Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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
1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRUT TOWER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DECLINED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR STATING THE WORK WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT AND CONSIDERS IT TO BE BEYOND WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DOING. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT HOUSING. IN ADDITION, THERE HAD BEEN RUST PROGRESSING OVER TIME ON THE UNDERBODY/FRAMING. THE DEALER (MOUNT HOLLY NISSAN, 1513 NJ-38, HAINESPORT, NJ 08036, (609) 267-2886) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION) IN 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING COULD CRACK AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. **TR CONSUMER STATED THE RUST PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED BY THE RECALL - OBVOUSLY NOT THE CASE. THE PASSENGERS SIDE SHOWS SURFACE RUST BUT NO RUST THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. UPDATED 11/1/18*JB
I AM WRITING AS REQUESTED ON OUR PHONE CALL ON JANUARY 3 2015 AS YOU ARE AWARE MY WIFE AND ELEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 15 2014. MY 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD GONE BACK TO THE DEALER IN 2014 AS THERE WAS A RECALL ON STRUT TOWER FAILURE IN HIGH ROAD SALT SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. THEY REPAIRED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER AND HALF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE TOWER THE ENCLOSED PICTURES SHOW WHERE THEY STOPPED THE REPAIR. THIS IS WHERE THE TOWER FAILED. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC IF THEY HAD COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE CORRECTLY THIS PART OF THE TOWER WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKE LINES TO SEPARATE AND BREAK. *TR
I HAD THE PATHFINDER TESTED FOR THE RUSTED STRUT MOUNT AND CORROSION ISSUE IN 2011. NOW IT IS MORE THAN THREE YEARS SINCE I HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED BUT I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THE PATHFINDER THREE AND A HALF YEARS LATER IS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE. WHAT IS THE NHTSA POLICY ON RUST-RELATED ISSUES WHEN AN OWNER WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLE BUT WITH INCREASED DRIVING TIME ON SALTY ROADS, THEY NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO THE RECALL THAT WAS DESIGNED TO ENSURE SAFETY? I AM AT THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN MAJOR MAINTANENCE ON THE VEHICLE YET I DO NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WOULD PASS THE RECALL THAT IT WAS TESTED FOR SOME 40 MILES AGO AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THREE VERY HARD WINTERS ON SALTY STREETS. *TR
NOISE AND WOBBLE IN STEERING. REPAIR SHOP SAID THE PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT STEERING CONTROL ARM AND FRAME ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. THIS CONNECTION IS WEAK. SHOULD THIS CONTROL ARM BREAK LOSE, STEERING WOULD FAIL. *TR
I TOOK MY NISSAN 1999 PATHFINDER TO DEALER ON RECALL AND WAS ADVISED VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS GIVEN RENTAL AND TOLD NISSAN WOULD BUYBACK VEHICLE. *KB
I OWNED A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE AND IN APRIL 2010 I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT WELL WAS SHIFTED UP INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CALLED NISSAN USA HEADQUARTER IN TN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC/BODY SHOP AND UPON INSPECTION SAW THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT STRUT HOUSING WAS TEARING APART FRONT THE CHASSIS DUE TO RUSTING. IT COST ME $500.00 TO HAVE THE SHOP REMOVED AND WELDED A NEW SECTION. NOW , I NOTICE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT WELL -HOUSING HAVE A SMALL RUSTED HOLE. THE REASON FOR THIS POSTING IS THAT I READ AN ARTICLE ON THE WEB FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ABOUT THE SAME COMPLAINT A FEW NISSAN PATHFINDER OWNERS HAVE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THE UNIBODY STRUTS WERE RUSTED ON THE FRAME WHICH SAT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A WELDER WHO WELDED THE UNIBODY WITH NEW STRUTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
STEERING WAS NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY, WOULD NOT RETURN QUICKLY. HAD IT LOOKED INTO. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FRAME SPLIT RIGHT THROUGH. CAUSING THE STRUT TOWER TO BE PUSHED UP AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN. TOP OF THE STRUT TOWER PUSHED UP INTO THE HOOD. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, "DEATH TRAP" HAD TO JUNK SO NO ONE WOULD BE HURT. UPDATED 02/10/11 *BF *TR UPDATED IVOQ 04/21/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HAVING HER VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLES FRAME HAD BEGAN TO RUST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE SERVICED, THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 183000
1999.5 NISSAN PATHFINDER. BODY OF CAR IS ROTTING AWAY. PRIORITY IS NOTED AT THE ATTACHMENT OF THE BODY TO THE STRUT. THE BODY TORE AWAY DUE TO RUST CAUSING A 270 DEGREE TEAR AROUND THE STRUT. THIS CAUSED THE BODY TO DROP 4' AND I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN IF I DIDN'T NOTICE A RUBBING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL (I WAS HITTING THE CONTROL ARM WITH MY TIRE)... ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF THAT LED TO FAILURE WOULD BE THAT THE SHOCKS WENT OUT 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO IT GOING AND THEY WERE REPLACED. RUBBING NOISE NOTED 1.5 MONTHS AGO... OTHER FRONT WHEEL WELL INTACT BUT NOTED TO BE RUSTING AS WELL... I HAD THE MECHANIC PULL THE PIECE DOWN TO THE REST OF THE BODY AND WELD/BOLT METAL SHEET TO IT SO AS TO STRENGTHEN THE TEAR... I'M UPSET BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE 146,000 MILES ON CAR AND IT HAS NEEDED VERY LITTLE WORK. NOW THE WHOLE CAR CANNOT BE TRUSTED AND I WILL HAVE TO GET A NEW ONE SOON. I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE OUT OF THIS CAR THAN WHAT I DID... PREVIOUS NOTATION FROM COMPANY IS THAT NOT ENOUGH INSULATION WAS PUT ON FILL PIPE TO GAS TANK FOR NEW ENGLAND WINTERS. BUT NO MENTION OF RUSTING OUT BODY SO MY TIRE WOULD ENTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT... SERIOUSLY, ONE MORE BAD BUMP AND THIS THING WOULD HAVE GIVEN WAY. I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE CAUGHT IT IN TIME. *TR
TOTAL FRAME RUST 1999 PATHFINDER. BOUGHT NEW. *TR
EXTENSIVE BODY AND STRUCTURAL RUST. FRONT STRUT REPAIR REQUIRED (IMMINENT FAILURE) DUE TO RUST. BODY RUST APPEARING IN ALL SECTIONS OF CAR. 1999.5 PATHFINDER. *TR
MY 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST, RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT FAILED A VIRGINIA SAFETY CHECK. VIRGINIA LAW PROHIBITS FRAME REPAIR ON VEHICLES. THE REPORT AND PICTURES WERE SENT FROM THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER TO NISSAN CORPORATE, AND THEY DISMISSED ANY LIABILITY, SAYING THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD, WITH TOO MANY MILES (200K). I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON THE INTERNET. THE RUST IS SO EXTENSIVE THAT YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE THROUGH THE FRAME IN SOME SPOTS. *TR
1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD FRONT STRUTS REPLACED LAST SUMMER. OVER THE WINTER I STARTED TO GET A BUMPING FEELING IN THE STEERING. IT WAS REALLY BAD WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT BAD UNTIL I HIT LARGE BUMP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN. I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND WHEN I HIT ANOTHER BUMP IT TURNED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK HOME. I RETURN TO HAVE THE FRONT STRUTS AND STEERING CHECKED THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME HOW THE UNIBODY SEPARATED AND IS PUSHING AGAINST THE STEERING SHAFT. HE EXPLAINED THERE WAS NO FIX AND TO JUNK THE VEHICLE, AND STOP DRIVING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD. *TR
I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHERS WITH MY ONE OWNER 99 PATHFINDER. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEELWELL FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS RUSTED AND SEPARATED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. IT IS AT THE REPAIR SHOP NOW, I AM WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR COST, I'VE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT A MINIMUM OF $1500. I HOPE OTHERS RESPOND AND COMPLAIN SO THAT MAYBE NISSAN WILL OWN UP TO MANUFACTURING A VEHICLE WITH DEFECTIVE METAL AND AT LEAST ISSUE A RECALL. THESE VEHICLES ARE DANGEROUS AS THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN COLLAPSE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF MY SUV, THE ENGINE AND THE REST IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BUT I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF THE EXTENSIVE RUST UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR STRUT REPLACEMENT AND THEY INFORMED ME OF THE CONDITION. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME BUT THAT DRIVE HOME CAUSED MORE DAMAGE AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW THAT THE FRAME HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED CAUSED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD HAVE PUSHED THE ENTIRE TIRE ASSEMBLY STRAIGHT UPWARD AND THROUGH THE HOOD. PLEASE BE WARNED, AND MAKE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PATHFINDERS THOROUGHLY INSPECTED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
1999.5 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4WD LX WITH LESS THAN 130K MILES STARTED RUSTING LAST YEAR AND NOW HAS EXCESSIVE BODY RUST. FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM CAR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AND REWELDED IN 2007, GAS FILL PIPE WAS RECALLED FOR REPAIR BY NISSAN DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. SINGLE OWNER GARAGED CAR NEVER TAKEN NEAR SALT WATER. *TR
SINGLE OWNER 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER 181K MILES: LEFT FRONT BODY WELDS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, SO THAT ENGINE VISIBLY SEPARATED FROM BODY. REPORT FROM CLAY NISSAN READS: "LEFT FRONT BODY WELDS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE." *TR
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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