2000 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension Problems

While driving at 50 mph, you heard a noise coming from the front passenger side of your vehicle. When you pulled over to check, you discovered the passenger side strut had broken through the wheel well and damaged the brake line, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. The dealer confirmed the strut failure but the vehicle was not repaired.

Your Pathfinder's front passenger-side control arm bracket has rusted completely away and disconnected from the frame, causing poor handling and making the car unsafe to drive. The dealership addressed a related strut recall but ignored the control arm issue, and management refused to repair it. This appears to be part of a broader frame rust problem affecting Pathfinders. Fixing this will require replacing the rusted control arm bracket and reattaching or reinforcing the connection to the frame.

Your left front strut housing is corroding and breaking apart. While your vehicle isn't registered in a salt state, you operate it within 30 miles of two salt states, which may be accelerating the corrosion. This issue appears similar to a known recall (Campaign ID R1107, NHTSA #11V-244). The repair will likely involve replacing the damaged strut housing and possibly the entire strut assembly.

You hear a loud grinding noise from the front driver's side wheel, especially when turning the steering wheel left. Upon inspection, you notice the strut housing is tearing away from the frame. This is a known recall issue, but Nissan may claim your vehicle was already repaired for it. The repair will likely involve reattaching or replacing the strut housing and securing it properly to the frame.

CORROSION OF STRUT-HOUSING UNIT ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE PROPAGATED TO BRAKE LINES CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE FRAME. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUSPENSION FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS RUST AND CORROSION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME WHERE THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS WERE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE, NOR WILL THEY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

SEVER BODY FRAME CORROSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE (EXAMINED BY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP) AND SURELY WILL NOT PASS THE NEW YORK STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. SERVICE RECALL ON THE "STRUT TOWER" CORROSION LAST YEAR BUT DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE BODY FRAME CORROSION DUE TO THE SAME CORROSION FACTOR THAT MAKES ME VERY UPSET ABOUT NISSAN. THIS MIGHT BE A LIFE DEATH IMPACT ON THE BODY FRAME CORROSION WHERE THE VEHICLE MIGHT BE BREAK IN 1/2 DUE TO NO BODY FRAME SUPPORT AT ALL. I M NOT SURE WHY NISSAN DO NOT TAKE ANY PROPER ACTION LIKE THE WAY TOYOTA FORESEEN THE IMPACT ON THE LIFE DEATH INCIDENT DUE TO BODY FRAME CORROSION. ACCORDING TO MANY WEB DISCUSSION AND FORUM RESOURCES, MANY NISSAN PATHFINDER OWNERS ARE SHARING THE SAME CORROSION ISSUES COMPLAINTS. I M WRITING TO ADDRESS AND TO KINDLY INFORM YOU TO COMMUNICATE THIS EXPERIENCE TO THE PUBLIC AND THIS MIGHT BE IN RELATIONSHIP TO POSSIBLE FUTURE LIFE DEATH INCIDENT IF NISSAN CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BODY FRAME CORROSION IN A SERIOUS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME. *TR

2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRUT TOWER HOUSING RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS.

MY 2000 PATHFINDER STARTED TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH IN THE REAR OF THE CAR VIOLENTLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS THEN 45MPH AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE TURNS IN THE ROAD OR FREEWAYS. REALLY HAPPENS ON FREEWAYS WHEN THERE IS A TURN TO THE LEFT AND THERE SEEMS TO BE THOSE BUMPS THAT BIG RIG TRUCKS SEEM TO MAKE IN SOME OF THE LANES. THE CAR STARTS SWAYING BACK AND FORTH IN THE REAR REAL BAD AND SEEMS LIKE THE CAR COULD FLIP OVER IF IN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES! VERY SCARY! VERY UNSAFE!. HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ONLINE EVERYWHERE THAT IT IS THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS THAT SEEM TO WEAR OUT AND NEED REPLACING. *TR

THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND FEELS LIKE YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL AT SPEEDS AROUND 55-60. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SUSPENSION LINKS/BUSHINGS ARE WORN OUT. THIS WAS INITIALLY TOLD TO US FROM SUNBELT NISSAN IN 2009 WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 9 YEARS OLD. IT COSTS SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN A 9 YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND IT IS SO HAZARDOUS THAT I WILL NOT ALLOW MY TEEN DRIVER TO DRIVE THIS CAR. IT IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE TO DRIVE I FEEL THAT ONE DAY IT COULD JUST JUMP OFF THE ROAD AND CRASH IF YOU HIT A BUMP WRONG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT), BUT THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS RUST AND SEPARATION IN THE AREA THAT WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR FOR THE RUST WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,394 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,394.

2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BODY ROT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEFT SHOCK TOWER. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE MADE THE REPAIRS TO HIS VEHICLE, TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE REPAIRS AND STATED IT WAS A BETTER JOB THAN NISSAN WOULD HAVE DONE. THE DEALER SENT THE PAPERWORK AND PICTURES TO NISSAN CORP. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FOR TWO MONTHS, UNTIL THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER LATER FOUND OUT, NISSAN DID NOT CONSIDER THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECEIPTS AND TIME SLIPS TO INDICATE HOW LONG IT TOOK TO PERFORM THE WORK. *JB

2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CORROSION IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN THE FRONT WHEEL AREA, AS WELL AS UNUSUAL NOISES, RATTLING AND STEERING INSTABILITY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TGW THE CONSUMER COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL NOTICE. HOWEVER, AFTER NOT HEARING BACK FROM THE DEALER, REGARDING THE STATUS, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THE DAMAGE WAS TOO EXTENSIVE TO BE FIXED AND THE CONSUMER WAS INSTRUCTED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 10/06/11

STRUT TOWER COMPLETELY RUSTED ON DRIVER SIDE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING-JUST LOOKING TO REVIEW RECALLS FROM NISSAN AND NOTICED I WASN'T THE ONLY ON WITH THIS ISSUE-SOUNDS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! SOME OF AS DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE OUR VEHICLES AT THIS TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH SHE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO ANOTHER LANE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE APRON HAD CRACKED NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT. THE MECHANIC WELDED IT BACK TOGETHER. SIX MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE SAME WHEEL WOULD NOT REPOSITION ITSELF AFTER MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME LOCAL MECHANIC AGAIN AND HE ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT STRUT WOULD GO THROUGH THE TOWER AND THE WHEEL WOULD COME OFF; THEREFORE, IT WOULD BE BEST TO JUNK THE VEHICLE UNLESS SHE WANTED TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A JUNK FACILITY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER ROTTED AND THE WELDS WERE FRACTURING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN DRIVING 10 MPH AND OVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE STEERING AND FOUND THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTING AGAINST THE STEERING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 05/26/11

THE STRUT TOWER ON MY 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER BROKE LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE AND PRESSED UP ON THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING SEVER STRESS ON THAT UNIT. I WAS ABLE TO NOTICE IT PRIOR TO BREAKING THE STEERING COLUMN JOINTS AND FOUND A QUALIFIED BODY SHOP TO PRESS THE UNIT BACK TOGETHER AND WELD SUPPORT BRACKETS TO HOLD THE STRUT TOWER IN PLACE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT FRAME HAD RUSTED AND CRACKED. A MECHANIC AT A BODY SHOP STATED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

I OWN A 2000 PATHFINDER. THE FRONT STRUT TOWER HAS SEPARATED FROM THE CAR'S FRAME DUE TO RUST. THIS REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AS NEAR AS I CAN TELL IT OCCURRED AFTER I HIT A POTHOLE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

MY 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE STARTED MAKING STRANGE NOISES IN THE FRONT END ABOUT A WEEK AGO. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE STRUT TOWER HAD TOTALLY RUSTED OUT AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TAPPED IT WITH A HAMMER, IT CREATED A HUGE HOLE, AND THE FRAME JUST DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND MUST BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. HAVING IT REPAIRED IS NOT FEASIBLE. AS A MECHANIC, I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE. IT'S MAINTAINED AND WASHED REGULARLY. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE PATHFINDER, AND SHOULD WARRANT A PRODUCT RECALL. DRIVING THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS WOULD BE RISKING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER . JULY 24,2010 I HIT A POTHOLE ON I95 NORTH,SHORTLY AFTER THAT I STARTED HEARING SQUEAKING NOISES,TRUCK WAS PULLING, STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING VERY BAD, I COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 55 MPH. WHEN I GOT HOME MY HUSBAND CHECKED IT OUT AND THAT'S WHEN HE NOTICED THAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THE SHOCK TOWER SEPARATED (CRACKED) FROM THE FRAME RAIL. SHOCK TOWER DOES HAVE SOME RUST CORROSION BUT HITTING A POTHOLE SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THIS TO CRACK,THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. MY TRUCK IS MECHANICALLY EXCELLENT AS WELL AS COSMETIC. I CALLED NISSAN DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY TRUCK AND HE WAS VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS ISSUE, AND SAID IT WAS VERY RARE. I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH PATHFINDERS. MY TRUCK DID NOT START SHOWING SIGNS THAT SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG UNTIL THIS DAY 7-24-201. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MUCH MORE DAMAGES OR EVEN POSSIBLY A BAD ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM IS SOMETHING THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF ....ITS LIKE DRIVING A DEATH TRAP AND A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB TO FIX. BUYERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND NISSAN NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL BULLETIN ON THE SHOCK TOWER RUST CORROSION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED DUE TO THEIR LACK OF PERFORMANCE. MY TRUCK IS IN MY BODY SHOP AS I AM TYPING THIS..I AM AWAITING AN ESTIMATE..HE DID TELL ME ITS AN EXPENSIVE JOB..12-13 HRS LABOR ALONE,PLUS PARTS. NISSAN NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS!! BIG QUESTION IS WHY WOULD THE SHOCK TOWER RUST, SHOULDN'T IT BE RUST PROOFED? TRUCK CAN'T POSSIBLE BE THAT SAFE IF SOMETHING LIKE HITTING A POTHOLE WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

I HAVE A NISSAN PATHFINDER LE 2000 THAT IN THE PAST 8 MO HAVE ROCKING OR WOBBLING FROM SIDE TO SIDE (OR LEFT TO RIGHT) WHEN DRIVEN AT FREEWAY SPEED (55-75). IF YOU DO NOT LET OFF THE GAS OR MAKE A SLIGHT CORRECTION WITH STEERING WHEEL, IT WILL GET REALLY BAD TO A POINT THE IT MIGHT FISHTAIL. IT'S BEEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING EVEN AT LOWER SPEED, IT'S BEEN HAPPENING. ASIDE FROM SPEED, IT CAN BE TRIGGERED BY SLIGHT UNEVEN ROAD OR BUMPS. I HAVE HAD MY ALIGNMENT, WHEEL BALANCED, FRONT END STRUTS REPLACED WHICH HELPED A LITTLE. I STILL HAVE TO GET REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND THERE AR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOM OF MY CARE. IT SEEMED TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PATHFINDER (HIGH MILEAGE-- MINE IS 121,000) AND IT APPEARS THAT THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ON REAR SUSPENSION IS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF THERE HAVE BEEN FATALITY INVOLVED. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH ALL NISSAN PATHFINDER TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW IN THEIR SUSPENSION DESIGN. *TR

2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH MULTIPLE FRONT END PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND DID NOT REPACK THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. THEN THE FUEL INJECTOR MADE THE VEHICLE SHAKE. *KB THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING, THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WAS LOOSE AND THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOOSE.

THE REAR END LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. FIRST THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING POPPING NOISE, FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE SHAKING. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS IT, CAUSING LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND COASTED TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALERSHIP. *JB *TC

CAR WILL START ROCKING BACK IN FORTH AFTER SPEEDS OF 45 MPH, ENOUGH TO MAKE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *JB

ORIGINAL TIRES, TOYO, TRAMPATH, 255/65R16. VEHICLE SHAKES AT 60 MPH. NISSAN REBALANCED, AND PLACED 4 WEIGHTS ON TIRES, AND VEHICLE STILL IS NOT BALANCED, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK

MY SIXTEEN YEAR OLD SON ALONG WITH MY SEVEN YEAR OLD SON WERE DRIVING MY CAR WHEN CAR STARTED WOBBLING, HE LOST CONTROL GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES AN HOUR, OVER CORRECTED AND WENT HEAD FIRST INTO TREES AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FORTUNATELY MY SONS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS AND DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY MAJOR INJURIES, JUST BUMPS AND BRUISES. THE CAR THEN HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AFTER THE FRONTAL IMPACT THEN HIT ON THE REAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. AT NO TIME DID THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DEPLOY. IF NOT FOR THE SEAT BELTS, MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AND MY SON DRIVING DID HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE AIR BAG WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS HAD IT DEPLOYED. I WOULD SAY THIS WAS DEFINITELY A DEFECT WITH THE CAR. *AK