FaultScore

2006 Nissan Pathfinder suspension problems

10 of the 1,224 complaints about the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder are about the suspension — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 81,661 miles.

A

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Suspension 6 60.0%
Front 1 10.0%
Rear 1 10.0%
Lower ARM 1 10.0%
Spindle 1 10.0%

Suspension across every Nissan Pathfinder year

1995 16 3.1%
1996 68 13.3%
1997 114 22.3%
1998 48 9.4%
1999 37 7.2%
2000 41 8.0%
2001 69 13.5%
2002 45 8.8%
2003 21 4.1%
2006 10 2.0%
2013 29 5.7%
2014 13 2.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 126,489 miles Smithville, TN

SUSPENSION

THE TRANSMISSION IS SHUTTERING, FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING AT TIMES. THE COOLANT LOOKS LIKE CREAMY PASTE. THE SUV WANTS TO BOUNCE OR PULL TO THE SIDES. ALSO AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE MOTOR IS RUNNING HIGH AND THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE SLOW.

NHTSA complaint #11310456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 155,000 miles Claremore, OK

SUSPENSION

I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED SHAKING EXTREMELY AND MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, ALSO THE SUSPENSION SHAKES CONSISTENTLY CAUSING ME TO SWERVE. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE, NOT READING PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #10669325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dalton, GA

SUSPENSION

I AM HAVING A VERY HARDTIME WITH THIS VEHICLE. JUST BOUGHT ON JUNE 2013 FROM USED DEALERSHIP. IT IS MIXING THE ANTIFREEZE WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE. AND NEED TO GET AROUND. MY FAMILY DEPENDS ON A GOOD USEFUL VEHICLE. THAT WILL NOT BREAK DOWN JUST ANYWHERE. AND WILL NOT COST THOUSANDS TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10562774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,710 miles Cortlandt Manor, NY

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE JERKS AND STALLS BETWEEN 30 - 40 MPH SOMETIMES AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS WARMED UP.

NHTSA complaint #10509750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glassboro, NJ

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER IS QUESTIONING WHY HER VEHICLE ISN'T INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL# 10E019000.

NHTSA complaint #10464922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Clinton, MA

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE AND BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A THIRD OPINION AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SPIRAL CABLE KIT WOULD NEED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 7/18/12 *CN THE U-JOINTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE STEERING PROBLEM CONTINUED. UPDATED 07/31/12

NHTSA complaint #10457847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 82,613 miles Beverly, MA

SUSPENSION

MY VEHICLE STARTED (MAR 2010) TO VIBRATE AT BETWEEN 45 AND 65 MPH, IT FELT LIKE I WAS GOING OVER A RUMBLE STRIP. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER THEY DIAGNOSED A BAD UNIVERSAL JOINT. TEN MONTHS (JAN 2011) LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, ADDITIONALLY CAR WAS SHIFTING POORLY AND FELT LIKE IT COULDN'T FIND THE CORRECT GEAR BETWEEN 45 AND 65 MPH, DEALER SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN THEY DROPPED THE DRIVESHAFT THEY SAID IT WAS JUST A UNIVERSAL JOINT BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DRIVESHAFT. THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN MAR 2012, BROUGHT VEHICLE TO LOCAL MECHANIC (VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY) WHO CONSULTED A TRANSMISSION SHOP. WAS TOLD THAT RADIATOR FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO TRANSMISSION THROUGH A FAULTY HOSE/LINE IN THE RADIATOR AND VEHICLE NOW NEED A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL AND NEW RADIATOR. I AM CONCERNED THAT TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY ON HIGHWAY LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #10454216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,000 miles Ottawa, KS

SUSPENSION:FRONT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A BOUNCING MOTION WITH A LOUD METAL TO METAL CLANKING NOISE. WHEN REACHING THE DESTINATION, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE COMPLETELY BROKE IN HALF. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AXLE HAD A CRACK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10E019000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.

NHTSA complaint #10367054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nassau, FL

SUSPENSION:REAR

FOR ALL THOSE REPORTING THE SWAYING ASSOCIATED WITH THE 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, I HAVE A NISSAN TERRANO WHICH LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE THE PATHFINDER. I EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SWAYING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 40 MPH. I HAVE TRIED EVERY MECHANIC I KNOW, CHANGED MY SHOCKS, AND YOU NAME IT...LATELY, I WOULD HEAR A THUMP IN THE REAR WHEN I PULLED OFF FROM STOP POSITION. THE THUMP ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I RUN OVER A SHORT SPEED BUMP. WHEN I CAME HOME ONE EVENING, I WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO CONDUCT A VISUAL INSPECTION TO SEE IF I WILL FIND ANYTHING. LO AND BEHOLD, I FOUND OUT THAT THE BUSHINGS OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN OUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE BREAKING UP(THE BUSHINGS) WHICH ALLOWS METAL TO RUB OR HIT ANOTHER METAL AND THAT EXPLAINS THE THUMP THAT I WILL USUALLY HEAR. IN MY OPINION THE WORN OUT BUSHINGS ALSO EXPLAIN THE SWAYING THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE REAR BECAUSE JUST FIGURE IT OUT, THE BUSHINGS OF THE ARMS THAT LINK THE REAR AXLE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE ARE WEAK, BUT THIS WILL NOT CAUSE SWAYING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN IF IT DID IT WILL BE UN-NOTICEABLE. THIS SWAYING AT HIGH SPEEDS IS DIFFICULT TO TELL SOMETIMES IF IT IS COMING FROM THE REAR OR FRONT. MY ADVISE IS TO CHANGE ESPECIALLY THE BUSHINGS OF THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS, THERE SHOULD BE FOUR OF THEM, TWO LONG ONES AND TWO SHORT ONES. IT MAKES SENSE TO ME AFTER ALL THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD! ALSO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THOSE CONTROL ARMS ARE BENT. FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A QUICK EMAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10188498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nassau, FL

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

FOR ALL THOSE REPORTING THE SWAYING ASSOCIATED WITH THE 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, I HAVE A NISSAN TERRANO WHICH LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE THE PATHFINDER. I EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SWAYING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 40 MPH. I HAVE TRIED EVERY MECHANIC I KNOW, CHANGED MY SHOCKS, AND YOU NAME IT...LATELY, I WOULD HEAR A THUMP IN THE REAR WHEN I PULLED OFF FROM STOP POSITION. THE THUMP ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I RUN OVER A SHORT SPEED BUMP. WHEN I CAME HOME ONE EVENING, I WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO CONDUCT A VISUAL INSPECTION TO SEE IF I WILL FIND ANYTHING. LO AND BEHOLD, I FOUND OUT THAT THE BUSHINGS OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN OUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE BREAKING UP(THE BUSHINGS) WHICH ALLOWS METAL TO RUB OR HIT ANOTHER METAL AND THAT EXPLAINS THE THUMP THAT I WILL USUALLY HEAR. IN MY OPINION THE WORN OUT BUSHINGS ALSO EXPLAIN THE SWAYING THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE REAR BECAUSE JUST FIGURE IT OUT, THE BUSHINGS OF THE ARMS THAT LINK THE REAR AXLE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE ARE WEAK, BUT THIS WILL NOT CAUSE SWAYING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN IF IT DID IT WILL BE UN-NOTICEABLE. THIS SWAYING AT HIGH SPEEDS IS DIFFICULT TO TELL SOMETIMES IF IT IS COMING FROM THE REAR OR FRONT. MY ADVISE IS TO CHANGE ESPECIALLY THE BUSHINGS OF THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS, THERE SHOULD BE FOUR OF THEM, TWO LONG ONES AND TWO SHORT ONES. IT MAKES SENSE TO ME AFTER ALL THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD! ALSO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THOSE CONTROL ARMS ARE BENT. FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A QUICK EMAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10188498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2006 Nissan Pathfinder problems

← Full 2006 Nissan Pathfinder report