2000 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, A NOISE WAS HEARD EMERGING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO FIND THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT HAD PERFORATED THE WHEEL WELL AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER KOEPPEL NISSAN (74-15 NORTHERN BLVD, JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY 11372) WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE STRUT PERFORATED THE WHEEL WELL AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE NUMBER: A33362679 WAS OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

THE LEFT FRONT STRUT HOUSING HAS CORRODED AND IS BREAKING AWAY. THIS SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE FOLLOWING RECALL:CAMPAIGN ID #: :R1107; NHTSA #11V-244. THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, IS NOT REGISTERED IN DESIGNATED "SALT STATES" BUT OWNED AND OPERATED WITHIN 30 MILES OF 2 SUCH STATES.

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

PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL. GRINDING NOISE EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. I INSPECTED THE FRONT END AND NOTICED THE STRUT HOUSING IS TEARING AWAY FROM THE FRAME. I GOOGLED THE ISSUE, FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL, AND CALLED NISSAN. I WAS TOLD BY NISSAN THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPAIRED FOR THIS RECALL. *TR

CORROSION OF STRUT-HOUSING UNIT ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE PROPAGATED TO BRAKE LINES CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. *TR

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.

SEVER BODY FRAME CORROSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE (EXAMINED BY THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP) AND SURELY WILL NOT PASS THE NEW YORK STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. SERVICE RECALL ON THE "STRUT TOWER" CORROSION LAST YEAR BUT DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE BODY FRAME CORROSION DUE TO THE SAME CORROSION FACTOR THAT MAKES ME VERY UPSET ABOUT NISSAN. THIS MIGHT BE A LIFE DEATH IMPACT ON THE BODY FRAME CORROSION WHERE THE VEHICLE MIGHT BE BREAK IN 1/2 DUE TO NO BODY FRAME SUPPORT AT ALL. I M NOT SURE WHY NISSAN DO NOT TAKE ANY PROPER ACTION LIKE THE WAY TOYOTA FORESEEN THE IMPACT ON THE LIFE DEATH INCIDENT DUE TO BODY FRAME CORROSION. ACCORDING TO MANY WEB DISCUSSION AND FORUM RESOURCES, MANY NISSAN PATHFINDER OWNERS ARE SHARING THE SAME CORROSION ISSUES COMPLAINTS. I M WRITING TO ADDRESS AND TO KINDLY INFORM YOU TO COMMUNICATE THIS EXPERIENCE TO THE PUBLIC AND THIS MIGHT BE IN RELATIONSHIP TO POSSIBLE FUTURE LIFE DEATH INCIDENT IF NISSAN CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BODY FRAME CORROSION IN A SERIOUS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME. *TR

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

I OWN A 2000 PATHFINDER. THE FRONT STRUT TOWER HAS SEPARATED FROM THE CAR'S FRAME DUE TO RUST. THIS REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AS NEAR AS I CAN TELL IT OCCURRED AFTER I HIT A POTHOLE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

MY 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE STARTED MAKING STRANGE NOISES IN THE FRONT END ABOUT A WEEK AGO. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE STRUT TOWER HAD TOTALLY RUSTED OUT AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TAPPED IT WITH A HAMMER, IT CREATED A HUGE HOLE, AND THE FRAME JUST DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND MUST BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. HAVING IT REPAIRED IS NOT FEASIBLE. AS A MECHANIC, I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE. IT'S MAINTAINED AND WASHED REGULARLY. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE PATHFINDER, AND SHOULD WARRANT A PRODUCT RECALL. DRIVING THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS WOULD BE RISKING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. *TR

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