RoadVitals

2014 Nissan Pathfinder Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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 Jul 25, 2022
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.
2%
of 574 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.
1
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 the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 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 steering

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

Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became firm. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to steer the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle would hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator after a complete stop. Additionally, the vehicle would shake as the engine would rev while idle without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

NHTSA ID
11475697
Incident
Jul 11, 2022
Mileage
97,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 21, 2020

VEHICLE MAKES A CONTINUOUS WHINING/WIND NOISE WHILE IN MOTION AND WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT ENGAGED (DEALERSHIPS STATE THAT THEY CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE ISSUE). THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHANGED BACK IN 2017 BUT IS NOW JUDDERING AND SLOW TO ACCELERATE.THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING PUMP MAKING A VERY LOUD WHINING NOISE, NO WARNING LIGHTS NOR LEAKS, AT CORRECT LEVEL FOR FLUID. REPLACED NEW TOYO TIRES AT 20,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
11340548
Incident
Jun 26, 2020
Mileage
69,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Sep 6, 2019

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER HYBRID WHICH YOU SHOULD NOTIFY OTHER CUSTOMERS OF AS WELL. THE REAR BLOWER MOTOR IS USED TO COOL THE VERY EXPENSIVE BATTERY SYSTEM AND HOLD OFF BATTERY FAILURE. THERE ARE NO SENSORS OR FEEDBACK MONITORING OF THE REAR BLOWER MOTOR TO CONFIRM IT IS OPERATIONAL. THE REAR BLOWER MOTOR OF MY PATHFINDER HAS DIED 3 TIMES WITHOUT ISSUING EITHER A SERVICE CODE OR ANY INDICATION OF A SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS HAS THEN LED TO THE DEATH OF THE VERY EXPENSIVE BATTERY PACK. THE FIRST FAILURE HAPPENED IN 2016 AT 37,000 MILES AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE A MODULUS OF ROUGHLY 35,000 BETWEEN DEATHS AND SHOULD BE PRO-ACTIVELY REPLACED BY THE OWNER TO PREVENT THE VERY EXPENSIVE BATTERY FROM HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE ONLY INDICATION TO THE USER THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG IS THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE IN MOTION. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE LANE UNTIL A POLICE VEHICLE ARRIVED. THE NEXT TIME WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN I WAS ON SIDE STREETS WHERE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN UNLIT ROAD, WITH THE BATTERY DYING COMPLETELY AFTER AN HOUR WHILE WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK. THE LAST ROUND HAPPENED 3 WEEKS AGO (ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON THANKFULLY WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT POSSIBILITY) - THE CAR WENT INTO THE SHOP AND THE VERY EXPENSIVE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT NOT THE REAR BLOWER (AS THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE). I GOT THE CAR BACK FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS BEFORE THE CAR DIED AGAIN WITH THE SAME ERROR - AT WHICH POINT THE TECHNICIANS IDENTIFIED THE REAR BLOWER DIED (AGAIN). YOU SHOULD NOTIFY OTHER CUSTOMERS OF THIS 5 YEAR OLD PRODUCT OF THE DESIGN DEFECT AND THE NEED TO CHECK THE BLOWER FAN REGULARLY TO ENSURE THE VERY EXPENSIVE BATTERY HAS A LONG LIFE.

NHTSA ID
11253707
Incident
Aug 11, 2019
Mileage
95,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Sep 18, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT A VIBRATION AND A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOMMARITO NISSAN WEST (14747 MANCHESTER RD, BALLWIN, MO 63011, (636) 394-0330) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TIRES AND BRAKE PADS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11024019
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 21, 2017

THE ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED POWER STEERING PUMP HAS NOW STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD BUZZING / WHISTLING NOISE. IT IS SO LOUD, YOU CAN HEAR IT INSIDE THE CAR WITH THE RADIO ON. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THIS IS COMPLETELY NORMAL, ALTHOUGH IT JUST STARTED MAKING THE NOISE. IT MAKES THE NOISE WHILE DRIVING, STATIONARY OR TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. IN OTHER WORDS ALL THE TIME. THE CAR IS UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO PERFORM SERVICE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY SAY THE NOISE IS NORMAL. I'M AFRAID THE PUMP WILL FAIL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10979815
Incident
Apr 21, 2017
Mileage
43,269 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Aug 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ID
10893407
Incident
May 10, 2014
Mileage
1,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 8, 2014

THE VEHICLE MAKES A HIGH PITCH NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED OR IN PARK. THIS NOISE WAS NOT PRESENT WHEN TEST DRIVING THE CAR AND APPARENTLY ONLY BEGINS TO MANIFEST ITSELF AFTER HAVING BEEN DRIVEN A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AS IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE 2013 ALTIMA WHICH ALSO USES THE NEW ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING UNIT. NISSAN OFFERS NO REAL SOLUTION AT THE MOMENT AND DEEMS THE NOISE TO BE "ACCEPTABLE" BY NO ONES DEFINITION BUT THEIR OWN. NISSAN'S SOLUTION THUS FAR IS TO WRAP THE TUBES IN TAPE TO DAMPEN THE NOISE. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10643243
Incident
Sep 12, 2014
Mileage
9,120 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Jun 6, 2014
Crash reported

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 7500. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ UPDATED 09/12/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10596585
Incident
Jun 5, 2014
Mileage
7,500 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 13, 2013

I NOTICED A VERY HIGH PITCHED WHINING/WHISTLING NOISE WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD OF A 2 DAY OLD CAR. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW AND HAD IT TOPPED OFF. THE NOISE REDUCED VERY SLIGHTLY BUT ITS STILL THERE. THEY SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS MADE BY THE ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING PUMP AND WAS AT NORMAL LEVELS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OF MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES MAKE SUCH A SOUND. IT FEELS LIKE WHATEVER PART MAKING THAT SOUND IS DUE FOR FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10555980
Incident
Dec 11, 2013
Mileage
400 mi

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .