1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER Suspension Problems

OUR 1998 PATHFINDER HAS WHAT IS DESCRIBED BY MANY PEOPLE AS A "DEATH WOBBLE." IT BEGAN AFTER WE BOUGHT IT IN 2003 AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. IT HAPPENED AS RECENTLY AS 2017 AND I AM BEGINNING TO BE AFRAID TO RIDE IN IT. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-70 MPH THE CAR BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT GRADUALLY GETS WORSE. REDUCING YOUR SPEED DOES HELP. IT APPEARS TO BEGIN BECAUSE OF A SMALL, UNEVEN PLACE IN THE HIGHWAY ROAD, BUT THEN DOESN'T STOP SHAKING BACK AND FORTH, SIDE TO SIDE. IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY EVEN AFTER HAVING IT SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. EACH TIME WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO BE REPAIRED THE SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM CALLLING IT A "DEATH WOBBLE" AND REPLACE THE STRUTS AND OTHER AFFECTED PARTS. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. WE'VE DONE THIS 2-3 TIMES BUT AFTER A COUPLE YEARS IT HAPPENS AGAIN....

I CANT EVEN DRIVE DOWN THE STREET OVER 40 WITHOUT THE VEHCLE DOING A DEATH SHAKE FROM HELL TO TOP THAT OFF DUE TO THE RECALL FOR THE STRUT PLACEMENT ERROR CAUSING MY STRUT TOWER WALL DIRECTLY BEHIND MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO ALMOST BE COMPLETLY GONE FROM RUSTING OUT. THIS IS TOTAL BULLSHIT. SOMETHING GOTTA GIVE. IM CALLING CORPORATE IN THE MORNING. HOPEFULLY THEY DONT TRY TO BEAT AROUND BUSH WITH ME LIKE THEY DO TO ALL THERE CUSTOMERS THEY DO WRONG.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT ASSEMBLY WAS FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE UNI-BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AND SUV STARTED ROCKING BACK AND FORTH SIDE TO SIDE SEVERELY..I HAD TO BRAKE FAST ..THEN WHEN I ACCELERATED IT WOBBLED WORSE...I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO ROLL...COULD NOT GO OVER 30...VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY...I LOOKED IT UP ON FORUMS TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM....EVERYBODY THAT OWNS THEM HAS HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AT ALL DIFFERENT MILEAGES..THEY REFER TO IT AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" ONLINE...MILLIONS OF VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM FROM FAULTY BUSHINGS AND TRAILING ARMS....YET THEY "NISSAN" REFUSE TO RECALL OR PAY TO FIX IT...HERE IS "NISSANS" BULLETIN I FOUND AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE....THEY SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL...I HOPE THAT THIS GETS SOME ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED SERVICE BULLETIN CLASSIFICATION: RA97-002 REFERENCE: NTB98-001 DATE: APRIL 1, 1998 PATHFINDER VEHICLE PULL AND FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION EXCESSIVE PLAY APPLIED VEHICLE: 1996-98 PATHFINDER (R50) APPLIED VIN: VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE...

1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUSPENSION RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE HIT A POTHOLE, THE WOULD ROCK FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF THE RECALL, WHICH WAS RECTIFIED ON SEPT 23, 2011. THE BEARINGS, TIRES, AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 05/04/15. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 10/10/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STRUT CAME OFF OF THE VEHICLE AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER BOTH STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 3/31/2015 *JS

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHILE ACCELERATING, MY SUV STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP ROCKING. IT FELT AS IF MY SUV WAS GOING TO ROLLOVER EVEN THOUGH I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AND AT THE SPEED LIMIT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAPPENED THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING AROUND 55 MPH ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE ON A CURVE BUT IS EVEN WORSE AT THAT POINT. *TR

VEHICLE STRUT HOUSING AND STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE ,FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO IT. ALL SERVICES WAS DONE BY A MECHANIC AND CHARGED FOR LABOR AND PARTS. PLEASE EMAIL ME ABOUT THIS @[XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND THE DRIVER FELT LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AS WELL, BUT THE DEGREE OF WOBBLING WAS LESSER. THE VEHICLE WOBBLED SO MUCH THAT THE PASSENGERS BECAME QUEASY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BUSHINGS, CONTROL ARMS, AND STRUTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED LITTLE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

I AM HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER DUE TO CORROSION. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY MUFFLER FELL OFF. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND WHEN THEY RAISED THE VEHICLE, THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD CORROSION AND HOLES FROM IT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY LAST YEARS STRUT HOUSING CORROSION WHICH BROKE OFF THE STRUT FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I LOST BRAKES AND HAD TO STEP ON PEDAL ALL THE WAY, AND THEN THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE RECALL NOTICE CAME AFTER THE INCIDENT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S GAS TANK CORROSION WHICH CAUSED GAS TO DRIP. ALSO A RECALL NOTICE CAME IN AND NISSAN DEALER FIXED ISSUE. *TR

THE STRUT HOUSING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE RUSTED COMPLETELY AND BROKE . IT CAUSED THE INNER FENDER TO TOUCH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET, AND THEN RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER RECENTLY ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL REGARDING STRUT CORROSION (REFERENCE NUMBER: R1108). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME DEFECT TWO YEARS AGO. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE REPAIR SHOULD HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE VOLUNTARY RECALL REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

MY VEHICLE HAS TWO RECALLS ON IT - FIRST ONE IS THE GAS NECK RECALL AND THE SECOND IS THE STRUT HOUSING CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN ON MAY 2ND, 2011 TO BERGSTROM/NISSAN IN OSHKOSH. THEY CHECKED OUT MY VEHICLE AND SAID THAT MY VEHICLE HAS THE PROBLEMS REGARDING BOTH RECALLS. IT IS SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2011 AND THEY STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE. THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING AND TOLD ME THAT THEY BRACED UP THE FRONT. THINGS SHOULD BE GOOD BUT THAT THEY TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND IT IS STILL ALL OVER THE ROAD. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE PART FOR THE GAS NECK RECALL IS ON BACK ORDER. THEY TOLD ME TO COME AND PICK UP THE VEHICLE. IF THEY TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND IT STILL IS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING - THEN...

AT CERTAIN SPEEDS, THE CAR STARTS SWAYING SIDE TO SIDE IN A VERY DANGEROUS WAY (ALMOST FLIPPING OVER) AND IT'S ONLY STOPPED WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE IN SPEED. I HAD THE SHOCKS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OUR 1998 PATHFINDER BEGINS TO SWAY OR SHIMMY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND REQUIRES APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP THE SWAYING. THIS IS AFTER SPENDING $1000 ON THE FRONT END FOR STRUTS AND OTHER SUSPENSION ITEMS. THIS EVENT IS WORSE SINCE WE HAD THE WORK DONE ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWAYED ABNORMALLY BACK AND FORTH AND THE CONTACT ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND A MECHANIC REPLACED ONE CONTROL ARM. THE FAILURE RECURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

MY 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER SWAYS EXCESSIVELY WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS QUICKLY OR ACCELERATING QUICKLY. THE SWAY IS SO EXCESSIVE THAT DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH ARE EXTREMELY TERRIFYING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FLIP. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS COULD BE DEADLY. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WITHIN THE SUSPENSION AND THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 PATHFINDER SE 4WD. ON A RECENT TRIP TO COLORADO, THE CAR BEGAN TO ROCK VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE WHENEVER WE EXCEEDED 70MPH, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF PAVEMENT WE WERE DRIVING ON. GIVEN WE HAD A LONG DRIVE (OVER 18 HRS), THIS WAS A BIG PROBLEM, AND WE WERE CONSTANTLY FEARING THAT THE CAR WOULD TIP OVER. WE HAD NOT SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE AS WE DON'T DO A LOT OF INTERSTATE DRIVING NORMALLY. WHEN WE GOT TO COLORADO, WE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED IN A LOCAL GARAGE. THEY REPLACED SHOCKS, STRUTS, AND DID AN ALIGNMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULDN'T GET TO THE RIGHT SPEED (OR PERHAPS HAVE THE RIGHT PAVEMENT) TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. WHEN WE LEFT AND GOT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE, IT STARTED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER NOW AND THEY BELIEVE THIS IS A...

I'M NOT SURE I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE BUT... BOTH STRUTS ON THE FRONT OF MY PATHFINDER BLEW OUT.. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.. IT WASN'T UNUSAL TO SEE PATHFINDERS WITH LESS MILES AND DUEL BUSTED STRUTS ... SHE CONCLUDED BY SAYING TWO BLOW STRUTS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH VEHICLE STARTED ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER WHO REPLACED 4 TENSION BARS.*AK *SLC