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We found the following complaints for NISSAN PATHFINDER (1997)

Read complaints for NISSAN PATHFINDER (1997)

Airbag light flashes on and off all the time.took vehicle to dealer and they were going to charge consumer to fix problem, consumer felt airbag should be under warranty for the life of the car.

This was a multicar accident involving the pathfinder driven by my son.the pathfinder was stopped behind another car (a prius) at a traffic light when the pathfinder was rear-ended by a suv at full speed (no attempt to brake).the shock from behind was so violent that the pathfinder hit the prius, causing serious damage to the front of the pathfinder (bumper, grill, engine hood, radiator, etc.) and the rear of the prius.the insurance declared the pathfinder a total loss.despite major damage to the back and front of the pathfinder, none of the air bags deployed!luckily for my son, the seat-belt did its work.

#1 airbag light flashing -car 7 years old- manual says check at 10 years -nissan charged $80.00 to check- told me it would cost $750.00 to fix- i refused- light is off since they checked it- was told it will come back on-airbag is supposed to work while light is off-#2 also corrosion-support bar fell off -dangerous situation.

In all efforts to contact the nissan co.noone was interested in hearing my complaint.they just said i wasn't educated in what makes an airbag work.with all do respect i feel like a head-on collission with a tree at approximately 55 miles per hour an airbag should deploy and if not they are notwhat safety regulators say they are.

Air bag warning light came on and stayed on which rendered the air bag inoperative in the event of a crash.dealership was notified.

Air bag deployed without sufficient cause.

While anohter consumer was sitting in the vehicle and putting the key into the ignition to start, the driver side air bag deployed, and the passager sidealsodeployed.the consumer's windshieldcracked.

Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision,impact 12:00,position speed 50mph, passenger's side airbag did not deploy.

Traveling 20-30mph, rear-ended the car in front of me.damage to the interior of the car - side panel where the seat belt disappears into broke apart from the side frame causing me to come within 5 to 6" of the steering wheel and a bruise on the back of my left arm.i normally sit anywhere from 12 to 14 inches from the steering wheel.damage to the exterior of the car - crushed radiator and bumper and grill assembly demolished; car was totaled.air bags did not deploy upon impact.

While driving at 50 mph hit another vehicle infront, andair bag didn't deploy.

Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision on driver'sside at approximately 25-30 mph. Upon impact,both air bags did not deploy.dealer/manufacturerwere not notified at this time.

Air bag failed to deploy after striking a deer.

No deployment of driver's/passenger's air bags during a collision. Driver was slightly injured. Vehicle was totaled.

Owner unable to install rear facing child safety seat.dealer and child seat manufacturer stated that the owner was on her own.

Driver's side front strut tower rusted and failed, dropped 4 inches, in contact with brake master cylinder, near steering column. Vehicle quit on interstate, smoke in cabin, computer burned, wires to relay box over left strut worn and shorted, blown fuel injector relay fuses . Mechanic says unsafe to drive. Updated 07/26/11 updated 02/27/12 updated 03/02/12

1997 nissan pathfinder, no event, engine burned up. Under hood fire.had to replace all components or buy a new engine.

While consumer'sdaughter was traveling onhighwayshe heard anoise.black smoke and flames were coming fromsteering column. Dealershipwas aware ofproblem.

I bought my 1997 nissan pathfinder a few months ago as my second vehicle to get back and forth to work some 30 miles one way.i can't drive it more than up the street because it has developed a severe swaying defect when driving at speeds over 40 mph.it is so bad that it feels like an amusement park ride!.it is very very dangerous to drive on the highway.after looking on the internet to try to get some information about this problem, i found out that there are way too many comments from people over several years that have experienced this "death sway" that it is actually appalling that nissan or the consumer safety department hasn't stepped in to correct this dangerous problem.the majority of the people found that it is a rear upper and lower bushing arm that seems to fix the problem but at a hefty expense of up to $1,000.a life shouldn't have to be taken for nissan to accept responsibility for this well documented defect.nissan not being held accountable for this defect is inexcusable.

The vehicle starts swaying dangerously, at a speed of 20mph . At a higher speed the car will starts back swaying and fish tailing and would flip specially on a wet roads, no control to it.

Exterior temperature gauge sensor failed.nlm

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact started the ignition and the engine warning indicator illuminated. The warning light remained illuminated until the engine was turned off.the vehicle was taken to three different independent mechanics regarding the failure. The vehicle was repaired yet the problem persisted. On a separate occasion, the technician performed a diagnostic test which detected an emission trouble code. The manufacturer was made aware of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.

The nissan dealer creats all kind of tactics to delay to fix all the known problems to nissan pathfinder model.i have enough evidences and witnesses to prove that they undermine customer 's trust. They doctored the problems instead of recognizing them and fix them.

The vehicle has been into the dealer twice for repairs and could not be repaired.they said that nissan is aware of this problem in both the 1996 and 1997 model years.nissan customer service said that they were not planning an "fix" for this problem now or in the near future.they said we would just have to live with the noise and inconvenience. Noise clunk/surge when stopping

Exhaust system manifold cracked. Nissan just mentioned that they have extended the warranty for my vin number on that part till 2006. But no recall was issued!!mr

Suspension causing vehicle to sway violently when going 50mph.. Consumer states the tires wore out at 20,000 miles, the shocks and struts were replaced at 42,000 miles, consumer was informed that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle after complaining about the vehicle swaying, however the vehicle was taken to another shop and the trailing arms were replaced which then corrected the problem, also the power steering fluid was leaking, the muffler was replaced due to rust and the exhaust manifold was cracked due to stress, the front differential pinion seal was leaking, the center cap that goes on the stock wheels on the front seat was installed.

No summary listed for abov evehicle.

Emissions tank and system failed.

Driver's seatbelt replaced 4 times due tolocking up too tightly,won't release once tightened.consumer has no movement, dealer kept replacing belts with same type. Also, problem with filler tube, it overflows when getting gas, it fills reservoir.mechanic said it would cause problem. Canisterwas replaced.accelerator stuck.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder.while driving 45 mph and sometimes slower the vehicle would stall.the failure occurred between 4 -5 times.the vehicle is able to be restarted normally.when the stalling occurs, the rpms increase and the check engine indicator illuminates.an appointment was made with the dealer to have the vehicle diagnosed.the manufacturer stated that there were no recalls, but there is a tech bulletin for the 1996-1999 models regarding idle speed failures.the contact wanted to know if this pertained to her vehicle as well.the failure mileage was 124,000 and current mileage is 124,196.updated 3/19/09 the consumer stated the vehicle would loose power and it would act as if the gas wasnot being applied. The dealer diagnosed the problem as a bad mass air flow sensor. The mass air flow sensor was replaced and the consuemr has not experienced any problems since. Updated 03/25/09.

Exhaust manifold has cracked. Repaired by nissan at no charge.

I have been in contact with nissan (as has my regular mechanic for the last two years) regarding chronic & pervasive emissions problems with my suv. My vehicle is registered with nissan consumer affairs as case #5283891. After the latest reject sticker due to emissions safety, a different mechanic brought to my attention technical service bulletin classification fe98-001a/reference ntb98-062a addressing an extended warranty on the exhaust manifold. Three mechanics (including a nissan dealer) verified that this was the latest problem. Although i was several weeks past the warranty period, i was way under the mileage limit & the mechanic felt i should push the issue with nissan, especially in light of the repeated problems. Nissan would not honor it so i paid for the repair myself. When i did, the mechanic said this was most likely a recall & advised me to go back to nissan & push. I have never received any information from nissan about extended warranties or recalls. I found this address on the web & thought i should share this with you. I am additionally looking for other consumer agencies to help pursue this with nissan.

I have noticed a different sooundcomming from the exhaust. I took the vehicle to the mechanic and was told that both exhaust manifold was crack. This is why i want to know if it is a safety or manufacture defect. Please let me know if the manifold will be replaced by the dealer or what should i do. Thank you.

The struts went at 52,000 miles $800 to replace, exhaust manifold needs to be replaced(warranty). Today the news that the speedometer was just"worn out " $235, the rear suspension lincs were "worn out"$350, the intake pinium(sp?) was leaking $660. Something has to be done about nissan and their "worn out" vehicles. It's not even paid for yet!

The exhaust manifold is cracked. *jg

My car had a noise on the engine. I took it to the mechanic and he said the manifold was cracked. He replaced the manifold. He said that the dealer said they had changed the design due to defect.the old part number was 14004-0w000 u40 manifold - e. The replacement part used was 14004-2w600 with no cover available.the cover was not replaced . The dealer said there is no recall for this defective part.now i have two different manifolds.i feel this could be a fire hazard because it can become very hot and start a fire.now i am afraid of what could happen if the other side of the manifold cracks and start a fire or fumes get into the car.i would appreciate if you could check on this and let me know the outcome.

While driving there wasa clicking noise underneath the front of the vehicle.the noise occurred because of a crack in the manifold. The manifold was replaced but the crack recurred. The first manifold cracked after 75000 miles.the second manifold cracked after 30000 miles.the consumer is concerned that if the manifolds continue to crack that the exhaust fumes could enter the cabin of the vehicle.

Stereo speakers failed.

The compact disc fails to play properly. It would skip or stop playing. Also would make clicking sounds before it would eject cd. The exhaust system would make funny noises on right side. The check engine service light keeps coming on & staying. Had contacted & took vehicle to dealership. Mechanic noticed leaking out of manifold. Replaced the gaskets & the manifold.

Since purchasing this vehicle, i've had complained about the alignment (taken to deal and numerous other places) it has been aligned, tires rotated, balanced, etc. 7 (times) and i was told nothing was wrong hmmmm. Had to have all four tires replaced at 30,740 miles. Nissan denies its a defect on their car.i've repeatedly complained about a clunking noise in the rear (or brakes) again "no problems found--cant duplicate problem". Well, now i'm told my transmission needs to be replaced.the front end "steering" if very sensitive and when making a sudden movement, the car overcompensates tossing you throughout the cab.cd and radio as well as antenna motor have recently been replaced.this car is a lemon and dangerous!!!!!! i want my money back!!!!!!!

Nissan will not honor voluntary recall for possible fueltank problem see ntb07-078fuel filler tube corrosion.the car exhibits all the symptoms (heavy fuel smell around filler) but they refuse to look at it ref case#created at their customer center 1-800-nissan1field rep wont authorize diagnostic visit.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle smelled of gasoline and was taken to the dealer. The dealer advised that the fuel filler tube needed to be replaced, but the vehicle was not included in nhtsa recall campaign id number: 07v435000(fuel system, gasoline: storage:tank assembly: filler pipe and cap). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 111,000.

The car would start at high altitude and cold temperatures again.second time this winter.a suv is designed to go into these conditions.for the car to fail is totally unacceptable.

Engine will not start at high altitudes and cold outside air temps. Potentially serious if vehicle is in an isolated area and driver is stranded. It's ludicrous to make a 4x4 for that can get you to places from which you might not be able to return. It's highly conceivable you could have to spend the night in your car during a nasty winter storm if you went snowshoeing for the day and were unable to start the car upon your return. I am told nissan is aware of the problem but fights customers tooth and nail to do anything about it.

At high altitudes or cold temperatures, the vehicle will not start.the efi's fuel pump fuse needs to be taken out, then the car will start.then the fuse can be replaced in order for the car to function again.

In the last 12 months, i have noticed more and more, the smell of gas fumes near left rear side of my 1997 nissan pathfnder, near the fuel cap area.i have also been getting a check engine code p0440.i inquired with nissan about a nhtsa campaign 07v435000, in regards to a faulty fuel fill tube.i was informed to take my vehicle into the local dealer, and they stated my 1997 pathfinder was not covered under this campaign.it is my belief that since my 1997 model pathfinder was produced on 11/1996, and i am thinking nissan will only honor vehicles like mine,,but actually produced in the 1997 fiscal year.obviously, the 1997 model year started late in 1996, like mine, and used the same parts as those produced in 1997 fiscal year.i believe, since mine is an actual 1997 model, but produced in 1996 for sale as a 1997, it should have been properly included under this campaign.nissan will not discuss any details with me, even though i informed them of the gas fumes,,and that my vehicleexhibits the identical symptoms under the campaign.i would like the nhtsa, on behalf of those 1997 model pathfinders, but produced in the fiscal year of 1996,,but as a 1997 model , to include these vehicles in the campaign for this safety defect.nissan of america, refused to explain why my 1997 pathfinder was excluded from this campaign.again, i believe this may have been an administrative or procedural error, in excluding those 1997 model pathfinders, produced prior to jan 1, 2007. Such as mine and others.properly, it is obvious there was some type of mistake, in not including or repairing these 1997 models in this campaign.

I read from nhtsa a recall on my vehicle, a 1997 nissan pathfinder registered in pennsylvania.i sent an inquiry to nissan of america, to see if i could be put on a list to have my vehicle repaired.it exhibits the symptoms of the recall, i.e. Gas fume smell near the fuel tank filler on occasions.i emailed nissan twice,,and they deny there are any recalls or acknowledge the nhtsa #07v435000 recall on my 1997 pathfinder..this is confusing,,and i inquired a second time..still they deny any recalls current or to their knowledge on this vehicle.

Fuel filler tube rusted out and fell out. Nissan is telling me its not covered on recall. All 1997 pathfinders had this issue.

The contact owns 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that vehicle displayed having a quarter tank of fuel in the fuel gauge and was driven shortly after the vehicle stalled because there was no fuel. The vehicle would not start if it was parked on an incline or downhill position. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnose that the fuel fending unit was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware however no further assistance was provided.the failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 97,000.

A defect in the coating processof the fill tube allowed road saltto form rust on the fuel fill and or vent tube resulting in fuel vapors to escape in the air around the gas tank. It is heavy at times.there is a recall for this problem but nissan says my vin is not included. This is noticed when ever you walk by the car. Stationary. Any where

Vehicle sways very bad during moderate acceleration and stop if you push the brake or speed up. Feels really dangerous and found others with same vehicle and same problem.

Have problems with vehicle idling.engine revs up and tach sticks from 1500-2000 rpm almost constantly.when vehicle is in first gear it will stick and take off by it self and even speed up even though it is a manual transmission.dealer has seen truck 4 times now and "can not" find the problem.non dealer repair diagnosed the valve in one visit.are there reports of any other nissan pathfinders or vehicles that are having this problem?it's dangerous!!!!!!

1800.00 to 3800.00 to repair transmission. Out of warenty by 7000 miles

Factory bulletin issued about a problem in transmission.my car clunks when stopping and starting.nissan told me that they would fix the problem at no cost to me but they cannot do it since my car has over 60,000 miles on it.why not???if there is a manufacturer's defect that could potentially get worse and cause damage to the cars performance as well as a possible future safety hazzard, then the manufacturer should be responsible to fix the problem no matter how many miles is on the car when purchased!please, help!thanks.

Whenstepping on the brakes to stop vehicle or when releasing brakes,transmission made noise like cracking. Consumer thought that it was the rear trans-axle,but a mechanic had told her that it was the transmission.

Engine problem light comes on. Both transmission computers malfunctioning and shortening each other out.dealer repaired for several hundred commenting that this is common problem w/ model and nissan is aware of transmission failure that could lead to injury but refuses to recall due to excessive cost of doing so even though it is dangerous.

When vehicle comes to a stop the rear axle assembly makes a loud rolling thump as if someone rear endedvehicle.isat dealer has been notified.

While driving 55 mph vehicle rocked back and forth due to axle failure.

Clutch failed.

Rear differential failed, causing a loud thump then lurches forward.

Rear differential failed.

Defective rear differential has a loud clunking sound and vehicle lurches forward upon stopping and starting from a stopped position.

When applyingclutch it make a whinning sound intermittently. Dealer was contacted for another appointment. Feel free to provide any further information.

Driver's seat belt failed.

The plastic piece in theseat belt buckle broke, allowing the strap to separate from the buckle. Dealer will replaced the buckle.

Front seat belt retractors failed causing the belts to hang out of the door when closed.nlm

Problem with seat belt equipment during an accident.*mrthe vehicle slid on black ice and swerved off of the road.the seat belt that fastened the child seat had come apart.(the vinyl portion of the lap belt had broken free from the buckle)scc

I moved to charleston sc in june of 2007 from richmond va. I began to hear a clicking sound whenever i would turn a corner or turn steering wheel to park or leave driveway about a year ago. Everytime i took vehicle in for oil change or maintenance, i would tell mechanic. It wasn't until may of 2011 someone actually checked front tires and axles and strut mounts. This is when i was informed of damage. I still have spent hundreds trying to repair numerous other problems because noone knew exactly what was wrong. I've had to pay for three front end alignments in two weeks because of this problem. Now i did not receive a recall letter until about 2 or 3 weeks ago and it does not list richmond va as one of the states, however, every year i lived in va we had lots of snow and salt was put down with sand. We also had flood gaston in august of 2005 so there were numerous state that experienced regular salt use in the winter.i would appreciate nissan scheduling an appointment for inspection. [xxx]information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that the brake lines from the master cylinder to the rear of the vehicle were leaking. The vehicle was not inspected but the contact believed the failure was related to the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000 (suspension: front). The failure mileage was unavailable and the current mileage was 38,000.

While driving 35 mph, another vehicle suddenly stopped in front of the consumer's vehicle which caused the consumer to veer off the road and hit a curb.the vehicle's axle broke and was towed to the dealership for analysis.the brake system resulted in a complete lost of control of the vehicle.the vehicle pulled to the right, the accelerator pedal would stick, there was a rattling/buzzing sound upon acceleration, the brakes slipped, and the accelerator did not respond at times. *sccprior to the incident the struts leaked and the left front stabilizer bar was replaced.

When releasing the brakes after stopping, a loud bump sound came from the rear.it felt like the vehicle was rear ended.

Problems started at 2,600 miles. Tires needed to be replaced at 3,000, car shakes between 45 and 60 mph. Brakes vibrate when applied, and car shimmys to a stop. Vehicle had $6,000.00 in repairs tofix a rear end thump. Front end "bottoms out" when going over large bumps, new struts were installed ,now problem is worse.vibration noise is non-fixable according to nissan.nissan service claims all problems are inherent to the vehicle.

When applying abs brakes the pedal travels to the floor, causing extended stopping distance, cause unknown.dealer cannot identify the problem.

Sometimes, the abs does not stop the truck on gravel roads. When applying the brakes, the brakes lock up, causing the suv to slide.the dealer is aware of the problem. Dealer could not find a problem with the abs.around 8/15/98 consumer applied the brakes, and the suv would not stop, continued to slide and crashedinto a electric gate on consumer's property.

When applyingbrakes vehicle made a loud squeaking noise. Also when it's wet outside and the brakes are applied,pedal goes to the floor and vehicle does not stop instantly. Dealer has seen vehicle.

Anti lock brakes slide when engaging.

Brakes keep failing intermittantly , nissan refuses to fix and will not assist me vehicle is a danger to me and others "help"

The anti-lock brakes do not work on wet pavement,the vehicle skids and will not stop.a monitor was installed for the abs and it still did not solve the problem.

No summary listed for this vehicle.

Brakes failed several times.

The anti-lock brakes do not work on wet pavement,the vehicle skids and will not stop.a monitor was installed for the abs and it still did not solve the problem.

Brakes failed, causing vehicle to turn over.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph,the vehicle began to shake violently. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was awaiting diagnosis of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired.the failure mileage was 127,000 and the current mileage was 157,000.

Please note that nissan dealership only patched up the strut tower. The vehicle continues to display problems with steering. I am afraid to continue driving this vehicle. I am very disappointedwith the repair services that were completed at the nissan dealership in turnerville n.j.

When i drive at highway speeds the truck will start to rock and fishtail at random and erratic times causing a potentially dangerous accident.i have read thousands of other peoples experience with this same incident and feel nissan should correct there engineering failure.

At random... This pathfinder will go into a crazy death wobble, to the point to were it wants to put your head and the heads of your children threw the windows. I have replaced the shocks in the car. But yet the problem remains. My car is at the nissan dealership right now racking up a bill that i can not afford, for something they will most likely not be able to fix. I have read a hundred complaints on line that describe the same problem to a t.god help us!

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle independently swayed from left to right independently. The contact reduced speed and was able to gain control of the vehicle. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

At around 120000 miles the vehicle began to sway uncontrollably.mechanics could find nothing wrong. Only way to stop the sway is to tap the brakes or accelerate. Happens quite often and is downright scary at times. Also the entire underbody / frame is extremely corroded. Vehicle should not corrode that quickly. All underbody parts are extremely rusted.

I received a recall for my 1997 nissan pathfinder strut tower housing assembly. On the recall nissan stated that the vehicles registered in certain states that uses road salt can develop corrosion that can lead to steering damages. However, the recall letter that was sent to me was stating that my vehicle was never in that states and also stated that my vehicle will not be covered for the applicable repairs.when i was in active military i was stationed to great lakes il. From september 2006 to june 2010. I was residing at[xxx]. My il states driver's license number was [xxx] and was issued [xxx].i'm writing this complaint to make sure that all applicable inspections and repairs for my vehicle will be covered by the manufacturer.thank you for your time.[xxx]information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

I noticed that the steering in my 1997 nissan pathfinder se was pulling to the left and i had experienced some resistance while turning the steering wheel, so i began to inspect the engine compartment and wheel wells. I found that the driver-side shock tower has almost completely separated from the rest of the body of the vehicle. The way it has bent away has caused it to put direct pressure on both the steering column and the master cylinder. If the tower was to fail completely, i'm reasonably certain that it would shear off the master cylinder (leaving me without brakes!) and possibly sever the steering column.

Claim number 05-4603-579 - while driving, consumer attempted to make a lfet turn when vehicle's steering locked up causing vehicle to lose control and hit a fence.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder.the contact stated that the vehicle would abnormally sway back and forth when driving at least 55 mph.when the contact would remove her foot from the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would feel as if it were hydroplaning.also, when driving around a curve, the vehicle would drive in the opposite direction in which the steering wheel was turned. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for the failure where the sway bar and ball joints were replaced to no avail. The contact stated that the failure progressed and the vehicle was not further repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was approximately 200,000.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The vehicle was included and repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000 (steering:column). While driving approximately 35 mph, the driver of the vehicle noticed that the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technicians stated the failure was not due to the recall and did not inform the contact of the repairs needed. The contact inspected the vehicle and stated that the strut housing was corroded and the recall repair had failed. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The approximate failure mileage was 166,600.

I had to pay to repair the strut housing sheet metal, that was grinding against the steering arm, on the left side of the vehicle.the cost of the repair was approximately--and i am waiting to get the receipt,as it was paid by credit card---$1340.00. Was the name of the repair shop,.the repair was done before the recall campaign began.i am very disappointed and frustrated by nissan's lack of response, since i was informed ofthe recall.they state, in the document , that was sent to me, that i am eligible for reimbursement of related expense of repair.i have been trying to get a hold of nissan at 1-800-647-7261, and have not heard back from them, after numerous messages and voice-mails.nissan has not gotten back to me, after repeated attempts to reach them.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Steering shaft was broken in 2011 ( replaced with used part )steering shaft was broken in 2013 ( replaced with new nissan original part)steering shaft was broken 10 2014 (replaced with new nissan original part)corroded strut tower.steering shaft resting on the corroded strut tower/ steering tower breaking while driving. In one of the incidents, it broke on a major street in the district of columbia ( 11th and pennsylvania ave ) cost of towing was $150.00.

Driving truck got so bad it was hard to keep in road..would go side to sideon highway and turns were not easy to say in lane.took to clarktire co ..they replacedlots of parts and said mounts for shocks and struts were pretty badly rusted causing excessive movement of those.

(noticed problem end of 2007/ beginning 2008 and again in 2011) i have low mileage on pathfinder and it isonly driven on the freeway and in town. First noticed when driving speeds over 50 and during shifting on highway. Very sloppy steering control, pathfinders rear swaying, skipping and jerking sometimes violently from side to side. Very dangerous driving conditions;very good chance of flipping over.took to different auto mechanics and most could not figure out issue. It turned out that the problem was all defective - failed, broken, cracked, or /and worn bushings links both front and rear. I recently completely replaced the bushings and components and after 6500 miles they are broken/defective and the pathfinder is unsafe to drive again. I researched the bushing issues with the 1996 -2001 nissan pathfinder and most all pathfinders of this years are having this serious suspension-defective bushing issues. Their have been many unanswered consumer complaints. This should have been and is a definite recall issue. Protect the consumer. Report this. Please ck into this asap.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact received nhtsa campaign number: 11v244000 (steering , suspension) however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the contact observed an loud abnormal sound from the driver side and the steering wheel failed. In addition, the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 229,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

The vehicle lost struts, steering rack, and has serious issues that have not been resolved. I spoke with the dealer and they said they don't need to fix. The entire front end is falling apart.

Left front strut tower, and frame rusted away causing strut to hit steering shaft. Brake master cylinder hitting hood. Vehicle unsafe to drive.

While driving 40-45 a rear tire was making noise, steering wheel and rear tires locked up. Consumer tried to pull vehicle over accelerator pedal, had no power. Vehicle was towed to repair shop. Please provide further information.

I received nissan car recall program(11v24400) and got inspection at local nissan dealer(nissan north america,inc. Ny) on 07/14/11.the inspection report showing my car "found excessive corrosion on left strut"since last year(07/14/11) inspection nissan didn't give me any service of my car problem(i been call their dealer few times). I got answer from nissan is they don't have this parts.

Consumertookvehicle back to the dealer to havealarm put on.since thenpower door locks unlocked and locked by themselves.cosumer has taken it back several times to be fixed, but no remedysolutionfound.

The rear idler arm has failed. *jg

I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder. When i drive it on highway at around 50-75 mph, sometimes the car would wobble for no reason. If i move my foot away from the gas pedal, the wobble would stop. It makes me feel very scared. It's been happening for about two years. One of my friends has the same car with same problem. He had it fixed by replacing some bushings at the back. I am going to do the same thing. When i search internet, i found a lot of pathfinder owners have the same problem. Should this be taken care of by nissan?

My front drivers side strut tower housing was completely corroded and damaged and had to be replaced. I received a recall notice in the mail and realized this was what was behind the issue.

Misalignment, causing tires to wear out. Also, running board affects steering, causes poor handling of vehicle.

Left front strut tower, and frame rusted away causing strut to hit steering shaft. Brake master cylinder hitting hood. Vehicle unsafe to drive.

Wind noise within compartment.

The left front strut tower has broken off from rust on the frame and is pushing up against the hood.my mechanic advised me that the vehicle is unsafe to operate at all and as a result of this failure i was forced to go out and purchase a new vehicle.i am the original owner of this vehicle and it has been meticulously maintained.it presently has just under 110,000 miles on it.

The frame, including chassis, suspension and body has extensive rust. The suspension is caving into the chassis due to extensive chassis rust. The rust is not due to normal wear and tear of vehicle. It is due to inadequate coating to prevent rust. The vehicles of same model (year) of other makes have minimal rust compared to this vehicle. Even the mechanics i have approached have similar opinion that this vehicle across the board is poorly built, and more rust prone. The vehicle can be potentially catastrophic if the rust eats through and makes suspension/axles collapse, especially while driving. This vehicle had a recall for rust issues, but the recall only covered part of the problem, while there is more extensive issues with this vehicle.

Rust/corrosion in unibody at lower control arm/strut assembly on 97' nissan pathfinder passenger side. The problem/failure is equivalent in severity to the situation nissan is recalling for the driver's side. (pe11004) also (nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000).if the corrosion becomes severe enough, the stresses involved in the strut assembly operation loads, compounded by the lateral loads created by steering, and handling, may cause the lower control arm, lower ball joint/strut mount to separate from the unibody. This would invariably result in a loss of steering control, and quite probably, in a highway speed failure, throw the vehicle into a skid as the passenger side wheel stuffs itself into the wheel well area.

1997 nissan pathfinder left front strut tower about to collapse due to severe rot.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that while having the vehicle examined by an independent mechanic for routine inspection, he was informed that the frame was corroded. The contact then received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000 (suspension:front). The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the corrosion on the body of the vehicle was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was un-repairable.the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 02/01/12*ljthe consumer stated after the vehicle failed inspection, he received a recall notice for the strut tower. The consumer stated there was nothing wrong with the strut tower, it's the frame, that is the problem.

The round running boards are rusting severely and pose a danger to anyone entering or exiting the vehicle.this item should be recalled.

Consumer was drivingvehicle at 65 mph and was cut off. She turned the wheel to avoidimpact,and the vehicle turned over.the front passenger was in a reclining position with restraints and was ejected from the vehicle and killed . The rear passenger was injured.

When driving at 50mph or higher if vehicle hit a pump or uneven patch onfreeway vehicle sways and rocks, making driver unable to control steering.

The vehicle starts swaying dangerously, at a speed of 20mph . At a higher speed the car will starts back swaying and fish tailing and would flip specially on a wet roads, no control to it.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact was driving 30 mph when the vehicle accelerated over a speed bump and the rear of the vehicle swayed back and forth. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer stated that the front and rear struts needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 170,000 and the current mileage was 174,000. Updated 8/24/12 the consumer also statd the front and rear sway bar links needed to be replaced.

Misalignment, causing tires to wear out. Also, running board affects steering, causes poor handling of vehicle.

Vehicle has a severe shimmy when letting off the accelerator, even at low speeds. Driving the vehicle on dry pavement on a straight stretch of highway: at around 55-60 mph, the back end of vehicle sways violently, with no warning or apparent cause.driver feels that if speed is not immediately decreased, the vehicle would go out of control.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving, the steering became hard to control. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who performed an inspection that located the failure at the front strut tower as being corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 134,000.

When driving at approximately 25-70 mph vehicle swayed back and forth which could cause loss of vehicle control. Consumer has replaced tires/ struts/ shocks, and did wheel alignment, but defect kept occurring.

I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder.i experience very "heavy" side to side swaying of the vehicle at speeds greater than 55 mph. I have looked on the internet at other blogs and noticed that many other owners experienced the same condition.nissan is aware of the problem and has issued a tsb, (ntb98-001 )but has notissued a recall, no doubt due to the cost of the repair, which was just quoted to me by the local dealership at $1,400.00 (and two days in the shop).the problem, according to nissan and other consumers online, is the control arm bushing (front and rear) and other connecting parts.this is a very unsafe design error and should be recalled at the expense of nissan, not the consumer.

The vehicle lost struts, steering rack, and has serious issues that have not been resolved. I spoke with the dealer and they said they don't need to fix. The entire front end is falling apart.

The trailer arms failed. This is what holds the rear axle steady and will cause the truck to sway or hula hoop the rear end. I replaced them myself $160.00 for the parts 3hours under the car. Also replaced the shocks 5 days later. Rides like new. Looks like the frame is also rotting out. Hope they open a recall on the frame. I will check the front strut housing for rust.

Just notice this problem at about 66,000miles vehicles wobbles side to side at acelleration 55-70mph and continues if you hit a dip, bump in the road don't know what is causing this problem need help many people have complained but nissan doesn't either.

I was experiencing swaying in my rear end at highway speeds.i had a mechanic install new link bushings and link rods, both upper and lower. Due to rust the securing bolts and bushings had to be torched out. This is very strange and must be due to inferior parts since i live in new mexico, a very dry climate where we do not typically experience rusting on vehicles of this age.this vehicle was originally purchased in nm and i purchased it at 40 some thousand miles and do not believe this vehicle ever spent time in a damp climate. The above repair took care of the problem but now i have 139,000 miles on the vehicle and am having the same problem only worse.

At speeds above 45 mph vehicle for no reason suddenly begins to rock rapidly from side to side.first encountered when driving vehicle back to maine.when arrived in maine had front struts and rear shocks replaced.problem continues.at highway speed if you even slighly release the accelerator pedal to slow down or coast, vehicle immediately begins to rapidly rock side to side.called nissan, they noted no one has reported incident.have since downloaded service bulliten # ntb98001, date 9804, nhtsa item # sb600088- component suspension. Staes in part "... May exhibit excessive play in front/rear suspension."please advise what service bulliten refers to.what rights does service bulliten provide to the consumer?how do i obtain correction from manufacturer?what became of issue following the service bulletin.has nhtsa received similar complaints?

Dt*:the contact stated while driving at speeds of 60mph or more, the vehicle violently shakes as if there may be a loss of control.the vehicle was seen by an independent repair shop for the suspension, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem.the vehicle is scheduled for inspection at an authorized dealership.

Consumertook the vehicle in for a front end alignment when mechanic with national and battery discovered that front strut was blown,and that was causing misalignment.both front struts had to be replaced at the same time.please provide any additional information/attachments.

Left front strut tower, and frame rusted away causing strut to hit steering shaft. Brake master cylinder hitting hood. Vehicle unsafe to drive.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact received repairs to the vehicle under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000(suspension:front). The contact stated that the sheet metal that was used to cover the rust on the strut tower per the recall would not be sufficient when driving under normal road conditions. The contact spoke with the manufacturer in regard to the inadequate recall remedy but the manufacturer did not provide a response to the contact. The vehicle had not experienced a failure.the current mileage was 180,000.

97 pathfinder safety problem with rear suspension links. Side to side sway. It feels like the vehicle is about to flip .are these parts defective? are they of inferior quality? this can caused an unsafe condition on the highway. It seams like nissan usa is well aware of the problem. Service bulletin classification: ra97-002, reference: ntb98-001, hopefully we don't have to wait until somebody gets kill for nissan to fix the problem.

Extreme rear end wobble (sway) at highway speeds.

I own a 1997 nissan pathfinder.while driving on the highway the suspension failed byswaying back and forth.it feltas though the car will roll over. Death, personal injury, and property damage wasclearly foreseeable. In order to stop the sway, i needed to decelerate.however, as i continued to drive the suspension failedand the vehicle swayed.due to the continuous nature of this failure i had included the number 999 below in the number of failure fields to denote that he failure wascontinuous. January1, 2005 as the incident date to indicated that this was an ongoing failure of the suspension.

First noticed problem while driving on the highway when the car suddenly started to rock from side to side.this problem seemed to get worse and was noticed even at lower speeds.replaced front and rear suspension components and problem still exists.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder.while driving 40 mph or greater, the rear of the vehicle sways left to right.the dealer stated that the rear struts and tires needed to be replaced.the dealer made the replacement, however, the failure persisted.the dealer inspected the vehicle, but was unable to diagnose the cause offailure.the vehicle was taken to a different dealer and they stated that the rear upper and lower control arm needed to be replaced along with a wheel alignment and front brakes.as of july 19, 2007, the vehicle has not been repaired.the current mileage is 89,500 and failure mileage was 89,000.updated 02/01/08. *lj

Vehicle is a 1997 nissan pathfinder wobbles side to side at high speeds, very bumpy suspension otherwise. Replaced shocks and struts, as well as all tires, but problem remains. Nissan has posted a service bulletin about a similar problem.

My front drivers side strut tower housing was completely corroded and damaged and had to be replaced. I received a recall notice in the mail and realized this was what was behind the issue.

Hit a pothole andthen started hearing a noise from the front driver side of the vehicle.i then noticed that my odometer was no longer working.upon inspecting the vehicle i found that the driver's side front strut tower had a large rusted out area and that the spot welds of the panels were separating.this problem seems to be the same as those listed in nhtsa action number: pe11004

Vehicle experiences problems with suspension system which has caused premature wear of the tires, unable to be rectified after several attempts. Mjs

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for routine maintenance when the mechanic noticed a separation of the front driver side strut. The contact was advised that the vehicle was not drivable and could not be repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The vin was unavailable. The failure mileage was 183,000.

Vehiclevibrates & rocks side to side between 60-70mph. Warrantyhas expired. Consumer will contact the manufacturer.

The left front strut tower has pushed up into the hood due to rust on the frame.after 118,000 miles, the odometer on our 97 pathfinder stopped working and we noticed that there was a very loud bang every time we hit a bump with the left front wheel, and the steering wheel would shake. We brought the vehicle to our mechanic and he determined that the frame had rotted and the strut was separated from the vehicle.he said it should not be driven.we had the pathfinder towed to a body shop for an estimate, and after placing on the frame machine determined that it would cost in excess of $2100.00 to repair and advised us not to spend the funds to repair.they told us they had never seen anything like this before, and could not believe that such a well taken care of pathfinder was not safe and ready to be crushed.we are now left with a vehicle that looks and runs fine, but cannot be driven or sold.needless to say we are grateful that we did not get into an accident or hurt anyone, but are now out $5000.00 (value of the pathfinder).

Since the day i purchased this vehicle i have had nothing but headaches with it and the dealership.i purchased, my second, nissan pathfinder from john elway nissan in december of 1997.from that moment on i have be living a nightmare.i spent over 8 hours in the dealership trying to get my original car (vw jetta) back so i could just leave and not get the pathfinder i had test driven.the dealership, salesman, had my keys and kept them from me and continued to work a deal so that he could get me into the new pahtfinder.i told him, several times, that i just wanted to get my keys and go.i had no intention of purchasing a car that day, all i wanted to do was test drive a few cars and check out all my options.however, this did not happen, as i said they continued to keep me there for 8+hours.when they finally pulled my new pathfinder around, it was not the original car i had test driven and i was throughly upset.it was late and i was tired, my boyfriend and his son met me there. I told them i was beat and needed to go home.so we left and decided i would go back on monday morning,utilized my option of returning their car with in 2 business days and getting mine back with no obligations. This began the nightmare all over, once again!they told me i had waived my right to return the car, showed my a page in which i initaled stating i waived my return policy.i then pointed out to them that after being in their showroom for over 8 hours, i was going through all kinds of paper work and signing where i was told to sign, next to or on the yellow highlighted marks.the option of waiving my right to return the car was only highlighted in one spot, that was to waive my right, instead of being highlighted in both spots, giving my the option to return or deny.i qucikly pointed out that this would not hold up in a court of law, they had baited me and i would have no hesitation to take it to court and fight it.they genereal manager was now brought into.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder le. While driving 20 mph over a small hill, the contact made a right turn and the vehicle went into a ditch. The contact was able to drive home but the vehicle was making a noise. The vehicle was taken to a local collision center where the contact was informed that the right front driver side strut mount was completely rusted. The mechanic replaced the apron and the fender assembly. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 155,834.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact was driving 10 mph when he heard a loud popping noise and the steering wheel began to exhibit grinding noises. The vehicle was inspected by the driver and he noticed that the strut tower was separated from the front suspension. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were approximately 154,000.

While driving between 25-30 mph suddenly there was a clucking noise. Consumer pulled off the road to investigate the noise. Upon exiting the vehicle consumer noticed thatfront right tire was sticking out at an angle. Also,shock absorber spring was sticking out. Vehicle was towed to a dealership, who was unable to resolve the problem.

The feared ford explorers that roll over and the 96-98 nissan pathfinders utilize the same frame!the problem is that the engine weight is too much for the front suspension, thus, ford's roll over and nissans ruin their tires and suspension.i was made aware of the problem by an employee that worked making the frames for both vehicles.i immediately bought new rims and tires (wider for more stability and better wear).it made the situation better, but the front suspension is ruined.with the extra weight on the front, both vehicles have a noticable "pigeon toe" while driving and over bumps.the front tired bow out towards the bottom to compensate for the extra weight in the front.nissan knows this is a problem and refuses to do anything about it.vehicle now is very scarry to ride in, i refuse to pay $1,500 for a whole new fron suspension which is junk to begin with.please help!any info, please contact me at: [email protected] - thank you!

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact was driving 30 mph when the steering wheel began to shake abnormally. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic shop where the contact was advised that the front driver side mcpherson strut was rusted and corroded. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive until repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted to report the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder, it is grinding and almost impossible to steer. I have not been able to fix it yet because it is too costly. There is a recall on 1996-2004 pathfinders with this same problem however based on my vin mine is not included. Nissan does recommend that i take it to a dealer and pay to fix it to avoid any further problems. How could i possibly have the same year, make, model and problems but not be part of the recall??

Reporting a vehicle issue that is known by nissan "if a 1996-98 pathfinder exhibits the following conditions, the cause may be from worn bushing(s) in the rear suspension upper and/or lower links.excessive play in the rear axle especially during moderate acceleration or deceleration.vehicle pulling at a constant speed.excessive sway and rocking motion in the front suspension when coming to a stop. To correct these conditions, use the service procedure on page 2. "this is a very dangerous condition that can easily lead to loss of control of the vehicle. It causes very violent shaking/rocking of the chassis.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated nhtsa recall campaign id number: 11v244000 (suspension: front) was performed on the vehicle and it began to wobble excessively. The repair was suppose to replace the strut housing. The contact spoke to the dealer and was told to bring the vehicle back for an inspection. The contact spoke with the manufacturer, but the refuse to assist with correcting the failure. The failure and current mileage was 150,000.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The contact was driving approximately 35 mph when the front end of the vehicle began shaking abnormally and becoming unusually unstable. The vehicle was taken to a vehicle repair facility where the technician advised the contact that the front driver side strut tower had fractured from the vehicle and would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for repairs. The technician at the dealer stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and if the vehicle was repaired, the contact would be liable for all repair costs. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 109,443.

1997 nissan pathfinder left front strut tower about to collapse due to severe rot.

I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder se.it has a severe wobble at speeds of 50 mph and above.it is extremely dangerous.i was told it was the suspension ,so i replaced it.the wobble continued.i researched the problem on the internet and found that itwascommon with every pathfinder in the 1990's after the vehicle passedapproximately 60,000 miles.the low quality bushings deteriorated and could not support the vehicle.weight shiftedduring acceleration and the vehiclewentout of control.i have pulled over numerous times because of it.it appearedthat every pathfinder of this model year rangewasplagued by this problem.the cheapest i have found this repair was$700, however, it seemedlike thiswasthe fault of the manufacturer.i wouldn't be surprised to find accidents that had to do with this sub-quality part.whatwouldit take for nissan to put forth a recall and fix this problem.

1997 pathfinder wobblesleft and right when reaching speed of 65-70 mph. Stopped wobbling when releasingthe gas pedal. I have replace the front struts and the two front axles..same problem still continues this is a dangerous and serious condition and nissan should address this issue and correct it!!!!...i personally know of two other pathfinder's owners that are having the same problem.

1997 nissan pathfinder. Consumer writes in regards to recall for possible corrosion of the front driver's side strut tower *tgwthe consumer stated in october 2009, the front driver's side brake line failed. The failure caused the brake fluid to drain from the system resulting in minimal braking action. The consumer had to use the hand brake to stop the vehicle.. Approximately three weeks later, while having the muffler replaced, the mechanic informed the consumer the strut tower was disconnected from the frame of the vehicle and stated that it could lead to brake failure. The mechanic further advised the vehicle was unsafe to drive with the strut tower disconnected from the frame. While driving home, the front driver's side brake line failed for a second time in the same manner.

Premature tire wear.need two new front tires after 28,000 miles!contacted the dealer and they advised that it was the improper tire that was selected for the vehicle.i contacted the tire manufacturer and they advised it was poor engineering of the front end suspension on nissan's part.nissan has admitted that it has received numerous complaints about this problem.( dot number: tire size: p235/70r15 )

While traveling 50 mph or morevehicle would rock back and forth, making it hardtosteervehicle.dealer notified. Feel free to provide any further infomation on this matter.

Rear bushings on nissan pathfinders. Mine is a 97 model. That sways as soon as i hit 65 mph. I have to tap on the brake or accelerate for the swaying to stop. It starts again soon after. I looked online and found out about the rear bushings .www.topix.com/forum/autos/t5lstpr5onpc09ctlfor any solutions and was shocked to see that nissan has done nothing to remedy this situation. I am required to drive to work each day and just can't fanthom the thought of loosing total control of my vehicle because nissan won't recall this.

Dt*: the contact stated that while driving between 30 to 65 mph, the vehicle violently swayed from side to side or performed a death wobble.the vehicle was taken to the independent repair shop on 08/27/03 and the front struts were replaced.the contact has replaced the tires, struts, shocks, and had a wheel alignment, but the problem keeps occurring daily on all road conditions.there was no warning prior to the failure and the vehicle wobbles more violently as speed increases.

1997 nissan pathfinder. Consumer writes in regards to strut towers corrosion *tgwthe consumer stated the deterioration of the struts caused very noticeable shimmying and swaying of the vehicle while it was in motion. The corrosion of the struts was so severe, that the consumer needed to replace the front and passenger side struts immediately. Upon inspection, the mechanic noticed that both struts were entirely corroded, to the point that the vehicle was relying on the springs for support.

When lease expired nissan expected payment for excessive tire wear which was obviously caused by a manufacturer's defect. Nissan dealers treat their customers like garbage and rip them off by blaming them for defects they know exist but refuse to admit. Numerous complaints about high pitched front end noise and shimmying in the steering basically been ignored until the shimmying made it difficult to drive.i paid over $200 to get my front end realligned at 24,000 miles and was told this is common with suvs'.not according to nhtsa complaints database.nissan has everyone beat hands down!now nissan won't allow me to dispute my end of lease report when i called the number printed on the report to dispute reports. What a bunch of scheming liars!i will never give one cent to nissan again and i will spread the word to all my friends and family.

While traveling at hwy speed of 50 mph the vehicle commence to severely vibrate and shake out of control; dealer notified and repairs was made. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.

Lower control arm bent causing rim of tire to bend and damage to tires due to alignment problems/pulling. Mjs

Front struts and shocks failed causing premature tire wear.

The struts are leaking. *jg

Vehicle was rattling on right side. Took vehicle to mechanic, and when mechanic moved vehicle, the right front wheel fell off.mechanic indicated strut had broken.

I contacted my nissan dealer the first time the struts went out.they replaced only 1 strut not 2.when the struts went out the 2nd time i contated the dealer they said it was not their problem.when i took it to another car repair shop they advised me younever replace only 1 strut.i contacted the dealer about this they said too bad.my pathfinder still had the banging noice in the front.i took it to a couple of car places they seemed to know of the problem with this particular nissan fault.the next time the struts went out i was in idaho visiting family.it as again a very scary ordeal.i was driving on a very windy canyon road with the river right beside me.i had a number of children in the car.i had it towed to a dodge dealer in emmett idaho who advised me they knew of a report out on this make and year of vehicle.this is the first i heard of nissan acknowledging the problem.i have contacted them numerous times since.they are not willing to do anything about this or reinburse me for all the expense.my childen and i could of been killed a number of times with this reoccuring problem and nissan did not even bother to contact us.what is my choices on action to take against the company?please help me make this large company listen to one very dissatisfied and concerned person.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. While driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel became stiff as the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was driven to the contacts home where an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and advised that thefront strut tower was severely corroded and fractured from the frame. The front strut was found to be rubbing against the steering shaft abnormally and causing the steering failure.in addition,the strut was pushed up approximately three inches and was beating on the air intake and the air filter. The contact stated that the brake and abs lines were also damaged and the wheel was pushing on the steering shaft. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. Themanufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v244000 ( steering: column) but the vin was not included. There was an open investigation into the falure under nhtsa action id: pe11004 (suspension:front:shock absorber steering suspension:front:macpherson strut steering:column). The vehicle was not repaired.the approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

I am having problems with the performance of my 1997 nissan pathfinder se (81,000 miles); at first i thought that the front shocks were shot; then a mechanic told me that no - it was the front struts. I have since found a web site with many owners of this vintage model that tell me the problem is with the 8 rear control arm bushings.nissan should issue a recall on this - this is dangerous.at very least, they should notify owners.

Front left strut tower is rotted and cracking without any apparent reason.the right side looks brand new, yet the left side is in danger of failure.

I feel, asmany other 96-97 pathfinder customers do, thatexcessive and uneven (cupping) tire wear andpremature strut failure,appear to be symptoms of a larger problem with the suspension of the 96-97, possibly 98 nissan pathfinders. Nissan will not admit there is a potentially huge problem. I have web postings/e-mails confirming many customers with the same and worse problems than my own. Two postings report accidents.one driver of a 1998 pathfinderlost control as the car mysteriously veered to the left, across traffic, and the driver broke a finger trying regain control. The other posting recounts a strut completely failing while the truck was in motion and sent the car spinning. Nissan offered to replace the one tire that was "chewed up beyond all recognition." i believe nissan is ignoringthis dangerous situation in the hopes of avoiding an expensive recall. Is someone going to have to get hurt before they listen? i have contacted corporate in gardena on numerous occassions only to be told that this is "normal wear and tear" on my vehicle. Other customers repeat the same ridiculous reaction from nissan.i have a meeting with the nissan regional service manager during the week of july 17th. He has copies of the postings/e-mailsthat i metioned earlier sustantiating the size of this problem. The meeting should prove interesting. Thank you for your time.

Front struts and shocks failed causing premature tire wear.

97 pathfinder driving at 60-70mph started swaying side to side uncontrollably.noticing now even at slower speeds the problem exists.

The suspension on this car had to be replaced. The problem resulted in the back end of the vehicle wobbling violently at highway speed. The cause was the failure of rubber bushings on the rear axle link assy. This vehicle is a 4wd with an "off road" package. Even though this vehicle has never been used for off road driving, the suspension still failed and caused an unsafe condition on the highway. The required parts are backordered.

While traveling on the highway, the car started rocking side to side as if it wanted to roll over. Had the shocks and springs replaced. This wasn't the problem. Apparently because of a design flaw, the shocks wear out faster than normal. But the swaying was caused by the rearbushings going bad and wearing faster than normal. Apparently nissan knows about the design flaw but isn't willing to address it or issue a recall.

97 pathfinder safety problem with rear suspension links.side to side sway. Almost caused vehicle to flip it is so bad. Numerous complaints. Why has the nhtsa not done something about this problem! dangerous???

- the contact stated that while driving his 1997 nissan pathfinder (50000 failure mileage) at 50 mph, the vehicle began to sway from right to left without any warning.the contact had to reduce his speed in order for the swaying to stop and regain control of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they notified him that the rear stabilizer arms were worn and had to be replaced.the vehicle has not been repaired.

The back end of the car begins a violent wobble unexpectedly at 50 to 70 miles per hour on the straight and level. After much trouble, the dealer has confirmed that bushing failures in the rear axle link assemblys are the culprit, and the car has only 59,000 miles on it. This is erxtremely dangerous, and shocking that a worn part could cause unexpected loss of control of the vehicle.

97 nissan pathfinder - dangerously sways left to right once you drive above 60 mph.been to repairs many times and has not fixedthe problem.

My 1997 pathfinder's body rolls dangerously left to right while at highway speeds.it is very pronounced and continues until you slow down.i had new front struts and tires installed by a national tire dealer and later found out from one of the tech's with experience with nissan that it is a common flaw on this model.he said that the trailing arms/links fail on the rear suspension.he further said that updated links are available from nissan.therealso have been factory bulletins on this but i have not received a recall notice.i believe the condition to be dangerous enough to warrant one.the first time it happens it could result in a life threatening accident.i had my wife and two small children in the car the first time it happened unexpectedly.i think its terrible that they would not have issued a recall since they were aware of the problem.i think a recall should be issued and that it should be repaired at no cost to consumer since it involves a safety issue. *nlm

While driving there was heavy vibration coming from the rear.dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

Car developed a side-to-side wobble, mostly in the rear, at speeds from about 50 to 65 mph. Wobble is not induced by steering wheel; it just happens. It's worse when car has passengers in the back seat.the problem was solved by replacing the control arm bushings (or trailing arm bushings), only the lower control arm bushings.it is a simple solution to a very serious problem, and it is very common for 97 and 98 nissan pathfinders, and a lot of users replace many other parts (shock absorbers, tires, etc) that don't solve the problem and can cause a roll over accident.

My 1997 nissan pathfinder has the well documented "death wobbles" on the highway where it is nearly impossible to control the vehicle. Apparently it is the rear bushings that are defective. Causes severe uneven tire wear. I've heard the same story from many nissan owners. I'm frightened to even sell the vehicle for safety reasons even when i tell a buyer about the factory problem.

Problem: the pathfinder sways/rocks "like a boat in water" when it hits small bumps on the freeway. The problem gets exacerbated if i am driving over 60mph.

1997 nissan pathfinder 4wd, terrible wobble on uneven pavement, causing vehicle to sway out of control at high way speeds. Nissan did not know why.i replaced all tires..front struts, lower ball joints..finally found on internet site, that the rear upper and lower link bushings wear. This causes the rear axle to shift, in effect,,the rear axle steers the vehicle..cause of the bad bushings.

1997 nissan pathfinder rear link arm bushing failure.

Our 1997 nissan pathfinder develops a rear rocking motion (sway, wobble) at highway speeds that would clearly put the vehicle out of control if not quickly stopped, which can usually be accomplished by letting off the gas.this happens continuously and repeatedly, sometimes even at lower speeds (in the 40 mph range.)the sensation is very unnerving to the driver and passengers especially since it is not due to anything the driver has done and it strikes without warning.in just a few seconds the car feels like 2 seconds more and it will flip or roll or crash into another lane!(take a ride with me, you'll see i'm not exaggerating.)the trick is to stop the rocking as soon as you notice it starting, usually by letting off the gas.this problem is well known to many pathfinder owners (in the 1996-200 range) and to nissan, which has produced a tsbs on it (ntb98-001, ntb98-012) but the company has not dealt with it as a recall.it is an expensive ($700-$1,400) repair apparently due to faulty control arm bushings, the smart repair is apparently to use polyurethane after-market bushings instead of oem (unless you want it to come back again in less than 100k.)*twwe have had this problem for 6 months and ours set in at about 170k but many other owners were reporting this problem 3 or 4 years ago at 100k.and many are not happy with how nissan has not handled this design problem they created.

1997 nissan pathfinder.sways and rocks while driving.seems very dangerous and is scary when it really gets going.the same thing happened to a friend with the same make and year pathfinder.my mechanic has not yet diognosed but my friends was the trailer arms we worn/bent.as i have invesitgated this seems to be a common problem.

The contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. While driving 40 mph, the rear of the vehicle wobbled violently especially when making a turn. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

I have a 1997 nissan pathfinder that has a very dangerous condition. At 55-65 mph it shakes uncontrollably. It has been explained to me that this is a common problem with this model and the wobble is caused by bad bushings in the rear of the suspension system. There is no doubt in my mind that this condition will cause loss of life if it has not already. In my case i escaped injury when it caused me to lose control of the vehicle.

The rear end on my 97 pathfinder shifts intermittently and has almost caused me to lose control many times.after taking it into the dealer, they told me it wasn't a recall.i was very surprised cause this is a major safety hazard.

The suspension on this car had to be replaced.the problem resulted in the back end of the vehicle wobbling violently at highway speed.the cause was the failure of rubber bushings on the rear axle link assy.this vehicle is a 4wd with an "off road" package.even though this vehicle has never been used for off road driving, the suspension still failed and caused an unsafe condition on the highway.the required parts are backordered at nissan so i suspect this may be a bigger problem than just my vehicle.

Rear end of car sways violently and unexpectedly, back and forth, at speeds above 45 mph. Started at about 75,000 miles. Got new tires, shocks and struts, even dealer was either unable ,or unwilling to diagnose problem correctly. Finally was informed by dealership service department that a recent service bulletin indicated problem was due to premature failling of rear rear support link bushings(about $1000 to fix). Nisson needs to address this very serious safety issue.

In mid 2002, my 1997 nissan pathfinder developed a severe rear sway problem.at highway speeds, the truck would sway right to left so severely and suddenly that i felt like i would lose control.when i slowed down the swaying would stop. This swaying was especially disconcerting during wet road conditions.when i contacted my local nissan dealer, they had never heard of this problem.i replaced the front struts and rear shocks without any improvement.then i had the frame adjusted, without improvement. Between my local repair shop searching technical bulletins and my search of consumer sites they found my rear control arm and upper and lower bushings needed to be replaced at a cost of $570.overall, i have been very pleased with my pathfinder, but nissan needs to be aware of this safety issue and also notify other pathfinder owners.

1997 pathfinder wobbles in the rear wildly at times, usually when i hit the accelerator.

Truck sways dangerously side to side in rear while driving at over 40mph replaced struts & shocks. Mechanic suspects rear upper & lower control arm bushings very expensive usually because of labor. These parts are defective because of inferior quality.

No crash and no injury. Vehicle at speeds above 40 mph begins to rock violently side to side. Internet postings describes a known problem with the nissan unibody chassis that causes this problem. Reat bushings need to be replaced to correct safety problem.

After desperately looking for an answer to the reason why my vehicle was acting the way it was i stumbled upon an internet site with other pathfinder owners describing same things i was experiencing. I own a nissan pathfinder xe 3.3 l 4x4. The problem i am having is violentswaying of the rear end at speeds between 50 and 65 mph. The only way to get it to stop is to tap the breaks or speed up. It has almost caused an accident several times. I have tried to fix it at the cost of hundreds of dollars. Nothing has worked. This is a serious issue that could lead to serious injury or death! especially considering the velocities at which it occurs. It is the consensus of the many posters on the site that theabove symptoms are the result of the failure of the control arm bushings.

Manufacturer advised dealer to recommend tire rotation every 3250 miles rather than 7500 as stated in owner's manual.even with rotation, tires required replacement.

While driving, driver side rear tire blewout, vehicle spun and hit a steel post causing $4000 in damage, tires are bf goodrich , size p265/70r15.

Purchased 4 tires from sears on 07/27/00 at cost of $561.75.on 05/05/01 wobbling noticed with only 23423 miles of wear.returned to sears on 07/02/2001 to report probable belt separating.they reported feathering of tread.they wanted to sell me new tires, not honor warranty or guarantee of customer satisfaction.advised by nissan dealer not to drive long distance due to possible blow out.contacted sears customer relations.awaiting reply.these are bf goodrich tires all terrain radials, 30x9.50r15lt.thank you for any assistance. (tiresize: 30950r15lt)

Firestone wilderness ht dot vdhl awr, while driving 60 mph consumer heard a pop sound and vehicle started swaying. Consumer pulled vehicle over and noticed rear passenger's side tire had a blowout.

While driving on the highway at approx 75 mph, the right rear tire blew.the tread had come off.there was no sign of a puncture (nail, sharp object.,,,,) the store where i took my tire to found no signs of punctures.this could have been an isolated incident but with the new developments i thought it would be a good idea to report it in case anyone else has had any problems with these tires.( dot number: ??? tire size: p235/70/r1 )

Excessive tire wear.

Claim number 38-j636-167 - while driving(roadhugger radial gt / performance radial gt p235 70r15; dot# is pjm1 dxkr 489) tire blew out causing vehicle to roll over several times, 4 injuries were sustained.

Undo wear on tires. Took vehicle to dealer. Received notice from dealer. After 3rd time, told too much excessive wear after 28,000 miles. Tires are bald.

Severe tire wear after only 20,000 miles despite proper care, pressure, scheduled rotating followed. (tiresize: 235 70r15)( dot number:tire size: 235 70r15 )

Bridgestone dueler ht tires p235/75r15 have cracks along the sidewall from the tread near the casing, in the fall of 1997 there was a recall due to these tire wearing unevenly, after seeing these tires, bridgestone dealer stated this was the same problem as the previous recall, however bridgestone refused to adjust the tires.

The rubber striped off two tires on the drivers side causing extensive body damage to my vehicle. The dealership refuses to hold any responsibilty for the repairs. I have filed a claim with my insurance company to repair my car. I have notified continental general tire co. Thru their website two days ago and have had no response from them. Ihad the vehicle less than thirty days when the tires stiped the rubber. I was traveling back to my home in ar from a family furneral in ga. The first tire on the front drivers side went about50 miles out of macon, ga. We were able to drive very slowly to a repair shop and have the spare tire put on the car.about an hour to an hour and a half later the rear drive side tire did the same thing.we were fortunate enough to be at an exit rap at talladaga, ga. I was forced at this time to purchase a tire, which does not fit my vehicle because that is all they had at this location. We then drove to annastin, al to a sears store and purchase another tire that was the correct size inorder to make our trip back home to ar.these tires lost the tread as if they were recaps, very much like the tire problems reported with firestone tires.i have not gone to a local dealer for general tires since i was able to find their website to report this problem, but as i stated i have not gotten a reply from them in two days. I purchased this car with these tires on it, the dealership advised us to go to ar tire co. As they were the ones who supplied the tires that are on my car. I have not done so because i thought i would get a reply from general tires by now. ( dot number: tire size: p235/70r15 )

Claim number 43-r733-414 - while driving rear tire (general all season p235/70r15 dot a3m1 2wh or 81240-1p870131404) blew out causing consumer to lose control and vehicle rolled down an enbankment into a revene, it was noted that the tread had separated, injuries were sustained.

Tl- contact owns a 1997 nissan pathfinder. The driver states she was recently trying to sell her vehicle so she went to a local dealer to have a car-fax done on her vehicle. The contact states the dealer told her that her vin number was coming back stating that the vehicle had been sold with c4c in 2009 and a junk title certificate was issued. The driver states she has owned the vehicle over 10 years so she has not idea why this would be. The mileage on her vehicle is 133,332. Ar

Dealer unable to duplicate complaint.other owners have same problem

At this time, this has been no accident.however, there is severe frame rust that could result in an accident.the frame rust occurs along the rear axle, steering column, and various other locations along the underside of the vehicle.in addition, the rear suspension control arm was replaced due to defect which allowed to vehicle to sway uncontrollably.

I have taken my nissan to the dealership to decode my engine light. I have paid for several repairs to have the eval code corrected. After the last attempt of trying to fix the problem, i was told that my eval tube is clogged throughout and the part is no longer available with nissan. I'm stuck with a clogged system that is unrepairable.

I am writing in regards to an accident that occurred on 10/10/08 involving my 1997 nissan pathfinder vin#[xxx] , and 5 other vehicles including my own 2nd car. All of which were parked on the same side of the street. The accident was caused by my pathfinder's gas pedal failure which caused it to stay at the pressed down position while going at about 30mph, and i was unable to brake, thus hitting the other 5 cars. Thanks to the presence of these cars, my pathfinder was able to stop and my safety spared.when i filed the claim with my insurance company geico (policy #[xxx] ), i specifically told them that this accident was not caused by my recklessness or lack of experience, but instead, it was due to mechanical failure. The claim #s related to the incidents are: [xxx]and [xxx] . Despite of that, my insurance premium nearly doubled. Unfortunately, when the vehicle was towed to the mechanic, they were unable to find fault in the gas pedal upon inspection. I had subsequently sold the car.the recent toyota recalls have brought back memories of that incident. I believe the mechanical failure on the pathfinder was extremely similar to those on the toyotas. I have seen my former vehicle parked around the neighborhood under the new ownership. I have noted down the license plate number should nhtsa decide to track it down for inspection.i am writing this letter to report the above problem that has plagued my former nissan vehicle out of concern for the current owner's safety. In addition, its fallout has brought me great financial and mental burden. I hope and would really appreciate if nhtsa could take the time and look into this matter. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Summary of the incident: it was a near-miracle that no one was injured from this scary experience during the rush hour lasting over a mile or loner stretch for many minutes. The car had unusual, uncontrollable, and very dangerous behavior without any warning. This situation was so bad that it almost collided with a few other cars at very high speeds.events:(1) while entering highway ramp, gradually accelerating (with speed around 30 to 35 mph), the engine hesitates. Almost immediately, the engine suddenly roared and accelerated by itself with the car quickly gained speed above 55mph - without applying any gas paddle. No cruise control was used or turned on. The driver tried to apply service-brake but the brake was very stiff without any response even with extra effort. The driver noticed the engine was at 6000rpm.(2) the driver immediately tried to shift the gear to neutral. Though the shift-lever-position did enter the "neutral" indication, the transmission mechanism still stayed at the "drive" and the engine continued to accelerate and gaining speed. (the driver continued to use service-brake all the time to no avail.)(3) the driver tried to slow the car down by shifting to a lower gear ("2"), the car speed slowed down very gradually. At that time, the driver applied emergency hand-brake.(4) eventually the car stopped using the hand-brake. Right after this, the driver shifted the lever to "park" then the engine suddenly (and immediately) shot up to 6000rpm again - and the transmission appeared to re-engage and moved the car forwardwith a very loud noise. The driver immediately turned-off the ignition to stop the car.the car was towed to a nissan dealer.

The gas pedal stuck and the vehicle lunged forward.this occurredon 2 separate occasions.the first time upon acceleration from a complete stop, and the second time when the vehicle was put in reverse.this resulted in the vehicle hitting a tree.the vehicle sustained rear end damage.*sc

Car will surge in reverse and drive. Taken to dealer 3 times not able to fix.

While pulling out of a parking space vehiclesurged forward and slammed into a brick wall.

Gas pedal sticking.

Gas pedal stuck occationally

Accellerator sticks badly!during cold starts and idle time (eg. At stop light or cruise control on) you go to press on the accellerator pedal an it's stuck.you push harder with your foot to loosen it up, and the vehicle will jerk and lurch forward badly.i've had 3 (three) nissan pathfinders, all different model years with the same problem.1987, 1992 and 1997 all the same problem!nissan suggests you repair by a clutch assembly kit, which costs $200+ installed.but if this is a known problem, in all nissan vehicles, why don't they solve this problem permanently???any ideas or help, contact [email protected] - thank you!

Throttle sticks when starting from stop/idle. Not in cable linkage from accelerator pedal. Appears to be in throttle body. Serious concern when parallel parked, or in string of vechicles at stop sign.help!

Gas pedal stuck occationally

While driving could step on gas pedal and itwill stick tofloor in a down position, causing vehicle toaccelerate forward.consumer had taken vehicle to dealer to correct problem.but, no solution had beenfound. Please provide more information.

Gas pedal sticks at a stop or when the pedal has been at a constant spot for a period of time.the only way to release the pedal is to tap it with your foot, causing the vehicle to jump forward.

I'm just wondering if many people have had this part brake.nissan is offering to pay for 50% of the repair, but it sounds like this might be a big problem for them so i want to find out if this is going to become a recall item.they already have a "notice" out on the problem. The throttle sticks and could be very dangerous so we are not driving the car till this becomes resolved.

While anohter consumer was sitting in the vehicle and putting the key into the ignition to start, the driver side air bag deployed, and the passager sidealsodeployed.the consumer's windshieldcracked.

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We found the following complaints for NISSAN PATHFINDER (1997)

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