1997 Nissan Pathfinder Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
VEHICLE SWAYS VERY BAD DURING MODERATE ACCELERATION AND STOP IF YOU PUSH THE BRAKE OR SPEED UP. FEELS REALLY DANGEROUS AND FOUND OTHERS WITH SAME VEHICLE AND SAME PROBLEM. *TR
CLUTCH BAD. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH DUE TO AXLE FAILURE. *AK
ENGINE PROBLEM LIGHT COMES ON. BOTH TRANSMISSION COMPUTERS MALFUNCTIONING AND SHORTENING EACH OTHER OUT. DEALER REPAIRED FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED COMMENTING THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM W/ MODEL AND NISSAN IS AWARE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY BUT REFUSES TO RECALL DUE TO EXCESSIVE COST OF DOING SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS DANGEROUS.
WHEN APPLYING CLUTCH IT MAKE A WHINNING SOUND INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
FACTORY BULLETIN ISSUED ABOUT A PROBLEM IN TRANSMISSION. MY CAR CLUNKS WHEN STOPPING AND STARTING. NISSAN TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME BUT THEY CANNOT DO IT SINCE MY CAR HAS OVER 60,000 MILES ON IT. WHY NOT??? IF THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GET WORSE AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE CARS PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS A POSSIBLE FUTURE SAFETY HAZZARD, THEN THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM NO MATTER HOW MANY MILES IS ON THE CAR WHEN PURCHASED! PLEASE, HELP! THANKS. *AK
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.
1800.00 TO 3800.00 TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION. OUT OF WARENTY BY 7000 MILES
WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE OR WHEN RELEASING BRAKES, TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE LIKE CRACKING. CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE REAR TRANS-AXLE, BUT A MECHANIC HAD TOLD HER THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAKES A LOUD ROLLING THUMP AS IF SOMEONE REAR ENDED VEHICLE.IS AT DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, CAUSING A LOUD THUMP THEN LURCHES FORWARD.
DEFECTIVE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AND VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD UPON STOPPING AND STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1997 Nissan Pathfinder has 12 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.