10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,294 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Nissan Pathfinder steering problems

steering problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

1998 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments

problem #9

Sep 082016

Pathfinder

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Johnstown, PA, USA

problem #8

May 022016

Pathfinder

  • 176,548 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the scene. In addition, the power steering malfunctioned on several occasions. The contact stated that the steering wheel became very difficult to steer left or right. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the crash or the power steering failure. The failure mileage was 176,548.

- Little Ferry, NJ, USA

problem #7

Apr 052015

Pathfinder

  • 150,000 miles
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 "Nissan" 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 jn8ar05Y*WW256932 service information if a 1996-98 Pathfinder exhibits the following conditions, the cause may be from worn bushing(s) in the rear suspension upper and/or lower links. * excessive play in the rear axle especially during moderate acceleration or deceleration. * vehicle pulling at a constant speed * excessive sway and rocking motion in the front suspension when coming to a stop.

- Port Angeles, WA, USA

problem #6

Mar 072014

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This complaint is regarding morley vehicle services (hereinafter "mvs") & Nissan North America, Inc. (hereinafter "nnai") improperly handling a recent recall on his 1998 nisan Pathfinder (hereinafter "vehicle"). 1998 Nissan Pathfinder, we delivered the vehicle to autonation Nissan arapahoe (hereinafter "an") on March 7, 2014 for inspection due to safety recalls, at least 1 of which affects steering & breaks, & could result in a crash. Concerned about this issue we made sure an was aware of all the publicly reported recalls on the vehicle & abnormal performance related to the breaks & steering. [xxx], an employee at an that "he did not have any idea how to repair the vehicle in its condition; however, the vehicle has been submitted for inspection." [xxx] of mvs on March 21, 2014. Stated, "the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder had been submitted for inspection for the Nissan corrosion recall." After this call, neither her, nor mvs gave proactive updates on the status of his vehicle. When contacting an about his vehicle, they informed that mvs has instructed them to "keep their hands off the vehicle. " after weeks of not hearing back from mvs, we reached out to an & was advised by [xxx], of an on April 14, 2014 that "his team was not convinced the vehicle could be restored to its safe condition & he has advised mvs of their concern, however, mvs disregarded their concern & insisted autonation fix the vehicle." On April 15, 2014, an stated their intent to deliver the vehicle to an auto body shop for repairs. We're very alarmed that mvs & nnai chose to send the vehicle to a body-shop. Body shops do not specialize in structural integrity & safety of vehicles. We're concerned his vehicle will be returned in an unsafe condition. This is our family vehicle & our children's safety is top priority. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #5

Mar 182011

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 165,891 miles
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).

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #4

May 022011

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • miles
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 I don't think it is safe and that they must not have done a good enough job fixing the problem. I don't want to drive an unsafe vehicle until they have corrected the problem.

- Oshkosh, WI, USA

problem #3

Mar 312011

Pathfinder 4WD 6-cyl

  • 158,101 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I made a turn and I heard a pop sound and totally lost my steering. Thank god I was going fast and didn't hit the cars parked on the side. My 1998 Nissan Pathfinder SE had to be towed to my mechanic which made me aware that the steering column upper joint had broken.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #2

Oct 072009

Pathfinder 4WD 6-cyl

  • 110 miles
As I was approaching the end of an exit ' I put my foot on the brakes to slow down but instead the car took off at an excessive speed while I watched in horror and fearing for my life. It kept going until it hit a free. The car was totaled. I escaped with minor injuries. The problem I have is that I had dropped collision a few months before so now I'm out of a car and about $6,000 for which the car was more or less worth.

- New Bedford, MA, USA

problem #1

Dec 131997

Pathfinder 4WD

  • miles
Steering failed, causing loss of control, resulting in a crash/injuries.

- San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?