is scary when it really gets going. the same thing happened to a friend with the same make and year pathfinder. my mechanic has not yet diognosed but my friends was the trailer arms we worn/bent. as i have invesitgated this seems to be a common problem.*ak | |||
| 04/20/2002 | 75000 | 1 | |
| Rear end of car sways violently and unexpectedly, back and forth, at speeds above 45 mph. started at about 75,000 miles. got new tires, shocks and struts, even dealer was either unable ,or unwilling to diagnose problem correctly. finally was informed by dealership service department that a recent service bulletin indicated problem was due to premature failling of rear rear support link bushings(about $1000 to fix). nisson needs to address this very serious safety issue. *ak | |||
| 10/04/2002 | 99086 | 1 | 03/03/1998 |
| In mid 2002, my 1997 nissan pathfinder developed a severe rear sway problem. at highway speeds, the truck would sway right to left so severely and suddenly that i felt like i would lose control. when i slowed down the swaying would stop. this swaying was especially disconcerting during wet road conditions. when i contacted my local nissan dealer, they had never heard of this problem. i replaced the front struts and rear shocks without any improvement. then i had the frame adjusted, without improvement. between my local repair shop searching technical bulletins and my search of consumer sites they found my rear control arm and upper and lower bushings needed to be replaced at a cost of $570. overall, i have been very pleased with my pathfinder, but nissan needs to be aware of this safety issue and also notify other pathfinder owners. *jb | |||
| 03/15/2003 | 60000 | 0 | 12/01/1997 |
| My 1997 pathfinder's body rolls dangerously left to right while at highway speeds. it is very pronounced and continues until you slow down. i had new front struts and tires installed by a national tire dealer and later found out from one of the tech's with experience with nissan that it is a common flaw on this model. he said that the trailing arms/links fail on the rear suspension. he further said that updated links are available from nissan. there also have been factory bulletins on this but i have not received a recall notice. i believe the condition to be dangerous enough to warrant one. the first time it happens it could result in a life threatening accident. i had my wife and two small children in the car the first time it happened unexpectedly. i think its terrible that they would not have issued a recall since they were aware of the problem. i think a recall should be issued and that it should be repaired at no cost to consumer since it involves a safety issue. *nlm | |||
| 12/23/2002 | 58000 | 10/10/2000 | |
| The back end of the car begins a violent wobble unexpectedly at 50 to 70 miles per hour on the straight and level. after much trouble, the dealer has confirmed that bushing failures in the rear axle link assemblys are the culprit, and the car has only 59,000 miles on it. this is erxtremely dangerous, and shocking that a worn part could cause unexpected loss of control of the vehicle. | |||
| 12/15/2001 | 01/01/2099 | ||
| Problem: the pathfinder sways/rocks like a boat in water when it hits small bumps on the freeway. the problem gets exacerbated if i am driving over 60mph.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 1 | 10/01/1997 | |
| The struts went at 52,000 miles $800 to replace, exhaust manifold needs to be replaced(warranty). today the news that the speedometer was justworn out $235, the rear suspension lincs were worn out $350, the intake pinium(sp?) was leaking $660. something has to be done about nissan and their worn out vehicles. it's not even paid for yet! | |||
| 03/29/2000 | 1 | 10/01/1997 | |
| The suspension on this car had to be replaced. the problem resulted in the back end of the vehicle wobbling violently at highway speed. the cause was the failure of rubber bushings on the rear axle link assy. this vehicle is a 4wd with an off road package. even though this vehicle has never been used for off road driving, the suspension still failed and caused an unsafe condition on the highway. the required parts are backordered at nissan so i suspect this may be a bigger problem than just my vehicle. *ak | |||