1999 Nissan Pathfinder Body & Structure Problems

I OWNED A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE AND IN APRIL 2010 I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT WELL WAS SHIFTED UP INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CALLED NISSAN USA HEADQUARTER IN TN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC/BODY SHOP AND UPON INSPECTION SAW THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT STRUT HOUSING WAS TEARING APART FRONT THE CHASSIS DUE TO RUSTING. IT COST ME $500.00 TO HAVE THE SHOP REMOVED AND WELDED A NEW SECTION. NOW , I NOTICE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT WELL -HOUSING HAVE A SMALL RUSTED HOLE. THE REASON FOR THIS POSTING IS THAT I READ AN ARTICLE ON THE WEB FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ABOUT THE SAME COMPLAINT A FEW NISSAN PATHFINDER OWNERS HAVE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THE UNIBODY STRUTS WERE RUSTED ON THE FRAME WHICH SAT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A WELDER WHO WELDED THE UNIBODY WITH NEW STRUTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HAVING HER VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLES FRAME HAD BEGAN TO RUST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE SERVICED, THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 183000

1999.5 NISSAN PATHFINDER. BODY OF CAR IS ROTTING AWAY. PRIORITY IS NOTED AT THE ATTACHMENT OF THE BODY TO THE STRUT. THE BODY TORE AWAY DUE TO RUST CAUSING A 270 DEGREE TEAR AROUND THE STRUT. THIS CAUSED THE BODY TO DROP 4' AND I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN IF I DIDN'T NOTICE A RUBBING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL (I WAS HITTING THE CONTROL ARM WITH MY TIRE)... ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF THAT LED TO FAILURE WOULD BE THAT THE SHOCKS WENT OUT 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO IT GOING AND THEY WERE REPLACED. RUBBING NOISE NOTED 1.5 MONTHS AGO... OTHER FRONT WHEEL WELL INTACT BUT NOTED TO BE RUSTING AS WELL... I HAD THE MECHANIC PULL THE PIECE DOWN TO THE REST OF THE BODY AND WELD/BOLT METAL SHEET TO IT SO AS TO STRENGTHEN THE TEAR... I'M UPSET BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE 146,000 MILES ON CAR AND IT HAS NEEDED VERY LITTLE WORK. NOW THE WHOLE CAR CANNOT BE TRUSTED AND I WILL HAVE TO GET A NEW ONE SOON. I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE OUT OF THIS CAR THAN WHAT I DID... PREVIOUS NOTATION FROM COMPANY IS THAT NOT ENOUGH INSULATION WAS PUT ON FILL PIPE TO GAS TANK FOR NEW ENGLAND WINTERS. BUT NO MENTION OF RUSTING OUT BODY SO MY TIRE WOULD ENTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT... SERIOUSLY, ONE MORE BAD BUMP AND THIS THING WOULD HAVE GIVEN WAY. I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE CAUGHT IT IN TIME. *TR

TOTAL FRAME RUST 1999 PATHFINDER. BOUGHT NEW. *TR

EXTENSIVE BODY AND STRUCTURAL RUST. FRONT STRUT REPAIR REQUIRED (IMMINENT FAILURE) DUE TO RUST. BODY RUST APPEARING IN ALL SECTIONS OF CAR. 1999.5 PATHFINDER. *TR

MY 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST, RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT FAILED A VIRGINIA SAFETY CHECK. VIRGINIA LAW PROHIBITS FRAME REPAIR ON VEHICLES. THE REPORT AND PICTURES WERE SENT FROM THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER TO NISSAN CORPORATE, AND THEY DISMISSED ANY LIABILITY, SAYING THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD, WITH TOO MANY MILES (200K). I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON THE INTERNET. THE RUST IS SO EXTENSIVE THAT YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE THROUGH THE FRAME IN SOME SPOTS. *TR

I'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHERS WITH MY ONE OWNER 99 PATHFINDER. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEELWELL FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS RUSTED AND SEPARATED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. IT IS AT THE REPAIR SHOP NOW, I AM WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR COST, I'VE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT A MINIMUM OF $1500. I HOPE OTHERS RESPOND AND COMPLAIN SO THAT MAYBE NISSAN WILL OWN UP TO MANUFACTURING A VEHICLE WITH DEFECTIVE METAL AND AT LEAST ISSUE A RECALL. THESE VEHICLES ARE DANGEROUS AS THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN COLLAPSE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF MY SUV, THE ENGINE AND THE REST IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BUT I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF THE EXTENSIVE RUST UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP FOR STRUT REPLACEMENT AND THEY INFORMED ME OF THE CONDITION. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME BUT THAT DRIVE HOME CAUSED MORE DAMAGE AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW THAT THE FRAME HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED CAUSED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD HAVE PUSHED THE ENTIRE TIRE ASSEMBLY STRAIGHT UPWARD AND THROUGH THE HOOD. PLEASE BE WARNED, AND MAKE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PATHFINDERS THOROUGHLY INSPECTED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

SINGLE OWNER 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER 181K MILES: LEFT FRONT BODY WELDS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, SO THAT ENGINE VISIBLY SEPARATED FROM BODY. REPORT FROM CLAY NISSAN READS: "LEFT FRONT BODY WELDS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE." *TR