Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
CLAIM NUMBER 40-2606-213 - WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DUNLOP GRANDTREK (P265/70R15 11OS; DOT DBTR A16 207) TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER TWICE; VEHICLE IS NON-DRIVEABLE, 4 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *TT
UPON BUYING VEHICLE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN THRITY DAYS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
SECURING PIN INSIDE OF TRANSMISSION CAME LOOSE. DAMAGED GEARS ON VEHICLE,AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
TIRE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF SEVERE WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE, FACE SURFACE NEAR THE WEDGE AS OPPOSED TO THE WEAR BEING ON THE PART OF THE TIRE THAT IS IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. THE WEAR IS TO THE EXTENT THAT THE STEEL THREADS HAVE COME THROUGH AND ARE EXPOSED.
TRANSMISSION DRIVE CAUSES A BIG CLUNKING NOISE WHEN IN DRIVE POSITION, IT HAPPENS WHEN STOPPING OR STARTING. NISSAN DEALER INDICATED THAT REPAIR IS ONLY DONE TO VEHICLES UNDER 60K MILES EVEN THOUGH THEY RECOGNIZED IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. ****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****755943. *AK *JB
CONSUMER STATES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHEN AT A STOP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FOWARD WHEN IT CATCHES.*JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY FROM THE REAR END FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT FELT LIKE I WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I REGAINED CONTROL BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS. THE PROBLEM CAME BACK REPEATEDLY -- AT LEAST 20 TIMES DURING MY TRIP ON INTERSTATE 80 WHILE BRINGING MY DAUGHTER BACK TO COLLEGE. THE PROPLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO ANY SPECIFICE ROAS SURFACE CONDITION. IT WOUL HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE. THE ROAD COULD BE FLAT AND SMOOTH. IT DID NOT MATTER. I AM SURE THAT I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING THE WINTER AND THERE WAS SNOW OR EVEN WORSE ICE ON THE ROAD. SINCE I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED, I TOOK IT THAT AFTERNOON AND HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT (FRONT AND REAR) AND I HAD THE TIRES BALANCED HOPING THAT THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME THE NEXT DAY FROM THE COLLEGE THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND I CAN ONLY COMPARE IT TO WHEN YOU SEE A CAR TOWING A TRAILER BEHIND IT AND THE TRAILER BEGINS TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS TO MANY MODELS OF THE NISSAN PATHFINDER COVERING AT LEAST THE YEARS 1997, 1998 AND 1999 AND IT IS NOT RELATED TO ANY SPECIFIC MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. IT COULD HAPPEN AT 15,000 MILES OR 90,000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IS CAUSED BY A DESIGN FAILURE OF THE BUSHINGS (THERE ARE 4 OF THEM) THAT ARE PART OF THE CONTROL ARMS.*AK
I'M NOT SURE I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE BUT... BOTH STRUTS ON THE FRONT OF MY PATHFINDER BLEW OUT.. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.. IT WASN'T UNUSAL TO SEE PATHFINDERS WITH LESS MILES AND DUEL BUSTED STRUTS ... SHE CONCLUDED BY SAYING TWO BLOW STRUTS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *AK
SHOCK ABSORBER LEAKS. APPARENTLY SUCH A HIGH VOLUME OF DEFECTS, THAT THERE IS A 1-6 MONTH WAIT. CONCERNED BECAUSE CONTINUED USE MAY CAUSE LOST CONTACT OF ROAD, LOSS OF STEERING, AND UNSTABLE RIDE. COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT WITH SERIUOS OR DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE CHANGING MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH VEHICLE STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 TENSION BARS.*AK *SLC
COMING FROM A STOP DRIVER WAS ABOUT TO MAKE LEFT HAND TURN WHEN A HEAVY TRUCK GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH HIT FRONT PORTION OF VEHICLE, CAUSING ABOUT $10,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. ALSO, UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. *AK
VEHICLE HAS HAD ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS FROM TIME OF PURCHASE. DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SWAYBAR WAS INOPERABLE. NISSAN WILLING TO REPLACE SWAYBAR UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT TIRES.
NO SUMMARY LIASTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235 75 R15 FAILED, ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL, SEVERAL PEOPLE INJURED AND TWO FATALITIES DUE TO ACCIDENT. *SLC
WHILE RETURNING FROM A BASEBALL GAME IN NEW YORK CITY, ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2000, MY NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FELL ASLEEP IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE PATHFINDER. SOMEHOW THE SEAT BELT SHE WAS WEARING BECAME TWISTED AROUND HER SO THAT SHE HAD BOTH THE SHOULDER HARNESS CACROSS HER CHEST AND THE LAP BELT AROUND HER WAIST. WHEN WE STOPPED , SHE AWAKENED, RELEASED HER BELT AND THE BELT RETRACTED. SHE BEGAN TO CRY SAYING THAT SHE WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT MOVE. I WENT TO HER AIDE AND TRIED TO FREE HER FROM THE HARNESS. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH EVERY MOVE THE BELT JUST RETRACTED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I ASKED HER TO TRY AND SLIP OUT OF THE BELT. BIG MISTAKE. THE BELT RETRACTED MORE UNTIL IT WAS AROUND THE THINEST PART OF HER MIDRIFT. SHE BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE BREATHING, AND COMBINED WITH THE PANIC THAT WAS BEGINNING TO SET IN BEGAN TO STRUGGLE EVEN MORE. I TUGGED ON THAT BELT. I REASSURED HER WE WOULD GET HER OUT. I CLOSED THE DOOR AND REOPENED THE DOOR. NOTHING WOULD RELEASE THAT BELT. I REMOVED THE PLASTIC CAP WHERE THE BELT WAS CONTAINED. I HAD TOOLS. I FIGURED I COULD SIMPLY UNBOLT THE STRAP. NO DICE. THE BOLT DOES NOT MATCH UP WITH THE HOLE. NOW I HAD A CHOICE TO MAKE. LET THE CHILD SUFFER, RIP THE PLASTIC COVERINGS OF THE CAR OFF, OR CUT THE BELT. I CUT THE BELT OFF MY CHILD. I THOUGHT THIS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO REPORT FOR ONE MAJOR REASON. WHAT IF THERE HAD BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND MY CHILD WAS STRAPPED IN THE SEAT UNABLE TO MOVE, AND A FIRE ENSUED. WE WOULD BOTH HAVE BEEN CONSUMED. I KNOW
MY VEHICLE A NISSAN PATHFINDER WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER BEING DRIVEN APPROX 1 HOUR . APPROX 1 HOUR LATER AFTER RETUNING HOME THE PARKED VEHICLE STARTED TO BURN UP. THE FIRE DEPATMENT REPORTED THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. IF THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN IN MY GARAGE MY HOME WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED OR WORST. I FIND IT VERY UPSETTING THAT THE CAR WAS NOT IN OPERATION AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST TO OTHER PATHFINDERS BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO WARN ANYONE OPERATING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE NOT TO FEEL THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE SHUT THE CAR OFF THAT ALL IS WELL. I STILL CAN'T ACCEPT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND WHAT MIGHT HAVE DESTROYED MY LIFE IF I HAD LEFT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I AM ALSO CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AWARE OF. *AK
ON A CLEAR DAY WITH ONLY ONE OTHER CAR WITHIN SIGHT , IN THE AFTERNOON OUR PATHFINDER WAS INEXPLICABLY DRAWN SIDEWAYS OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS OUT OF CONTROL. WE TRAVELED FOR QUITE A DISTANCE ON THE GRASSED AREA WHICH WAS LIGHTLY SNOW COVERED AND CONTINUED CLOSELY BY THE TREE LINE. MY HUSBAND WAS A TRUCK DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP US FROM HITTING THE TREES BUT WE SLID OVER A DIP IN THE TERRAIN THAT SENT OUR VEHICLE FLYING THROUGH THE AIR AND AFTER LANDING MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO BRING IT TO REST IN A DITCH AFTER HITTING A CEMENT CULVERT. WE FOUND WE HAD A BLOWN TIRE IN THE REAR AND THE FRONT TIRE EXPLODED ON IMPACT WITH THE CULVERT. THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. ALL OF US WERE IN SEATBELTS. OUR SON DID NOT GET HURT(HE WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AND I HAD MY BODY TURNED TRYING TO HOLD HIM DOWN. THE IMPACT SENT MY RIGHT HAND SIDE FLYING INTO THE FRONT DASH AND DOOR. I SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE INJURY TO MY RIGHT HAND SHOULDER AND ARM AND WAS OUT OF WORK AND IN PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR MONTHS. MY HUSBAND WAS ALSO THROWN AROUND CONSIDERABLY. TO THIS DAY WE HAVE NO IDEA AND THE POLICE COULD NOT PINPOINT ANY REASON FOR THIS CRASH OTHER THAN A DEFECTIVE TIRE. WE THOUGHT THE DESIGN IN THE PATHFINDER MIGHT BE FAULTY AND I DID REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE NHTSA IN FEB/MARCH OF THAT YEAR. WE HAVE SINCE GOTTEN RID OF THE PATHFINDER AS OUR SON WAS TERRIFIED TO TRAVEL IN IT. THE VEHICLE ITSELF HELD UP WELL IN THE CRASH AND WE CONSIDER OURSELVES LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN IN SUCH A WELL MADE VE
WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE MY VEHICLE, THE GAS PEDAL WILL SOMETIMES STICK AND WHEN I GET ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL IT WILL THEN LURCH THE VEHICLE FORWARD. THE BRAKES SQUEAL CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS ABOVE FREEZING. I HAVE HAD IT IN NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM. THE VEHICLE'S ABS SYSTEMS SEEMS TO GRAB BEFORE IT SHOULD WHEN THE GROUND IS DRY WITH GRAVEL OR THERE IS SNOW OR ICE ON THE GROUND. EEMS TO. *AK
WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A DEAD STOP, NOTHING HAPPENS. SUDDENLY THE PEDAL CATCHES AND VEHICLE LURCHES. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS BEEN CORRECTED. MANUFACTURER COMMENTED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CONSIDERED A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, WHICH CONCERNS THE OWNER. *AK *ML
BATTERY WENT DEAD (7 VOLTS). SUN ROOF STUCK IN OPEN POSITION. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CALIPER BOLT MISSING ON DRIVERS SIDE AND TOP BOLT LOOSE CAUSING NOISE WHEN BRAKING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR WHILE BRAKING. NLM
VEHICLE LEANS TO LEFT. DEALER PROVIDE SERVICE BULLETIN THAT RECOGNIZED DEFECT BUT FELT IT IS STILL WITHIN NORMS. THIS IMBALANCE CAN AFFECT HANDLING, ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING. THIS LEANING IS VERY NOTICEABLE.
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DEARLERSHIP CHANGED HER VEHICLE FROM FOUR- WHEEL DRIVE TO TWO- WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT HER PERMISSION. THE PROBLEMS IS THE VEHICLE CANNOT PULL ON HILLS, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOESN'T KICK IN ON DRY OR WET PAVEMENT. *AK
VEHICLE LEANS NOTICIABLY TO THE LEFT, EVEN WHEN PARKED WITH NO CARGO. THE DEALER SHOWED ME A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT STATED THE LEANING WAS "ACCEPTABLE" BY THEIR STANDARDS. I FEEL THAT THE LEANING CAN AFFECT THE DYNAMIC HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE AND CAN CAUSE OR AGGRAVATE HANDLING PROBLEMS.
NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/70R15 )
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH AND APPROACHING AN EXIT RAMP. ALSO, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN A MINOR COLLISION ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE, AND EACH TIME BUMPER HAS COLLAPSED TO THE LEFT SIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON DIRECT FRONT END IMPACT AT 55 MPH. *AK
BATTERY FAILED. *YC
TRANSFER CASE IN TRANSMISSION CLUNKY. YH
DRIVESHAFT POOR PERFORMANCE. YH
DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE MAKES CLUNKY NOISE. YH
BRAKES FAILED. YH
TIRE FAILED. (265/70R/15 BRIDGESTON/DUELER H/T) YH
TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
(GENERAL TIRE P235/70R15) ONE TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT ON FREEWAY, ON ANOTHER OCCASION ONE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED BY A NAIL CAUSING A SLOW LEAK. *YC
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE STANDARD SHIFT IN 5TH GEAR, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING WENT INTO REVERSE, CAUSING A COLLISION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ROLLS BACKWARDS FREELY WHILE IN DRIVE, HAS LOUD BANGING LIKE SOMEONE CRASHED INTO BACK END WHEN STARTING OR STOPPING AND WHILE DRIVING
TRANSMISSION DRIVE TRAIN FAULTY CAUSING CLUNKING NOISE AS PER SERVICE BULLETIN.
ABS SYSTEM IS FAILING TO OPERATE PROPERLY. WHENEVER BRAKES ARE NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OTHER THEN DRY GROUND OR ALL OTHER CONDITION, VEHICLE WOULD SKID BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS NORMAL FOR ABS ON WET CONDITIONS. *AK
TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH IN A RIGHT HAND LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, DRIVER FELT SOMETHING ODD IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AS IF THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE STEERING WHEEL TURNING SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND A LOUD "BANG" UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION; THE DRIVER STRUGGLED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, BUT IT WAS NONETHELESS PULLED TO THE RIGHT, ACROSS THE SHOULDER AND INTO A DITCH RUNNING PARALLLEL TO THE ROAD; AFTER DROPPING INTO THE DITCH THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND BEGAN CLIMBING AN EMBANKMENT; THE DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT AND POINT THE VEHICLE BACK TOWARD THE ROAD; AS THE VEHICLE MOVED DOWN THE EMBANKMENT AND BACK INTO THE DITCH, THE FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE BOTTOMED OUT WHERE THE DITCH ENDED AT A DRIVEWAY , WHICH RUNS PERPENDICULAR TO ROUTE 50, INTO A FARM; THE VEHICLE BOUNCED BACK ONTO THE ROAD AND CROSSED THE TWO EASTBOUND LANES; THE DRIVER MANAGED TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE OUT IN THE CENTER OF THE GRASS MEDIAN AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THEY WERE INOPERATIVE, THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND AS THE DRIVER GLANCED AT THE SPEEDOMETER THE VEHICLE WAS STILL TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH, A FULL QUARTER MILE FROM WHERE THE INCIDENT BEGAN. THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ENGAGED, AND WAS NOT BEING TRIGGERED "OFF" BY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS S
WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER AWAITING PARTS. *AK
FRONT END SHAKES.
SEAT BELTS DO NOT SECURE THE CHILD SAFETY SEATS PROPERLY, NOT TIGHT ENOUGH.
CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK
STEERING FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH/INJURIES.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder → · Every Pathfinder year → · How the figures are calculated →