1998 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension Problems

OUR 1998 PATHFINDER HAS WHAT IS DESCRIBED BY MANY PEOPLE AS A "DEATH WOBBLE." IT BEGAN AFTER WE BOUGHT IT IN 2003 AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. IT HAPPENED AS RECENTLY AS 2017 AND I AM BEGINNING TO BE AFRAID TO RIDE IN IT. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-70 MPH THE CAR BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT GRADUALLY GETS WORSE. REDUCING YOUR SPEED DOES HELP. IT APPEARS TO BEGIN BECAUSE OF A SMALL, UNEVEN PLACE IN THE HIGHWAY ROAD, BUT THEN DOESN'T STOP SHAKING BACK AND FORTH, SIDE TO SIDE. IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY EVEN AFTER HAVING IT SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. EACH TIME WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO BE REPAIRED THE SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM CALLLING IT A "DEATH WOBBLE" AND REPLACE THE STRUTS AND OTHER AFFECTED PARTS. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. WE'VE DONE THIS 2-3 TIMES BUT AFTER A COUPLE YEARS IT HAPPENS AGAIN. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP OWNERS OF THE NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH THIS DEFECT? IT'S EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND TERRIFIES BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. PLEASE SEARCH ONLINE: 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER DEATH WOBBLE AND YOU WILL READ HUNDREDS OF POSTS AND UTUBE VIDEOS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US.

NHTSA ID

11141343

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

Mileage

85,000 mi

I CANT EVEN DRIVE DOWN THE STREET OVER 40 WITHOUT THE VEHCLE DOING A DEATH SHAKE FROM HELL TO TOP THAT OFF DUE TO THE RECALL FOR THE STRUT PLACEMENT ERROR CAUSING MY STRUT TOWER WALL DIRECTLY BEHIND MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO ALMOST BE COMPLETLY GONE FROM RUSTING OUT. THIS IS TOTAL BULLSHIT. SOMETHING GOTTA GIVE. IM CALLING CORPORATE IN THE MORNING. HOPEFULLY THEY DONT TRY TO BEAT AROUND BUSH WITH ME LIKE THEY DO TO ALL THERE CUSTOMERS THEY DO WRONG.

NHTSA ID

11033497

Incident

Sep 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT ASSEMBLY WAS FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE UNI-BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

NHTSA ID

10970892

Incident

Apr 3, 2017

Mileage

176,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AND SUV STARTED ROCKING BACK AND FORTH SIDE TO SIDE SEVERELY..I HAD TO BRAKE FAST ..THEN WHEN I ACCELERATED IT WOBBLED WORSE...I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO ROLL...COULD NOT GO OVER 30...VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY...I LOOKED IT UP ON FORUMS TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM....EVERYBODY THAT OWNS THEM HAS HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AT ALL DIFFERENT MILEAGES..THEY REFER TO IT AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" ONLINE...MILLIONS OF VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM FROM FAULTY BUSHINGS AND TRAILING ARMS....YET THEY "NISSAN" REFUSE TO RECALL OR PAY TO FIX IT...HERE IS "NISSANS" BULLETIN I FOUND AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE....THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL...I HOPE THAT THIS GETS SOME ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED SERVICE BULLETIN CLASSIFICATION: RA97-002 REFERENCE: NTB98-001 DATE: APRIL 1, 1998 PATHFINDER VEHICLE PULL AND FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION EXCESSIVE PLAY APPLIED VEHICLE: 1996-98 PATHFINDER (R50) APPLIED VIN: VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JN8AR05Y*WW256932 SERVICE INFORMATION 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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712557

Incident

Apr 5, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUSPENSION RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE HIT A POTHOLE, THE WOULD ROCK FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF THE RECALL, WHICH WAS RECTIFIED ON SEPT 23, 2011. THE BEARINGS, TIRES, AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 05/04/15. *JB

NHTSA ID

10626710

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 10/10/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STRUT CAME OFF OF THE VEHICLE AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER BOTH STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 3/31/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10628450

Incident

Aug 23, 2014

Mileage

72,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHILE ACCELERATING, MY SUV STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP ROCKING. IT FELT AS IF MY SUV WAS GOING TO ROLLOVER EVEN THOUGH I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AND AT THE SPEED LIMIT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAPPENED THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE ON A CURVE BUT IS EVEN WORSE AT THAT POINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10545616

Incident

Jul 15, 2013

Mileage

205,000 mi

VEHICLE STRUT HOUSING AND STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE ,FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO IT. ALL SERVICES WAS DONE BY A MECHANIC AND CHARGED FOR LABOR AND PARTS. PLEASE EMAIL ME ABOUT THIS @[XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10477298

Incident

Mar 18, 2011

Mileage

165,891 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND THE DRIVER FELT LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AS WELL, BUT THE DEGREE OF WOBBLING WAS LESSER. THE VEHICLE WOBBLED SO MUCH THAT THE PASSENGERS BECAME QUEASY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BUSHINGS, CONTROL ARMS, AND STRUTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED LITTLE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10463314

Incident

Apr 10, 2012

Mileage

180,000 mi

I AM HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER DUE TO CORROSION. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY MUFFLER FELL OFF. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND WHEN THEY RAISED THE VEHICLE, THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD CORROSION AND HOLES FROM IT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY LAST YEARS STRUT HOUSING CORROSION WHICH BROKE OFF THE STRUT FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I LOST BRAKES AND HAD TO STEP ON PEDAL ALL THE WAY, AND THEN THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE RECALL NOTICE CAME AFTER THE INCIDENT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S GAS TANK CORROSION WHICH CAUSED GAS TO DRIP. ALSO A RECALL NOTICE CAME IN AND NISSAN DEALER FIXED ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10443291

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

185,000 mi

THE STRUT HOUSING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RUSTED COMPLETELY AND BROKE . IT CAUSED THE INNER FENDER TO TOUCH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET, AND THEN RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436283

Incident

Oct 22, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER RECENTLY ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL REGARDING STRUT CORROSION (REFERENCE NUMBER: R1108). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME DEFECT TWO YEARS AGO. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE REPAIR SHOULD HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE VOLUNTARY RECALL REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ID

10434900

Incident

Nov 12, 2008

Mileage

43,000 mi

1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL CONCERNING STRUT TOWER CORROSION *TGW THE CONSUMER SENT IN A PAID INVOICE WITH THE REPAIRS RELATED TO THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10428636

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

MY VEHICLE HAS TWO RECALLS ON IT - FIRST ONE IS THE GAS NECK RECALL AND THE SECOND IS THE STRUT HOUSING CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN ON MAY 2ND, 2011 TO BERGSTROM/NISSAN IN OSHKOSH. THEY CHECKED OUT MY VEHICLE AND SAID THAT MY VEHICLE HAS THE PROBLEMS REGARDING BOTH RECALLS. IT IS SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2011 AND THEY STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE. THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING AND TOLD ME THAT THEY BRACED UP THE FRONT. THINGS SHOULD BE GOOD BUT THAT THEY TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND IT IS STILL ALL OVER THE ROAD. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE PART FOR THE GAS NECK RECALL IS ON BACK ORDER. THEY TOLD ME TO COME AND PICK UP THE VEHICLE. IF THEY TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND IT STILL IS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING - THEN I DON'T THINK IT IS SAFE AND THAT THEY MUST NOT HAVE DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB FIXING THE PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE UNTIL THEY HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424389

Incident

May 2, 2011

THE FRONT END OF MY 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER SHAKES WILDLY WHEN I DRIVE IT. I HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID MY STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT ALL. I NEED TO HAVE IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413781

Incident

May 10, 2011

AT CERTAIN SPEEDS, THE CAR STARTS SWAYING SIDE TO SIDE IN A VERY DANGEROUS WAY (ALMOST FLIPPING OVER) AND IT'S ONLY STOPPED WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE IN SPEED. I HAD THE SHOCKS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10412336

Incident

Jul 4, 2011

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH, THE REAR END WOULD SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER SWAY BAR LINKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10412003

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE ABNORMALLY CAUSING LIMITED STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRUT HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ UPDATED 07/15/11

NHTSA ID

10398005

Incident

Nov 22, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE SPOT WELDING THAT HOLDS THE STRUTS TO SEPARATE. A DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED HIM TO CHECK ON EXISTING RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177000.

NHTSA ID

10315462

Incident

Feb 8, 2010

Mileage

165,000 mi

1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER 200,000 MILES. JULY 2008. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AROUND 60-70 MPH, ANY CHANGE IN ROAD SURFACE ( IE GOING OVER BRIDGE) SENDS REAR OF VEHICLE INTO SEVERE WOBBLE. ACCELERATION SEEMS TO BE ONLY WAY TO RECOVER. AROUND LARGE CURVES ( TURNPIKE IN PENNSYLVANIA) FEELS VERY UNSTABLE. ALL SHOCKS/STRUTS HAD BEEN REPLACED IN LAST YEAR EXCEPT R REAR, SO UPON RETURN FROM TRIP HAD R REAR REPLACED. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. MECHANIC UNABLE TO TELL WHAT ELSE IS CAUSING PROBLEM EXCEPT WIDE WHEEL WALL OF NEW TIRES, BUT THESE HAVE BEEN ON CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR BEFORE THIS. 4 MONTHS LATER RECEIVED CALL FROM MECHANIC STATING SAME VEHICLE DIFFERENT OWNER IN WITH SAME PROBLEM, BUT WORSE, INVESTIGATED TO FIND TSB (NTB98-001) FOR REAR UPPER/LOWER LINK BARS AND BUSHINGS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO CONTINUE DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT REPAIR, ESPECIALLY AS HAVE TEENAGE DRIVER IN FAMILY, AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED ASAP, AT COST OF $800-$1000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286373

Incident

Jul 16, 2009

Mileage

200,000 mi

SWAYING ACTION FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING 60MPH OR HIGHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272525

Incident

Apr 10, 2009

Mileage

152,000 mi

REAR SWAYING OF VEHICLE ( 98 NISSAN PATHFINDER) WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING OVER 60 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272522

Incident

Apr 10, 2009

Mileage

149,000 mi

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OUR 1998 PATHFINDER BEGINS TO SWAY OR SHIMMY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND REQUIRES APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP THE SWAYING. THIS IS AFTER SPENDING $1000 ON THE FRONT END FOR STRUTS AND OTHER SUSPENSION ITEMS. THIS EVENT IS WORSE SINCE WE HAD THE WORK DONE ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259845

Incident

Jan 15, 2009

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWAYED ABNORMALLY BACK AND FORTH AND THE CONTACT ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC REPLACED ONE CONTROL ARM. THE FAILURE RECURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10253211

Incident

Dec 30, 2007

Mileage

84,000 mi

MY 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER SWAYS EXCESSIVELY WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS QUICKLY OR ACCELERATING QUICKLY. THE SWAY IS SO EXCESSIVE THAT DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH ARE EXTREMELY TERRIFYING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FLIP. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS COULD BE DEADLY. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WITHIN THE SUSPENSION AND THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250446

Incident

Jun 14, 2008

Mileage

108,000 mi