1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
293
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
16
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER
The 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER has received a total of 293 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING:COLUMN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP. 16 technical service bulletins have been issued by Nissan North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Suspension (42 complaints), Suspensionfront (28 complaints), and Suspensionrear (28 complaints).
Recalls for the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER, potentially affecting up to 853,352 vehicles.
Recall 11V244000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT
| 195,991 vehicles affected
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD...
Consequence: THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
View full details →Recall 11V244000 — STEERING:COLUMN
| 195,991 vehicles affected
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD...
Consequence: THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
View full details →Recall 07V435000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
| 372,250 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DURING THE COATING PROCESS OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY, AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF...
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN SURFACE RUST BUT NOT PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. HOWEVER, IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, IF A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL, CORROSION MAY OCCUR TO A DEGREE WHICH RESULTS IN PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. IN THIS CASE FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR WHEN FILLING THE TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE WITH AN IMPROVED COATING PROCESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
View full details →Recall 06E049000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 27,176 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
View full details →Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER
293 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The vehicle swings left to right when cruising at about any speed. When the vehicle is pulling it does not swing or sway, however once the vehicle has got up to a desired speed and you try to maintain a steady speed it starts a “death wobble” which nearly cannot hold it on correct side of the road. You have to increase speed or reduce speed dramatically to regain control of the vehicle.
The vehicle swings left to right when cruising at about any speed. When the vehicle is pulling it does not swing or sway, however once the vehicle has got up to a desired speed and you try to maintain a steady speed it starts a “death wobble” which nearly cannot hold it on correct side of the road. You have to increase speed or reduce speed dramatically to regain control of the vehicle.
The vehicle swings left to right when cruising at about any speed. When the vehicle is pulling it does not swing or sway, however once the vehicle has got up to a desired speed and you try to maintain a steady speed it starts a “death wobble” which nearly cannot hold it on correct side of the road. You have to increase speed or reduce speed dramatically to regain control of the vehicle.
I HAVE TAKEN MY NISSAN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DECODE MY ENGINE LIGHT. I HAVE PAID FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS TO HAVE THE EVAL CODE CORRECTED. AFTER THE LAST ATTEMPT OF TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THAT MY EVAL TUBE IS CLOGGED THROUGHOUT AND THE PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE WITH NISSAN. I'M STUCK WITH A CLOGGED SYSTEM THAT IS UNREPAIRABLE.
VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE SHIMMY WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR, EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON DRY PAVEMENT ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY: AT AROUND 55-60 MPH, THE BACK END OF VEHICLE SWAYS VIOLENTLY, WITH NO WARNING OR APPARENT CAUSE. DRIVER FEELS THAT IF SPEED IS NOT IMMEDIATELY DECREASED, THE VEHICLE WOULD GO OUT OF CONTROL.
Safety Rating for the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER
Nissan North America, Inc. has issued 16 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
NTB00024 — VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUBJECT REGRDING SUNSHADE CLIPS BREAK OR DEFORM ON VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JN8AR0788XW350101. *TT
NTB99074 — SUSPENSION
SOME VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JN8AR07S4XW350146 AND EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK NOISE FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING. *TT
NTB98046B — STRUCTURE:BODY
SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLES WITHIN VIN JN8AR07S4XW350 THAT EXHIBIT WIND-UP CLUNK. *TT
NTB00001 — VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT SUNROOF BINDS; SUNROOF MOTOR RUNS BUT THE SUNROOF WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE; SUNROOF LEAKS. *TT
NTB99083 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR HARD START IN COLD TEMPERATURE / HIGH ALTITUDE CONDITONS. *TT
NTB99002 — VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE BUILT BEFORE JN8AR07Y9XW350101 MAY EXHIBITG A FOUL ODOR (DUSTY OR MUSTY TYPE SMELL) WHEN THE SUNROOF SUNSHADE IS OPENED (WITH THE SUNROOF GLASS CLOSED) AFTER THE VEHICLES HAS SOAKED IN THE SUN. *TT
NTB99004 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP 'ON' WITH O2 SENSOR DTC STORED IN ECM. *TT
NTB98062A — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXTENSION INFORMATION ON EXHAUST SYSTEM WARRANTY. *YC
NTB98059 — STRUCTURE:BODY
EXHIBING A WIND OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE ROOF RACK. *YC
NTB98034 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CD PLAYER EXPERIENCING IMPROPER OPERATION DUE TO HOT AIR FROM HVAC UNIT. *YC
Showing 10 of 16 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the NISSAN PATHFINDER
- 1992 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 38 complaints
- 1993 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 67 complaints
- 1994 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 108 complaints
- 1995 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 218 complaints
- 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 214 complaints
- 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER (current)
- 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 194 complaints
- 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 144 complaints
- 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 166 complaints
- 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 299 complaints
- 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER — 206 complaints
Other NISSAN Models
- NISSAN ALTIMA — 20,037 total complaints
- NISSAN ROGUE — 9,608 total complaints
- NISSAN MAXIMA — 8,834 total complaints
- NISSAN SENTRA — 8,129 total complaints
- NISSAN MURANO — 7,410 total complaints
- NISSAN VERSA — 4,436 total complaints
- NISSAN FRONTIER — 4,425 total complaints
- NISSAN TITAN — 4,412 total complaints