FaultScore

1997 Nissan Pathfinder transmission problems

20 of the 293 complaints about the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder are about the transmission — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 92,500 miles.

A

20

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 5 25.0%
Power Train 4 20.0%
Differential Unit 4 20.0%
Manual Transmission 2 10.0%
Axle Assembly 2 10.0%
Clutch Assembly 2 10.0%
Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 1 5.0%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Nissan Pathfinder year

1990 13 0.5%
1991 15 0.6%
1992 10 0.4%
1994 10 0.4%
1995 21 0.9%
1996 13 0.5%
1997 20 0.8%
1998 23 1.0%
2002 11 0.5%
2005 591 24.4%
2006 451 18.7%
2007 337 13.9%
2008 155 6.4%
2010 11 0.5%
2013 371 15.3%
2014 215 8.9%
2015 76 3.1%
2017 34 1.4%
2018 12 0.5%
2022 17 0.7%
2023 12 0.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

North Wilkesboro, NC

POWER TRAIN

The vehicle swings left to right when cruising at about any speed. When the vehicle is pulling it does not swing or sway, however once the vehicle has got up to a desired speed and you try to maintain a steady speed it starts a “death wobble” which nearly cannot hold it on correct side of the road. You have to increase speed or reduce speed dramatically to regain control of the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11441345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles EL Cajon, CA

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE SWAYS VERY BAD DURING MODERATE ACCELERATION AND STOP IF YOU PUSH THE BRAKE OR SPEED UP. FEELS REALLY DANGEROUS AND FOUND OTHERS WITH SAME VEHICLE AND SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10499311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,500 miles Goffstown, NH

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CLUTCH BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10102731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brewster, NY

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH DUE TO AXLE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10051682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Long Green, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

ENGINE PROBLEM LIGHT COMES ON. BOTH TRANSMISSION COMPUTERS MALFUNCTIONING AND SHORTENING EACH OTHER OUT. DEALER REPAIRED FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED COMMENTING THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM W/ MODEL AND NISSAN IS AWARE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY BUT REFUSES TO RECALL DUE TO EXCESSIVE COST OF DOING SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10005547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Victoria, MN

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

SUSPENSION CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWAY VIOLENTLY WHEN GOING 50MPH.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE TIRES WORE OUT AT 20,000 MILES, THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED AT 42,000 MILES, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE VEHICLE SWAYING, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER SHOP AND THE TRAILING ARMS WERE REPLACED WHICH THEN CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, ALSO THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING, THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED DUE TO RUST AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED DUE TO STRESS, THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING, THE CENTER CAP THAT GOES ON THE STOCK WHEELS ON THE FRONT SEAT WAS INSTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #8007455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHEN APPLYING CLUTCH IT MAKE A WHINNING SOUND INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #896924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicopee, MA

POWER TRAIN

THE STRUTS WENT AT 52,000 MILES $800 TO REPLACE, EXHAUST MANIFOLD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED(WARRANTY). TODAY THE NEWS THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS JUST"WORN OUT " $235, THE REAR SUSPENSION LINCS WERE "WORN OUT" $350, THE INTAKE PINIUM(SP?) WAS LEAKING $660. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT NISSAN AND THEIR "WORN OUT" VEHICLES. IT'S NOT EVEN PAID FOR YET!

NHTSA complaint #743265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raleigh, NC

POWER TRAIN

HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE IDLING. ENGINE REVS UP AND TACH STICKS FROM 1500-2000 RPM ALMOST CONSTANTLY. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN FIRST GEAR IT WILL STICK AND TAKE OFF BY IT SELF AND EVEN SPEED UP EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS SEEN TRUCK 4 TIMES NOW AND "CAN NOT" FIND THE PROBLEM. NON DEALER REPAIR DIAGNOSED THE VALVE IN ONE VISIT. ARE THERE REPORTS OF ANY OTHER NISSAN PATHFINDERS OR VEHICLES THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM? IT'S DANGEROUS!!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #740803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raleigh, NC

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE IDLING. ENGINE REVS UP AND TACH STICKS FROM 1500-2000 RPM ALMOST CONSTANTLY. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN FIRST GEAR IT WILL STICK AND TAKE OFF BY IT SELF AND EVEN SPEED UP EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. DEALER HAS SEEN TRUCK 4 TIMES NOW AND "CAN NOT" FIND THE PROBLEM. NON DEALER REPAIR DIAGNOSED THE VALVE IN ONE VISIT. ARE THERE REPORTS OF ANY OTHER NISSAN PATHFINDERS OR VEHICLES THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM? IT'S DANGEROUS!!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #740803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bonita Springs, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, I'VE HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT (TAKEN TO DEAL AND NUMEROUS OTHER PLACES) IT HAS BEEN ALIGNED, TIRES ROTATED, BALANCED, ETC. 7 (TIMES) AND I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG HMMMM. HAD TO HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED AT 30,740 MILES. NISSAN DENIES ITS A DEFECT ON THEIR CAR. I'VE REPEATEDLY COMPLAINED ABOUT A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR (OR BRAKES) AGAIN "NO PROBLEMS FOUND--CANT DUPLICATE PROBLEM". WELL, NOW I'M TOLD MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT END "STEERING" IF VERY SENSITIVE AND WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN MOVEMENT, THE CAR OVERCOMPENSATES TOSSING YOU THROUGHOUT THE CAB. CD AND RADIO AS WELL AS ANTENNA MOTOR HAVE RECENTLY BEEN REPLACED. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND DANGEROUS!!!!!! I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #719027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FACTORY BULLETIN ISSUED ABOUT A PROBLEM IN TRANSMISSION. MY CAR CLUNKS WHEN STOPPING AND STARTING. NISSAN TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME BUT THEY CANNOT DO IT SINCE MY CAR HAS OVER 60,000 MILES ON IT. WHY NOT??? IF THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GET WORSE AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE CARS PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS A POSSIBLE FUTURE SAFETY HAZZARD, THEN THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM NO MATTER HOW MANY MILES IS ON THE CAR WHEN PURCHASED! PLEASE, HELP! THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #718146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moline, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1800.00 TO 3800.00 TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION. OUT OF WARENTY BY 7000 MILES

NHTSA complaint #715459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rosemead, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

Highlands Ranch, CO

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CLUTCH FAILED.

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

Blythewood, SC

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #781789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Whittier, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE OR WHEN RELEASING BRAKES, TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE LIKE CRACKING. CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE REAR TRANS-AXLE, BUT A MECHANIC HAD TOLD HER THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #824502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

National City, CA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAKES A LOUD ROLLING THUMP AS IF SOMEONE REAR ENDED VEHICLE.IS AT DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #818916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

National C, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, CAUSING A LOUD THUMP THEN LURCHES FORWARD.

NHTSA complaint #526603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hermosa BE, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

DEFECTIVE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AND VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD UPON STOPPING AND STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #522616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Nissan Pathfinder problems

← Full 1997 Nissan Pathfinder report