RoadVitals

1997 Nissan Pathfinder Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Nov 28, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 217 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Nov 28, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WERE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID
10437503
Incident
Aug 16, 2011
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Nov 22, 2011

I MOVED TO CHARLESTON SC IN JUNE OF 2007 FROM RICHMOND VA. I BEGAN TO HEAR A CLICKING SOUND WHENEVER I WOULD TURN A CORNER OR TURN STEERING WHEEL TO PARK OR LEAVE DRIVEWAY ABOUT A YEAR AGO. EVERYTIME I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE OR MAINTENANCE, I WOULD TELL MECHANIC. IT WASN'T UNTIL MAY OF 2011 SOMEONE ACTUALLY CHECKED FRONT TIRES AND AXLES AND STRUT MOUNTS. THIS IS WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF DAMAGE. I STILL HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS TRYING TO REPAIR NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS BECAUSE NOONE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR THREE FRONT END ALIGNMENTS IN TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. NOW I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER UNTIL ABOUT 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO AND IT DOES NOT LIST RICHMOND VA AS ONE OF THE STATES, HOWEVER, EVERY YEAR I LIVED IN VA WE HAD LOTS OF SNOW AND SALT WAS PUT DOWN WITH SAND. WE ALSO HAD FLOOD GASTON IN AUGUST OF 2005 SO THERE WERE NUMEROUS STATE THAT EXPERIENCED REGULAR SALT USE IN THE WINTER.I WOULD APPRECIATE NISSAN SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT FOR INSPECTION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10436808
Incident
Nov 11, 2010
Mileage
136,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSuspension
Filed Dec 10, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10044690
Incident
Oct 24, 2003
Mileage
90,000 mi
BrakesEngineTransmission+1 more
Filed Nov 7, 1999

THE NISSAN DEALER CREATS ALL KIND OF TACTICS TO DELAY TO FIX ALL THE KNOWN PROBLEMS TO NISSAN PATHFINDER MODEL. I HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCES AND WITNESSES TO PROVE THAT THEY UNDERMINE CUSTOMER 'S TRUST. THEY DOCTORED THE PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF RECOGNIZING THEM AND FIX THEM.

NHTSA ID
714452
Incident
Nov 16, 1998
Brakes
Filed Sep 2, 1999

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. ALSO WHEN IT'S WET OUTSIDE AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP INSTANTLY. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
846494
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jun 8, 1999

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.

NHTSA ID
707334
Brakes
Filed Mar 1, 1999
Crash reported

BRAKES KEEP FAILING INTERMITTANTLY , NISSAN REFUSES TO FIX AND WILL NOT ASSIST ME VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS "HELP"

NHTSA ID
703901
Incident
Dec 1, 1997
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Feb 23, 1999

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
544071
Brakes
Filed Feb 8, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
703055
Incident
Dec 1, 1997
Brakes
Filed Dec 18, 1998

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
832476
Brakes
Filed Aug 31, 1998
Crash reported

SOMETIMES, THE ABS DOES NOT STOP THE TRUCK ON GRAVEL ROADS. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING THE SUV TO SLIDE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. AROUND 8/15/98 CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE SUV WOULD NOT STOP, CONTINUED TO SLIDE AND CRASHED INTO A ELECTRIC GATE ON CONSUMER'S PROPERTY. *AK

NHTSA ID
827424
Brakes
Filed Feb 24, 1998

ANTI LOCK BRAKES SLIDE WHEN ENGAGING.

NHTSA ID
531194
Brakes
Filed Aug 6, 1997

WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKES AFTER STOPPING, A LOUD BUMP SOUND CAME FROM THE REAR. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED.

NHTSA ID
522550
Brakes
Filed Jun 6, 1997

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TURN OVER.

NHTSA ID
518088
Brakes
Filed Nov 20, 1996

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON WET PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE SKIDS AND WILL NOT STOP. A MONITOR WAS INSTALLED FOR THE ABS AND IT STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
805363
Incident
Oct 25, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .