2001 Nissan Pathfinder Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the door open warning light was illuminated. In addition, the vehicle dome light remained on. The contact stated when opening the rear door hatch there was an abnormal noise present. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V282000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where she was informed that the remedy parts were no longer available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11619421

Incident

Mar 10, 2014

Rear mount of front passenger control arm cracked where mounts to frame. Very little metal left where bolts hold bracket to body.

NHTSA ID

11432536

Incident

Sep 9, 2021

DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT WERE THE TRUCK WILL PASS VA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THERE WAS A RECALL PERFORMED BY SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY NISSAN FOR THE RUST ISSUE ON BOTH INNER WHEEL WELLS AND STRUT TOWER AREA.

NHTSA ID

11197090

Incident

Apr 15, 2019

Mileage

166,400 mi

THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE WHEEL WELL, DOOR JAMS, FLOOR BOARD, AND FRAME. I WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN THE NORTH THEN MOVED SOUTH AND THE PROBLEM HAS GROWN WORSE. THE COMPARTMENT THAT IS HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING OUT AS WELL. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A SAFETY PROBLEM IF THE SPARE TIRE SEPARATES FROM ITS SUPPORTS WHILE OPERATING ON A ROADWAY. RUST HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH NO SPECIFIC START DATE NOR END DATE.

NHTSA ID

11165645

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

"FRONT STRUT TOWER CORROSION AND RUST" - WHILE PARKED, I CHECKED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL AREA AND NOTICED CORROSION AND RUST. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THERE IS A LARGE CRACK IN THE STRUT TOWER ITSELF. THIS CRACK BEGINS IN THE AREA THAT NISSAN ALLEGEDLY "FIXED" AND "REPAIRED" UNDER THEIR RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS NOT A PERMANENT FIX AND HAS NOW PRESENTED A SAFETY HAZARD AND POTENTIALLY FINANCIAL BURDEN ON MY FAMILY AND ME. THIS VEHICLE IS A PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORTING MY FAMILY, INCLUDING MY 2 YEAR OLD CHILD.

NHTSA ID

11089596

Incident

Apr 21, 2018

Mileage

218,000 mi

1. FEET HOLDER IS BROKEN . 2. STEERING IS LOSE THAT'S WHY SOMETIMES CAR DOESN'T START UNTIL YOU TRY TO MOVE THE GEAR OF STEERING . 3. PRESSING GAS PADDLE MAKE TOO MUCH NOISE AND VERY SLOW PICK UP .

NHTSA ID

11073512

Incident

Dec 12, 2017

BASE RUSTED AND VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE I WAS DRIVING MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE FENDER POPPED LOOSE THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND COULDN'T TURN ANYMORE, LUCKILY IT WAS JUST A TURN DOWN THE STREET OF MY HOUSE. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ID

11058408

Incident

Oct 20, 2017

Mileage

20 mi

I OWN A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE 4X4 BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT FRAME WHERE THE STRUT TOWER ARE LOCATED ARE SEVERELY ROTTING WHICH CAUSED THE ENTIRE ALL MY BRAKE LINES TO ROT AWAY I WAS DRIVING TO UPSTATE COLLEGE TO GET MY SON AND I WAS ALSO WITH MY DAUGHTER I COULD HAVE DIED I CHECKED ONLINE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM I CALLED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL I AM SO UPSET AND WORRIED THE MECHANIC CAN'T EVEN LIFT THE TRUCK ALL THE WAY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE TOWER BUCKLES EVEN THE MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A RECALL PLEASE HELP ME. *TR ..UPDATED 03/08/17 *BF

NHTSA ID

10934098

Incident

Jun 22, 2016

Mileage

330 mi

THE BODY AND FRAME AND SUSPENSION RUSTED FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE PATHFINDERS ARE KNOWN TO RUST AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND ETC. MY CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF WITH ORIGINAL PAINT AND ITS RUSTING EVERYWHERE.

NHTSA ID

10786661

Incident

Oct 28, 2015

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPROMISED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10748446

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW PULSATED ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DUE TO CORROSION ON THE FIREWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FIREWALL WAS CORRODED AND PERFORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERE CORROSION AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE ISSUE WOULD NEED TO BE FURTHER ESCALATED THROUGH NISSAN. ONCE NISSAN WAS CONTACTED, THE DEALER WAS INSTRUCTED TO PUT AN ANTI-CORROSIVE SPRAY ON THE STRUT HOUSING AND PLACE A BRACKET ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10743307

Incident

Jul 11, 2015

Mileage

138,000 mi

MY CAR BODY STRUCTURE WAS BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES, AND IT IS NOT OPERABLE. THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE STRUT TOWER ON MY 2001 PATHFINDER WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE STRUT TOWER WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE BODY DUE TO THE RUST. WHEN THE TOWER FINALLY LET GO, THE STEERING WAS AFFECTED CAUSING ISSUES STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE FRAME BODY STRUCTURE. IT CAUSED ALSO DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. BEFORE MY CAR GOT BROKEN, I HEARD A NOISE FROM ITS RIGHT SIDE AND I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY, FOR A SECOND I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEEL MY CAR, BUT I KEPT IT STEADY UNTIL I COULD GET THE NEXT EXIT. I COULD HAVE SUFFERED A FATAL ACCIDENT THAT DAY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR FRAME/BODY STRUCTURE CORROSION FOR THIS MODEL 2001 PATHFINDER REGISTERED IN NEW JERSEY. AS SOON I WAS AWARE ABOUT IT, I CALLED TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO EXPLAIN MY SITUATION. ONE OF THE NISSAN REPRESS. ADVISED ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN AVENEL NJ. MY CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, SO I CALLED TO THE TOWING TRUCK TO PICK AND DROP IT OFF TO THE DEALERSHIP ON DEC 26, 2013. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE FROM NISSAN TO HELP ME WITH MY SITUATION. EACH TIME I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE, THEY SAID THAT MY CASE IS STILL IN PROCESS, AND I NEED TO WAIT FOR A DECISION. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT, I HAVE BEEN IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION DRIVEN MY CAR IN THAT MATTER. I NEED A CAR TO GO TO WORK FOR MY LIVELIHOOD AND ALSO TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO THEIR SCHOOL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A CAR RENTAL. AND AFTER ALL OF THESE, NISSAN DOES NOT HAVE ANY SENSE OF COOPERATION. I REQUESTED THEM TO HELP ME WITH A PROVISIONAL CAR TO KEEP MY LIFE STYLE ON, BUT THEY DENIED IT. I NEED HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT NHTSA TO MAKE NISSAN TAKE CARE ABOUT THIS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560913

Incident

Dec 20, 2013

Mileage

122,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10559585

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS SPENT ITS LIFE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK WARE WEATHER CONDITIONS WET AND ROADS ARE SALTED I WASHED UNDER CARRIAGE REGULARLY TO PREVENT CORROSION BUT AFTER WINTER THE VEHICLES FRONT SUPPORT BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE FRONT AXLE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME CAUSING THE FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE AS WELL I WAS VERY LUCKY I NOTICED THE NOISE AND DID NOT TAKE DRIVE IT AT ANY SPEED BECAUSE THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC I FEEL THAT IT IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN AND THAT A RECALL SHOULD MANDATORY FOR NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520988

Incident

May 22, 2013

Mileage

93,000 mi

EXCESSIVE RUST, CORROSION AND HOLES IN SUB FRAME OF 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM CONNECTS TO THE SUB FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO EXCESSIVE RUST IN WHOLE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. DID HAVE VEHICLE RECALL ID # 88860 - SUSPENSION:FRONT ADDRESSED HOWEVER NISSAN DID NOT ADDRESS EXCESSIVE RUST AND HOLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE NEAR AREA WHERE CONTROL ARM CONNECTS TO SUB FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473601

Incident

Dec 15, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

STRUT HOUSING AND STRUCTURE RUSTING, CRACK IN HOUSING AND MOUNT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436216

Incident

Jan 24, 2006

Mileage

89,500 mi

ON BRAKING, RIGHT FRONT TIRE STARTED TO SHAKE AND STEERING WELL WAS ALMOST RIPPED FROM HANDS. MECHANIC PUT ON LIFT AND RIGHT REAR A ARM ATTACHMENT POINT WAS TOTALLY RUSTED OUT. UPON INSPECTION LEFT FRONT WAS READY TO GO AS WELL. FRAME HAS NUMEROUS RUST HOLES IN IT. 10 YR OLD CAR CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397136

Incident

Apr 18, 2011

Mileage

154,000 mi

THE DRIVERSIDE STRUT TOWER HAS BECOME UNATTACHED FROM THE FRAME. THERE IS NO RUST MARKS ANYWHERE IN THIS SECTION. THE STRUT TOWER WORE AWAY AT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT AND BROKE IT. I LOST ALL ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR AND WAS FORCED TO JUMP A CURB. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392554

Incident

Mar 20, 2011

Mileage

168,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER ON MY 2001 PATHFINDER COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE STRUT TOWER WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE BODY DUE TO THE RUST. WHEN THE TOWER FINALLY LET GO, THE STEERING WAS AFFECTED CAUSING ISSUES STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS ONLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, WHEREAS THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT AS BAD. THE DISCONNECTION OF THE TOWER CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END SUSPENSION COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID

10391968

Incident

Apr 1, 2010

Mileage

99,990 mi

STRUT TOWER SEPERATED FROM UNIBODY AT WELD ON BOTH SIDES OF DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL, CLEAN SHEAR AT WELD SEAM LIKE A DELAMINATION OF POOR WELD.

NHTSA ID

10383832

Incident

Feb 16, 2011

Mileage

103,400 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A SHARP RIGHT ONTO A FREEWAY WHEN HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE SIDE RAIL OF THE EMERGENCY LANE CAUSING SCRATCHES ON THE FRONT BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED AND BROKE THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE STRUT TOWER, THE ABS BRAKES SENSOR AND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 03/03/11 *BF THE STRUT TOWER SEPARATED FROM THE UNIBODY FRAME BECAUSE OF RUST ON THE BOTTOM/ THE STEERING SHAFT SNAPPED WHEN THE STRUT TOWER PUSHED INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPDATED 09/01/11*JB

NHTSA ID

10379970

Incident

Nov 27, 2009

Mileage

160,000 mi

2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER SEVERELY RUSTED AT DRIVERS FRONT STRUT TOWER, SEPARATING THE STRUT FROM THE FRAME. *LN

NHTSA ID

10379870

Incident

Jan 31, 2011

Mileage

213,000 mi

OUR NISSAN PATHFINDER 2001 HAD A NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT END. WE ASKED OUR MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FRONT END. WHAT HE FOUND, AND CONFIRMED BY 3 OTHER INDEPENDENT SHOPS, WAS THE UNIBODY FRONT END ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS ROTTED OUT. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND WE HAVE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS FAILURE. THE COST FOR REPAIR RANGES FROM $3,000 TO $5,000 AND THESE ARE ONLY ESTIMATES. UPDATED IVOQ 05/24/11 *TR

NHTSA ID

10375576

Incident

Dec 28, 2010

Mileage

178,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER FAILED AND SEPARATED. THE STEERING SHAFT BROKE AS A RESULT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE ANOTHER DRIVER WAS TURNING AT 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRUT TOWER SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NOT ONLY HAD THE STRUT TOWER RUSTED AT THE BOTTOM, BUT THE LT FRAME RAIL HAD RUSTED AND ESSENTIALLY DISINTEGRATED WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE JOINED TO THE STRUT TOWER. WITHOUT THE SUPPORT, THE REMAINING WELDS ON THE STRUT TOWER WERE UNABLE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. UPDATED EVOQ 10/15/10*JB UPDATED 11/12/10.*JB UPDATED 01/13/11*BF UP[DATED 02/10/11*BF UPDATED 03/14/11 UPDATED03/25/11

NHTSA ID

10354653

Incident

Sep 4, 2010

Mileage

97,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. IT RECENTLY DEVELOPED STEERING ISSUES AFTER HITTING A SMALL POTHOLE. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE ENTIRE LEFT WHEEL WELL WAS ROTTED OUT AND THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE WHEEL MIGHT COLLAPSE. AFTER THEN TAKING THE CAR TO A BODY SHOP FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME HE HAD SEEN THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, WITH A 1999-2001 PATHFINDER. RESEARCHING ON LINE I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE. REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS 2000.00. MECHANIC AT BODY SHOP ALSO STATED NOT TO DRIVE CAR ON HIGHWAY AS RESULTS COULD BE FATAL. REPAIR WILL INVOLVE REMOVING ENGINE COMPONENTS,BUMPER AND REPLACING WHEEL WELL HOUSING, THEN WELDING A REINFORCEMENT BRACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346753

Incident

Aug 2, 2010

Mileage

171,000 mi