Nissan Pathfinder Complaints (1996)

159 consumer complaints on file.

#10425548September 15, 2011
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 166,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425583September 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
MY AXLE FELL OFF MY CAR AND IF I DRIVE UP TO 45MPH I CAR WOBBLES AN ROCKS SIDE TO SIDE REALLY BAD. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417692August 5, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH OR THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO EXCESSIVE SHAKING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR AXLE, BUSHINGS, AND STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400070May 4, 2011
SUSPENSION
RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 96 NISSAN PATHFINDER, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED AN UNCONTROLLABLE SWAY OR WOBBLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VERY NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. APPARENTLY IT'S SOURCE IS THE FAILURE OF THE REAR LINK BUSHINGS. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, EVERY VEHICLE WITH THIS SUSPENSION WILL EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM GIVEN ENOUGH LENGTH OF SERVICE. ALSO, THERE IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE FIX, WITH BUSHINGS COSTING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE, AND REQUIRING A HYDRAULIC PRESS TO INSTALL THE NEW BUSHINGS (SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE IN MY GARAGE). RECALL SEARCHES HAVE IDENTIFIED RECALLS FOR ISSUES SUCH AS POTENTIAL CORROSION POSSIBLY AFFECTING STEERING, REPLACEMENT LIGHTS NOT HAVING ENOUGH AMBER COLOR, AND THICKNESS OF THE CARPET PADDING. IF THESE ISSUES ARE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL, WHY IS SUSPENSION FAILURE NOT? I FEEL SAFE IN SAYING THAT THIS ISSUE HAS UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND PERHAPS DEATH, WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE CARES TO ADMIT IT. I ALSO KNOW THAT MINE IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA REGARDING THIS ISSUE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380091February 3, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I STARTED TO EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING,FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, EFFECTING MY STEERING AND HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE,WHEN EITHER CHANGING LANES OR WHEN I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD. I HONESTLY STARTED TO BELIEVE MY CAR WAS ABOUT TO ROLL OVER, THUS CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF AND POSSIBLY OTHERS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I THEN DECIDED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL NIZZAN DEALASHIP TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD,THAT THE LEFT APRON ASSEMBLY & LEFT CLOSINGPLATE WAS SEVERELY ROTTED OUT AND SPLIT APART DUE TO CORROSION, WHICH LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER, WHICH IN TURN AFFECTS THE VEHICLE'S ALIIGNMENT. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTOBODY SHOP AND HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PARTS THAT I DESCRIBED ABOVED,ALONG WITH BOLTED ON PARTS, AN UNDERCOATING SPRAY TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE CORROSION AND THE LABOR COST CHARGED INVOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379998February 2, 2011
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CLEAR CONDITIONS ON SMOOTH PAYMENT WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK AT SPEEDS OF 65-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN SWAYING AND WOBBLING IN A SEVERE MANNER, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE PATHFINDER. AS I WAS NOT IN AN AREA WHERE I COULD SAFELY STOP, I HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE SOME DISTANCE AND THE SWAYING AND WOBBLING CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND AM DISMAYED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS THIS IS A HIDDEN DEFECT. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL I SHOWED HIM MY FINDINGS FROM MY RESEARCH, AND CONFIRMED THE REAR BUSHINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374836January 5, 2011
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING MY 96 NISSAN PATHFINDER, I'VE NOTICED THAT AFTER 30 MILES PER HOUR MY VEHICLE STARTS TO SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY. I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL AND REDUCE THE SPEED FOR THE VEHICLE TO EVENTUALLY STOP THE SWAYING. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THEIR PROBLEM BUT YET DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE THIS SAFETY ISSUE A PRIORITY AND RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEMS. I CAN NO LONGER PICKUP MY GRANDSON AT DAYCARE BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID THAT THIS ISSUE WILL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. SO BASICALLY I CAN ONLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE WITHIN TOWN LIMITS WHILE DRIVING AS IF I WAS AN ELDERLY PERSON, AND REFRAINING FROM USING MY VEHICLE. IN TRYING TO FIND THE PARTS IN AFTERMARKET SOURCES, BECAUSE MY MECHANIC CAN ONLY FIND THEM DIRECTLY FROM NISSAN DEALER WHICH ARE ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH IN PRICE, I'VE NOTICED THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THEREFORE CONTROL THE BUYING MARKET, SO CUSTOMERS TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAN NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY IN THESE HARD ECONOMIC TIMES WHEN MILLIONS INCLUDING MYSELF ARE UNEMPLOYED AND BARELY MAKING IT! NISSAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS ISSUE, HOW MANY FATALITIES WILL IT TAKE BEFORE THEY ACT ON THIS ISSUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347481August 5, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CLEAR CONDITIONS ON SMOOTH PAYMENT WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK AT SPEEDS OF 65-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN SWAYING AND WOBBLING IN A SEVERE MANNER, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE PATHFINDER. AS I WAS NOT IN AN AREA WHERE I COULD SAFELY STOP, I HAD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE SOME DISTANCE AND THE SWAYING AND WOBBLING CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND AM DISMAYED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS THIS IS A HIDDEN DEFECT. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL I SHOWED HIM MY FINDINGS FROM MY RESEARCH, AND CONFIRMED THE REAR BUSHINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345594July 27, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR
1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS INHERENT REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY FROM THE REAR WITHOUT ANY ACTION BY THE DRIVER. THE PROBLEM IS POOR DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER RESULTING IN A VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMETIMES UNCONTROLLABLE DRIVING SITUATION. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343015July 13, 2010
TIRES
NOTICED THERE WAS A HUG BUMP/BULGE ON A FUTURA SUPER SPORT GLS 255/70/15 TIRE ON MY SUV. THE BUMP WAS ABOUT 7 INCHES LONG AND ABOUT 1 INCH HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL TREAD. WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, NOTICED CAR WAS BOUNCY/ROCKING. TOOK IT IN TO PEP BOYS WHO SAID IT WAS A DEFECT AND REPLACED AT PRORATED RATE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE SPOTTED. IF THE TIRE BLEW WHILE DRIVING, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. TWO DAYS AFTER HAVING THE DEFECTIVE TIRE (MENTIONED ABOVE) REPLACED, NOTICED A SECOND FUTURA SUPER SPORT GLS (PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME) WAS SHOWING THE SAME DEFECT. THE BULGE WASN'T AS BAD BUT IT WAS STARTING TO FORM AND GROW. TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS WHO REPLACED AGAIN AT PRORATED RATE. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT OF THE 3 TIRES I BOUGHT IN 2006, 2 HAVE THE SAME MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT? I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DEFECT IF INTERESTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343013July 13, 2010
TIRES
NOTICED THERE WAS A HUGE BUMP/BULGE ON A FUTURA SUPER SPORT GLS 255/70/15 TIRE ON MY SUV. THE BUMP WAS ABOUT 7 INCHES LONG AND ABOUT 1 INCH HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL TREAD. WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, NOTICED CAR WAS BOUNCY/ROCKING. TOOK IT IN TO PEP BOYS WHO SAID IT WAS A DEFECT AND REPLACED AT PRORATED RATE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE SPOTTED. IF THE TIRE BLEW WHILE DRIVING, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. TWO DAYS AFTER HAVING THE DEFECTIVE TIRE (MENTIONED ABOVE) REPLACED, NOTICED A SECOND FUTURA SUPER SPORT GLS (PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME) WAS SHOWING THE SAME DEFECT. THE BULGE WASN'T AS BAD BUT IT WAS STARTING TO FORM AND GROW. TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS WHO REPLACED AGAIN AT PRORATED RATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341396July 4, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR
1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A SERIOUS WOBBLE FROM THE REAR OF MY PATHFINDER AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. IT IS DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL IF I DO NOT REDUCE MY SPEED WHICH CAN BE A HAZARD ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319474March 13, 2010
SUSPENSION
MY 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE HAS A TERRIBLE WOBBLE, SWAYING MOTION ( LEFT TO RIGHT) THAT RESEMBLES THAT OF ROCKING A BOAT. I HAD THE SHOCKS REPLACED, NEW TIRES, ECT., BUT IT STILL EXIST WHEN YOU GET UP TO ABOUT 60 MPH. I HAVE ALMOST HAD SOME SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND EVENTUALLY, I AM SURE IT WILL HAPPEN. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM COMPLETELY BAFFLED AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292498November 17, 2009
SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION:REAR
PATHFINDER 1996 - ALL 8 REAR BUSHINGS HAVE FAILED - THE WHOLE REAR END FISHTAILS AROUND; THE REAR END HAS NOTHING TO KEEP THE REAR WHEELS SQUARE - SWAY BAR STABILIZER LINK - RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE REAR STABILIZERS ARE DEFECTIVE - CAUSES TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL - DRIVER & PASSENGER NECK SNAPS BACK AND FORTH DANGEROUSLY - REAR UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL LINK ROD BUSHINGS DEFECTIVE - WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH - 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 ? TSB - DOES NOTHING - NO REPORT OF DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS INCLUDED WITH THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE - NISSAN HAS STUCK IT'S HEAD IN THE SAND - *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280742August 17, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR END SWAYS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS SO I CHANGED SHOCKS & STRUTS BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, FOUND OUT ITS THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE REAR STABILIZERS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278532July 28, 2009
SUSPENSION
WHEN TRAVELING 50 MPH GOING EITHER IN LEFT (MOST PREVALENT) OR RIGHT DIRECTION - VEHICLE MAKES A ROCKING MOTION THAT SEEMS TO START IN REAR - GETS WORSE IN TIME - MAY CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL - HAVE HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOK AT PROBLEM AND THEY CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT - HAVE WRITTEN TO NISSAN WITHOUT A RESPONSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273518June 11, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHEN TOWING A CAMPER WITH MY 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER THE SHOCKS GAVE OUT AND CAUSED THE BODY OF THE CAR TO DROP DOWN TO RUB ON THE WHEELS. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE CAMPER THE BODY ROSE UP TO NORMAL POSITION AND I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME AREA OVER THE REAR WHEELS ON BOTH SIDES IS COMPLETELY ROTTED. CHECKING MY SON-IN-LAWS 1995 PATHFINDER I DISCOVERED THAT HIS WAS AS BAD OR WORSE THAN MINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272428May 30, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
I BOUGHT A USED NISSAN PATHFINDER 1996 FROM A DEALER ON 2002. THE CAR WORKED FINE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT IT STARTED TO WOBBLE SIDE TO SIDE. THE PROBLEM WAS ESCALATING, I CHANGED TIRES, STRUTS, AXLE AND THE PROBLEM STILL THERE. THE WARRANTY FINISH FROM THE DEALER AND BOOM THE PROBLEM GOT HARDER TO FIX DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES. IT IS HARD TO SEE THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND I NEED IT FIX. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS HAVING TO DRIVE A CAR THAT SWAYS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE CAR BUT IT IS SITTING ON MY DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR ME TO FIND AN ABSOLUTION. THE DEALER SHOULD OF TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG IF THEY HAD REPORTS. I WAS A NEWBIE BUYING A CAR SO LITTLE DID I KNOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262357March 18, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
I JUST BOUGHT A NISSAN PATHFINDER LE 1996 - I FOUND MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE (SEE POSTS: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/T5LSTPR50NPCO9CTL/P7) - LOCAL MECHANIC HAS INDICATED THE REPAIR ON MINE WOULD BE AROUND $700 - $1000 - THE REAL PROBLEM IS PREMATURE WEAR OF UPPER AND LOWER REAR CONTROL ARMS BUSHINGS (THIS APPLIES TO 1996-2001 APPARENTLY). I DROVE THE VEHICLE FROM OREGON TO CALIFORNIA AND IT WAS A REAL CHALLENGE TO MANAGE THE SWAYING FROM SIDE TO SIDE - THE ONLY WAY TO MITIGATE THE CAR FROM WOBBLING IS TO EITHER REDUCE SPEED OR ACCELERATE. THIS SHOULD HAD BEEN A SAFETY RECALL FROM NISSAN INSTEAD A SERVICE BULLETIN - THE VEHICLE TURNS TO BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT FREEWAY SPEED AND COULD EASILY ROLL OVER. *TR PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE, DINO ANDRETTA YORBA LINDA, CA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261360March 9, 2009
SUSPENSION
1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER. ENTIRE VEHICLE SWAYS WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OF 50+MPH, AS IF YOU ARE PLAYING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND ROCKING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH. NISSAN ISSUED A TSB BACK IN 1998. THE # IS: NTB 98001. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AND IT MAKES FOR VERY UNSAFE CONDITIONS. NO ACCIDENT DUE TO CONDITION YET. HOWEVER, I FEEL IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. I WOULD BE STUNNED IF NISSAN HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN SUED OVER THIS ISSUE. IF YOU GOOGLE: PATHFINDER SWAY WOBBLE, YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME CONDITION. THE REAR LINK ARMS/BUSHINGS ARE DEFECTIVE, YET THEY HAVE NEVER RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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