2003 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension Problems

Unknown . The steering column broke

NHTSA ID

11678594

Incident

Jul 22, 2025

The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated there was corrosion on the passenger’s side front struts. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who declined the repair under Manufacturer Campaign ID: R1107 with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension). The driver’s side front struts were repaired prior to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the mileage requirements were not met. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.

NHTSA ID

11652254

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

Mileage

187,000 mi

AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH THE CAR BEGINS TO WOBBLE, HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM INVOLING FAULTY TRAILING ARM BUSHING/ REAR ARM BUSHING AND BEARING NEED TO BE REPLACED CAUSING WHAT IS COOMMONLY KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE. BUT LETS UP WHEN YOU LET UP OFF THE GAS? TO ME THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! THAT MANY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, THAT I HAVE FOUND ON ON LINE FORUMS.. WHY HASN'T NISSAN RECALLED THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA ID

11228492

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE RECALL REPAIRED AT MARTIN NISSAN (5240 GOLF RD, SKOKIE, IL 60077, (866) 800-1100) AND THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ONLY PERFORMED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CURRENTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11182831

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

RECENTLY DISCOVERED A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FREQUENTLY SHOWS ITSELF WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (OVER 45) AND ONE HITS A BUMP OR SMALL POT HOLE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DEVELOPS AN EXTREME WOBBLE MAKING IT VERY HARD TO CONTROL. I SUDDENLY WAS IN AN ADJACENT LANE AND WAS ALMOST HIT. DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND EVEN HAS BEEN GIVEN A NAME. IT'S REFERRED TO AS THE DEATH WOBBLE. IF ONE QUICKLY SLOW DOWN TO WOBBLE WILL GO AWAY. I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS DON'T DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY YOU'LL STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF FLIPPING THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS FAILED BUSHINGS IN REAR CONTROL ARMS. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THE PROBLEM SHOWS WHEN THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO CONTROL. REPAIRS ARE COSTLY AND OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED. IT APPEARS NISSAN IS AWARE BUT NO SAFETY WARNING OR RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS ON THE WEB DESCRIBING THIS ISSUE AS ON GOING WITH MANY MODEL YEARS ON PATHFINDERS AND SOME INFINITY MODELS

NHTSA ID

11103596

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

181,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRUTS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (EXECUTIVE NISSAN, 900 UNIVERSAL DR N, NORTH HAVEN, CT 06473), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,325.

NHTSA ID

11093886

Incident

Apr 30, 2018

Mileage

64,325 mi

WHILE DRIVING 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER I HIT POTHOLE ON A CITY STREET, HEARD LOUD BANG, SHORTLY AFTER COMPLETELY LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITIES, UPON BRINGING MY VEHICLE HOME AND EXAMINING I NOTICE THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT HOUSING HAD SEPARATED FROM FRAME SNAPPING THE BRAKE LINE ON THE RIGHT FRONT. APPEARS TO BE THE SAME CORROSION ISSUE AS THE RECALL ON THE LEFT FRONT STRUT HOUSING.

NHTSA ID

11083616

Incident

Apr 5, 2018

Mileage

177,025 mi

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V244000 THE STRUT HOUSING CORRODED ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL ON MY 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. HAD PROBLEM WITH STEERING BEING HARD TO TURN I HAVE FOUND A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM BUT BEING THAT I LIVE IN TEXAS THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11023315

Incident

Sep 3, 2017

Mileage

180,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS THE BACK-END SWAYS OFF AND ON WHICH CAN CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL. THE HEAD LIGHTS DON'T APPEAR TO SHINE BRIGHT ENOUGH. ABS LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE SENSORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10946374

Incident

Jun 13, 2016

Mileage

142,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 30 MPH, AN UNKNOWN NOISE WAS HEARD WHENEVER A TURN WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUT TOWER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000(STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ID

10893481

Incident

Jul 22, 2016

Mileage

148,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELLS. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10760821

Incident

Apr 20, 2011

Mileage

200,000 mi

THE STRUT TOWER REPAIR THAT WAS MADE BY NISSAN IN 09/2011 AS PART OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN #11V24000 (STRUT TOWER CORROSION RECALL BECAUSE OF SALT IN NEW ENGLAND STATES) FAILED ON 8/17/2015. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT TOWER, THE BREAK-LINE SEVERED CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE BREAKING FAILURE, AND ALSO MADE THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURAL FAILURE WHICH EXPOSED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE INTERIOR WHEEL WELL. AS OF 8/26/2015, NISSAN USA CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIV. REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE $1,300 IN REPAIRS (PARTS & LABOR) STATING THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS MORE THAN 8 YEARS OLD, AND THEY ALREADY FIXED IT AS AS A LEVEL 1 REPAIR AS REQUIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THEY DID'T CARE THAT THEIR REPAIR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A VISUAL/SAFETY INSPECTION PERFORMED BY A NISSAN DEALER LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ID

10759581

Incident

Aug 17, 2015

Mileage

124,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKES HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BRAKES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID

10682566

Incident

Jan 28, 2015

Mileage

107,000 mi

THE BODY IS RUSTING , MY GAS GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE, SUSPENSION IS FALLING AWAY FROM THE TRUCK. I LOVED THIS TRUCK AND HAVE HAD SINCE 2008 BUT NOW I AM IN FEAR TO DRIVE IT. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THESE ISSUES BUT THE MECHANICS JUST SAY IT'S NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I ONLY DRIVE 5 -10 MINUTES TO WORK AND HOME. *( *JS

NHTSA ID

10616629

Incident

Jul 27, 2014

OPEN NISSAN RECALL R1107 ON THIS VEHICLE FOR STEERING AND STRUT HOUSING. THERE ARE VISIBLE DEFECTS RELATING TO THIS RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. 1ST CONTACT NISSAN 4/9/13. I LIVE APPROX 700 MILES FROM ANY DEALERSHIP WITH NO OPTION OF ROAD SYSTEM TO REACH DEALERSHIP. I WOULD NEED TO SHIP VEHICLE OR TAKE FERRY TO MAJOR ROAD SYSTEM THEN DRIVE. WE HAVE ONE STATE HIGHWAY ON OUR ISLAND. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE LOCALLY. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE LET ALONE DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO REACH A DEALERSHIP. AT FIRST I WAS BASICALLY TOLD TOO BAD. I ASKED IF THEY WERE TELLING ME I HAD TO DRIVE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE BECAUSE I LIVED IN RURAL AMERICA? I WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO DEALERSHIP IN ANCHORAGE, AK. WE ARRANGED FOR ME TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC LOCALLY TO TAKE DETAILED PHOTOS TO FORWARD TO DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE IF VEHICLE WAS A CANDIDATE FOR REPAIR OR IF DAMAGE WAS SO ADVANCED AS TO JUNK VEHICLE. THERE WAS BACK AND FORTH CONTACT BY PHONE AND E-MAIL WITH DEALERSHIP. I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE SHIPPING COSTS AND LATER PROVIDED DETAILS ON STEPS AND COSTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE WRECKED HERE IN TOWN. SOMETIME TOWARD END OF JUNE 2013 I STOPPED GETTING UPDATES. NISSAN CORP ISSUED A 2ND CASE NUMBER ON 7/15 THEY HAVE CALLED EVERY FEW DAYS TO SAY NO NEWS. 7/26/13 I GOT A CALL SAYING DECISION IS I NEED TO BRING DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE TO CALL BACK 7/29 TO TELL ME IF I CAN GET THAT IN WRITING. NISSAN HAS BEEN PROVIDED 3 SETS OF PHOTOS THAT CLEARLY SHOW THROUGH HOLES IN STRUT HOUSING. THIS CAR IS NOT FIT TO DRIVE THE DISTANCES OR SPEEDS THEY ARE ASKING. NISSAN HAS ALLOWED THIS VEHICLE STAY ON THE ROADS SINCE APRIL EVEN AFTER THEY WERE PROVIDED WITH EVIDENCE THAT CAR IS COMPROMISED AND DANGEROUS. NISSAN CORP. IS ALLOWING KNOWN DANGEROUS VEHICLES TO REMAIN ON ROADS IN RURAL AREAS PLACING PEOPLE LIKE ME IN DANGER BECAUSE IT IS COST AND TIME PROHIBITIVE FOR OWNERS LIKE ME TO GET TO A DEALERSHIP. THIS IS WRONG.

NHTSA ID

10532540

Incident

Apr 9, 2013

Mileage

104,250 mi

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER DUE TO SERVER RUSTING. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THAT AREA. I WAS HEARING A NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RUST HAD DAMAGE TO THAT STRUT TOWER. MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FINALLY COME ON AND I HAD S LOST OF BRAKE FLUID. THE STRUT TOWER COLAPSE SEVERING THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE. THE DEALER INSPECTED IT AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS. I,M NOT SURE WHY THE LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER WOULD BE COVERED AND THE RIGHT FRONT IN NOT. I HAD LEASED THIS VEHICAL AND WHEN THE LEASE EXPIRED WE PURCHASED THE CAR OUTRIGHT. WE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL WHEN I HAD ONE REMAINING PAYMENT ON THE CAR. NOW WITH THE CAR PAID IN FULL IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448646

Incident

Feb 3, 2012

2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IN THE SPRING OF 2009, SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN MAKING NOISES. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, IN ADDITION TO OTHER WORK TOTALING OVER $660. HOWEVER, SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE STEERING PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BRAKES, BUT THE STEERING COLUMN STILL WAS NOT FEELING RIGHT. FINALLY, THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT WHO WAS ABLE TO ASCERTAIN AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND THE RACK AND PINION VERY TIGHT AND ADJUSTED THE STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE NISSAN ONLY SENT HER AN INTERIM NOTICE, SHE DID NOT KNOW SHE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A FREE SERVICE, NOR DID SHE KNOW TO INFORM THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING DAMAGE TO THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10427348

Incident

May 16, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLES FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL MADE A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10411766

Incident

Jul 21, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

VEHICLE TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-244 INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF STRUT HOUSINGS AND STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED CORRODED STRUT TOWERS WERE PULLING AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT NISSAN USA REFUSED RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN A SPECIFIED VIN RANGE. NHTSA LATER CONFIRMED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT LIMITED TO A VIN RANGE AND THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS THE RECALL CRITERIA BECAUSE IT IS WITHIN THE APPLICABLE YEAR RANGE AND IS REGISTERED IN MASSACHUSETTS. NISSAN USA HAS NOT CONTACTED ME DIRECTLY YET.

NHTSA ID

10408412

Incident

Jun 18, 2011

Mileage

143,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE HAVING THE OIL CHANGED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THE TOP OF THE SHOCKS WERE ALSO COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE LINES WERE TEARING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 5/9/11 *CN UPDATED 2/8/12 *CN

NHTSA ID

10395769

Incident

Mar 28, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY 2003 PATHFINDER SHAKES AT ABOUT 20 MPH, 40 MPH, AND 60 MPH. VIBRATION IS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEAT. THE VIBRATION IS ALSO AUDIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10073032

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

2,000 mi