FaultScore

1997 Nissan Pathfinder brake problems

16 of the 293 complaints about the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder are about the braking system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 113,000 miles.

D

16

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 8 50.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 4 25.0%
Foundation Components 3 18.8%
Antilock 1 6.3%

Brakes across every Nissan Pathfinder year

1995 11 2.7%
1996 15 3.7%
1997 16 4.0%
1998 18 4.5%
2000 11 2.7%
2001 12 3.0%
2003 13 3.2%
2004 20 5.0%
2005 20 5.0%
2013 67 16.6%
2014 41 10.2%
2015 25 6.2%
2016 14 3.5%
2017 11 2.7%
2018 21 5.2%
2019 13 3.2%
2022 34 8.4%
2023 20 5.0%
2024 21 5.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Pittsburgh, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WERE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA complaint #10437503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,000 miles Hanahan, SC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I MOVED TO CHARLESTON SC IN JUNE OF 2007 FROM RICHMOND VA. I BEGAN TO HEAR A CLICKING SOUND WHENEVER I WOULD TURN A CORNER OR TURN STEERING WHEEL TO PARK OR LEAVE DRIVEWAY ABOUT A YEAR AGO. EVERYTIME I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE OR MAINTENANCE, I WOULD TELL MECHANIC. IT WASN'T UNTIL MAY OF 2011 SOMEONE ACTUALLY CHECKED FRONT TIRES AND AXLES AND STRUT MOUNTS. THIS IS WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF DAMAGE. I STILL HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS TRYING TO REPAIR NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS BECAUSE NOONE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR THREE FRONT END ALIGNMENTS IN TWO WEEKS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. NOW I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER UNTIL ABOUT 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO AND IT DOES NOT LIST RICHMOND VA AS ONE OF THE STATES, HOWEVER, EVERY YEAR I LIVED IN VA WE HAD LOTS OF SNOW AND SALT WAS PUT DOWN WITH SAND. WE ALSO HAD FLOOD GASTON IN AUGUST OF 2005 SO THERE WERE NUMEROUS STATE THAT EXPERIENCED REGULAR SALT USE IN THE WINTER.I WOULD APPRECIATE NISSAN SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT FOR INSPECTION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10436808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Bayonne, NJ Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO VEER OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A CURB. THE VEHICLE'S AXLE BROKE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. *JB THE BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOST OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK, THERE WAS A RATTLING/BUZZING SOUND UPON ACCELERATION, THE BRAKES SLIPPED, AND THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT RESPOND AT TIMES. *SCC PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE STRUTS LEAKED AND THE LEFT FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10044690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rosemead, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

THE NISSAN DEALER CREATS ALL KIND OF TACTICS TO DELAY TO FIX ALL THE KNOWN PROBLEMS TO NISSAN PATHFINDER MODEL. I HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCES AND WITNESSES TO PROVE THAT THEY UNDERMINE CUSTOMER 'S TRUST. THEY DOCTORED THE PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF RECOGNIZING THEM AND FIX THEM.

NHTSA complaint #714452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salt Lake City, UT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. ALSO WHEN IT'S WET OUTSIDE AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP INSTANTLY. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #846494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cape Coral, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

PROBLEMS STARTED AT 2,600 MILES. TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 3,000, CAR SHAKES BETWEEN 45 AND 60 MPH. BRAKES VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED, AND CAR SHIMMYS TO A STOP. VEHICLE HAD $6,000.00 IN REPAIRS TO FIX A REAR END THUMP. FRONT END "BOTTOMS OUT" WHEN GOING OVER LARGE BUMPS, NEW STRUTS WERE INSTALLED ,NOW PROBLEM IS WORSE. VIBRATION NOISE IS NON-FIXABLE ACCORDING TO NISSAN. NISSAN SERVICE CLAIMS ALL PROBLEMS ARE INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #707334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Highlands Ranch, CO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

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

Folly Beach, SC Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES KEEP FAILING INTERMITTANTLY , NISSAN REFUSES TO FIX AND WILL NOT ASSIST ME VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS "HELP"

NHTSA complaint #703901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Folly Beach, SC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #703055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #832476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashland, OR Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

SOMETIMES, THE ABS DOES NOT STOP THE TRUCK ON GRAVEL ROADS. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING THE SUV TO SLIDE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. AROUND 8/15/98 CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE SUV WOULD NOT STOP, CONTINUED TO SLIDE AND CRASHED INTO A ELECTRIC GATE ON CONSUMER'S PROPERTY.

NHTSA complaint #827424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelphia, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ANTI LOCK BRAKES SLIDE WHEN ENGAGING.

NHTSA complaint #531194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scarsdale, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TURN OVER.

NHTSA complaint #518088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cape Coral, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKES AFTER STOPPING, A LOUD BUMP SOUND CAME FROM THE REAR. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED.

NHTSA complaint #522550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hohokus, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON WET PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE SKIDS AND WILL NOT STOP. A MONITOR WAS INSTALLED FOR THE ABS AND IT STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #805363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hohokus, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON WET PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE SKIDS AND WILL NOT STOP. A MONITOR WAS INSTALLED FOR THE ABS AND IT STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #805363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Nissan Pathfinder problems

← Full 1997 Nissan Pathfinder report