2001 Nissan Pathfinder Steering Problems

Your brakes failed while driving at 35 MPH, forcing you to press the brake pedal all the way to the floor to stop the vehicle. Your ABS warning light had been on for a long time before this happened. A mechanic found that rust had damaged your front suspension, struts, brake pads, and rotors, all of which need replacement to restore proper braking and steering function.

While driving your Pathfinder shortly after starting, you heard a loud pop from the engine area and your steering suddenly became hard and difficult to turn, with a grinding noise when turning the wheel. After pulling over and checking under the hood, you discovered that the strut tower on the driver's side had separated from its factory weld. A complete strut assembly replacement and inspection of the suspension welds will likely be needed to restore safe steering function.

While driving at 15 mph and turning left, your steering column suddenly fractured without warning. The dealer was notified and towed the vehicle, but then asked you to remove it from their lot within hours. Your vehicle had a recall for steering and suspension issues four years earlier that was never completed, and the failure occurred at 187,000 miles.

Your steering shaft fractured at the bottom of the steering column, causing you to lose all power steering while driving. Your vehicle drifted over a curb before you were able to stop it safely. The steering system will need to be inspected and the fractured shaft will likely need to be replaced to restore power steering function.

Your steering column fractured while your daughter was attempting a low-speed U-turn, causing the vehicle to lose steering control and hit a curb. Even though your vehicle had been repaired under a previous recall in 2015, the steering column failed again. Nissan will likely need to inspect and replace the steering column assembly to prevent this from happening again.

The sub-frame (cradle) on the passenger side of your Pathfinder has rusted severely and won't pass state inspection. Your mechanic discovered this rust while replacing your front rotors and brakes. Since the control arms that manage steering are mounted to this sub-frame, rust damage could affect your ability to steer safely. Fixing this requires replacing the entire sub-frame assembly and bolts.

While stopped at a red light waiting to turn right, your steering wheel spun freely with no resistance, making the vehicle impossible to steer. The vehicle had to be towed, and inspection found the steering column shaft was snapped in half and the driver's side front strut tower had torn away from the truck's body. The vehicle had previous recalls that were apparently not properly fixed.

The driver's side strut tower on your Pathfinder has rusted severely enough that it failed Virginia's state safety inspection. Nissan previously issued a recall for rust problems in this exact area (inner wheel wells and strut tower), which should have addressed this issue.

Your Pathfinder's rear suspension may have a significant swaying or oscillation problem during driving, particularly noticeable at highway speeds. This issue affects 2001-2004 Pathfinder models and can make the vehicle feel unstable or hard to control. The problem likely involves worn or damaged rear suspension components that need inspection and replacement.

Your car has multiple issues: the foot rest is broken, the steering wheel is loose which sometimes prevents the engine from starting until you jiggle the steering wheel, and pressing the gas pedal produces excessive noise with sluggish acceleration. These problems likely require replacing the foot rest assembly, tightening or replacing steering column components, and diagnosing the fuel system or engine for the noise and power loss.

TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED A CREAKING SOUND ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, WHICH PROGRESSED RANDOMLY AFTER THE DEALER REPLACED THE STRUT TOWERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZING AND MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). ONE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH RUST AND CORROSION TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR WEEKS LATER FROM A SECOND DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL GOT LOOSE AND UNRESPONSIVE. CAR STARTED TO SWERVE ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC SO IT WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. FRAME STRUT COVER CAME LOOSE DUE TO CORROSION AND BROKE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED. WE DID NOT GO OVER 40 ON THE TEST DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY ONCE WE APPROACHED 55 MPH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH. WE DECIDED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE AND TONS OF COMPLAINTS WERE CITED ABOUT THE SAME"DEATH WOBBLE" ISSUE. WE HAD DONE AND ALIGNMENT, ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRES AND IT HELPED SLIGHTLY BUT THE WOBBLE IS STILL THERE. IT SEEMS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BUSHINGS AND /OR CONTROL ARMS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED WITH THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS? WE HAVE NOT PRICED IT OUT BUT SEEMS TO BE A COSTLY FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND BECAME STIFF WHEN TURNING. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

MY CAR WAS PARKED OUT IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE BY THE MAIL BOX, WHEN SOME GUY BACKED UP INTO MY CAR PUSHING IT ABOUT 4 FT BACK. DAMAGING THE FRONT FENDER, HOOD, AND WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL USED TO BE STRAIGHT NOW ITS TURNED HALF WAYS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH I ONLY WENT AROUND THE BLOCK CAUSE I GOT TOO SCARED. BUT APPARENTLY DRIVER HAS NO INSURANCE AND HES ON DISABILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE ON THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING AND THERE WAS CORROSION PRESENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V244000 (STEERING , SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE PRESENT HOWEVER THE VEHICLE DID NOT REQUIRE ANY REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL THE SPEED OF 60 MPH WAS REACHED. BETWEEN 60 AND 65 STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHIMMING, ABOVE 67 MPH SHIMMING EASED UP. THERE IS 4 NEW TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WITH ELECTRONIC BALANCING. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 20013 AND NEVER DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS UNTIL THE DATE IN QUESTION, 5/27/14. IS THERE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER OWNERS OF THE PATHFINDER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

I WAS ON THE FRWY. AND MY NISSAN PATHFINDER STARTED TO WOBBLE LIKE, IT WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 AND WAS HEADED IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE WOBBLE SEEMED TO GO AWAY. I WAS ON THE FRWY. SO I SPED UP TO THE LEGAL LIMIT, AND NOW I'M GOING AROUND A CURVE AND, THE WOBBLE WAS INTENSE , IT SCARED ME TO DEATH. SINCE, I HAVE HAD THE STRUTS, SHOCKS REPLACED TWICE. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS WOBBLE...IT IS CALLED THE DEATH WOBBLE...IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIALS USED MAKING, THE BUSHINGS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. EVEN WHEN THESE BUSHINGS (THE SAME MATERIAL BUSHINGS) ARE REPLACED IT CAN AND WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. PEOPLE DRIVING AROUND ME WHEN THIS WOBBLE STARTS... THEY CANNOT GET AWAY FROM ME FAST ENOUGH. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR ESPECIALLY, MOST MECHANICS DO PROCESS OF ELIMINATION, STARTING WITH SHOCKS, TIRES, STRUTS, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, REAR ARM ASSEMBLY,BALL JOINTS AND WHEEL BEARINGS NEED I SAY MORE. ON ASK.COM, THE DEATH WOBBLE IS WELL KNOWN. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THIS IS THE SECOND PATHFINDER I HAVE OWNED , I PURCHASE NISSAN PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD FOR 2 TO 300K. I LOVE MY PATHFINDER , BUT I DON'T WANT TO DIE IN IT OR HAVE AN ACCIDENT, KILLING ANYBODY . THE BUSHINGS NEED TO BE MADE OF SOME OTHER MATERIAL SO THAT THIS WILL QUIT HAPPENING. WHEN ALL IS STABLE, IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS (40-65 MPH), IF ROAD IS BUMPY, OR UNEVEN, THE TRUCK BEGINS TO WOBBLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. YOU HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY LET OFF OF THE GAS TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL. IT'S GETTING WORSE, AND FEELS UNSAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE, UNLESS I SLOW DOWN AND GET THE WOBBLE UNDER CONTROL. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT THE 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER 1 WEEK PRIOR FROM A PRIVATE SELLER. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH I HIT A VERY LARGE POT HOLE, COMMON IN MN. I HEARD A EXTRA LOUD BANG COME FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND PULLED OVER INSTANTLY, UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE TIRE AND WHEEL WELL WERE ALMOST IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER I COULDN'T SEE WHAT HAD BROKE, BEING THAT IT WAS A PITCH BLACK NIGHT. SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I WOKE UP AND RAN DIRECTLY TO MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW STRUTS SHOCKS AND CV AXLES I AGREED WITH HIS BID AND HE BEGAN WORK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SHOCKS, STRUTS, CV AXLE. NEXT HE DOES THE DRIVER SIDE AND NOTICES THAT STRUT IS NOT STAYING IN PLACE, FINISHES THE JOB CALLS ME AND SAYS THE JOB IS COMPLETE BUT HE NEEDS TO TALK, I GET TO THE MECHANICS AND HE HANDS ME A BILL FOR $830 AND SHOWS ME THAT THE STRUT HOUSING ON DRIVERS SIDE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NEED TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR

MY CAR BODY STRUCTURE WAS BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES, AND IT IS NOT OPERABLE. THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE STRUT TOWER ON MY 2001 PATHFINDER WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE STRUT TOWER WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE BODY DUE TO THE RUST. WHEN THE TOWER FINALLY LET GO, THE STEERING WAS AFFECTED CAUSING ISSUES STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE FRAME BODY STRUCTURE. IT CAUSED ALSO DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. BEFORE MY CAR GOT BROKEN, I HEARD A NOISE FROM ITS RIGHT SIDE AND I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY, FOR A SECOND I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEEL MY CAR, BUT I KEPT IT STEADY UNTIL I COULD GET THE NEXT EXIT. I COULD HAVE SUFFERED A FATAL ACCIDENT THAT DAY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR FRAME/BODY STRUCTURE CORROSION FOR THIS MODEL 2001 PATHFINDER REGISTERED IN NEW JERSEY. AS SOON I WAS AWARE ABOUT IT, I CALLED TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO EXPLAIN MY SITUATION. ONE OF THE NISSAN REPRESS. ADVISED ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN AVENEL NJ. MY CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, SO I CALLED TO THE TOWING TRUCK TO PICK AND DROP IT OFF TO THE DEALERSHIP ON DEC 26, 2013. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE FROM NISSAN TO HELP ME WITH MY SITUATION. EACH TIME I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE, THEY SAID THAT MY CASE IS STILL IN PROCESS, AND I NEED TO WAIT FOR A DECISION. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT, I HAVE BEEN IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION DRIVEN MY CAR IN THAT MATTER. I NEED A CAR TO GO TO WORK FOR MY LIVELIHOOD AND ALSO TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO THEIR SCHOOL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A CAR RENTAL. AND AFTER ALL OF THESE, NISSAN DOES NOT HAVE ANY SENSE OF COOPERATION. I REQUESTED THEM TO HELP ME WITH A PROVISIONAL CAR TO KEEP MY LIFE STYLE ON, BUT THEY DENIED IT. I NEED HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT NHTSA TO MAKE NISSAN TAKE CARE ABOUT THIS RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE HEARD A STRANGE NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STRUT HOUSING HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED PROBLEM WHEN THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS HOLES IN THE STRUT HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER ASKED FOR TWO DAYS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE TWO HOURS LATER. THEY STATED THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUT TOWER. FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE CONSUMER NOTICED DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER;S SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN, WHERE THEY STATED THEY COULD PERFORM A SECOND RECALL, BUT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT NISSAN TO RECEIVE PERMISSION. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM NISSAN CUSTOMER AFFAIRS, STATING THEY WERE NOT GOING TO PERFORM A SECOND RECALL AND COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THEY DID NOT GIVE THE CONSUMER AN EXPLANATION. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO PICK UP HIS VEHICLE, HE WAS INFORMED, IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. UPDATED 06/06/13

EXCESSIVE RUST, CORROSION AND HOLES IN SUB FRAME OF 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM CONNECTS TO THE SUB FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO EXCESSIVE RUST IN WHOLE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. DID HAVE VEHICLE RECALL ID # 88860 - SUSPENSION:FRONT ADDRESSED HOWEVER NISSAN DID NOT ADDRESS EXCESSIVE RUST AND HOLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE NEAR AREA WHERE CONTROL ARM CONNECTS TO SUB FRAME. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER ON A BUMPY ROAD AND HIT A POTHOLE, THE RIGHT STRUT PUNCHED THROUGH THE STRUT TOWER AND I COULD NO LONGER CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE WHOLE OF BOTH STRUT TOWERS WERE CORRODED BEYOND BELIEF. I HAD ONE REPAIRED AFTER I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHO THEN CHARGED ME A POINT ON MY LICENSE FOR THE ACCIDENT. I THEN TRADED THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO AVOID PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE FOR THE OTHER STRUT TOWER REPAIR, I THEN FIND OUT NISSAN DID A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY REFUSE TO PICK UP THE PHONE. THEY EVEN GAVE ME A BOGUS E-MAIL ACCOUNT TO SEND THE PAPER WORK FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT. I FEEL THEY AT LEAST OWE ME THE AMOUNT FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE SURCHARGE I AM STILL PAYING. *TR

MY 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE 145,169 MILES AT THE TIME. (THIS NOISE BEGAN AROUND 120,000K MILES). NOW I HAVE ONLY 1K MORE OUT OF NECESITY. FRONT RIGHT SIDE(DRIVERS SIDE ) BEGAN TO MAKE A THUMPING SOUND. SOON AFTER THE SOUND BOTH SIDES WERE MAKING THE SAME THUNP. I CAN FEEL EVERY BUMP AND CRACK IN ROAD AND STEERING FEELS WAY OFF. THE SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE BAD AND THE UPPER MOUNTS WERE RUSTY AND NEED REPLACED FOR SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL AS RIDE OF TRUCK. I HAVE MY ESTIMATE AT $740.00. AT THIS TIME I CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. NISSAN HAS SENT A LETTER HINTING TO A FUTURE RECALL, BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT ME LATER. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? DRIVE UNTIL THE STRUTS BLOW!!!! UNACCEPTABLE TO SEND A RECALL NOTICE TO BE DETERMINED. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AND A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF MONTHS LATER THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V244000 (STEERING:COLUMN), WHICH WAS NOT RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. CLUNKING NOISE HEARD WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN (FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR) OF STOPPING. SIDE CONTROL ARM RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE WELDED BACK TO BE REATTACHED TO UNDERBODY FRAME. UPDATED 10/13/2011 *LN *TR

THE DRIVERSIDE STRUT TOWER HAS BECOME UNATTACHED FROM THE FRAME. THERE IS NO RUST MARKS ANYWHERE IN THIS SECTION. THE STRUT TOWER WORE AWAY AT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT AND BROKE IT. I LOST ALL ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR AND WAS FORCED TO JUMP A CURB. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER ON MY 2001 PATHFINDER COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE STRUT TOWER WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE BODY DUE TO THE RUST. WHEN THE TOWER FINALLY LET GO, THE STEERING WAS AFFECTED CAUSING ISSUES STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS ONLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, WHEREAS THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT AS BAD. THE DISCONNECTION OF THE TOWER CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END SUSPENSION COMPONENTS.

TL*THE DRIVER OWNED A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INVOLVED SO THE EXACT DETAILS OF THE FAILURE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DRIVER DIED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE POLICE APPEARED ON THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT BUT THEY HAVE NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A SHARP RIGHT ONTO A FREEWAY WHEN HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE SIDE RAIL OF THE EMERGENCY LANE CAUSING SCRATCHES ON THE FRONT BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED AND BROKE THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE STRUT TOWER, THE ABS BRAKES SENSOR AND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 03/03/11 *BF THE STRUT TOWER SEPARATED FROM THE UNIBODY FRAME BECAUSE OF RUST ON THE BOTTOM/ THE STEERING SHAFT SNAPPED WHEN THE STRUT TOWER PUSHED INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPDATED 09/01/11*JB

THE VEHICLE SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAUSES EXTREME WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TIRES. I HAVE HAD THIS NISSAN PATHFINDER (2001) FOR JUST OVER A YEAR AND NISSAN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM IT WAS "BUILT TO RIDE THIS WAY". THE RESULT IS PREMATURE BREAKING PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE PUT NEW TIRES ON, TURNED THE ROTORS AND SPENT MANY HOURS BALANCING THE TIRES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE DAY ONE.

THE STEERING PULL AND/OR BODY VIBRATION MANIFESTS ITSELF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 60 AND 75 MPH, REGARDLESS OF ROAD CROWN OR IMPERFECTIONS OF THE SURFACE. THIS DEFECT IMPAIRS THE STEERING CONSIDERABLY. STEERING BECOMES EVEN MORE OF A CHANNLANGE DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS IN RESPECT OF THE RECENT NHTSA PUBLICATION, SHOWING A TWO STAR ROLLOVER RATING FOR THIS VEHICLE, THE REFERENCED DEFECT INDEED HAS A SERIOUSNEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE WHILST DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS AT THE SPEEDS INDICATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO PHONECALLS AND LETTER OF NOTIFICATION. ARBITRATION WAS HELD UNDER THE BBB AUTOLINE PROGRAM. REQUEST FOR REPURCHASE WAS DENIED DESPITE THE FACT THAT BOTH THE MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE AND THE ARBITRATOR RECOGNIZED THE DEFECT DURING THE TEST DRIVE. THE ARBITRATOR CONSIDERED IT A NUSANCE. *AK

EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT 60 TO 70 MPH TAKEN SUV TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND FOUND OUT THAT TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND HAVE EXCESSIVE RADIAL FORCE MEASURMENTS AND THAT THEY ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH AAND MAY CAUSE AN ACEDENT. DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR AND MUITL TIMES BALANCE THE WHEEL/TIRE USING RADIAL FORCE BALANCING BUT UNABLE TO GET RID OF EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. DEALER GAVE ME BACK SUV AS IS (KNOWING IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE) AND ORDERED 4 NEW TIRES OF THE SAME BRAND WHICH TOOK A WEEK TO RECIEVE. I REQUESTED TO REPLACE TIRE WITH MICHILINE LTX BUT DEALER AND NISSAN REFUSED TO DO SO. I REQUESTED A SAFETY AND RESPONSIBILTY LETTER SINCE THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME A CHOOSE OF WHAT BRAND TO CHOOSE BUT THEY WOULD NOT DO SO. DEALER FINALLY REPLACED TIRES AND VIBRATION IS 90 %IMPROVED BUT STILL EXISTS. ALSO I HAVE TAKEN MY SUV FOR A RATTLE IN STEERING AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE DRIVER AIRBAG WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY FROM FACTORY. DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM AND THEN THREE WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM RETURNED. TOOK SUV TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY PUT "TUBES IN THE SPRING BEHIND THE AIRBAG" THIS IS TO REDUCE RATTLE/VIBRATION. NOW THE HORN IS UNOPERATIONAL DUE TO THIS. YOU MUST PUT BOTH HANDS ON THE HORN/AIRBAG AND PUSH VERY HARD EST 40IBS OF FORCE TO ENGAGE THE HORN. THIS IS UNACCPTIBLE AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE THE VECHICAL WITH OUT A HORN. I DO HAVE A SAFETY CONVERN TO OTHER OWNER OF THIS SUV DUE TO DEFECTIVE TIRES THAT CAN BLOW AND CASUE A SEROUS EXCEDENT. I DP HOPE THAT NHTSA TAKE ACTION. (DOT NUMBER: EN6D0800 TIRESIZE: 255/65R16)