Tl* the contact owns a 1996 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that after having repairs under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v244000 (suspension:front), the strut housing started to detach from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was exhibiting a knocking sound from the front driver side suspension. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer where the dealer offered to repair the defective strut housing. The dealer also advised that the front passenger side strut housing needed to be repaired as well due to rust. The dealer offered to repair both strut housings and/or buy back the vehicle but the manufacturer was not confirmed of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
1996 Nissan Pathfinder suspension complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 64, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The axle has heavy twist rock sway at highway speeds shakes violently side to side very constant I feel like we could crash at any moment this is happening have tried to obtain part online and in part store I can't afford it at the dealership it is 700 to 1400 dollars I feel it should be covered by the dealer aka recall maybe my family will be the one to parish due to this faulty part then it will be a recall. Hope not. I can't just go get a new car this is my vehicle a 1997 nissan pathfinder we as a nissan family have a 1996 pathfinder also with the same issue please change this before somebody gets killed if I have 2 pathfinders with the same problem I see on average 20 to 30 of the same models daily.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 nissan pathfinder. The contact noticed the strut tower was corroded. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic but not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 166,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that she was unable to drive at speeds above 40 MPH or the vehicle would become difficult to control due to excessive shaking. The dealer inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the rear axle, bushings, and struts needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had not been notified. No repairs were performed. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 127,000.
Recently purchased a used 96 nissan pathfinder, and immediately noticed an uncontrollable sway or wobble at highway speeds, very nearly causing an accident. Internet research has shown that this problem is widespread. Apparently it's source is the failure of the rear link bushings. This is not an isolated problem, every vehicle with this suspension will experience this problem given enough length of service. Also, there is not an inexpensive fix, with bushings costing several hundred dollars to replace, and requiring a hydraulic press to install the new bushings (something I don't have in my garage). Recall searches have identified recalls for issues such as potential corrosion possibly affecting steering, replacement lights not having enough amber color, and thickness of the carpet padding. If these issues are serious enough to warrant a recall, why is suspension failure not? I feel safe in saying that this issue has undoubtedly caused accidents, injuries, and perhaps death, whether or not anyone cares to admit it. I also know that mine is not the first complaint to the federal safety agency regarding this issue. Something needs to be done, these vehicles are not safe!!!
While driving on the highway in clear conditions on smooth payment with my two small children in the back at speeds of 65-70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly began swaying and wobbling in a severe manner, nearly causing me to lose control of the pathfinder. As I was not in an area where I could safely stop, I had to continue to drive some distance and the swaying and wobbling continued intermittently and without warning, making it difficult to control the vehicle. After researching this issue, I discovered numerous similar incidents and am dismayed there has been no recall as this is a hidden defect. My mechanic could not locate the problem until I showed him my findings from my research, and confirmed the rear bushings are defective and must be replaced. This is an extremely dangerous condition and there should be a recall.
While driving my 96 nissan pathfinder, I've noticed that after 30 miles per hour my vehicle starts to sway uncontrollably. I have to take my foot of the gas pedal and reduce the speed for the vehicle to eventually stop the swaying. Nissan is aware of their problem but yet doesn't want to make this safety issue a priority and recall and fix the problems. I can no longer pickup my grandson at daycare because we're afraid that this issue will cause a fatal accident. So basically I can only drive my vehicle within town limits while driving as if I was an elderly person, and refraining from using my vehicle. In trying to find the parts in aftermarket sources, because my mechanic can only find them directly from nissan dealer which are astronomically high in price, I've noticed they are aware of this issue and therefore control the buying market, so customers to spend more money than necessary, especially in these hard economic times when millions including myself are unemployed and barely making it! Nissan should be ashamed of themselves for not taking care of this issue, how many fatalities will it take before they act on this issue?
While driving on the highway in clear conditions on smooth payment with my two small children in the back at speeds of 65-70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly began swaying and wobbling in a severe manner, nearly causing me to lose control of the pathfinder. As I was not in an area where I could safely stop, I had to continue to drive some distance and the swaying and wobbling continued intermittently and without warning, making it difficult to control the vehicle. After researching this issue, I discovered numerous similar incidents and am dismayed there has been no recall as this is a hidden defect. My mechanic could not locate the problem until I showed him my findings from my research, and confirmed the rear bushings are defective and must be replaced. This is an extremely dangerous condition and there should be a recall.
1996 nissan pathfinder has inherent rear suspension problem. Thousands of these vehicles sway uncontrollably from the rear without any action by the driver. The problem is poor design by the manufacturer resulting in a very dangerous and sometimes uncontrollable driving situation. Nissan should recall these vehicles.
1996 nissan pathfinder se 4 wheel drive. I have been experiencing a serious wobble from the rear of my pathfinder at speeds above 50 MPH. It is dangerous and can cause loss of control if I do not reduce my speed which can be a hazard on the freeway.
My 1996 nissan pathfinder se has a terrible wobble, swaying motion ( left to right) that resembles that of rocking a boat. I had the shocks replaced, new tires, ect., but it still exist when you get up to about 60 MPH. I have almost had some serious accidents and eventually, I am sure it will happen. I have a friend who has the same problem. I am completely baffled and do not know what the problem is.
Pathfinder 1996 - all 8 rear bushings have failed - the whole rear end fishtails around; the rear end has nothing to keep the rear wheels square - sway bar stabilizer link - rubber bushings on the rear stabilizers are defective - causes total loss of control - driver & passenger neck snaps back and forth dangerously - rear upper and lower control link rod bushings defective - which could lead to a crash, serious injury and death - an internet search turns up people all over the country that have or are having the exact same problem. Most are saying if you replace the rear lower control arm bushings or the entire arms ? Tsb - does nothing - no report of defective equipment that was included with the vehicle at time of purchase - nissan has stuck it's head in the sand -
Rear end sways at freeway speeds so I changed shocks & struts but problem still exists, found out its the rubber bushings on the rear stabilizers they are defective.
When traveling 50 MPH going either in left (most prevalent) or right direction - vehicle makes a rocking motion that seems to start in rear - gets worse in time - may cause total loss of control - have had several mechanics look at problem and they cannot figure it out - have written to nissan without a response.
I bought a used nissan pathfinder 1996 from a dealer on 2002. The car worked fine for a couple of months but it started to wobble side to side. The problem was escalating, I changed tires, struts, axle and the problem still there. The warranty finish from the dealer and boom the problem got harder to fix due to financial issues. It is hard to see the car is not drivable and I need it fix. It is really dangerous having to drive a car that sways to the right or left any given moment. I haven't driven the car but it is sitting on my driveway waiting for me to find an absolution. The dealer should of told me what was wrong if they had reports. I was a newbie buying a car so little did I know.
I just bought a nissan pathfinder le 1996 - I found many owners are experiencing problems with the rear suspension of the vehicle (see posts: http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/t5lstpr50npco9ctl/p7) - local mechanic has indicated the repair on mine would be around $700 - $1000 - the real problem is premature wear of upper and lower rear control arms bushings (this applies to 1996-2001 apparently). I drove the vehicle from oregon to california and it was a real challenge to manage the swaying from side to side - the only way to mitigate the car from wobbling is to either reduce speed or accelerate. This should had been a safety recall from nissan instead a service bulletin - the vehicle turns to be quite difficult to drive at freeway speed and could easily roll over. *tr please investigate. Thank you in advance, dino andretta yorba linda, ca
1996 nissan pathfinder. Entire vehicle sways when reaching speeds of 50+MPH, as if you are playing with the steering wheel and rocking the car back and forth. Nissan issued a tsb back in 1998. The # is: ntb 98001. My daughter drives this vehicle and it makes for very unsafe conditions. No accident due to condition yet. However, I feel it is just a matter of time. I would be stunned if nissan has not already been sued over this issue. If you google: pathfinder sway wobble, you will see how many other owners have experienced this same condition. The rear link arms/bushings are defective, yet they have never recalled.
Uncontrollable and unpredictable violent rocking motion at any speed. Has been happening for the past 2 years, steadily getting worse. Safety concern as I have two children and this is my only vehicle.
I have a 1996 nissan pathfinder and there is a dangerous sway when I drive, it feels like the rear end is going to fish tail.
1. At around 120k miles the car began to sway, sometimes uncontrollably, at speeds around 50mph. Replaces shocks and struts. Did not fix it. Told I need to replace rear stabilizer bars and bushing. This is a very dangerous defect and very common.
At ~ 65mph, my 96 pathfinder can sway spontaneously, almost to the point of the car bouncing. Driver & passenger neck snaps back and forth. Very dangerous.
Vehicle has developed a terrifying, uncontrollable "wobble" side to side at freeway speeds, after hitting a bump or dip in the road on one side. The wobble first began to appear over a year ago and has become progressively worse, even after numerous repair attempts. Nissan dealer plays dumb about problem and wants to charge estimated $1200 to diagnose and repair. This is a well documented problem and there is even a tsb from nissan regarding it. This is dangerous, caused by design, and should be fixed under recall by nissan.
I recently purchased a used 1996 nissan pathfinder le and noticed a very bad wobble in the steering/suspension. I have done some research and have found that this is a common problem in the '96-'04 models and has even had a tsb (ntb98-001) on the problem. I have consulted many other nissan owners who have experienced this problem and had to pay $700-$800 to have the problem resolved. This seems to be a major safety problem as most drivers experience their cars wobbling out of control and off the road. I am scared to drive this vehicle or put my family in it. This should have definitely been a factory recall!!!
Rear upper and lower control link rod bushings defective causing dangerous rear end sway at highway speeds which could lead to a crash, serious injury and death. Repair is costly and is a known defect with dealerships and nissan.
We own a 1996 nissan pathfinder 4 wheel drive that had developed a severe side to side wobble at 55-60+ MPH . Mechanics said it was struts/shocks. We replaced all 4. Same problem exists. This is life threatening on the highway. My daughter and myself have both experienced it and you nearly lose control of the SUV if you don't let off the gas quick. I would hate to see the result of an evasive maneuver - it will be catastrophic. Dealers are acting like they know nothing, yet an internet search turns up people all over the country that have or are having the exact same problem. Most are saying if you replace the rear lower control arm bushings or the entire arms, it goes away. I am asking the federal safety agency to get involved now and force nissan to do a no-cost recall. We own 2 other nissan cars and I have owned over a dozen cars/trucks in 32 years and never experienced anything like this. And, I work on cars and motorcycles in my spare time, and I know what I am addressing here. This is a major, serious engineering design flaw.
I am reporting a failure in the suspension system of my 1996 nissan pathfinder. At speeds of 50+ MPH, the back half of the vehicle has instances where out of nowhere it begins to sway back and forth for about 5-10 seconds and then it stops and will do it again just out of the blue. I reasonably foresee this failure resulting in a potential cause of death, personal injury, or property damage. All instances of this occurrence has occurred while driving on a heavily traveled interstate. There was a tech service bulletin addressing this issue but nissan should change it to a recall.
1996 nissan pathfinder wobbles intensly at 50 - 65 MPH. Took to repair shops and had struts replaced, tires balanced many times. I understand it is the rear arm bushings. This is a defect and extremely dangerous.
1996 pathfinder, 120k miles. Approx. One year ago vehicle developed scary side-to-side rocking at highway speeds, and especially when driving on curved roads. Replaced rear shocks- no help. I have found lots of other pathfinder owners that have this same exact condition. Turns out the problem is with the rear control arm bushings and rear link arm bushings. Bushings develop dry rot with age and shrink, making excessive play in the control arms. Many people have complained to nissan, but nissan refuses to even consider a recall.
1996 nissan pathfinder wobbles dangerously at high speeds, over 60 MPH. Mechanic fixed struts for $800, but problem persists. Just went online and found out lots of nissan pathfinder owners are having this problem, and the fix usually has to do with bushings. That will probably cost me another $800. This is a dangerous problem and nissan owes its customers a recall. Thank goodness I seemed to have figured out the problem without an accident. I hope the word gets out to all pathfinder owners before a tragedy occurs.
I purchased a used vehicle from a private owner, a 1996 nissan pathfinder with 139,500. Immediately after my drive on the highway, I noticed a substantial amount of body sway from the rear end of the vehicle.I decided to research my problem on the internet and found several references to issues related to the premature wear of the bushings in the rear upper and lower links (control arms) that attach the axle to the frame (ref. Nissan bulletin# ntb 98-001).this bulletin describes in detail about worn bushings which it creates excessive sway, rocking and pull at any speed at that point, I decided to bring my vehicle at my expense to have an authorized nissan dealer to examine and document the potentially hazardous condition.they verified and concur with the wear in the rear links and recommended the replacement of the upper and lower links along with the rear shock absorbers (part # 55080-0w001 (2) and #08911-6441a (2))-part numbers for the links. In addition, I spoke to several owners of nissan pathfinders with the same condition which was built in 2004 on the same chassis. As a result, I contacted nissan motors of north america and filed a complaint/inquiry based on this defect (ref# 5555692) on 12/7/06.they refused to assist with the complaint based on a tsb and not a safety recall. Also, the vehicle was inspected by a virginia state annual vehicle safety inspection last month and was passed in error by an inspector who had missed this safety defect. I reported this issue to the virginia state police and the problem was verified and investigated by trooper fowler in williamsburg va. This defect is definitely a safety related issue as described in the standards for vehicle inspection. Not being an engineer, I would suggest that I could have lost control of the vehicle at times of highway passing,around on ramps or evasive maneuvering that could cause the vehicle to roll over. I paid to have the parts replaced at a body shop at my expense.I have the old part.
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