2002 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE PARKED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE WELDED PRIOR TO REPLACING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PATHFINDER TO WORK ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK WHEN I STARTED TO FEEL A SLIGHT SHAKING IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND CHATTER IN MY BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY I COULD BARELY MAKE A RIGHT TURN AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY STIFF. I CHECKED MY FRONT END AND WHAT I FOUND WAS FRIGHTENING. THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT TOWER HAD TORN FROM THE FRAME AND BODY AND WAS NOW PUSHING AGAINST BOTH THE STEERING SHAFT AND MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS BENT UP AT AN ANGLE. MY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER IS NOW SUPPORTING THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL! THANK GOD THE STRUT DID NOT SNAP THE STEERING SHAFT OR MASTER CYLINDER WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I MIGHT BE IN A HOSPITAL BED OR DEAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THAT IT RECEIVED A LEVEL 1 REPAIR BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER (I AM THE SECOND OWNER) IN 2011 AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE EXCEPT TO CALL CORPORATE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE RECALL HAS TWO LEVELS: 1 AND 2. LEVEL 1 IS A SIMPLE INSPECTION, CLEANING AND COATING. LEVEL 2 REQUIRES A BOLTED IN METAL BRACE BE INSTALLED TO REINFORCE THE STRUT TOWER. NISSAN CORPORATE TOLD ME THE LEVEL 1 REPAIR WAS ALREADY COMPLETED AND NOTHING FURTHER COULD BE DONE EVEN THOUGH THE REPAIR DID NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AND NOW I AM IN NEED OF A LEVEL 2 REPAIR. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT NISSAN CAN WALK AWAY FROM THIS AFTER THEIR LEVEL 1 FIX FAILS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE LEVEL 1 REPAIR IS A TICKING TIME BOMB AS THE SO CALLED "FIX" DOES NOTHING TO STOP THE TOWER FROM FAILING. I HONESTLY FEEL THAT NISSAN HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH TO REMEDY THE ISSUE AND THERE COULD STILL BE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF PATHFINDERS WITH BOGUS LEVEL 1 REPAIRS ON OUR ROADS RIGHT THIS MINUTE. NISSAN SHOULD PROVIDE THE LEVEL 2 RECALL EVEN IF LEVEL 1 HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.

THE AREA WHERE THE CONTROL ARMS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME/BODY RUSTED OUT MAKING THE THE CAR UNSAFE TI BE ON THR ROAD. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT OTHER AREAS OF THE UNIBODY WERE ALSO RUSTING AWAY AND ADVISED JUNKING THE CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST ON THE STRUTS OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. STAR NISSAN (206-02 NORTHERN BLVD, BAYSIDE, NEW YORK 11361, (888) 457-6717) REPAIRED THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT BECAME FAULTY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,070.

FRONT STRUT HOUSING CORROSION RECALL. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME TODAY THAT THE INNER SHOCK SUPPORTS ON MY VEHICLE WERE TERRIBLY ROTTED/CORRODED. I WENT ONLINT TO RESEARCH IT AND FOUND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL OF MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING. I PLAN TO CALL NISSAN TO DISCUSS BUT WRITING YOU TO SEE IF YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON A POTENTIAL RECALL. I HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS AS WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE SAME NUMBER BUT NO RECALL NOTICE WAS EVER SENT TO ME. MY MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TO ADDRESS IT ASAP.

SECOND TIME!!

SHOULD BE A RECALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS EXCESSIVELY CORRODED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A ROCKING VIBRATION EMERGING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NOT PLEASED WITH THE WAY NISSAN REPAIRED THE STRUT HOUSING RECALL ON MY PATHFINDER! THERE WAS A FOOT LONG GASH THAT WAS ABOUT 3IN. WIDE THAT NISSAN REPAIRED WITH A PIECE OF SHEET METAL ,4 NUTS N BOLTS, AND COCKING..NOW A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER I HAVE TWO MORE CRACKS SHOWING UP IN FRONT OF FIX THAT ARE RUNNING FROM FRAME UP TOWARDS THE HOOD. GOING TO TAKE IT TO A FEW DIFFERENT STATE INSPECTION PLACES TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK AT IT BEFORE I TAKE IT BACK TO NISSAN DEALER BECAUSE NISSAN IS SAYING THERE FIX IS GOOD. DON'T KNOW HOW THERE FIX COULD BE GOOD WHEN THEY NEVER DID ANY WELDING AND NOW I HAVE NEW CRACKS RUNNING VERTICAL TOWARDS MY HOOD. *TR

REAR FRAME AND SUSPENSION ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR, NEAR COIL SPRING AND SHOCK MOUNT. FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN THE SECTION OF THE PATHFINDER. THERE IS NO OTHER RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRAME. CONDITION WAS FOUND WHEN MECHANIC HAD PATHFINDER UP ON LIFT, INSPECTING AS A USED CAR PURCHASE AND A FUEL SMELL AND DELIVERY ISSUE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.VEHICLE HAS 96,540 MILES ON IT. AGAIN NO OTHER RUST ON THE FRAME IN THIS AREA. WAS INSTRUCTED TO HAVE REPAIRED, BEFORE IT BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE AND DRIVE-ABILITY ISSUE. I DO HAVE A PHOTO OF THIS DAMAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH OVER A BUMPY ROAD, THE VEHICLE RODE ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE STRUTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

THE CHASSIS ON MY VEHICLE WAS ROTTEN AS PER THE RECALL R1107. PREMIUM NISSAN REPAIRED THE CHASSIS WITH A PATCH THAT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AGAIN BY OTHER MECHANICS AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTABLE AND STARTS TO WOBBLE (REAR SUSPENSION) AT 55 MPH AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS.. FEELS LIKE VEHICLE WILL LOSE CONTROL.. NEED TO BRING SPEED DOWN TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *TR

2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MANUFACTURER RECALL ISSUE TO BUY BACK VEHICLE AND UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED NISSAN WAS WILLING TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, FOR ONLY $3114.00.

DRIVING AT 65 MPH., THE PATHFINDER ROCKS (WOBBLES) SIDE TO SIDE AND THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER FOR THE DRIVER TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF VEHICLE, THE DRIVER MUST RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE'S SPEED TO SLOW DOWN. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE PATHFINDER'S RUBBER BUSHINGS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT PUTS MANY DRIVERS AT RISK. THERE'S NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

MY CAR WAS PART OF A RECALL DUE TO RUST. 3 MECHANICS FROM NISSAN DEEMED IT UNREPAIRABLE BECAUSE THE RECALL PROCEDURE. THEY SAID IT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF A BUYBACK PROGRAM. AFTER WAITING FOR 2 MONTHS THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS FIXED. THE DEALER WAS VERY ELUSIVE WHEN I ASKED HIM WHY THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND, SAYING SOMEONE CAME AND TOLD THEM TO JUST FIX IT FROM NISSAN CORPORATE. HE WOULD NOT CONFIRM TO ME THAT IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED SAFE TO DRIVE. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT A PROPER FIX. *TR

EMAIL MESSAGE FORWARDED FROM FHWA-WROTE REGARDING THE SAFETY RECALL OF HIS 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW DOES HE NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR HIS VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS NO LONGER REGISTERED IN A SALT STATE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING TO TEXAS LAST OCTOBER WITH THE WIFE MY VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO WOBBLE LEFT TO RIGHT. THERE WAS A CERTAIN SPEED IN WHICH VEHICLE DID NOT DO IT AND IT WAS 60 MPH. SINCE I AM DISABLED I HAD MY YOUNG BROTHER LOOK INTO IT.SO HE TOOK IT TO A SHOP IN HOUSTON TX AND HAD HEAVY DUTY SHOCKS PUT ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND NEW TIRES. WHEN WE HEADED BACK TO CALIFORNIA THE CAR RAN FINE. MARCH OF THIS YEAR THE WOBBLING PROBLEM CAME BACK. OUR SON CHECKED IT OUT AND SAYS THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION NEEDS ALL THE BUSHINGS REPLACED BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE DEALER OR A PRO SHOP REPAIR IT SOMETHING WHICH WILL COST AN ARM AND A LEG. CAN I GET ANY KIND OF HELP? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FRAME AND SHOCKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.