2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER Complaints

NISSAN RECALLED THE 2001 PATHFINDER REAR DOOR (HATCH) STRUT BRACKET REPLACEMENT AND IT REFUSED TO SERVICE MY PATHFINDER 2001 SAYING MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER IS [XXX] AND NISSAN SAID IT WASN'T ON THE RANGE OF THE CARS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND THEREFORE THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. I GET THE SAME RATTLING NOISE FROM THE TRUNK DOOR WHILE DRIVING AND IT'S THE SAME REASON WHAT THE RECALL IS FOR. AS PER NISSAN THIS TRUNK DOOR CAN FELL OFF AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.NISSANDRIVEN.COM AND GO TO RECALL INFO LINK TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL. MY COMPLAINT FILE NUMBER WITH NISSAN IS [XXX] AND THE PERSON I SPOKE TO IS KIM WHO CAN BE REACHED AT 1-800-6477261 * 8430. UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WE PURCHASED A NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER (VIN #[XXX]) IN JULY 2001 FROM WHITE PLAINS NISSAN, INC. IN WHITE PLAINS, NY. OCTOBER 12, 2003: THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. I REMOVED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND IMMEDIATELY SAW THAT PART OF THE CALIPER BROKE OFF, AND WAS LEANING AGAINST THE INSIDE PART OF THE RIM, AT WHICH POINT I PUT THE TIRE BACK ON, AND BEGAN CALLING NISSAN TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT (THE CAR IS STILL UNDER ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY). OCTOBER 13, 2003: WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER IN STAMFORD, STAMFORD MOTORS, INC., NISSAN DIVISION. WHEN MY WIFE OLGA DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP, SHE STATED CLEARLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS (BROKEN CALIPER) AND ASKED HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO GET IT FIXED UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. SHE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT, ACCORDING TO THE PIECE OF PAPER GIVEN TO HER BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, SHE COULD GET CHARGED FOR THE TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, WHILE IT WAS OBVIOUS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT WAS STANDARD PROCEDURE, AND SHE HAD TO SIGN IT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, NOBODY CONTACTED ME OR MY WIFE AND WE HAD TO CALL OURSELVES. WHEN MY WIFE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN UPDATE, THEIR SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] SAID THAT THE PART WASN'T GOING TO BE COVERED, BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THE PART HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH. WHEN MY WIFE ASKED [XXX]. TO ELABORATE, HE SAID THAT THESE PARTS RARELY BREAK UNLESS TAMPERED WITH, AND BECAUSE THERE WAS A SCRATCH ON THE OUTSIDE ON THE CALIPER, THEY THINK THAT SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO CHANGE THE BREAK PADS HIMSELF, AND BROKE THE CALIPER. WE HAVE ALREADY SHOWN THE PART TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT SHOPS, INCLUDING A METAL EXPERT, ALL OF WHICH RECOGNIZED A FATIGUE FAILURE AND NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY TEMPERING. WE ARE INTENDING TO PURSUE THIS MATTER FURTHER, UNTIL NISSAN DECIDES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS VERY SERIOUS CUSTOMER CARE ISSUE. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

PREMATURE WEAR AND WARPAGE OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE 34,000 MILES AND HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS MACHINED 2 TIMES. *PH

VEHICLE ROLL OVER WHICH INVOLVED A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. *MR IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S OPINION THE VEHICLE DID NOT POSSESS SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT WHICH WAS NECESSARY TO PREVENT ROLL OVER SITUATIONS, THE VEHICLE LACKED THE NECESSARY HEIGHT TO WIDTH RATIO AS WELL AS THE NECESSARY MASS TO MAXIMIZE THE SURVIVABILITY AND PREVENT OR SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN THE CHANCE OF A ROLL OVER.*TT *JB

IN LATE MAY OF 2003, THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY NISSAN PATHFINDER STOPPED WORKING AS FAR AS THE AUTOMATIC SEAT ADJUSTMENTS. I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD OR REVERSE USING THE SEAT'S AUTOMATIC SWITCH. THUS BEING STUCK IN A POSITION NOT EXACTLY THE WAY I WOULD NEED TO DRIVE. I CAN NOT MOVE THIS SEAT TO A PROPER AND SAFE AREA SO THAT I CAN OPERATE THE VEHICLE AS PRESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. AS WITH ANY VEHICLE, THE SEAT SHOULD BE POSITIONED RELATIVE TO THE DRIVER'S ABILITY. I HAVE TO DRIVE CLOSER TO THE STEERING WHEEL THAT I WOULD LIKE. AS WELL AS MY GIRLFRIEND IS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THE FACT IT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD SO SHE CAN REACH THE PEDALS. SO IF I WAS TO BE HURT, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE A WAY TO GO. THIS IS COVERED IN THE NISSAN SERVICE BULLETIN NTB00095. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. IT IS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE MOTOR FOR THIS SEAT SHOULD NOT BE MALFUNCTIONING THIS EARLY IN A VEHICLE'S LIFE. I TOOK THE SAID VEHICLE TO THE SHEEHY NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHICH IS LOCATED IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A RECALL NOR A WARRANTY PART. I HAVE THE GOLD WARRANTY WHICH [XXX] NEARS COVERS EVERYTHING ELSE. ALSO IT COVERS A DRIVER'S SEAT ASSEMBLY BUT NOT THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OR AS I WAS INFORMED THIS KIT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE AND COMPLAINED AS WELL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IF FOR SOME REASON I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE SEAT MOVES TO THE VERY FRONT POSITION, I AM UNABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO MYSELF, THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS ANOTHER OBSTACLE OR VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD A 97 FORD THUNDERBIRD WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN AGAINST AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS GLAD TO CORRECT WITHOUT COST TO US. THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY PART. THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME WAS 6 YEARS OLD. I AM ASSUMING THAT NISSAN CORPORATION DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS AND SAFETY AS THIS WAS INDICATED THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT FIX AT THEIR COST. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE

WHILE DRIVING OVER AVERAGE BUMPY ROAD I HEARD A LOUD POP AND NOTICED A TINY CRACK IN BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK CONTINUED TO COVER THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK THE SUV TO A VERY WELL RESPECTED WINDSHIELD REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER THEIR EXAM GAVE ME 2 POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THIS FAILURE. #1 REASON INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH OF THE GLASS. IT IS VERY THIN FOR A WINDSHIELD (FORD WINDSHIELD RECALL) UNABLE TO HANDLE THE STRESS OF NORMAL AND EXPECTED ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS. #2 IMPROPER INSTALLATION . THIS WINDSHIELD WAS NOT STRUCK WITH ANY OBJECT. *NLM

FUEL/THROTTLE CONTROL: I EXPERIENCED A "SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" INCIDENT IN JULY OF 2002. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HEAD IN PARKING AND WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY WHILE APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER CURBING INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER WITH LESS THAN 8,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE READ OF OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE THIS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. NO OTHER INCIDENT HAS OCCURED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS SITUATION BEFORE AND I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT I STEPPED ON THE ACCELETATOR THE SAME TIME AS THE BRAKE. NOW I BELIEVE I DID NOT STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT FOR SOME REASON THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS IT APPEARS TO BE VERY INTERMITTENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IS POTENTIALLY LETHAL AND CANNOT BE DETECTED BY NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND HAPPENS SO QUICKLY THAT THE DRIVER CANNOT REACT TO AVOID A SERIOUS COLLISION. THERE WERE NO INJURIES (THIS TIME) BUT VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS $500.

THE VEHICLE SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAUSES EXTREME WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TIRES. I HAVE HAD THIS NISSAN PATHFINDER (2001) FOR JUST OVER A YEAR AND NISSAN HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM IT WAS "BUILT TO RIDE THIS WAY". THE RESULT IS PREMATURE BREAKING PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE PUT NEW TIRES ON, TURNED THE ROTORS AND SPENT MANY HOURS BALANCING THE TIRES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE DAY ONE.

CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESS ON THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT NOTICE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

FRONT END IS ALL RUSTED. THIS MIGHT CAUSE THE WHOLE FRONT END TO FALL WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DT