1996 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT THE DMV, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR STRUT WAS RUSTING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING MADE AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNSURE HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 293,000.

NHTSA ID

11176224

Incident

Jan 6, 2018

Mileage

293,000 mi

ON A LONG ROAD TRIP FROM INDIANA TO NORTH CAROLINA, THE REAR-END OF MY VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING OR ROCKING FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE AS I WAS GOING 60 MPH OR MORE AND WHENEVER I CHANGED LANES. IT FELT VERY UNSTABLE, AS THOUGH IT MAY ROLLOVER. UPON MY RETURN HOME, I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE SWAY BAR, THE SHOCKS AND MAYBE THE TIRES. I REPLACED &/OR REPAIRED EVERYTHING. IT SEEMED OK UNTIL MY RECENT ROAD TRIP FROM INDIANA TO MISSOURI WHEN THE EXACT SAME THING OCCURRED WITH THE REAR-END SWAYING MORE THIS TIME BUT USUALLY ONLY UPON DECELERATION. I NOW NOTICE IT DURING CITY DRIVING WHICH I WASN'T SURE ABOUT BEFORE DUE TO ALL THE POTHOLES AND BUMPS IN THE STREETS. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL REPORTING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS EVEN A 1998 SERVICE BULLETIN POSTED BY A NISSAN DEALER ON HOW TO FIX THIS "FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION EXCESSIVE PLAY" PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10766403

Incident

Oct 25, 2012

Mileage

121,000 mi

ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE THE SAME COMPLAINT, YET NOTHING IS DONE FOR THE CONSUMER OF WHAT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLE WHEN NEW EVEN THOUGH IT IS DANGEROUS AND MANY CONSUMERS SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM (OR GIVE UP AND PARK THE VEHICLE), OFTEN SPENDING THE MONEY ON THE WRONG FIX BECAUSE THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN TO THEM AND THERE IS, ALMOST UNBELIEVABLY, NO RECALL. DANGEROUS AND VIOLENT SIDE TO SIDE SHAKING AT LESS THAN HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH COULD LEAD TO CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH. REPAIR IS COSTLY AND IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH DEALERSHIPS AND NISSAN BUT NOT NECESSARILY KNOWN BY OTHER AUTO MECHANICS........................................................ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE THE SAME COMPLAINT: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10695520 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10583582 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10575024 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10523182 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10478531 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10448749 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10429267 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10417692 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10400070 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10380091 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10379998 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10374836 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10347481 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10345594 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10341396 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10319474 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10292498 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10280742 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10278532 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10272428 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10262357 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10261360 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10222448 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10220528 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10218798 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10218166 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10217609 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10214503 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10212982 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10212954 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10202233 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10198385 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10192615 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10192045 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10177396 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10176855 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10175863 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10174818 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10172078 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10171995 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10096233 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10073991. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701539

Incident

Mar 24, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi

AS VEHICLE APPROACHED 50MPH IT WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE FORCING ME TO LET OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE SHAKING MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND WAS VERY FRIGHTENING NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT ALSO TO MY FAMILY (WE WERE ON VACATION). SINCE THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION I LOOKED FOR A RECALL. THERE WAS NONE. I DID, HOWEVER, FIND MANY SIMILAR STORIES ON THE INTERNET. THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP REPLACED REAR SUSPENSION BARS. "VERIFIED REAR SUSPENSION LINKS WERE BAD, BUSHINGS TORE-REPLACED ALL 4 BARS" MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME WAS 60,687. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT USED OFF-ROAD. THE REPAIR COST ME $740.20 MOSTLY IT IS JUST SHOCKING THAT SUCH A DANGEROUS CONDITION IS NOT A RECALL. THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ONCE IT'S SPEED EXCEEDED 50MPH. I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE FLIPPED OVER HAD I ATTEMPTED TO GO FASTER RATHER THAN LET OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. I STILL OWN THE VEHICLE AND KEEP IT WELL MAINTAINED ... MILEAGE IS NOW 103,957. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695520

Incident

Aug 17, 2005

Mileage

60,687 mi

THE NISSAN PATHFINDER I DRIVE SWAYS VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT VARYING SPEEDS. THIS SEEMS TO STEM FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SEEMS AS IF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WILL FLIP OVER AT ANY MOMENT IF UNCONTROLLED. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR OR SPEED UP A BIT. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NOT A MENTION WAS MADE OF THE VIOLENT ROLL. I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD TO DRIVE TO SCHOOL, BUT NOW WILL NOT LET HIM UNTIL REPAIRS ARE DONE. AFTER COMPLETING AN INTERNET SEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE NISSAN TO MY MECHANIC BUT WILL SHORTLY AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. I HOPE THE REPAIRS THAT ARE SUGGESTED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE WORK ALTHOUGH NONE HAVE INDICATED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583582

Incident

Oct 26, 2013

Mileage

210,000 mi

THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK IN 2009, AT FIRST IT WOULD ONLY START TO WOBBLE AT 60 MPH SO WE TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION THEY TOLD US IT NEEDED ALIGNMENT SO WE HAD IT DONE. IT WORKED FOR A WHILE BUT THEN IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN AND NOW AT JUST 30 MPH SO WE TOOK IN AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY DID TIRES AND BALANCING BUT IT IS JUST GETTING WORSE.I FEEL LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE WHEN IT STARTS TO WOBBLE AND LIKE MY TIRES ARE GOING TO FALL OFF. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE THAT CAR SO MUCH ANY MORE SPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE MY GRANDDAUGHTERS WITH ME. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK YOU MAY HAVE CONCERNING THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH MY 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4X4 THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10575024

Incident

Aug 20, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION HOUSING AND STRUTS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION) WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10550954

Incident

Nov 4, 2013

Mileage

138,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 96 NISSAN PATHFINDER STRAIGHT ON A 30MPH ROAD WHEN I LET OFF THE ACCELRATOR AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY, SHAKE AND TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH AS IF THE REAR AXLE WAS TWISTING SEPERATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS MOTION OF ROCKING A SWAYING THEN STARTED EVERY TIME I WOULD STEP ON OR LET OFF OF THE GAS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT UP OR DOWN A GEAR. I THEN STARTED TO HEAR A POPING NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL WHEN I WOULD TURN A CORNER. I HAVE HAD THIS PATHFINDER INTO THE MECHANIC MULTIPE TIMES ALREADY WITH ISSUES DUE TO NISSANS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. I WOULD NOT RECOMEND A NISSAN PRODUCT TO ANYONE. I HAVE ALREADY COMPLAINED TO NISSAN AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMERS FROM THEIR MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. WHERE ARE THE RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE? DO NOT BUY A NISSAN!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10495349

Incident

Jan 30, 2013

Mileage

193,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 65 MPH VEHICLE WENT INTO VIOLENT BODY ROLLING AND SHIMMY CAUSING DRIVER TO ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL. BODY WAS ROLLING SEVERELY, AS IF STEERING WHEEL WAS BEING ROCKED BACK AND FORTH, HOWEVER STEERING WHEEL WAS STEADY. UNABLE TO STOP BODY ROLL UNTIL BRAKES APPLIED. UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY DAMAGE AT TIME IF EVENT, BUT HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES DURING TRIP. UPON DETAILED INSPECTION, REAR TIRES SHOWED SEVERE SCUFFING ON OUTSIDE OF TIRES AND IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH REAR AXLE LINKS BASED ON SOME INTERNET RESEARCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478531

Incident

Oct 26, 2011

Mileage

109,000 mi

OUR 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER STARTED TO WOBBLE VIOLENTLY -- THE SO-CALLED "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT '96-'97 PATHFINDERS ARE NOW KNOWN FOR -- AROUND 140,000 MILES. THE WOBBLE WAS MORE SEVERE AT HIGHER SPEEDS (>50 MPH) BUT ALSO OCCURRED AT LOWER SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY WHEN CORNERING, ENCOUNTERING MINOR ROAD DEFECTS OR WHEN IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE WOBBLE WAS PARTICULARLY SEVERE IF THERE WERE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT AND/OR WHEN THERE WAS ADDITIONAL WEIGHT IN THE FAR BACK. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VIOLENT WOBBLING OR ITS SEVERITY WAS TO REDUCE SPEED IMMEDIATELY. REPLACING THE TIRES AND STRUTS, AND INSTALLING HEAVY DUTY SHOCKS DID LITTLE TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE VIOLENT ROCKING WAS REMINISCENT OF A BLOW OUT AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO CONDUCT A RECALL OR PROVIDE ADEQUATE REDRESS. SINCE THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, WE WILL BE TAKING IT TO OUR LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT OUR EXPENSE.

NHTSA ID

10448749

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT), THE STRUT HOUSING STARTED TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING A KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE STRUT HOUSING. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STRUT HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AS WELL DUE TO RUST. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR BOTH STRUT HOUSINGS AND/OR BUY BACK THE VEHICLE BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONFIRMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10438724

Incident

Nov 22, 2011

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE AXLE HAS HEAVY TWIST ROCK SWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SHAKES VIOLENTLY SIDE TO SIDE VERY CONSTANT I FEEL LIKE WE COULD CRASH AT ANY MOMENT THIS IS HAPPENING HAVE TRIED TO OBTAIN PART ONLINE AND IN PART STORE I CAN'T AFFORD IT AT THE DEALERSHIP IT IS 700 TO 1400 DOLLARS I FEEL IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE DEALER AKA RECALL MAYBE MY FAMILY WILL BE THE ONE TO PARISH DUE TO THIS FAULTY PART THEN IT WILL BE A RECALL. HOPE NOT. I CAN'T JUST GO GET A NEW CAR THIS IS MY VEHICLE A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER WE AS A NISSAN FAMILY HAVE A 1996 PATHFINDER ALSO WITH THE SAME ISSUE PLEASE CHANGE THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED IF I HAVE 2 PATHFINDERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I SEE ON AVERAGE 20 TO 30 OF THE SAME MODELS DAILY. *KB

NHTSA ID

10429267

Incident

Sep 20, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 166,000.

NHTSA ID

10425548

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

166,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH OR THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO EXCESSIVE SHAKING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR AXLE, BUSHINGS, AND STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

10417692

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

110,000 mi

RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 96 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED AN UNCONTROLLABLE SWAY OR WOBBLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VERY NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. APPARENTLY IT'S SOURCE IS THE FAILURE OF THE REAR LINK BUSHINGS. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, EVERY VEHICLE WITH THIS SUSPENSION WILL EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM GIVEN ENOUGH LENGTH OF SERVICE. ALSO, THERE IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE FIX, WITH BUSHINGS COSTING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE, AND REQUIRING A HYDRAULIC PRESS TO INSTALL THE NEW BUSHINGS (SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE IN MY GARAGE). RECALL SEARCHES HAVE IDENTIFIED RECALLS FOR ISSUES SUCH AS POTENTIAL CORROSION POSSIBLY AFFECTING STEERING, REPLACEMENT LIGHTS NOT HAVING ENOUGH AMBER COLOR, AND THICKNESS OF THE CARPET PADDING. IF THESE ISSUES ARE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL, WHY IS SUSPENSION FAILURE NOT? I FEEL SAFE IN SAYING THAT THIS ISSUE HAS UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND PERHAPS DEATH, WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE CARES TO ADMIT IT. I ALSO KNOW THAT MINE IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA REGARDING THIS ISSUE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE!!!

NHTSA ID

10400070

Incident

Oct 14, 2010

Mileage

224,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CLEAR CONDITIONS ON SMOOTH PAYMENT WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK AT SPEEDS OF 65-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN SWAYING AND WOBBLING IN A SEVERE MANNER, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE PATHFINDER. AS I WAS NOT IN AN AREA WHERE I COULD SAFELY STOP, I HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE SOME DISTANCE AND THE SWAYING AND WOBBLING CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND AM DISMAYED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS THIS IS A HIDDEN DEFECT. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL I SHOWED HIM MY FINDINGS FROM MY RESEARCH, AND CONFIRMED THE REAR BUSHINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10379998

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

WHILE DRIVING MY 96 NISSAN PATHFINDER, I'VE NOTICED THAT AFTER 30 MILES PER HOUR MY VEHICLE STARTS TO SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY. I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL AND REDUCE THE SPEED FOR THE VEHICLE TO EVENTUALLY STOP THE SWAYING. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THEIR PROBLEM BUT YET DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE THIS SAFETY ISSUE A PRIORITY AND RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEMS. I CAN NO LONGER PICKUP MY GRANDSON AT DAYCARE BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID THAT THIS ISSUE WILL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. SO BASICALLY I CAN ONLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE WITHIN TOWN LIMITS WHILE DRIVING AS IF I WAS AN ELDERLY PERSON, AND REFRAINING FROM USING MY VEHICLE. IN TRYING TO FIND THE PARTS IN AFTERMARKET SOURCES, BECAUSE MY MECHANIC CAN ONLY FIND THEM DIRECTLY FROM NISSAN DEALER WHICH ARE ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH IN PRICE, I'VE NOTICED THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THEREFORE CONTROL THE BUYING MARKET, SO CUSTOMERS TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAN NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY IN THESE HARD ECONOMIC TIMES WHEN MILLIONS INCLUDING MYSELF ARE UNEMPLOYED AND BARELY MAKING IT! NISSAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS ISSUE, HOW MANY FATALITIES WILL IT TAKE BEFORE THEY ACT ON THIS ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10374836

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CLEAR CONDITIONS ON SMOOTH PAYMENT WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK AT SPEEDS OF 65-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN SWAYING AND WOBBLING IN A SEVERE MANNER, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE PATHFINDER. AS I WAS NOT IN AN AREA WHERE I COULD SAFELY STOP, I HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE SOME DISTANCE AND THE SWAYING AND WOBBLING CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND AM DISMAYED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS THIS IS A HIDDEN DEFECT. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL I SHOWED HIM MY FINDINGS FROM MY RESEARCH, AND CONFIRMED THE REAR BUSHINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347481

Incident

Jul 29, 2010

Mileage

123,183 mi

1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS INHERENT REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY FROM THE REAR WITHOUT ANY ACTION BY THE DRIVER. THE PROBLEM IS POOR DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER RESULTING IN A VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMETIMES UNCONTROLLABLE DRIVING SITUATION. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10345594

Incident

Jul 10, 2010

Mileage

131,100 mi

1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A SERIOUS WOBBLE FROM THE REAR OF MY PATHFINDER AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. IT IS DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL IF I DO NOT REDUCE MY SPEED WHICH CAN BE A HAZARD ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341396

Incident

Jan 10, 2002

Mileage

220,000 mi

MY 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE HAS A TERRIBLE WOBBLE, SWAYING MOTION ( LEFT TO RIGHT) THAT RESEMBLES THAT OF ROCKING A BOAT. I HAD THE SHOCKS REPLACED, NEW TIRES, ECT., BUT IT STILL EXIST WHEN YOU GET UP TO ABOUT 60 MPH. I HAVE ALMOST HAD SOME SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND EVENTUALLY, I AM SURE IT WILL HAPPEN. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM COMPLETELY BAFFLED AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319474

Incident

Mar 13, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

PATHFINDER 1996 - ALL 8 REAR BUSHINGS HAVE FAILED - THE WHOLE REAR END FISHTAILS AROUND; THE REAR END HAS NOTHING TO KEEP THE REAR WHEELS SQUARE - SWAY BAR STABILIZER LINK - RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE REAR STABILIZERS ARE DEFECTIVE - CAUSES TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL - DRIVER & PASSENGER NECK SNAPS BACK AND FORTH DANGEROUSLY - REAR UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL LINK ROD BUSHINGS DEFECTIVE - WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH - AN INTERNET SEARCH TURNS UP PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE OR ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. MOST ARE SAYING IF YOU REPLACE THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS OR THE ENTIRE ARMS ? TSB - DOES NOTHING - NO REPORT OF DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS INCLUDED WITH THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE - NISSAN HAS STUCK IT'S HEAD IN THE SAND - *TR

NHTSA ID

10292498

Incident

Oct 15, 2009

Mileage

110,000 mi

REAR END SWAYS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS SO I CHANGED SHOCKS & STRUTS BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, FOUND OUT ITS THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE REAR STABILIZERS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280742

Incident

Jan 15, 2009

Mileage

124,000 mi

WHEN TRAVELING 50 MPH GOING EITHER IN LEFT (MOST PREVALENT) OR RIGHT DIRECTION - VEHICLE MAKES A ROCKING MOTION THAT SEEMS TO START IN REAR - GETS WORSE IN TIME - MAY CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL - HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOK AT PROBLEM AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT - HAVE WRITTEN TO NISSAN WITHOUT A RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278532

Incident

May 21, 1999

Mileage

133,000 mi

I BOUGHT A USED NISSAN PATHFINDER 1996 FROM A DEALER ON 2002. THE CAR WORKED FINE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT IT STARTED TO WOBBLE SIDE TO SIDE. THE PROBLEM WAS ESCALATING, I CHANGED TIRES, STRUTS, AXLE AND THE PROBLEM STILL THERE. THE WARRANTY FINISH FROM THE DEALER AND BOOM THE PROBLEM GOT HARDER TO FIX DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES. IT IS HARD TO SEE THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND I NEED IT FIX. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS HAVING TO DRIVE A CAR THAT SWAYS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE CAR BUT IT IS SITTING ON MY DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR ME TO FIND AN ABSOLUTION. THE DEALER SHOULD OF TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG IF THEY HAD REPORTS. I WAS A NEWBIE BUYING A CAR SO LITTLE DID I KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272428

Incident

Apr 18, 2003

Mileage

10,434 mi