1999 Nissan Pathfinder Steering Problems

Your steering wheel requires about a quarter turn before your vehicle actually responds and begins turning left or right. On the freeway, this delay causes you to drift into other lanes before the car responds to your steering input, which feels similar to losing traction on ice. This steering lag is a serious safety concern that needs immediate attention. The fix will likely involve inspecting and repairing or replacing steering components like the steering box, tie rods, or steering column.

Your front passenger side steering control arm and its connection to the frame are severely rusted and weakened. You may notice noise and wobbling in the steering wheel. If this rusted control arm were to break loose, you could lose steering control of your vehicle. The repair will involve replacing the rusted control arm and possibly reinforcing or repairing the frame connection point.

Your Pathfinder had a recall performed on rusted strut mounts and corrosion over three years ago, but after experiencing three harsh winters on salty roads since then, you're concerned about whether the vehicle is still safe to drive. You have no way to verify if the previous repair still meets safety standards, and you're unsure whether to invest in major maintenance without knowing if the recall repair has deteriorated due to ongoing salt exposure.

After your 1999 Pathfinder was inspected at a Nissan dealership for a corrosion recall, you noticed a new noise and unusual feeling in the steering when you picked up the car. You're concerned the inspection may have caused this steering problem, but the dealership hasn't responded to your inquiry. The issue may involve worn steering components or suspension damage that should be inspected by a mechanic to ensure safe operation.

Your Pathfinder's left front strut housing developed corrosion, which was covered under a Nissan safety recall. The dealership kept your car for over 6 months (September 2011 to March 2012) attempting repairs, eventually completing the work. However, according to NHTSA regulations, when a recall repair takes longer than 60 days, the manufacturer should either replace the vehicle with an identical or equivalent one, or refund the purchase price minus depreciation. You believe Nissan is not following this rule by simply returning the repaired car to you without offering these remedies.

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED. THE ENGINE WENT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING WAS ALSO LOCKED -UP AND I LOST CONTROL, THE CAR SPUN OUT, AND HIT THE JERSEY BARRIER WITH THE BACK. *TR

VEHICLE SWAYS BACK AND FORTH AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH. *TR

I TOOK MY NISSAN 1999 PATHFINDER TO DEALER ON RECALL AND WAS ADVISED VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS GIVEN RENTAL AND TOLD NISSAN WOULD BUYBACK VEHICLE. *KB

OUR 1999 1/2 NISSAN PATHFINDER'S STEERING COLUMN SEPARATED FROM THE WHEELS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CURBING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC AND THEY DID A TEMPORARY FIX BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SO RUSTED OUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE THAT IT NEEDED TO BE WELDED BACK TOGETHER WITH A PIECE OF SHEET METAL. WE SPOKE TO THREE DIFFERENT SHEET METAL SHOPS AND ALL SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS. WE BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER AND LED TO OUR LOOSING OUR STEERING. THIS OCCURRED IN JULY 2009, AT THAT TIME, WE KNEW NOTHING OF A RECALL INVOLVING THIS PROBLEM, I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, WE HAD TO JUNK IT. THE CAR WAS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND ALWAYS MAINTAINED. I FEEL WE SHOULD GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT AS THE CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORTH SOMETHING, HOWEVER, IF THE STEERING COLUMN IS NO LONGER ATTACHED AND CORROSION IS SO BAD, WE COULD NOT SELL THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE. WE WOULD LIKE SOME TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT. *TT

BOTH FRONT STRUT HOUSING RUSTED. DRIVER SIDE STRUT HOUSING CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE ASSEMBLY, DAMAGING STRUT, HOUSING TOUCH THE STEERING COLUMN, GRINDING NOISES FROM STEERING COLUMN.

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I TURNED A CORNER HEARD A "CLUNK" MY STEERING WAS TIGHT. I THEN TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND LOST MY STEERING. FORTUNATELY I WAS MOVING SLOW AND DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD ROTATED UP AND INTO MY STEERING COLUMN BREAKING THE SPRING IN THE COLUMN AND KNOCKING OUT MY STEERING. SO FAR NISSAN AND MY DEALER HAVE DONE NOTHING. THEY HAVE REJECTED MY CLAIM THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN ME A FORMAL ESTIMATE OF THE COST TO REPAIR. THEY DID OFFER ME $500 OF TRADE IN VALUE TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE. ON NOVEMBER 13, 2009 I REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE REPAIRED AT MY COST. I VISITED THE DEALER ON DECEMBER 1, 2009 TO CHECK ON PROGRESS, AND AS OF THIS AFTERNOON DECEMBER 4, 2009 THEY HAVE NOT PREPARED AN ESTIMATE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AN ADDITIONAL BRACKET WOULD PREVENT THE WHEEL WELL FROM HITTING THE STEERING COLUMN. I AM LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY LATER THAT DAY WAS GOING TO DRIVE THAT VEHICLE TO NEW YORK STATE WHERE IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS AND POSSIBLE FATAL CRASH. INSTEAD I DROVE A RENTAL CAR AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *TR

AIRBAGS/SAFETY RESTRAINTS/ON-OFF SWITCHES & OTHER MODIFICATIONS I AM AGAIN STATING GREAT CONCERN OVER LEGAL REGULATIONS REGARDING VEHICLE/&/OR COMPONENTS -MODIFICATIONS/COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMSETC & THE REPORTING STATUTES THERETO AS I AM PERCEIVING THEM FROM FRM NRM & VARIOUS SITES I READ THAT VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS OF SAFETY STANDARDS INCLUSIVE OF AIRBAG ON-OFF SWITCHES &/OR DEACTIVATION WAS NOT REPORTED TO NHTSA UNTIL APRIL OF 2001 & THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE ACCESSIBLE TO CONSUMERS EVEN IF IT WAS VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED BY APPLICANT HOWEVER IF PERFORMED BY VEHICLE DEALERSHIP WOULD BE ON RECORD & SUBSEQUENT BUYER WOULD BE UNAWARE & WOULD NOT REFLECT ON VIN SEARCH HOWEVER DEALERSHIP SHOULD & DOES HAVE RESPONSIBILITY ON RESALE TO INSPECT SAID VEHICLE & BRING IT TO FEDERAL STANDARDS HOW DO I SEARCH A DEALERSHIP TO FIND MODIFICATIONS THEY AUTHORIZED OR MADE TO A VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY LISTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTRY OF WHICH I WAS THE 2ND OWNER & RECEIVED AN URGENT RECALL CARD NOTIFICATION SPECIFYING MODIFICATION 120705 I DID RESPOND NUMEROUS X TO THEM & NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS & BLATANTLY TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS /SERVICE BULLETINS OR ANYTHING ELSE & I RECEIVED THIS CARD IN ERROR I NEED ANSWERS & AM DISGUSTED AT THE RUNAROUND & DECEPTION NOW 3 MAJOR COLLISIONS LATER WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT & SEAT BELT FAILURE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES I AM BEGGING FOR THE TRUTH ENOUGH NONSENSE !!! MY LIFE HAS BEEN DESTROYED I WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS I WILL NOT STOP NO ONE ELSE SHALL ENDURE '!@#$% DUE TO A LACK OF INFORMATION THEY ARE ENTITLED TO AND TIRED OF THESE BIG CORPORATIONS NOT HAVING TO ABIDE BY EVERY CITIZENS LAW I PRAY OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL PUT A STOP TO THE CORPORATE CORRUPTION .....WE THE TAXPAYERS CANT KEEP FUNDING THE GROTESQUE ABUSE WHICH CONTINUES TO PERPETUATE CORPORATE AMERICA HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE JUST AS WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE LAW IS THE LAW FOR US ALL!!!!!!! *TR

I WROTE PREVIOUSLY ON ISSUES WITH MY 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER & RECALLS SAFETY DEFECTS ETC..ETC.. ? RE AIRBAG SWITCH INSTALLATION TO MY VEHICLE AFTER YEARS OF INQUIRIES & BEING TOLD BY NISSAN DEALERS & NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CONSUMER AFFAIRS THERE WERE NO RECALLS &/OR SAFETY ADVISORY EVEN AFTER RECEIPT OF A RED URGENT RECALL CARD FROM THE DEALER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM STATING THAT I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY MY VEHICLE DIVISION OF THE EXISTING PROBLEM ???? I WAS TOLD OVER & OVER THERE WERE NOT ANY ISSUES SAFETY/RECALLS /TECHNICAL BULLETINS OR ANYTHING WITH MY VEHICLE FROM BOTH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS & DEALER WHO SENT THIS CARD & IT MUST HAVE BEEN SENT IN ERROR THIS CARD IS POSTMARKED 2/2008 & STATES I FAILED TO REPLY HOWEVER I NEVER RECEIVED ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATIONS & BLATANTLY TOLD PRIOR UPON MY INQUIRIES & AFTER THIS CARD THERE WERE NO ISSUES &THEY DON'T KNOW WHY I RECEIVED THIS CARD BLATANT LIARS THE CARD STATES VIN # JN8 MAKE NISSAN MODIFICATION RO705/OR 120705 NOTHING COMES UP ON EITHER WHAT IS THIS FOR ????? IM GETTING NOWHERE WITHOUT I BELIEVE INFORMATION MUST BE MISSING ON THIS CARD & EMPHATIC DENIAL FROM THE DEALER NISSAN AUTO MALL & NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS THEY EVEN DENIED ANY PRIOR COMPLAINTS I MADE BLASPHEMOUS LIARS!!!!!! HELP!!!! *TR

I'M REPULSED @ THE GROSS DISREGARD FOR SAFETY & LIFE OF CONSUMERS MY 99 NISSAN --DEATH TRAP HEY IM ALIVE 3 CRASHES MAJOR STEERING LOCK UP SELF ACCELERATION PROBLEMS ELECTRICAL STALLING SHIMMY SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS BRAKES LOCK UP CHRONIC CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUES DESPITE NUMEROUS INQUIRIES & COMPLAINTS TO NISSAN THEY DENIED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES I HAVE NOW FOUND MULTIPLE FOREIGN CAMPAIGN RECALLS WHICH NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WAS NOTIFIED BY MANUFACTURERS OF COMPONENTS IN THEIR US VEHICLES BY THESE FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS MANY YEARS LATER NISSAN IS ADVISING SERVICE/SAFETY BULLETINS HOWEVER THE CONSUMER IS NOT NOTIFIED & EVEN MISLEAD AS TO SAFETY ISSUES UPON INQUIRY KEEP TRACK OF YOUR COMPLAINTS TO NISSAN -WHEN YOU CALL BACK THEY DENY ANY PRIOR COMPLAINTS YOU MADE AT LEAST THIS HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ----------WHEN THE WHOLE CHASIS MAINFRAME IS BENT IN 3 MAJOR MVA,S FRONT HEAD ON PLEASE AGAIN EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE AIRBAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY & THE SEAT BELTS DON'T LOCK IT SEEMS TO DEPEND ON WAY 2 MANY REASONS ID LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WOULD MAKE THEM DEPLOY YOUR ANSWER IS NO ANSWER THANKS FOR YOUR COMPASSION FOR HUMAN LIFE MINE WAS DESTROYED SINCERELY DISABLED DO THE RIGHT THING & SPARE ANOTHER HUMAN TRAVESTY! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING IN THE FRONT GEAR BOX. THE MECHANIC FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT IT MAY POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THAT FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS AVAIABLE UPON REQUEST. NLM

CLAIM # 42-1281-769 - WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT RAMP, HOWEVER VEHICLE'S STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND AND BEGAN TO SWIRL LEFT TO THE EDGE OF THE HIGHWAY AND BACK AGAIN, GOING OFF THE BANK RESULTING IN AN OVERTURN, THERE WAS ONE INJURY. *TT

CLAIM NUMBER - 20-5208-313 WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER, THERE WERE SIX INJURIES. *TT

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40-50 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN IN A 180 DEGREE TURN. WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED GROUND HAS ALWAYS BEEN WET. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION, EVEN THOUGH PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES ALREADY. *AK

UN-CONTROLLABLE STEERING WOBBLE AT 70 MPH. HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO DEALER TWICE, WITH ONLY TIRES REPLACED. FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON A YAHOO WEBSITE, WITH CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN, THAT HAVE RECEIVED NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WILL SEND EMAIL TO YOUR WEB ADDRESS WITH COMMENTS FROM YAHOO MESSAGE BOARD.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK