1998 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH THE REAR OF VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THEAT THE SUSPENSION LINKS WERE WORN OUT.*AK *YH

VEHICLE HAS HAD ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS FROM TIME OF PURCHASE. DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SWAYBAR WAS INOPERABLE. NISSAN WILLING TO REPLACE SWAYBAR UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT TIRES.

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY FROM THE REAR END FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT FELT LIKE I WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I REGAINED CONTROL BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS. THE PROBLEM CAME BACK REPEATEDLY -- AT LEAST 20 TIMES DURING MY TRIP ON INTERSTATE 80 WHILE BRINGING MY DAUGHTER BACK TO COLLEGE. THE PROPLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO ANY SPECIFICE ROAS SURFACE CONDITION. IT WOUL HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE. THE ROAD COULD BE FLAT AND SMOOTH. IT DID NOT MATTER. I AM SURE THAT I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING THE WINTER AND THERE WAS SNOW OR EVEN WORSE ICE ON THE ROAD. SINCE I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED, I TOOK IT THAT AFTERNOON AND HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT (FRONT AND REAR) AND I HAD THE TIRES BALANCED HOPING THAT THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME THE NEXT DAY FROM THE COLLEGE THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND I CAN ONLY COMPARE IT TO WHEN YOU SEE A CAR TOWING A TRAILER BEHIND IT AND THE TRAILER BEGINS TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS TO MANY MODELS OF THE NISSAN PATHFINDER COVERING AT LEAST THE YEARS 1997, 1998 AND 1999 AND IT IS NOT RELATED TO ANY SPECIFIC MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. IT COULD HAPPEN AT 15,000 MILES OR 90,000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IS CAUSED BY A DESIGN FAILURE OF THE BUSHINGS (THERE ARE 4 OF THEM) THAT ARE PART OF THE CONTROL ARMS.*AK

I'M NOT SURE I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE BUT... BOTH STRUTS ON THE FRONT OF MY PATHFINDER BLEW OUT.. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.. IT WASN'T UNUSAL TO SEE PATHFINDERS WITH LESS MILES AND DUEL BUSTED STRUTS ... SHE CONCLUDED BY SAYING TWO BLOW STRUTS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH VEHICLE STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 TENSION BARS.*AK *SLC

SHOCK ABSORBER LEAKS. APPARENTLY SUCH A HIGH VOLUME OF DEFECTS, THAT THERE IS A 1-6 MONTH WAIT. CONCERNED BECAUSE CONTINUED USE MAY CAUSE LOST CONTACT OF ROAD, LOSS OF STEERING, AND UNSTABLE RIDE. COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT WITH SERIUOS OR DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE CHANGING MANUFACTURERS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE.

VEHICLE LEANS TO LEFT. DEALER PROVIDE SERVICE BULLETIN THAT RECOGNIZED DEFECT BUT FELT IT IS STILL WITHIN NORMS. THIS IMBALANCE CAN AFFECT HANDLING, ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING. THIS LEANING IS VERY NOTICEABLE.

VEHICLE LEANS NOTICIABLY TO THE LEFT, EVEN WHEN PARKED WITH NO CARGO. THE DEALER SHOWED ME A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT STATED THE LEANING WAS "ACCEPTABLE" BY THEIR STANDARDS. I FEEL THAT THE LEANING CAN AFFECT THE DYNAMIC HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE AND CAN CAUSE OR AGGRAVATE HANDLING PROBLEMS.

FRONT END SHAKES.

CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK