1998 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension Problems

Your front driver's side strut assembly fractured and separated from the vehicle's frame at 176,000 miles. The dealer inspected the vehicle but determined it couldn't be repaired. This is a serious structural problem that affects your vehicle's handling and safety.

While driving on the highway at normal speeds, your SUV rocks side to side when you accelerate, feeling like it might roll over even though you're driving straight. Applying the brakes stops the rocking. This has happened multiple times, including on curves where it's worse. The suspension or steering components may need inspection and adjustment to restore stability.

Your 1998 Pathfinder experiences a violent side-to-side shaking at speeds between 40-70 mph, often triggered by uneven road surfaces, that gradually worsens and continues even after slowing down. This problem, known as "death wobble," has recurred multiple times over the years despite previous repairs involving strut replacement. Slowing down temporarily stops the shaking, but the issue returns after a couple of years. Fixing it typically requires replacing suspension components like struts and related parts.

After hitting a pothole, your Pathfinder rocks side to side. This was a known recall issue that was fixed on September 23, 2011, when the bearings, tires, and struts were replaced.

While driving at 25 mph, you heard an abnormal clicking noise from the front driver's side of your vehicle. When making a left turn to exit the highway, the front driver's side tire fractured. The strut subsequently came off the vehicle after exiting the freeway. The dealer determined that both front struts needed to be replaced.

Your steering wheel wobbles significantly while driving, especially at highway speeds around 60 mph, making you feel like you might lose control. The wobbling is less severe at lower speeds but still noticeable enough to make passengers feel queasy. Your dealer diagnosed worn suspension components that need replacement to fix this steering instability.

I AM HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER DUE TO CORROSION. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY MUFFLER FELL OFF. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND WHEN THEY RAISED THE VEHICLE, THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD CORROSION AND HOLES FROM IT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY LAST YEARS STRUT HOUSING CORROSION WHICH BROKE OFF THE STRUT FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I LOST BRAKES AND HAD TO STEP ON PEDAL ALL THE WAY, AND THEN THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE RECALL NOTICE CAME AFTER THE INCIDENT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S GAS TANK CORROSION WHICH CAUSED GAS TO DRIP. ALSO A RECALL NOTICE CAME IN AND NISSAN DEALER FIXED ISSUE. *TR

THE STRUT HOUSING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RUSTED COMPLETELY AND BROKE . IT CAUSED THE INNER FENDER TO TOUCH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET, AND THEN RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER RECENTLY ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL REGARDING STRUT CORROSION (REFERENCE NUMBER: R1108). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME DEFECT TWO YEARS AGO. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE REPAIR SHOULD HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE VOLUNTARY RECALL REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL CONCERNING STRUT TOWER CORROSION *TGW THE CONSUMER SENT IN A PAID INVOICE WITH THE REPAIRS RELATED TO THE RECALL. *JB

THE FRONT END OF MY 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER SHAKES WILDLY WHEN I DRIVE IT. I HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND HE SAID MY STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT ALL. I NEED TO HAVE IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY. *KB

AT CERTAIN SPEEDS, THE CAR STARTS SWAYING SIDE TO SIDE IN A VERY DANGEROUS WAY (ALMOST FLIPPING OVER) AND IT'S ONLY STOPPED WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE IN SPEED. I HAD THE SHOCKS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH, THE REAR END WOULD SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER SWAY BAR LINKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE ABNORMALLY CAUSING LIMITED STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRUT HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ UPDATED 07/15/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL WELL WAS RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE SPOT WELDING THAT HOLDS THE STRUTS TO SEPARATE. A DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED HIM TO CHECK ON EXISTING RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177000.

1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER 200,000 MILES. JULY 2008. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AROUND 60-70 MPH, ANY CHANGE IN ROAD SURFACE ( IE GOING OVER BRIDGE) SENDS REAR OF VEHICLE INTO SEVERE WOBBLE. ACCELERATION SEEMS TO BE ONLY WAY TO RECOVER. AROUND LARGE CURVES ( TURNPIKE IN PENNSYLVANIA) FEELS VERY UNSTABLE. ALL SHOCKS/STRUTS HAD BEEN REPLACED IN LAST YEAR EXCEPT R REAR, SO UPON RETURN FROM TRIP HAD R REAR REPLACED. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. MECHANIC UNABLE TO TELL WHAT ELSE IS CAUSING PROBLEM EXCEPT WIDE WHEEL WALL OF NEW TIRES, BUT THESE HAVE BEEN ON CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR BEFORE THIS. 4 MONTHS LATER RECEIVED CALL FROM MECHANIC STATING SAME VEHICLE DIFFERENT OWNER IN WITH SAME PROBLEM, BUT WORSE, INVESTIGATED TO FIND TSB (NTB98-001) FOR REAR UPPER/LOWER LINK BARS AND BUSHINGS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO CONTINUE DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT REPAIR, ESPECIALLY AS HAVE TEENAGE DRIVER IN FAMILY, AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED ASAP, AT COST OF $800-$1000. *TR

SWAYING ACTION FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING 60MPH OR HIGHER. *TR

REAR SWAYING OF VEHICLE ( 98 NISSAN PATHFINDER) WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING OVER 60 MPH. *TR

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OUR 1998 PATHFINDER BEGINS TO SWAY OR SHIMMY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND REQUIRES APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP THE SWAYING. THIS IS AFTER SPENDING $1000 ON THE FRONT END FOR STRUTS AND OTHER SUSPENSION ITEMS. THIS EVENT IS WORSE SINCE WE HAD THE WORK DONE ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWAYED ABNORMALLY BACK AND FORTH AND THE CONTACT ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC REPLACED ONE CONTROL ARM. THE FAILURE RECURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

MY 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER SWAYS EXCESSIVELY WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS QUICKLY OR ACCELERATING QUICKLY. THE SWAY IS SO EXCESSIVE THAT DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH ARE EXTREMELY TERRIFYING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FLIP. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS COULD BE DEADLY. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WITHIN THE SUSPENSION AND THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED THAT AT SPEED OF UP TO 70MPH THE BACKEND OF MY TRUCK STARTS TO SHIMMY BACK AND FORTH. IF CONTINUED AT THAT RATE OF SPEED THE SWAY GETS WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT FEELS LIKE THE TRUCK IS GOING TO FLIP OVER. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT IS TO LET OFF THE GAS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY NISSAN FOR A RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 PATHFINDER SE 4WD. ON A RECENT TRIP TO COLORADO, THE CAR BEGAN TO ROCK VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE WHENEVER WE EXCEEDED 70MPH, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF PAVEMENT WE WERE DRIVING ON. GIVEN WE HAD A LONG DRIVE (OVER 18 HRS), THIS WAS A BIG PROBLEM, AND WE WERE CONSTANTLY FEARING THAT THE CAR WOULD TIP OVER. WE HAD NOT SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE AS WE DON'T DO A LOT OF INTERSTATE DRIVING NORMALLY. WHEN WE GOT TO COLORADO, WE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED IN A LOCAL GARAGE. THEY REPLACED SHOCKS, STRUTS, AND DID AN ALIGNMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULDN'T GET TO THE RIGHT SPEED (OR PERHAPS HAVE THE RIGHT PAVEMENT) TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. WHEN WE LEFT AND GOT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE, IT STARTED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER NOW AND THEY BELIEVE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. IF SO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL AS THIS WAS THE MOST SCARY THING I'VE EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH IN A CAR IN MY LIFE. *TR

98 NISSAN PATHFINDER - EXTREME REAR END SWAY OCCURRING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RESULT OF FAULTY UPPER & LOWER REAR ARM BUSHINGS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS UNCONTROLLABLE BACK AND FORTH SWAY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

MY 98 NISSAN PATHFINDER SWAYS UNCONTROLLABLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN ROADS AND FREEWAY WHICH COULD CAUSE TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH. NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND MAY INCLUDE THE CONTROL ARM ITSELF ALSO KNOWN AS UPPER AND LOWER LINK ARMS. *JB UPDATED 10/22/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OR GREATER, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYS LEFT TO RIGHT. THE TIRE SHOP STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TIRES AND SHOCKS. THE SHOP MADE THE REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

I HAVE A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE AND HAVE LOVED IT SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. UNTIL THE YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A FOOTBALL GAME ABOUT 110 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65 MPH +/- 5 MPH, THE REAR END WOULD START WOBBLING UNCONTROLLABLY. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY UNSAFE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND THE PROBLEM ( TO SAVE MYSELF MONEY ) AND IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM, NISSAN THEMSELVES HAVE A SITE THAT ADDRESSES THE ISSUE, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. WHAT HAS TO BE DONE FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY TO SAY " HEY THIS ISN'T SAFE, WE SHOULD GET THIS FIXED FOR OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS" I HAVE BEEN DRIVING NISSANS FOR 10 YEARS NOW AND HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY IT SEEMS THE MANUFACTURER IS HANDLING THIS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED SO THAT EVERYONE WITH A 1996-1998 PATHFINDER DOESN'T KILL THEMSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD WITH THE WOBBLES. *NM

98 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAVE THE SIDE-TO-SIDE WOBBLE, MOSTLY IN THE REAR, AT SPEEDS FROM ABOUT 50 TO 65 MPH. FINALLY FOUND REAR UPPER AND LOWER SUSPENSION LINKS GOT PROBLEM. FROM WEBSITE, I FOUND THIS HAPPENED TO SO MANY NISSAN OWNERS. IT IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN PROBLEM, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS!! *NM

REFER TO INTERNAL NISSAN MOTORS -TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN -NTB98-001. BUSHING FAILURE ON UPPER AND LOWER REAR CONTROL LINK ARM BUSHINGS THAT RESULT IN EXCESSIVE REAR SWAY IN THE VEHICLE AND LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS IS WELL DESCRIBED BY MULTIPLE OWNERS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND COSTS OVER 800 DOLLARS TO REPAIR AND IS WELL DESCRIBED IN NISSANS TSB SO WHY NO RECALL? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE A WRECK FOR THIS TO BE DONE?

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. *AK

BOTH FRONT END STRUTS LEAKING REPAIRED AT 81,373 MILES. VEHICLE WOULD FEEL LIKE YOU WERE LOSING CONTROL WHEN HITTING BUMPS AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. THE TIRES FELT LIKE THEY WERE NOT MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH ROAD AND THE TIRES WOULD WOBBLE AFTER HITTING BUMPS. THE ACCELERATOR WOULD OCCASIONALLY STICK AND WHEN DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE THROTTLE BOX HAD TO BE DECARBONIZED. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH THE REAR OF VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THEAT THE SUSPENSION LINKS WERE WORN OUT.*AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY FROM THE REAR END FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT FELT LIKE I WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I REGAINED CONTROL BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS. THE PROBLEM CAME BACK REPEATEDLY -- AT LEAST 20 TIMES DURING MY TRIP ON INTERSTATE 80 WHILE BRINGING MY DAUGHTER BACK TO COLLEGE. THE PROPLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO ANY SPECIFICE ROAS SURFACE CONDITION. IT WOUL HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE. THE ROAD COULD BE FLAT AND SMOOTH. IT DID NOT MATTER. I AM SURE THAT I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING THE WINTER AND THERE WAS SNOW OR EVEN WORSE ICE ON THE ROAD. SINCE I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED, I TOOK IT THAT AFTERNOON AND HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT (FRONT AND REAR) AND I HAD THE TIRES BALANCED HOPING THAT THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME THE NEXT DAY FROM THE COLLEGE THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND I CAN ONLY COMPARE IT TO WHEN YOU SEE A CAR TOWING A TRAILER BEHIND IT AND THE TRAILER BEGINS TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS TO MANY MODELS OF THE NISSAN PATHFINDER COVERING AT LEAST THE YEARS 1997, 1998 AND 1999 AND IT IS NOT RELATED TO ANY SPECIFIC MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. IT COULD HAPPEN AT 15,000 MILES OR 90,000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IS CAUSED BY A DESIGN FAILURE OF THE BUSHINGS (THERE ARE 4 OF THEM) THAT ARE PART OF THE CONTROL ARMS.*AK

I'M NOT SURE I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE BUT... BOTH STRUTS ON THE FRONT OF MY PATHFINDER BLEW OUT.. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.. IT WASN'T UNUSAL TO SEE PATHFINDERS WITH LESS MILES AND DUEL BUSTED STRUTS ... SHE CONCLUDED BY SAYING TWO BLOW STRUTS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *AK

SHOCK ABSORBER LEAKS. APPARENTLY SUCH A HIGH VOLUME OF DEFECTS, THAT THERE IS A 1-6 MONTH WAIT. CONCERNED BECAUSE CONTINUED USE MAY CAUSE LOST CONTACT OF ROAD, LOSS OF STEERING, AND UNSTABLE RIDE. COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT WITH SERIUOS OR DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE CHANGING MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH VEHICLE STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 TENSION BARS.*AK *SLC

VEHICLE HAS HAD ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS FROM TIME OF PURCHASE. DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SWAYBAR WAS INOPERABLE. NISSAN WILLING TO REPLACE SWAYBAR UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT TIRES.

NO SUMMARY LIASTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE LEANS TO LEFT. DEALER PROVIDE SERVICE BULLETIN THAT RECOGNIZED DEFECT BUT FELT IT IS STILL WITHIN NORMS. THIS IMBALANCE CAN AFFECT HANDLING, ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING. THIS LEANING IS VERY NOTICEABLE.

VEHICLE LEANS NOTICIABLY TO THE LEFT, EVEN WHEN PARKED WITH NO CARGO. THE DEALER SHOWED ME A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT STATED THE LEANING WAS "ACCEPTABLE" BY THEIR STANDARDS. I FEEL THAT THE LEANING CAN AFFECT THE DYNAMIC HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE AND CAN CAUSE OR AGGRAVATE HANDLING PROBLEMS.

TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH IN A RIGHT HAND LANE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, DRIVER FELT SOMETHING ODD IN THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AS IF THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE STEERING WHEEL TURNING SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND A LOUD "BANG" UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION; THE DRIVER STRUGGLED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, BUT IT WAS NONETHELESS PULLED TO THE RIGHT, ACROSS THE SHOULDER AND INTO A DITCH RUNNING PARALLLEL TO THE ROAD; AFTER DROPPING INTO THE DITCH THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND BEGAN CLIMBING AN EMBANKMENT; THE DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT AND POINT THE VEHICLE BACK TOWARD THE ROAD; AS THE VEHICLE MOVED DOWN THE EMBANKMENT AND BACK INTO THE DITCH, THE FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE BOTTOMED OUT WHERE THE DITCH ENDED AT A DRIVEWAY , WHICH RUNS PERPENDICULAR TO ROUTE 50, INTO A FARM; THE VEHICLE BOUNCED BACK ONTO THE ROAD AND CROSSED THE TWO EASTBOUND LANES; THE DRIVER MANAGED TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE OUT IN THE CENTER OF THE GRASS MEDIAN AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THEY WERE INOPERATIVE, THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND AS THE DRIVER GLANCED AT THE SPEEDOMETER THE VEHICLE WAS STILL TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH, A FULL QUARTER MILE FROM WHERE THE INCIDENT BEGAN. THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ENGAGED, AND WAS NOT BEING TRIGGERED "OFF" BY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. BUT KNOW THE VEHICLE WAS STARTING TO SPIN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAVE THE MEDIAN AREA AND SPIN TWICE ( 720 DEGREES ) INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STALLED AND CAME TO REST POINTING EASTBOUND IN THE WESTBOUND LEFT LANE.

FRONT END SHAKES.

CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK