1996 Nissan Pathfinder complaints

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TRIED CALLING NISSAN RE: RECALL FOR BRAKES AND STEERING, AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE STARTER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK INTERMITTENTLY AND JOLT FORWARD. *SC

MY PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER AND WHEN RIDING OVER 60 MPH I START TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR BECAUSE IT FEELS AS MY CAR WANTS TO TILT OVER. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN OTHER COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO ME FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS HERE AND THERE.. NOT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN CONTROL ON THE CAR BY SLOWLY PRESSING ON THE BREAK AND STARTING UP AGAIN. I WILL BE TAKING MY CAR NEXT WEEK TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SINCE IT'S STARTING TO GET WORSE. MY FATHER IS A MECHANIC AND HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND HE FINALLY TOLD ME TO JUST TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SHOULD BE KNOW. *AK

B&J TIRES AND WHEELS SOLD ME A TIRE THAT WAS OVER TEN YEARS OLD AND THE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED BY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE RECALL OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES. *AK

BOTH REAR DOOR LATCHES ARE NOT WORKING. ONE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE SINCE JAN. OF 2004, NOW THE OTHER DOOR WON'T OPEN (AUG. 04). I DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN AND VERY RARELY USE THE REAR DOORS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 56 MPH VEHICLE WENT OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD AND LOST CONTROL, AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES, EJECTING THE DRIVER FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER DIED AT THE SCENE. *AK

WHILE STEPPING ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE RUNNING BOARD IT SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE RUNNING BOARD, PLACE IT INSIDE VEHICLE, AND DRIVE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RUNNING BOARD WAS RUSTED. *AK

CLUTCH STICKING - SUV TOWED TO DEALER - CLUTCH FLUID REPLACED AS POSSIBLE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, A WEEK LATER CLUTCH STARTED STICKING AGAIN WHEN DEPRESSED - DROVE SUV TO DEALER - THEY KEPT OVERNIGHT AND SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM - PICKED-UP SUV AT DEALER STARTED IT NEXT MORNING AND CLUTCH WAS STICKING AGAIN.

PASSENGER'S SIDE RUNNING BOARD BRACKET RUSTED AND COULD FALL APART. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. WHEN PLACING VEHICLE INTO GEAR MUST APPLY PRESSURE TO ACCELERATOR TO RELEASE IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT RELEASES SUDDENLY IN A WAY WHICH CAUSES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ALSO VEHICLE SHAKES WHILE DRIVING . DEALER HAS REPLACED BALL JOINTS, BUT PROBLEM. STILL EXISTS. *AK

THIS CAR IS A 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH A SLEW OF PROBLEMS RANGING FROM: TICKING GAS, AND BRAKE PEDAL, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS/ VIBRATING, HEAT SHIELD, UNEVEN WEAR OF TIRE,LEAKING SUNROOF. *AK

SEVERE RUSTING OF FRAME, WORST AREA IS AT LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE AT TOP OF CURVE IN FRAME AT TIRE. SEVERAL BODY SHOPS AND A NISSAN DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED AT A COST EFFECTIVE RATE AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE USED AS INTENDED. IT COULD FALL APART UNDER TENSION. NISSAN CO. USA SAID IT IS OUT OF WARRENTY, SORRY FOR YOUR LUCK.*AK

I HAVE HAD THE ECU ON MY 1996 PATHFINDER XE REPLACED TWO TIMES WITHIN THE 1 YEAR OF OWNING IT. AT THIS RATE I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. NLM

THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION.*JB

WHILE DRIVING SHE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD ABOUT IT. PH

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S PULLEY IN THE ENGINE WOBBLES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FREEZE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATION PEDAL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NEVER HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. TS

NO SUMMARY. DT

CONSUMER CALLED CONPLETING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES FAILURE INTERMEDIADLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTOR WERE CONTACTED AND HAS STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM BUT CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT HAD THE BRAKES CHANGED LAST MONTH. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT HER SON WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF ICE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL AND THE PASSENGER, CONSUMERS HUSBAND, TO BE EJECTED, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PASSENGERS SEAT WAS RECLINED, HOWEVER THE SEAT BELT WAS USELESS IN PREVENTING PASSENGER FROM SUBMARINING UNDER THE BELT AND BEING EJECTED, PASSENGER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, SOMETHING FELL OFF FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND 4 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, CLAIM 46-0449-841. *SLC

INSURED EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE,(GENERAL GRABBER 235/70/R15 DOT ADM1 2WH 385), CLAIM 43-R724-500. *JG

VEHICLE SWAYS ALL OVER THE ROAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT STRUTS WERE BAD.*AK

DANGER VEHICLE ROCKS VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING A BUMP. FRONT STRUTS CHANGED 3 TIMES (ONLY 128000 MILES ON SUV). BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WERE CRACKED AND REPLACED BEFORE 100000 MILES.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT FAILED.

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH WHEN FRONT WHEEL SHIFTED TO LEFT. STRUT BAR HAD SNAPPED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. IT ALMOST SEPARATED FROM AXLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC GAVE NO INDICATION OF CAUSE OF BREAKAGE. CLAIMED WEAR AND TEAR USAGE. *AK *SLC

CONSUMER STATES ODOMETER WOULD ROLL, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A GARAGE AND WAS ADVISED IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE HAD ROLLED IT BACK, POSSIBLE ODOMETER FRAUD. *JB

ALL 8 REAR BUSHINGS HAVE FAILED. IT WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED BY LITHIA NISSAN. WE HAD TWO SECOND OPINIONS DONE BY OUTSIDE MECHANICS, WHO BOTH FELT THAT THE RUBBER INSIDE HAD TURNED INTO LIQUID AND RAN OUT. YOU COULD SEE THE RUBBER HANGING DOWN IN STRANDS. BOTH MECHANICS FELT THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PART AND THE DAMAGE WAS NOT FROM WEAR AND TEAR. NISSAN WILL NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS A FACTORY DEFECT AND OFFERS NO WARRANTY. THE WHOLE HIND END OF MY PATHFINDER FISHTAILS AROUND, THE HIND END HAS NOTHING TO KEEP THE REAR WHEELS SQUARE. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT, UNTIL THE PARTS ARE REPLACED, WHICH I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF FIGHTING WITH THEM ABOUT. (I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD MY PROBLEM WAS THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS SO I REPLACED THEM FIRST). *AK

WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY STEERING WHEEL WENT ONE WAY AND TIRES WENT OTHER WAY. CONSUMER SAID STEERING ROD WAS STRIPPED.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRUCK WILL NOT START AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND COLD TEMPERATURE, THEREFORE LEAVING YOU STRANDED IN COLD WEATHER. NISSAN IS AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK

WILL NOT START AT HIGH ALTITUDE/ LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. *AK

DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE THUMPING SOUND. *AK

VEHICLE FAILS TO START AT LOW TEMPERATURES/ HIGH ALTITUTE UPON COLD STARTUP. VERY DANGEROUS IN REMOTE AREAS OF COLORADO IN THE WINTER AS TEMPERATURES BEGIN TO DROP. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RECALL 96V034000/ STEERING GEAR BOX. DEALER CANNOT PROVIDE PARTS FOR RECALL FOR 3 MONTHS. *AK

PE00 -020; CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A POPPY NOISE. SHE WAS LOOKING THROUGH SIDEVIEW MIRROR AND A SAW DUST FROM T BLOWEN TIRE. SHE LOST CONTROL, AND VEHICLE WENT INTO GUARDRAIL. REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. ALSO, THE FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. FIRESTONE, FIREHAWK, P23570R15. AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY, AND THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES.*AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SHE HEARD A NOISE, RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED MORE THAN ONCE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND THERE WERE TWO INJURIES. THESE WERE BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 689, SIZE WAS P26570R15. *AK *MJS

STEEL BELT SEPARATOIN - BUBBLE FORMATION CAUSING ROAD INSTABILITY - WAS IN REAR, HAD BEEN IN FRONT I WOULD NOT BE TYPING THIS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 9.5 X 30 )