1997 Nissan Pathfinder Steering Problems

Your 1997 Nissan Pathfinder was subject to a recall (campaign 11V244000) for steering and suspension issues, but the repair parts weren't available when you tried to get the work done. While driving at 40 mph, you heard a loud abnormal noise from the driver's side and your steering wheel failed. The manufacturer took longer than a reasonable amount of time to make the repair parts available. Fixing this will likely require replacement of the steering and suspension components covered under the recall.

Your steering shaft has broken multiple times (in 2011, 2013, and 2014), each time requiring replacement. The problem appears to be caused by corrosion on the strut tower, which the steering shaft rests against and causes it to break while you're driving—creating a serious loss of steering control. One failure occurred on a busy street in Washington, D.C., resulting in a $150 towing charge. The fix will likely involve replacing the corroded strut tower and steering shaft with corrosion-resistant parts or protective measures to prevent future failures.

When driving at highway speeds, your truck randomly rocks and fishtails side-to-side in an unpredictable manner, creating a serious safety hazard. This steering instability issue has been reported by many other owners of similar vehicles. A mechanic should inspect your steering components and suspension system to identify and correct the cause.

Your Pathfinder randomly develops a severe vibration or wobbling sensation in the steering and suspension that feels dangerously out of control. You've already replaced the shocks, but the problem continues to occur. This issue may require inspection of multiple steering and suspension components to identify the root cause.

Your Pathfinder's front end suspension and steering components have failed — you've lost struts and the steering rack is damaged, causing serious handling problems. The dealer has refused to repair these issues. The entire front end is deteriorating and needs immediate attention to ensure safe vehicle operation.

Your truck is drifting side to side on the highway and is hard to keep in your lane during turns. A tire shop found that the shock and strut mounts were heavily rusted, causing excessive movement in the suspension. This instability makes the steering feel unpredictable and unsafe at highway speeds. The fix will involve replacing the rusted shock and strut mounts to restore proper suspension control.

While driving at about 55 mph, your Pathfinder unexpectedly swayed back and forth between lanes on its own. You were able to regain control by slowing down, but the swaying happened multiple times. This issue was never diagnosed or repaired.

Your Pathfinder started swaying side-to-side uncontrollably around 120,000 miles, and mechanics couldn't identify the cause. The swaying stops temporarily when you tap the brakes or accelerate, but happens frequently and feels unsafe. Additionally, your vehicle's entire frame and underbody have developed severe rust and corrosion. Fixing this may require inspection of suspension components, frame reinforcement, or rust treatment depending on the underlying cause of the swaying.

While driving at 65 mph, your Pathfinder began shaking violently, and this happened multiple times. The vehicle hasn't been repaired yet, and you're waiting for the dealer to diagnose the problem. The shaking likely involves your steering or suspension system and may require inspection of worn components.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING:COLUMN). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO THE RECALL AND DID NOT INFORM THE CONTACT OF THE REPAIRS NEEDED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE STRUT HOUSING WAS CORRODED AND THE RECALL REPAIR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,600.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NISSAN DEALERSHIP ONLY PATCHED UP THE STRUT TOWER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DISPLAY PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. I AM AFRAID TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE REPAIR SERVICES THAT WERE COMPLETED AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN TURNERVILLE N.J. *TR

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. *TR

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). *TR

I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR MY 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER STRUT TOWER HOUSING ASSEMBLY. ON THE RECALL NISSAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLES REGISTERED IN CERTAIN STATES THAT USES ROAD SALT CAN DEVELOP CORROSION THAT CAN LEAD TO STEERING DAMAGES. HOWEVER, THE RECALL LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO ME WAS STATING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN THAT STATES AND ALSO STATED THAT MY VEHICLE WILL NOT BE COVERED FOR THE APPLICABLE REPAIRS. WHEN I WAS IN ACTIVE MILITARY I WAS STATIONED TO GREAT LAKES IL. FROM SEPTEMBER 2006 TO JUNE 2010. I WAS RESIDING AT[XXX]. MY IL STATES DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER WAS [XXX] AND WAS ISSUED [XXX]. I'M WRITING THIS COMPLAINT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL APPLICABLE INSPECTIONS AND REPAIRS FOR MY VEHICLE WILL BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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) *TT

(NOTICED PROBLEM END OF 2007/ BEGINNING 2008 AND AGAIN IN 2011) I HAVE LOW MILEAGE ON PATHFINDER AND IT IS ONLY DRIVEN ON THE FREEWAY AND IN TOWN. FIRST NOTICED WHEN DRIVING SPEEDS OVER 50 AND DURING SHIFTING ON HIGHWAY. VERY SLOPPY STEERING CONTROL, PATHFINDERS REAR SWAYING, SKIPPING AND JERKING SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS;VERY GOOD CHANCE OF FLIPPING OVER.TOOK TO DIFFERENT AUTO MECHANICS AND MOST COULD NOT FIGURE OUT ISSUE. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ALL DEFECTIVE - FAILED, BROKEN, CRACKED, OR /AND WORN BUSHINGS LINKS BOTH FRONT AND REAR. I RECENTLY COMPLETELY REPLACED THE BUSHINGS AND COMPONENTS AND AFTER 6500 MILES THEY ARE BROKEN/DEFECTIVE AND THE PATHFINDER IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN. I RESEARCHED THE BUSHING ISSUES WITH THE 1996 -2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER AND MOST ALL PATHFINDERS OF THIS YEARS ARE HAVING THIS SERIOUS SUSPENSION-DEFECTIVE BUSHING ISSUES. THEIR HAVE BEEN MANY UNANSWERED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND IS A DEFINITE RECALL ISSUE. PROTECT THE CONSUMER. REPORT THIS. PLEASE CK INTO THIS ASAP. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY SWAY BACK AND FORTH WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 55 MPH. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD FEEL AS IF IT WERE HYDROPLANING. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE SWAY BAR AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

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. *TR

I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN I DRIVE IT ON HIGHWAY AT AROUND 50-75 MPH, SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD WOBBLE FOR NO REASON. IF I MOVE MY FOOT AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL, THE WOBBLE WOULD STOP. IT MAKES ME FEEL VERY SCARED. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAS THE SAME CAR WITH SAME PROBLEM. HE HAD IT FIXED BY REPLACING SOME BUSHINGS AT THE BACK. I AM GOING TO DO THE SAME THING. WHEN I SEARCH INTERNET, I FOUND A LOT OF PATHFINDER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SHOULD THIS BE TAKEN CARE OF BY NISSAN? *JB

WHILE DRIVING 40-45 A REAR TIRE WAS MAKING NOISE, STEERING WHEEL AND REAR TIRES LOCKED UP. CONSUMER TRIED TO PULL VEHICLE OVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HAD NO POWER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE REAR IDLER ARM HAS FAILED. *JG

CLAIM NUMBER 05-4603-579 - WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LFET TURN WHEN VEHICLE'S STEERING LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AND HIT A FENCE. *TT

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.*JB

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. *AK

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!!!!!!!*AK