2000 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension

MY 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER STARTED HANDLING BAD SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME HAD TOTALLY RUSTED AWAY AND THE CONTROL ARM WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE FRAME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED A RUST PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT STRUT RECALL BUT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTROL ARM ISSUE. I CONTACTED [XXX] AT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND SHE WAS OF NOW HELP AS SHE CONTINUALLY SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND SHE WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE. I WENT BACK TO BERMANS NISSAN IN CHICAGO WE PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT AND THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE TRIED TO GET HIS BOSS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT HE WOULDN'T SO I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I SEE THAT FRAME RUST IS AN ISSUE FOR PATHFINDERS. ALSO, THERE IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT EXACTLY LIKE MINE PERTAINING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM CORROSION AND SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME. I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES, UNFORTUNATELY IT MAY BE TO LATE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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 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

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

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 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

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