Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 105 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.
The 25 most recent of 105, in the owner's own words
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 HAS A SEVERE SHIMMY WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR, EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON DRY PAVEMENT ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY: AT AROUND 55-60 MPH, THE BACK END OF VEHICLE SWAYS VIOLENTLY, WITH NO WARNING OR APPARENT CAUSE. DRIVER FEELS THAT IF SPEED IS NOT IMMEDIATELY DECREASED, THE VEHICLE WOULD GO OUT OF CONTROL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING , SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
THE VEHICLE LOST STRUTS, STEERING RACK, AND HAS SERIOUS ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T NEED TO FIX. THE ENTIRE FRONT END IS FALLING APART.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOBBLED VIOLENTLY ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
DRIVING TRUCK GOT SO BAD IT WAS HARD TO KEEP IN ROAD..WOULD GO SIDE TO SIDE ON HIGHWAY AND TURNS WERE NOT EASY TO SAY IN LANE.TOOK TO CLARKTIRE CO ..THEY REPLACED LOTS OF PARTS AND SAID MOUNTS FOR SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE PRETTY BADLY RUSTED CAUSING EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THOSE.
THE TRAILER ARMS FAILED. THIS IS WHAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE STEADY AND WILL CAUSE THE TRUCK TO SWAY OR HULA HOOP THE REAR END. I REPLACED THEM MYSELF $160.00 FOR THE PARTS 3HOURS UNDER THE CAR. ALSO REPLACED THE SHOCKS 5 DAYS LATER. RIDES LIKE NEW. LOOKS LIKE THE FRAME IS ALSO ROTTING OUT. HOPE THEY OPEN A RECALL ON THE FRAME. I WILL CHECK THE FRONT STRUT HOUSING FOR RUST. *TR
THE FRAME, INCLUDING CHASSIS, SUSPENSION AND BODY HAS EXTENSIVE RUST. THE SUSPENSION IS CAVING INTO THE CHASSIS DUE TO EXTENSIVE CHASSIS RUST. THE RUST IS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF VEHICLE. IT IS DUE TO INADEQUATE COATING TO PREVENT RUST. THE VEHICLES OF SAME MODEL (YEAR) OF OTHER MAKES HAVE MINIMAL RUST COMPARED TO THIS VEHICLE. EVEN THE MECHANICS I HAVE APPROACHED HAVE SIMILAR OPINION THAT THIS VEHICLE ACROSS THE BOARD IS POORLY BUILT, AND MORE RUST PRONE. THE VEHICLE CAN BE POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC IF THE RUST EATS THROUGH AND MAKES SUSPENSION/AXLES COLLAPSE, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR RUST ISSUES, BUT THE RECALL ONLY COVERED PART OF THE PROBLEM, WHILE THERE IS MORE EXTENSIVE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
THE VEHICLE STARTS SWAYING DANGEROUSLY, AT A SPEED OF 20 MPH . AT A HIGHER SPEED THE CAR WILL STARTS BACK SWAYING AND FISH TAILING AND WOULD FLIP SPECIALLY ON A WET ROADS, NO CONTROL TO IT. *TR
AT AROUND 120000 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY. MECHANICS COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SWAY IS TO TAP THE BRAKES OR ACCELERATE. HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN AND IS DOWNRIGHT SCARY AT TIMES. ALSO THE ENTIRE UNDERBODY / FRAME IS EXTREMELY CORRODED. VEHICLE SHOULD NOT CORRODE THAT QUICKLY. ALL UNDERBODY PARTS ARE EXTREMELY RUSTED. *TR
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! *TR
EXTREME REAR END WOBBLE (SWAY) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
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.
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. UPDATED 8/24/12 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATD THE FRONT AND REAR SWAY BAR LINKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
I BOUGHT MY 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER A FEW MONTHS AGO AS MY SECOND VEHICLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK SOME 30 MILES ONE WAY. I CAN'T DRIVE IT MORE THAN UP THE STREET BECAUSE IT HAS DEVELOPED A SEVERE SWAYING DEFECT WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. IT IS SO BAD THAT IT FEELS LIKE AN AMUSEMENT PARK RIDE!. IT IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET TO TRY TO GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE OVER SEVERAL YEARS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS "DEATH SWAY" THAT IT IS ACTUALLY APPALLING THAT NISSAN OR THE CONSUMER SAFETY DEPARTMENT HASN'T STEPPED IN TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE FOUND THAT IT IS A REAR UPPER AND LOWER BUSHING ARM THAT SEEMS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT AT A HEFTY EXPENSE OF UP TO $1,000. A LIFE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE TAKEN FOR NISSAN TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT. NISSAN NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT IS INEXCUSABLE. *TR
PLEASE NOTE THAT NISSAN DEALERSHIP ONLY PATCHED UP THE STRUT TOWER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DISPLAY PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. I AM AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE REPAIR SERVICES THAT WERE COMPLETED AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN TURNERVILLE N.J. *TR
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.
97 PATHFINDER SAFETY PROBLEM WITH REAR SUSPENSION LINKS. SIDE TO SIDE SWAY. IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO FLIP .ARE THESE PARTS DEFECTIVE? ARE THEY OF INFERIOR QUALITY? THIS CAN CAUSED AN UNSAFE CONDITION ON THE HIGHWAY. IT SEAMS LIKE NISSAN USA IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SERVICE BULLETIN CLASSIFICATION: RA97-002, REFERENCE: NTB98-001, HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY GETS KILL FOR NISSAN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CORROSION ON THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS UN-REPAIRABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 02/01/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION, HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE STRUT TOWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STRUT TOWER, IT'S THE FRAME, THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
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[XXX]. MY IL STATES DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER WAS [XXX] AND WAS ISSUED [XXX]. 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. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
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. WAS THE NAME OF THE REPAIR SHOP,. 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. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
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.
(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. *TR
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
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
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