FaultScore

1997 Nissan Pathfinder body problems

17 of the 293 complaints about the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder are about the body and structure — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 124,000 miles.

A

17

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Body 6 35.3%
Frame AND Members 4 23.5%
Structure 3 17.6%
Underbody Shields 3 17.6%
Door 1 5.9%

Body & Structure across every Nissan Pathfinder year

1993 11 2.7%
1994 23 5.6%
1995 61 14.9%
1996 12 2.9%
1997 17 4.1%
1998 16 3.9%
1999 18 4.4%
2000 29 7.1%
2001 32 7.8%
2002 19 4.6%
2003 12 2.9%
2005 15 3.7%
2013 84 20.5%
2014 48 11.7%
2015 13 3.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 99,000 miles Granite Falls, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY

DRIVING TRUCK GOT SO BAD IT WAS HARD TO KEEP IN ROAD..WOULD GO SIDE TO SIDE ON HIGHWAY AND TURNS WERE NOT EASY TO SAY IN LANE.TOOK TO CLARKTIRE CO ..THEY REPLACED LOTS OF PARTS AND SAID MOUNTS FOR SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE PRETTY BADLY RUSTED CAUSING EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THOSE.

NHTSA complaint #10820653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Boston, MA

STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

NHTSA complaint #10547766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,003 miles Fairfax, VA

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

THE ROUND RUNNING BOARDS ARE RUSTING SEVERELY AND POSE A DANGER TO ANYONE ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10519303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Hebron, KY

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10508981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fresh Meadows, NY

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10445035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Little Falls, NY

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* 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*LJ THE 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.

NHTSA complaint #10441605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Antonito, CO

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 OF THE 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)

NHTSA complaint #10432789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manitowish Waters, WI

STRUCTURE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10415023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 157,000 miles Seneca Falls, NY

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10413125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 109,000 miles Midland Park, NJ

STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

NHTSA complaint #10406550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 191,000 miles Staten Island, NY

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER ABOUT TO COLLAPSE DUE TO SEVERE ROT.

NHTSA complaint #10397240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 108,000 miles Evanston, IL

STRUCTURE:BODY

LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER, AND FRAME RUSTED AWAY CAUSING STRUT TO HIT STEERING SHAFT. BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HITTING HOOD. VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10394911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 194,000 miles Branchburg, NJ

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10349436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cincinnati, OH

STRUCTURE

#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.

NHTSA complaint #10139016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE ALARM PUT ON. SINCE THEN POWER DOOR LOCKS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED BY THEMSELVES. COSUMER HAS TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO BE FIXED, BUT NO REMEDY SOLUTION FOUND.

NHTSA complaint #897713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX

STRUCTURE

MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR OUT. ALSO, RUNNING BOARD AFFECTS STEERING, CAUSES POOR HANDLING OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #781217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Highlands Ranch, CO

STRUCTURE:BODY

WIND NOISE WITHIN COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA complaint #544071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Nissan Pathfinder problems

← Full 1997 Nissan Pathfinder report