2003 Nissan Pathfinder STEERING,SUSPENSION
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated there was corrosion on the passenger’s side front struts. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who declined the repair under Manufacturer Campaign ID: R1107 with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension). The driver’s side front struts were repaired prior to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the mileage requirements were not met. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.
AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH THE CAR BEGINS TO WOBBLE, HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM INVOLING FAULTY TRAILING ARM BUSHING/ REAR ARM BUSHING AND BEARING NEED TO BE REPLACED CAUSING WHAT IS COOMMONLY KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE. BUT LETS UP WHEN YOU LET UP OFF THE GAS? TO ME THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! THAT MANY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, THAT I HAVE FOUND ON ON LINE FORUMS.. WHY HASN'T NISSAN RECALLED THIS ISSUE?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE RECALL REPAIRED AT MARTIN NISSAN (5240 GOLF RD, SKOKIE, IL 60077, (866) 800-1100) AND THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ONLY PERFORMED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CURRENTLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRUTS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (EXECUTIVE NISSAN, 900 UNIVERSAL DR N, NORTH HAVEN, CT 06473), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,325.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 30 MPH, AN UNKNOWN NOISE WAS HEARD WHENEVER A TURN WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUT TOWER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000(STEERING, SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IN THE SPRING OF 2009, SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN MAKING NOISES. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, IN ADDITION TO OTHER WORK TOTALING OVER $660. HOWEVER, SHE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE STEERING PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BRAKES, BUT THE STEERING COLUMN STILL WAS NOT FEELING RIGHT. FINALLY, THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT WHO WAS ABLE TO ASCERTAIN AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND THE RACK AND PINION VERY TIGHT AND ADJUSTED THE STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE NISSAN ONLY SENT HER AN INTERIM NOTICE, SHE DID NOT KNOW SHE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A FREE SERVICE, NOR DID SHE KNOW TO INFORM THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING DAMAGE TO THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB
VEHICLE TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-244 INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF STRUT HOUSINGS AND STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED CORRODED STRUT TOWERS WERE PULLING AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT NISSAN USA REFUSED RECALL BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN A SPECIFIED VIN RANGE. NHTSA LATER CONFIRMED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT LIMITED TO A VIN RANGE AND THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS THE RECALL CRITERIA BECAUSE IT IS WITHIN THE APPLICABLE YEAR RANGE AND IS REGISTERED IN MASSACHUSETTS. NISSAN USA HAS NOT CONTACTED ME DIRECTLY YET.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2003 Nissan Pathfinder has 7 STEERING,SUSPENSION complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.