1998 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two things: a violent side-to-side rocking of the rear end at highway speeds that persists after shock and strut replacement, and rust-related failures in the front strut housings and brake and fuel lines. Complaints also cover the accelerator pedal sticking or sudden unintended acceleration, and automatic transmission problems. Most reports come in above 80,000 miles, though several appear far earlier.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Highway-speed rear sway or "wobble"

   • 21 complaints (14%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 10.7 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2018

   Owners describe the rear of the vehicle rocking or shimmying side to side, usually at highway speeds or after a bump or change in road surface, and sometimes continuing until speed is reduced. Many say replacing shocks, struts or tires did not stop it, and that shops pointed to worn rear upper and lower control link bushings or sway bar links. Some complaints note the vehicle felt difficult to control at speed. Reported from roughly 78,000 to 200,000 miles, most often during highway driving above 50 mph.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the vehicle at highway speed over uneven pavement and see whether the rear stays planted. Ask whether the rear control link bushings and sway bar links have been replaced, and get an inspection of the rear suspension before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At highway speeds our 1998 Pathfinder begins to sway or shimmy from side to side and requires applying the brakes to stop the swaying. This is after spending $1000 on the front end for struts and other suspension items. This event is worse since we had the work done on the front suspension at the dealership. I have yet to take it back to the dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10259845, filed 2009-02, 110,000 miles

   “My 1998 Nissan Pathfinder sways excessively when letting off the gas quickly or accelerating quickly. The sway is so excessive that driving at speeds over 60 MPH are extremely terrifying because the vehicle feels like it is going to flip. The consequences of this could be deadly. I have replaced several parts within the suspension and the problem still remains.”

   NHTSA complaint #10250446, filed 2008-12, 108,000 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Rusted front strut housing separating from body

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 155,000 mi at 13.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2017

   Complaints describe corrosion at the top of the front strut tower, mainly on the driver's side, leading to the strut separating from the body or the panel tearing away. Owners report noises from the front end, misalignment, and in some cases loss of braking or steering function afterward. Some say they paid for repairs themselves and received a recall notice later. Typically reported between about 90,000 and 190,000 miles on vehicles in road-salt areas.

   Recall 11V2440002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Open the hood and inspect the tops of both front strut towers for rust, bubbling paint or cracks, and ask whether the strut housing recall inspection or repair was done for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The strut housing on the driver's side rusted completely and broke . It caused the inner fender to touch the brake master cylinder. I had to pay to have this repaired out of pocket, and then received a recall notice several months later. I would like to know what the next step is for reimbursement.”

   NHTSA complaint #10436283, filed 2011-11, 110,000 miles

   “I discovered that the left front strut tower has begun to tear away from the rest of the body at its base. There is visible corrosion at the base. I recently noticed unusual swaying after hitting bumps at highway speed. The top of the strut tower is obviously out of alignment with the opposite tower. The brake line to the left front wheel is now under stress. There have been no known collisions with the vehicle. No known incident to cause damage. No heavy off-road. Veh. Has been used to tow.”

   NHTSA complaint #10235441, filed 2008-07, 112,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Sticking accelerator pedal / unintended acceleration

   • 13 complaints (9%)
   • median 79,600 mi at 6.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2011

   Owners describe the accelerator pedal sticking or catching, causing the vehicle to lunge or accelerate unexpectedly, sometimes while the brake is applied. Some report the engine revving loudly and difficulty stopping the vehicle. According to complaints, dealers sometimes could not find a cause, and one report mentions cleaning carbon from the throttle body. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 32,000 to 207,000 miles, and often described as intermittent.

   What to check: With the engine off, work the accelerator pedal through its travel and feel for sticking or rough spots, and ask whether the throttle body or pedal linkage has been cleaned or serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder, there are severe problems with the accelerator. Whenever I give it gas to make it driver, the gas pedal, sticks and then unexpectedly catches and send the vehicle almost out of control. It's been this way since I bought it, used, over a year ago. Yet it's getting worse. Very dangerous, indeed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10361319, filed 2010-10, 125,000 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 $6,000.00 for which the car was more or less worth.”

   NHTSA complaint #10316351, filed 2010-03, 110 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission and transfer case faults

   • 13 complaints (9%)
   • median 86,826 mi at 7.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2015

   Owners describe the automatic transmission failing with grinding noises, high engine revs without matching vehicle speed, jerking, and clunking when shifting between drive and reverse. Some report the transfer case failing and leaving the vehicle unable to drive. Repairs described include transmission rebuild or replacement. Reported from about 64,000 to 200,000 miles, with several cases under 90,000 miles.

   What to check: Test drive from cold through all gears including reverse, listen for clunks or grinding, and check whether the transmission or transfer case has been rebuilt or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was on my way to work mileage at 88000 on the Pathfinder when the vehicle started to jerk and took it to my mechanic and he told me the planetarium on the transmission was shot now I need to rebuild or get a new one and this is not the only 1998 vehicle I been hearing a lot of complaints about this year Pathfinder transmission.”

   NHTSA complaint #10144198, filed 2005-12, 87,653 miles

   “While driving my 1998 Nissan Pathfinder, with no warning, the vehicle began bucking and stalling until it would not drive. The car was towed to the local Nissan dealership. The next day, we received telephone call from the service dept who informed us that the transfer case was damaged. The service rep told me that there was an internal defect on the part and that the problem was very uncommon. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10019003, filed 2003-05, 86,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Rusted brake and fuel lines

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 117,250 mi at 12.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2008–2014

   Complaints describe metal brake lines rusting through and bursting while driving, with brake fluid loss and reduced braking. Owners also report the fuel filler neck or tube perforating from rust and leaking fuel, and one notes the load sensing valve bracket rusting away from the differential. Repairs were typically made at the owner's expense or under the fuel filler recall. Mostly reported between about 85,000 and 190,000 miles on older vehicles in rust-prone areas.

   Recall 07V435000

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the metal brake lines, fuel filler tube and fuel lines underneath for rust, and ask whether the fuel filler recall repair has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Nissan Pathfinder recall 07v-435 r0705 fuel filler tube and fuel leakage. In january while driving from colorado through wyoming our car started puttering and died on busy route 80 in coopers cove outside of laramie, wy at 9:30 pm in a major snow storm. Roads were covered in rock salt and we were lucky to pull over to shoulder where we remained for 2 hours. My 2 daughters were there, one of whom had no coat as we did not expect to be heading north. Temperature was -27. We were pretrified and I kept the light on in car so trucks could see us. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10268432, filed 2009-05, 169,444 miles

   “Load sensing valve ---bracket welded to differential has rusted off. Spring applying tension to load sensing valve is no longer connected to the bracket thus making the valve inoperable. Rear brake pressure no longer controlled by the valve depending on load. Increased chance of rear wheel lock up and loss of control.”

   NHTSA complaint #10417744, filed 2011-08, 90,500 miles

Buying note. This model year is old enough that corrosion and wear matter more than any single fault, so a pre-purchase inspection of the strut towers, brake and fuel lines and rear suspension is worth the cost. Ask for records on the strut housing and fuel filler recalls, and drive it at highway speed to check for rear sway.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.