Nissan Pathfinder Complaints (1996)

159 consumer complaints on file.

#10222448March 27, 2008
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE VIOLENT ROCKING MOTION AT ANY SPEED. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS, STEADILY GETTING WORSE. SAFETY CONCERN AS I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220528March 10, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
I HAVE A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER AND THERE IS A DANGEROUS SWAY WHEN I DRIVE, IT FEELS LIKE THE REAR END IS GOING TO FISH TAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218798February 21, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
1. AT AROUND 120K MILES THE CAR BEGAN TO SWAY, SOMETIMES UNCONTROLLABLY, AT SPEEDS AROUND 50MPH. REPLACES SHOCKS AND STRUTS. DID NOT FIX IT. TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE REAR STABILIZER BARS AND BUSHING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AND VERY COMMON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218166February 15, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
AT ~ 65MPH, MY 96 PATHFINDER CAN SWAY SPONTANEOUSLY, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF THE CAR BOUNCING. DRIVER & PASSENGER NECK SNAPS BACK AND FORTH. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217609February 10, 2008
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A TERRIFYING, UNCONTROLLABLE "WOBBLE" SIDE TO SIDE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR DIP IN THE ROAD ON ONE SIDE. THE WOBBLE FIRST BEGAN TO APPEAR OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS. NISSAN DEALER PLAYS DUMB ABOUT PROBLEM AND WANTS TO CHARGE ESTIMATED $1200 TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AND THERE IS EVEN A TSB FROM NISSAN REGARDING IT. THIS IS DANGEROUS, CAUSED BY DESIGN, AND SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER RECALL BY NISSAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214503January 11, 2008
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
NISSAN PATHFINDER 1996 MODEL HAS A CATASTROPHIC DESIGN FLAW. VEHICLE DANGEROUS WOBBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212954December 27, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL LINK ROD BUSHINGS DEFECTIVE CAUSING DANGEROUS REAR END SWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH. REPAIR IS COSTLY AND IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH DEALERSHIPS AND NISSAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212982December 27, 2007
SUSPENSION
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE AND NOTICED A VERY BAD WOBBLE IN THE STEERING/SUSPENSION. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE '96-'04 MODELS AND HAS EVEN HAD A TSB (NTB98-001) ON THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CONSULTED MANY OTHER NISSAN OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND HAD TO PAY $700-$800 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AS MOST DRIVERS EXPERIENCE THEIR CARS WOBBLING OUT OF CONTROL AND OFF THE ROAD. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE OR PUT MY FAMILY IN IT. THIS SHOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN A FACTORY RECALL!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202233September 7, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
WE OWN A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4 WHEEL DRIVE THAT HAD DEVELOPED A SEVERE SIDE TO SIDE WOBBLE AT 55-60+ MPH . MECHANICS SAID IT WAS STRUTS/SHOCKS. WE REPLACED ALL 4. SAME PROBLEM EXISTS. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING ON THE HIGHWAY. MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCED IT AND YOU NEARLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE SUV IF YOU DON'T LET OFF THE GAS QUICK. I WOULD HATE TO SEE THE RESULT OF AN EVASIVE MANEUVER - IT WILL BE CATASTROPHIC. DEALERS ARE ACTING LIKE THEY KNOW NOTHING, YET AN INTERNET SEARCH TURNS UP PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE OR ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. MOST ARE SAYING IF YOU REPLACE THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS OR THE ENTIRE ARMS, IT GOES AWAY. I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO GET INVOLVED NOW AND FORCE NISSAN TO DO A NO-COST RECALL. WE OWN 2 OTHER NISSAN CARS AND I HAVE OWNED OVER A DOZEN CARS/TRUCKS IN 32 YEARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. AND, I WORK ON CARS AND MOTORCYCLES IN MY SPARE TIME, AND I KNOW WHAT I AM ADDRESSING HERE. THIS IS A MAJOR, SERIOUS ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198385August 3, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
I AM REPORTING A FAILURE IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF MY 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. AT SPEEDS OF 50+ MPH, THE BACK HALF OF THE VEHICLE HAS INSTANCES WHERE OUT OF NOWHERE IT BEGINS TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH FOR ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS AND THEN IT STOPS AND WILL DO IT AGAIN JUST OUT OF THE BLUE. I REASONABLY FORESEE THIS FAILURE RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. ALL INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRENCE HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED INTERSTATE. THERE WAS A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE BUT NISSAN SHOULD CHANGE IT TO A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192615June 6, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER WOBBLES INTENSLY AT 50 - 65 MPH. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOPS AND HAD STRUTS REPLACED, TIRES BALANCED MANY TIMES. I UNDERSTAND IT IS THE REAR ARM BUSHINGS. THIS IS A DEFECT AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192045May 30, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR
1996 PATHFINDER, 120K MILES. APPROX. ONE YEAR AGO VEHICLE DEVELOPED SCARY SIDE-TO-SIDE ROCKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON CURVED ROADS. REPLACED REAR SHOCKS- NO HELP. I HAVE FOUND LOTS OF OTHER PATHFINDER OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS SAME EXACT CONDITION. TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND REAR LINK ARM BUSHINGS. BUSHINGS DEVELOP DRY ROT WITH AGE AND SHRINK, MAKING EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE CONTROL ARMS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO NISSAN, BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO EVEN CONSIDER A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177396December 30, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER WOBBLES DANGEROUSLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, OVER 60 MPH. MECHANIC FIXED STRUTS FOR $800, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. JUST WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT LOTS OF NISSAN PATHFINDER OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AND THE FIX USUALLY HAS TO DO WITH BUSHINGS. THAT WILL PROBABLY COST ME ANOTHER $800. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND NISSAN OWES ITS CUSTOMERS A RECALL. THANK GOODNESS I SEEMED TO HAVE FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. I HOPE THE WORD GETS OUT TO ALL PATHFINDER OWNERS BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176855December 22, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH 139,500. IMMEDIATELY AFTER MY DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF BODY SWAY FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE.I DECIDED TO RESEARCH MY PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL REFERENCES TO ISSUES RELATED TO THE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BUSHINGS IN THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER LINKS (CONTROL ARMS) THAT ATTACH THE AXLE TO THE FRAME (REF. NISSAN BULLETIN# NTB 98-001).THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES IN DETAIL ABOUT WORN BUSHINGS WHICH IT CREATES EXCESSIVE SWAY, ROCKING AND PULL AT ANY SPEED AT THAT POINT, I DECIDED TO BRING MY VEHICLE AT MY EXPENSE TO HAVE AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER TO EXAMINE AND DOCUMENT THE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION.THEY VERIFIED AND CONCUR WITH THE WEAR IN THE REAR LINKS AND RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE UPPER AND LOWER LINKS ALONG WITH THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS (PART # 55080-0W001 (2) AND #08911-6441A (2))-PART NUMBERS FOR THE LINKS. IN ADDITION, I SPOKE TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF NISSAN PATHFINDERS WITH THE SAME CONDITION WHICH WAS BUILT IN 2004 ON THE SAME CHASSIS. AS A RESULT, I CONTACTED NISSAN MOTORS OF NORTH AMERICA AND FILED A COMPLAINT/INQUIRY BASED ON THIS DEFECT (REF# 5555692) ON 12/7/06.THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH THE COMPLAINT BASED ON A TSB AND NOT A SAFETY RECALL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A VIRGINIA STATE ANNUAL VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION LAST MONTH AND WAS PASSED IN ERROR BY AN INSPECTOR WHO HAD MISSED THIS SAFETY DEFECT. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE AND THE PROBLEM WAS VERIFIED AND INVESTIGATED BY TROOPER FOWLER IN WILLIAMSBURG VA. THIS DEFECT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE STANDARDS FOR VEHICLE INSPECTION. NOT BEING AN ENGINEER, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT TIMES OF HIGHWAY PASSING,AROUND ON RAMPS OR EVASIVE MANEUVERING THAT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. I PAID TO HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED AT A BODY SHOP AT MY EXPENSE.I HAVE THE OLD PART. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175863December 11, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
1) SLIGHTLY APPLIED GAS ON A TURN AT 35 MPH 2) LOSS OF TRACTION AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SKIDDED TO 180 DEGREE TURN. VEHICLE'S REAR END ALSO WOBBLES DANGEROUSLY AT 50 TO 65 MPH UPON ACCELERATION/DECELERATION. 3) SO FAR NEW STRUTS AND SHOCKS BUT NO SOLUTION TO THE VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174818November 30, 2006
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OVER AN EVEN PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING A MODERATE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE ABS LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172078October 29, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
NOTICED BACK END OF MY PATHFINDER SWAYING AT SPEEDS 60-70 MPH. BROUGHT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD REAR BUSHINGS ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. MY MECHANIC SAID IT IS A BAD PART BUT NOT YET A RECALL BY NISSAN BUT SHOULD BE. I HAVE FOUND ALOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINS ON THE WEB BY OTHER NISSAN PATHFINDER OWNERS. I ALSO FOUND RECALLS ON OTHER NISSAN'S FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THE PATHFINDER. I FEEL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171995October 27, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DANGEROUS WOBBLE OF CAR WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY. FROM REPORTS I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET, SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY DEGRADING CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. FIX MAY BE TO REPLACE ALL 8-10 BUSHINGS AND/OR CONTROL-LINK ARMS. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON ON '96-97 NISSAN PATHFINDERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152620March 13, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED FOR REAR-PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. (DUNLOP GRANDTREK 265/70/R15) THE TIRE CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH THE SUV, IT WAS THE (FULL-SIZE) SPARE. THIS TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON THE REAR WHEEL A YEAR OR ABOUT 10,000 MILES AGO. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10110751February 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE, STEERING
TRIED CALLING NISSAN RE: RECALL FOR BRAKES AND STEERING, AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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