2002 Nissan Pathfinder STEERING,SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced at a local dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension); however, the mechanic diagnosed that there was no rust in the strut housing assembly. The contact then stated that when he replaced the front struts, excessive rust was seen in the strut housing assembly. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to multiple independent mechanics, who diagnosed that the front axle needed to be replaced and confirmed there was excessive rust in the strut housing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 147,477.

THERE IS A ACTIVE RECALL FOR EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER HOUSING WHICH CAN CAUSE BINDING ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I RECEIVED A RECALL IN 2011, BUT NEVER A FOLLOW UP LETTER AS STATED WOULD HAPPEN FOR THE REMEDY PROCESS. I TOOK MY 2002 VEHICLE IN SINCE IT WAS STILL ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR.I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE ,I WOULD BE TOLD SO AND THEN IT WOULD ESCALATE TO NISSAN NA. AFTER BRINGING IN THE VEHICLE, IT IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE AT ALL DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP TRYING TO DO THE RECALL AND DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION CROSS-MEMBER THAT IT DROPPED 8". THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE TOWER WAS BADLY RUSTED AS WAS MUCH OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE. IN FACT THEY LET ME DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME (43 MILES) ON THE DAY I BOUGHT IT IN DUE TO MY TIME SCHEDULE WAS NOT FREE FOR 4 HOURS TO WAIT AND THEY HAD NO LOANER VEHICLE. A MECHANIC THAT WAS READY TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SHOWED TO MY AMAZEMENT, THE TOWER WAS ALREADY EMBRACING THE STEERING COLUMN IN SUCH A WAY AS IT WAS EMBEDDED IN THE STEEL. WE HAVE PICTURES AND DOCUMENTATION. SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY WENT AHEAD AND DID THE "REPAIR" ON THE TOWER. I WAS CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS "ALL SET" AND READY TO BE PICKED UP. TO MY WIFES AND MY SURPRISE THE NEXT AM ARRIVING AT THE DEALER SHIP, WAS THE OBVIOUS CROSS-MEMBER HANGING DOWN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE GM OF SERAFINI HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO MY RESIDENCE IN HOPES OF THIS ALL GOING AWAY AFTER HE WAS GOING TO CHECK THE "PAPER TRAIL". WHEN WE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK LATER ON, ONLY THEN DID WE RECEIVE A INVOICE (ATTACHED) TELLING US THE CAR WAS UNINSPECTED(FALSE) AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IT WAS GIVEN TO THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR AND HE GAVE IT TO US. THEIR WAY TO SETTLE IT WAS TO HAVE A JUNK YARD PICK IT UP FOR $400.00

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED TO UNLOCK AND THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO MANEUVER AND ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL TO INSERT THE KEY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO INSERT THE KEY AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE NOT CRANKING UPON TURNING THE KEY OVER INTO THE START POSITION. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED SUSPENSION FAILURE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS SWAYING BACK AND FORTH WITH NO WARNING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS PERFORMED. HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN UPDATED 7/16/2015 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STRUTS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING , SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.

SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING FREEWAY I HEARD A LOUD "POP" AND THE STEERING WHEEL GRABBED TO THE RIGHT. DUE TO LIGHT SNOW AND ICY CONDITIONS AT THE TIME I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING OVER I NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AT ABOUT THE FIRST COIL UP FROM THE BOTTOM. *TR

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN TENNESSEE AND MOVED TO INDIANA LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER. SAID VEHICLE HAS ALSO MADE SEVERAL TRIPS TO MICHIGAN. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NISSAN STATING THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT HOUSING WHICH IN TURN CAN AFFECT THE STEERING. THEY MADE THIS TO SOUND LIKE A MINOR PROBLEM AND TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT IF YOU HEAR NOISE OR HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING. A CONCERN WOULD BE IF YOU ARE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO STEER CORRECTLY, HOWEVER HAS A HOUSING THAT IS CRACKED, CORRODED AND CLOSE TO FAILING. WHY WOULD NISSAN NOT RECALL ALL THE VEHICLES TO HAVE THEM CHECKED INSTEAD OF MAKING IT SOUND LIKE THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT. NISSAN'S NOTE STATES THEY ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING A REMEDY FOR THIS CONDITION AND WHEN THE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE THEY WILL SEND A SECOND LETTER ASKING OWNER'S TO BRING IN VEHICLE'S FOR AN INSPECTION AND A REMEDY. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM NISSAN SINCE MY FIRST NOTICE AND THAT WAS MONTHS AGO. *TR

WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND ONTO A MAIN STREET, DRIVING AT 20 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC , SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE , CAUSING IT TO GO OVER A CURB, UP ONTO A LAWN, ACROSS THE STREET, HITTING A MAIL BOX AND WENT BACK ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HIT AN ON COMING VAN, WENT BACK UP ONTO A CURB AND STOPPED. THE DRIVER HAD NO STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED. *JB *NM