Problems · by component

1997 Nissan Pathfinder steering problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder cite steering, 11% of all 225 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
11% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING , SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2017Steering, SuspensionODI 10948749
“THE VEHICLE LOST STRUTS, STEERING RACK, AND HAS SERIOUS ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T NEED TO FIX. THE ENTIRE FRONT END IS FALLING APART.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 12, 2017Steering, SuspensionODI 10944556
“DRIVING TRUCK GOT SO BAD IT WAS HARD TO KEEP IN ROAD..WOULD GO SIDE TO SIDE ON HIGHWAY AND TURNS WERE NOT EASY TO SAY IN LANE.TOOK TO CLARKTIRE CO ..THEY REPLACED LOTS OF PARTS AND SAID MOUNTS FOR SHOCKS AND STRUTS WERE PRETTY BADLY RUSTED CAUSING EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THOSE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2016Steering, Suspension, StructureODI 10820653
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT REDUCED SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2014SteeringODI 10667908
“STEERING SHAFT WAS BROKEN IN 2011 ( REPLACED WITH USED PART ) STEERING SHAFT WAS BROKEN IN 2013 ( REPLACED WITH NEW NISSAN ORIGINAL PART) STEERING SHAFT WAS BROKEN 10 2014 (REPLACED WITH NEW NISSAN ORIGINAL PART) CORRODED STRUT TOWER. STEERING SHAFT RESTING ON THE CORRODED STRUT TOWER/ STEERING TOWER BREAKING WHILE DRIVING. IN ONE OF THE INCIDENTS, IT BROKE ON A MAJOR STREET IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ( 11TH AND PENNSYLVANIA AVE ) COST OF TOWING WAS $150.00. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2014SteeringODI 10627672
“WHEN I DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRUCK WILL START TO ROCK AND FISHTAIL AT RANDOM AND ERRATIC TIMES CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLES EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SAME INCIDENT AND FEEL NISSAN SHOULD CORRECT THERE ENGINEERING FAILURE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2013SteeringODI 10512545

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Steering: column

Remedy pending

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 SALT ARE USED, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAY ENTER AN ASSEMBLY LOCATION HOLE IN THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING, CAUSING WATER TO COLLECT AT THE MATING SURFACE OF THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL AND THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THIS SNOW/WATER AND SALT INTRUSION MAY RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN SOME SUBJECT VEHICLES.

SteeringReported Apr 20, 2011NHTSA 11V244000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 4, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 1997 Pathfinder problem areas