Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Owners filed 113 complaints about the 1999 Nissan Pathfinder with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Oct 2020. The most-cited component is suspension (35).
Complaints
113
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
30
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension35
- Steering21
- Structure19
- Air bags15
- Tires9
- Power train8
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Electrical system6
- Seat belts5
- Vehicle speed control5
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Service brakes3
- Equipment3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
7
8
10
5
6
2
2
2
9
11
3
22
5
1
2
4
1
1
2
2
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 6 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
35 reports1 crash
“1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRUT TOWER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DECLINED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR STATING THE WORK WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT AND CONSIDERS IT TO BE BEYOND WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DOING. *JS”
Steering
21 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WITH STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A QUARTER OF A TURN BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS TO TURN AND WHEN TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY THIS CAUSES ME TO DRIFT INTO OTHER LANES . THIS DELAY WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR DOESN'T TURN IS VERY SCARY. IT IS ALMOST LIKE WHEN YOU HIT AN ICE PATCH AND APPLY THE BREAKS AND THE VEHICLE KEEPS GOING IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION”
Structure
19 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT HOUSING. IN ADDITION, THERE HAD BEEN RUST PROGRESSING OVER TIME ON THE UNDERBODY/FRAMING. THE DEALER (MOUNT HOLLY NISSAN, 1513 NJ-38, HAINESPORT, NJ 08036, (609) 267-2886) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION) IN 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING COULD CRACK AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. **TR CONSUMER STATED THE RUST PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED BY THE RECALL - OBVOUSLY NOT THE CASE. THE PASSENGERS SIDE SHOWS SURFACE RUST BUT NO RUST THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. UPDATED 11/1/18*JB”
Air bags
15 reports14 crashes
“MY LEFT WRIST WAS BURNED BADLY WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER AN ACCIDENT I WAS INVOLVED IN. IS WHATEVER IS PUT IN THE AIR BAG TO BURN A PERSON'S SKIN NECESSARY? IS THERE ANOTHER WAY?”
Tires
9 reports1 crash
“I WAS SOLD A SET OF FOUR 31/1050R-5/16 PEGASUS ADVANTA AT ALL SEASONS OWL ON 10/15/2012 FROM LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER MILEAGE WAS 114360 ON MY 09 NISSAN PATHFINDER 2WD AFTER/DURING PUTTING 16000 MILES ON THEM I NOTICED THAT A WOBBLE AT SLOW SPEEDS (5-15MPH)LIKE A THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED I NOTICED BULGING IN THE SIDEWALL THEY HAVE WORN OUT MY STRUTS AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE AT 60 MPH THE CAR WILL VIOLENTLY START TO SHAKE I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES FOR AN ALIGNMENT THE ONLY OPTION WAS A BRAND NEW SET OF TIRES PEGASUS ADVANTA AT ALL SEASONS OWL SHOULD BE RECALLED SEE ALSO:HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CRO/NEWS/2014/11/COUNTERFEIT-CAR-TIRES-POSE-CONSUMER-RISK/INDEX.HTM”
Power train
8 reports
“I HAVE A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER SE WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT. THE OTHER DAY, I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AS THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AS I WAS RETURNING FROM WORK. THE VEHICLE IS IN "EXCELLENT" CONDITION ALL OVER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH JUST COST ME $2,568 TO GET REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST INFORMED ME THAT I WAS THE 3RD 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER THAT HE RECEIVED THERE WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES ON THEM, ALL WERE MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER, 1998, AND THAT HE HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION ON EACH ONE PF THEM. HE INFORMED ME THAT NISSAN HAD A PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF BUT NEVER BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES. HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. FUNNY, ALL MADE IN NOVEMBER, 1998. THERE IS NO WAY A PATHFINDER IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD HAVE THE TRANSMISSION GIVE OUT. I SENT 4 EMAILS TO NISSAN WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION INCLUDING ONE TO THEIR PRODUCT EXECUTIVE WHO DID NOT RESPOND. THE ONLY RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS TAKE IT TO A DEALER. HOW COULD I DO THIS WHEN IT HAD TO BE TOWED? THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL AND FAILED TO INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS WITH…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.