2001 Nissan Pathfinder STEERING,SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact was attempting to use her brakes to slow for traffic and was unable to stop. The contact had to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard to get the vehicle to stop. The contact stated that prior to the failure her ABS warning had been illuminated for a long period of time prior to the failure. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that due to a significant amount of rust, the front suspension and struts and brake pads, and rotors had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering and Suspension). The work had been previously completed by a dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

THE SUB-FRAME/CRADLE 54400-0W00 ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ROTTED OUT TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NOT PASS A PA STATE INSPECTION. THIS WAS FOUND BY MY MECHANIC WHILE HE WAS REPLACING THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES. MY MECHANIC HAS ORDERED A NEW SUB FRAME + BOLTS TO REPLACE THE ROTTED OUT SUB-FRAME. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER SUB-FRAMES ARE ROTTED OUT ON PATHFINDERS FROM 1996 TO 2004 WHICH IS WHEN NISSAN USED THIS PARTICULAR PART. MY CONCERN IS IF THIS PART FAILS COMPLETELY WHAT WILL HAPPEN??? I HAVE RESTRICTED DRIVING MY PATHFINDER UNTIL THE NEW PART IS INSTALLED. I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE WHEN IT FAILS AND IT WILL SOMEONE WILL GET HURT OR EVEN KILLED? THE CONTROL ARMS MOUNTED TO THIS PART WHICH CONTROLS STEERING. THIS PART PLUS LABOR WILL COST ME ABOUT $1500.00.

THE 01 THRU 04 PATHFINDER HAS SOME KIND OF REAR SUSPENSION FLAW. THE ONLINE FORUMS CALL IT A DEATH SWAY AND I AGREE. IT IS BEYOND ME WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AS OF YET. IF YOU HAVE SOMETIME I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE YOU ON A RIDE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SOMETHING WOULD GET DONE AFTER RIDING WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANKS

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, WAITING TO MAKE RIGHT HAND TURN; ATTEMPTING TO TURN RESULTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL SPINNING FREELY; VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED; INITIAL INSPECTION REVEALED STEERING COLUMN SHAFT SNAPPED IN HALF; UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT STRUT TOWER HAD RIPPED AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE TRUCK; **THIS VEHICLE HAD RECALLS ISSUED IN THE PAST, IT WAS TAKEN TO LECKNER NISSAN IN STAFFORD, VA BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT MITIGATE THE PROBLEM - THEY SIMPLY CLEARED THE RECALL FROM THE COMPUTER**

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.

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

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.

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

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

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