RoadVitals

2005 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 15, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 1,050 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Apr 15, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. *BF Consumer stated vehicle had recalls through it's history and believes front suspension and brakes were welded.

NHTSA ID
11321190
Incident
Feb 2, 2020
Mileage
178,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Aug 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10747816
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Mileage
150,000 mi
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Aug 11, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SHE NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED A RECEIPT. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WOULD OR IDENTIFY WHAT TYPE OF RECEIPT SHE NEEDED. TWO DAYS LATER SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10E019000, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,774.

NHTSA ID
10348679
Incident
Jun 20, 2010
Mileage
50,600 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+4 more
Filed Sep 23, 2008

COURTESY COPY OF A LETTER FROM CONSUMERS WRITTEN TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA RE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD A WHISTLE UP SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE TIRES WERE FEATHERED AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED, THE DOOR PANELS CREAKED, THE BRAKES MADE A CLICKING NOISE, THE DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF A NOISE THE CONSUMER HEARD, THE PLASTIC FINISHER ON THE RUNNING BOARDS KEPT POPPING OFF, THE STRUT ON THE REAR HATCH LEAKED DUE TO A POOR SEAL, THE TRANSFER CASE LEAKED, THERE WAS HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE DEALER STATED IT FAILED DUE TO INTERNAL FAILURE. THE REAR SHOCKS LEAKED, THE FRONT PINION SEAL AND OIL PINION SEAL WERE REPLACED AND THE REAR HATCH WINDOW LEAKED. *JB UPDATED 04/06/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10243688
Incident
Sep 1, 2008
Suspension
Filed Aug 9, 2006

NISSAN PATHFINDER REAR SPRING DEFECT. VEHICLE CLAIMED TO CARRY 7 PASSENGERS YET WITH ONLY 4 PASSENGERS THE REAR SPRINGS CANNOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE HITS THE BUMP STOPS CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10165089
Incident
Jul 8, 2006
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 6, 2006

PURCHASED 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER FEB 2006. 1ST VISIT TO DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE REQUESTED DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY (WANDERING) OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE VIOLENT SHAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THEY ADJUSTED AIR IN TIRES. TIRE PRESSURE PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT WAS 35 PSI; AFTER APPOINTMENT TIRE PRESSURE WAS 35 PSI. 3-13-06/ 2ND VISIT TO DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AT 2500 MILES AND ISSUE OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY STILL CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD ADJUSTED THE CAM AND TOE OF THE FRONT END AND THE ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED FOR ACCURACY. THE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY WAS IMPROVED, BUT NOT TO ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS. 3RD VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY REQUEST TO ROTATE TIRES. AGAIN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WANDERS AND VIOLENTLY SHAKES WHEN HITTING ANY BUMP. DEALERSHIP CHANGED OIL, ROTATED TIRES AND TEST DROVE THE 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER. I WAS ADVISED WANDERING AND SHAKING WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NOTHING MORE NISSAN COULD DO. THE WANDERING WAS ATTRIBUTED TO TALL TIRES, SHORT WHEEL BASE AND NO LOAD. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND FILED A COMPLAINT:#5332144. MY AREA'S REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM NNA ADVISED ME TO HAVE A CERTIFIED NISSAN MECHANIC FROM A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP GO ON A DRIVE-ALONG TO EXPERIENCE THE ISSUE OF WANDERING AND VIOLENT SHAKING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND RODE AS THEIR "LEAD TECH" DROVE MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HE EXPERIENCED THE WANDERING AND VIOLENT SHAKING. HE ADVISED THAT THOSE WERE ALL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND I WAS ADVISED IF I HAD ANY FURTHER ISSUES I COULD WRITE A LETTER OF COMPLAINT TO NNA. CERTIFIED MECHANICS FORM NNA HAVE IDENTIFIED A SERIOUS SAFETY CHARACTERISTIC OF MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER,THEY ARE OF THE OPINION THAT CHARACTERISTIC IS ACCEPTABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10161636
Incident
Mar 13, 2006
Mileage
1,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 16, 2005

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER, I STARTED TO NOTICE A PROBLEM ON MY FIRST ROAD TRIP WHILE OUT ON ROUTE 95 GOING TO PHILADELPHIA. THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY HARD TO CONTROL WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AT 55-65 MPH ESPECIALLY GOING AROUND LONG SWEEPING TURNS. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE VEHICLE WANT TO SHIFT INTO THE OTHER LANE PENDING ON THE TYPE OF TURN (LEFT OR RIGHT HAND). NO LUCK AFTER THREE SERVICE VISITS AND MANY PHONE CALLS TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA. CONTACTED ATTORNEY AND I AM PURSUING IT THROUGH THE COURTS UNDER THE LEMON LAW. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NISSAN HAS NO FIX AT THIS TIME. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN TO SAY THE LEAST. THANKS FOR READING. 12/16/05. *NM

NHTSA ID
10145496
Incident
Sep 3, 2005
Mileage
200 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 13, 2005

2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER SUV BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN HITTING A BUMP. THE VEHICLE ROCKS VIOLENTLY DIAGONALLY AND THE VEHICLE SWAYS OUT OF THE LANE. THE VEHICLE ALSO BOTTOMS OUT CONSTANTLY SINCE IT WAS NEW WITH NO LOAD IN IT. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED A FIX BY REPROGRAMMING THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL, THIS HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 40 MPH. DRIVER FEELS AS IF HE HAS LOST TOTAL CONTROL WHEN HITTING A BUMP. I FOLLOWED MY WIFE WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT APPEARS THAT THE REAR SHOCKS ARE TRYING TO OVER-COMPENSATE FOR EVERY LITTLE BUMP AS THEY ARE JUMPING UP AND DOWN LIKE CRAZY AS THE VEHICLE DRIVES OVER BUMPS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE FATALITIES START HAPPENING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10136327
Incident
Jun 5, 2005
Mileage
5,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 14, 2005

2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER SUV BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN HITTING A BUMP. THE TRUCK ROCKS VIOLENTLY DIAGONALLY AND THE VEHICLE SWAYS OUT OF THE LANE. THE TRUCK BOTTOMS OUT CONSTANTLY SINCE IT WAS NEW WITH NO LOAD IN IT. AFTER SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS I FEEL ITS TIME TO NOTIFY SOMEONE. I PLAN ON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER THIS WEEK. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY CAN DO..I THINK ITS A DESIGN FLAW. I DRIVE A FORD ESCAPE EVERY DAY TO WORK. IT ALSO HAS INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION, IT NEVER...NEVER BOTTOMS OUT OR BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE AFTER HITTING A BUMP. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132790
Incident
Aug 12, 2005

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .