Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 10 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The vehicle swings left to right when cruising at about any speed. When the vehicle is pulling it does not swing or sway, however once the vehicle has got up to a desired speed and you try to maintain a steady speed it starts a “death wobble” which nearly cannot hold it on correct side of the road. You have to increase speed or reduce speed dramatically to regain control of the vehicle.
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. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH DUE TO AXLE FAILURE. *AK
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
THE STRUTS WENT AT 52,000 MILES $800 TO REPLACE, EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED(WARRANTY). TODAY THE NEWS THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS JUST"WORN 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!
HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE IDLING. ENGINE REVS UP AND TACH STICKS FROM 1500-2000 RPM ALMOST CONSTANTLY. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN FIRST GEAR IT WILL STICK AND TAKE OFF BY IT SELF AND EVEN SPEED UP EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS SEEN TRUCK 4 TIMES NOW AND "CAN NOT" FIND THE PROBLEM. NON DEALER REPAIR DIAGNOSED THE VALVE IN ONE VISIT. ARE THERE REPORTS OF ANY OTHER NISSAN PATHFINDERS OR VEHICLES THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM? IT'S DANGEROUS!!!!!!*AK
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.
WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAKES A LOUD ROLLING THUMP AS IF SOMEONE REAR ENDED VEHICLE.IS AT DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, CAUSING A LOUD THUMP THEN LURCHES FORWARD.
DEFECTIVE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AND VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD UPON STOPPING AND STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .