Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Nissan Pathfinder owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The vehicle swings left to right when cruising at about any speed. When the vehicle is pulling it does not swing or sway, however once the vehicle has got up to a desired speed and you try to maintain a steady speed it starts a "death wobble" which nearly cannot hold it on correct side of the road. You have to increase speed or reduce speed dramatically to regain control of the vehicle.
While driving 35 MPH, another vehicle suddenly stopped in front of the consumer's vehicle which caused the consumer to veer off the road and hit a curb. The vehicle's axle broke and was towed to the dealership for analysis. The brake system resulted in a complete lost of control of the vehicle. The vehicle pulled to the right, the accelerator pedal would stick, there was a rattling/buzzing sound upon acceleration, the brakes slipped, and the accelerator did not respond at times. Prior to the incident the struts leaked and the left front stabilizer bar was replaced.
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.
Vehicle has a severe shimmy when letting off the accelerator, even at low speeds. Driving the vehicle on dry pavement on a straight stretch of highway: at around 55-60 MPH, the back end of vehicle sways violently, with no warning or apparent cause. Driver feels that if speed is not immediately decreased, the vehicle would go out of control.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving 40 MPH, the rear of the vehicle wobbled violently especially when making a turn. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
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.
Our 1997 Nissan Pathfinder develops a rear rocking motion (sway, wobble) at highway speeds that would clearly put the vehicle out of control if not quickly stopped, which can usually be accomplished by letting off the gas. This happens continuously and repeatedly, sometimes even at lower speeds (in the 40 MPH range.) the sensation is very unnerving to the driver and passengers especially since it is not due to anything the driver has done and it strikes without warning. In just a few seconds the car feels like 2 seconds more and it will flip or roll or crash into another lane! (take a ride with me, you'll see I'm not exaggerating.) the trick is to stop the rocking as soon as you notice it starting, usually by letting off the gas. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff as the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was driven to the contacts home where an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and advised that the front strut tower was severely corroded and fractured from the frame. The front strut was found to be rubbing against the steering shaft abnormally and causing the steering failure. In addition, the strut was pushed up approximately three inches and was beating on the air intake and the air filter. The contact stated that the brake and ABS lines were also damaged and the wheel was pushing on the steering shaft. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. …
(noticed problem end of 2007/ beginning 2008 and again in 2011) I have low mileage on Pathfinder and it is only driven on the freeway and in town. First noticed when driving speeds over 50 and during shifting on highway. Very sloppy steering control, pathfinders rear swaying, skipping and jerking sometimes violently from side to side. Very dangerous driving conditions;very good chance of flipping over.took to different auto mechanics and most could not figure out issue. It turned out that the problem was all defective - failed, broken, cracked, or /and worn bushings links both front and rear. I recently completely replaced the bushings and components and after 6500 miles they are broken/defective and the Pathfinder is unsafe to drive again. …
The left front strut tower has pushed up into the hood due to rust on the frame. After 118,000 miles, the odometer on our 97 Pathfinder stopped working and we noticed that there was a very loud bang every time we hit a bump with the left front wheel, and the steering wheel would shake. We brought the vehicle to our mechanic and he determined that the frame had rotted and the strut was separated from the vehicle. He said it should not be driven. We had the Pathfinder towed to a body shop for an estimate, and after placing on the frame machine determined that it would cost in excess of $2100.00 to repair and advised us not to spend the funds to repair. They told us they had never seen anything like this before, and could not believe that such a well taken care of Pathfinder was not safe and ready to be crushed. …
Related recalls
Suspension › Front
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…
Remedy: Nissan will inspect the strut housing and repair the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. An interim notification letter was sent out in May 2011. The second notice was mailed on July 25, 2011.
Suspension complaints in other Pathfinder years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA has 105 complaints about the suspension of the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder, 48% of the model year's 217 complaints. The component named most often is front (28 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Nissan Pathfinder suspension problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 11V-244 (front, Apr 20, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Nissan Pathfinder suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 115,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries and 1 death to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.