1997 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension

AFTER DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER TO THE REASON WHY MY VEHICLE WAS ACTING THE WAY IT WAS I STUMBLED UPON AN INTERNET SITE WITH OTHER PATHFINDER OWNERS DESCRIBING SAME THINGS I WAS EXPERIENCING. I OWN A NISSAN PATHFINDER XE 3.3 L 4X4. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS VIOLENT SWAYING OF THE REAR END AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50 AND 65 MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO STOP IS TO TAP THE BREAKS OR SPEED UP. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE TRIED TO FIX IT AT THE COST OF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. NOTHING HAS WORKED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH! ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE VELOCITIES AT WHICH IT OCCURS. IT IS THE CONSENSUS OF THE MANY POSTERS ON THE SITE THAT THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS ARE THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. *TR

1997 PATHFINDER WOBBLES LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN REACHING SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. STOPPED WOBBLING WHEN RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS AND THE TWO FRONT AXLES..SAME PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS CONDITION AND NISSAN SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND CORRECT IT!!!!...I PERSONALLY KNOW OF TWO OTHER PATHFINDER'S OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER REAR LINK ARM BUSHING FAILURE. *TR

I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. I EXPERIENCE VERY "HEAVY" SIDE TO SIDE SWAYING OF THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 55 MPH. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AT OTHER BLOGS AND NOTICED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME CONDITION. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A TSB, (NTB98-001 )BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, NO DOUBT DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIR, WHICH WAS JUST QUOTED TO ME BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AT $1,400.00 (AND TWO DAYS IN THE SHOP). THE PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO NISSAN AND OTHER CONSUMERS ONLINE, IS THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING (FRONT AND REAR) AND OTHER CONNECTING PARTS. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE DESIGN ERROR AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AT THE EXPENSE OF NISSAN, NOT THE CONSUMER. *TR

MY 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS THE WELL DOCUMENTED "DEATH WOBBLES" ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. APPARENTLY IT IS THE REAR BUSHINGS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE. CAUSES SEVERE UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. I'VE HEARD THE SAME STORY FROM MANY NISSAN OWNERS. I'M FRIGHTENED TO EVEN SELL THE VEHICLE FOR SAFETY REASONS EVEN WHEN I TELL A BUYER ABOUT THE FACTORY PROBLEM. *TR

REAR BUSHINGS ON NISSAN PATHFINDERS. MINE IS A 97 MODEL. THAT SWAYS AS SOON AS I HIT 65 MPH. I HAVE TO TAP ON THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATE FOR THE SWAYING TO STOP. IT STARTS AGAIN SOON AFTER. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE REAR BUSHINGS .WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/T5LSTPR5ONPC09CTLFOR ANY SOLUTIONS AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT NISSAN HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. I AM REQUIRED TO DRIVE TO WORK EACH DAY AND JUST CAN'T FANTHOM THE THOUGHT OF LOOSING TOTAL CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE NISSAN WON'T RECALL THIS. *TR

97 PATHFINDER DRIVING AT 60-70MPH STARTED SWAYING SIDE TO SIDE UNCONTROLLABLY. NOTICING NOW EVEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *TR

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF MY 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE (81,000 MILES); AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE SHOT; THEN A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT NO - IT WAS THE FRONT STRUTS. I HAVE SINCE FOUND A WEB SITE WITH MANY OWNERS OF THIS VINTAGE MODEL THAT TELL ME THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE 8 REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS - THIS IS DANGEROUS. AT VERY LEAST, THEY SHOULD NOTIFY OWNERS. *TR

I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER THAT HAS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. AT 55-65 MPH IT SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. IT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THE WOBBLE IS CAUSED BY BAD BUSHINGS IN THE REAR OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY. IN MY CASE I ESCAPED INJURY WHEN IT CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

97 NISSAN PATHFINDER - DANGEROUSLY SWAYS LEFT TO RIGHT ONCE YOU DRIVE ABOVE 60 MPH. BEEN TO REPAIRS MANY TIMES AND HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK

CAR DEVELOPED A SIDE-TO-SIDE WOBBLE, MOSTLY IN THE REAR, AT SPEEDS FROM ABOUT 50 TO 65 MPH. WOBBLE IS NOT INDUCED BY STEERING WHEEL; IT JUST HAPPENS. IT'S WORSE WHEN CAR HAS PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEAT. THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BY REPLACING THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS (OR TRAILING ARM BUSHINGS), ONLY THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. IT IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND IT IS VERY COMMON FOR 97 AND 98 NISSAN PATHFINDERS, AND A LOT OF USERS REPLACE MANY OTHER PARTS (SHOCK ABSORBERS, TIRES, ETC) THAT DON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND CAN CAUSE A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH OR GREATER, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYS LEFT TO RIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR STRUTS AND TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND FRONT BRAKES. AS OF JULY 19, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 89,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ

I OWN A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE SUSPENSION FAILED BY SWAYING BACK AND FORTH. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE CAR WILL ROLL OVER. DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS CLEARLY FORESEEABLE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE SWAY, I NEEDED TO DECELERATE. HOWEVER, AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE SUSPENSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SWAYED. DUE TO THE CONTINUOUS NATURE OF THIS FAILURE I HAD INCLUDED THE NUMBER 999 BELOW IN THE NUMBER OF FAILURE FIELDS TO DENOTE THAT HE FAILURE WAS CONTINUOUS. JANUARY 1, 2005 AS THE INCIDENT DATE TO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE. IT HAS A SEVERE WOBBLE AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH AND ABOVE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE SUSPENSION ,SO I REPLACED IT. THE WOBBLE CONTINUED. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT ITWAS COMMON WITH EVERY PATHFINDER IN THE 1990'S AFTER THE VEHICLE PASSED APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES. THE LOW QUALITY BUSHINGS DETERIORATED AND COULD NOT SUPPORT THE VEHICLE. WEIGHT SHIFTED DURING ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE PULLED OVER NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE OF IT. IT APPEARED THAT EVERY PATHFINDER OF THIS MODEL YEAR RANGE WAS PLAGUED BY THIS PROBLEM. THE CHEAPEST I HAVE FOUND THIS REPAIR WAS $700, HOWEVER, IT SEEMED LIKE THISWAS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO FIND ACCIDENTS THAT HAD TO DO WITH THIS SUB-QUALITY PART. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR NISSAN TO PUT FORTH A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER (50000 FAILURE MILEAGE) AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY FROM RIGHT TO LEFT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO REDUCE HIS SPEED IN ORDER FOR THE SWAYING TO STOP AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE REAR STABILIZER ARMS WERE WORN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *JB

THE REAR END ON MY 97 PATHFINDER SHIFTS INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL MANY TIMES. AFTER TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T A RECALL. I WAS VERY SURPRISED CAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

REPORTING A VEHICLE ISSUE THAT IS KNOWN BY NISSAN "IF A 1996-98 PATHFINDER EXHIBITS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, THE CAUSE MAY BE FROM WORN BUSHING(S) IN THE REAR SUSPENSION UPPER AND/OR LOWER LINKS. EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE REAR AXLE ESPECIALLY DURING MODERATE ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. VEHICLE PULLING AT A CONSTANT SPEED. EXCESSIVE SWAY AND ROCKING MOTION IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN COMING TO A STOP. TO CORRECT THESE CONDITIONS, USE THE SERVICE PROCEDURE ON PAGE 2. " THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT CAN EASILY LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT CAUSES VERY VIOLENT SHAKING/ROCKING OF THE CHASSIS. *JB

1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4WD, TERRIBLE WOBBLE ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWAY OUT OF CONTROL AT HIGH WAY SPEEDS. NISSAN DID NOT KNOW WHY. I REPLACED ALL TIRES..FRONT STRUTS, LOWER BALL JOINTS..FINALLY FOUND ON INTERNET SITE, THAT THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER LINK BUSHINGS WEAR. THIS CAUSES THE REAR AXLE TO SHIFT, IN EFFECT,,THE REAR AXLE STEERS THE VEHICLE..CAUSE OF THE BAD BUSHINGS. *NM

FRONT LEFT STRUT TOWER IS ROTTED AND CRACKING WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. THE RIGHT SIDE LOOKS BRAND NEW, YET THE LEFT SIDE IS IN DANGER OF FAILURE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 TO 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE OR PERFORMED A DEATH WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON 08/27/03 AND THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS REPLACED THE TIRES, STRUTS, SHOCKS, AND HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING DAILY ON ALL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WOBBLES MORE VIOLENTLY AS SPEED INCREASES.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHAKES AS IF THERE MAY BE A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR THE SUSPENSION, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED FOR INSPECTION AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP.

NO CRASH AND NO INJURY. VEHICLE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH BEGINS TO ROCK VIOLENTLY SIDE TO SIDE. INTERNET POSTINGS DESCRIBES A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN UNIBODY CHASSIS THAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. REAT BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT SAFETY PROBLEM. *NM

1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. SWAYS AND ROCKS WHILE DRIVING. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS SCARY WHEN IT REALLY GETS GOING. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO A FRIEND WITH THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR PATHFINDER. MY MECHANIC HAS NOT YET DIOGNOSED BUT MY FRIENDS WAS THE TRAILER ARMS WE WORN/BENT. AS I HAVE INVESITGATED THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-30 MPH SUDDENLY THERE WAS A CLUCKING NOISE. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE THE NOISE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS STICKING OUT AT AN ANGLE. ALSO, SHOCK ABSORBER SPRING WAS STICKING OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

FIRST NOTICED PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO ROCK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMED TO GET WORSE AND WAS NOTICED EVEN AT LOWER SPEEDS. REPLACED FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JB