Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Nissan Pathfinder owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I wrote previously on issues with my 1999 Nissan Pathfinder & recalls safety defects etc..etc.. ? Re airbag switch installation to my vehicle after years of inquiries & being told by Nissan dealers & Nissan north America consumer affairs there were no recalls &/or safety advisory even after receipt of a red urgent recall card from the dealer I purchased my vehicle from stating that I have been notified by my vehicle division of the existing problem ???? I was told over & over there were not any issues safety/recalls /technical bulletins or anything with my vehicle from both Nissan consumer affairs & dealer who sent this card & it must have been sent in error this card is postmarked 2/2008 & states I failed to reply however I never received any prior notifications & blatantly told prior upon my inquiries & after this card there were no issues &they don't know why I received this card …
Our 1999 1/2 Nissan Pathfinder's steering column separated from the wheels causing the vehicle to crash into a curbing. We had the car towed to our mechanic and they did a temporary fix but stated that the vehicle was so rusted out on the driver side that it needed to be welded back together with a piece of sheet metal. We spoke to three different sheet metal shops and all said that they would not do it because of safety concerns. We believe this problem occurred due to excessive corrosion on the driver's side strut tower and LED to our loosing our steering. This occurred in July 2009, at that time, we knew nothing of a recall involving this problem, I called Nissan and they said there was nothing they could do and there were no recalls. Due to the fact that the vehicle could not be repaired, we had to junk it. The car was only 10 years old at the time and always maintained. …
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
I was driving my vehicle when suddenly the front wheels locked. The engine went off and the power steering was also locked -up and I lost control, the car spun out, and hit the jersey barrier with the back.
I'm repulsed @ the gross disregard for safety & life of consumers my 99 Nissan --death trap hey im alive 3 crashes major steering lock up self acceleration problems electrical stalling shimmy seatbelts don't lock air bags do not deploy this vehicle is dangerous brakes lock up chronic check engine light issues despite numerous inquiries & complaints to Nissan they denied any similar complaints with any of their vehicles I have now found multiple foreign campaign recalls which Nissan north America was notified by manufacturers of components in their us vehicles by these foreign manufacturers many years later Nissan is advising service/safety bulletins however the consumer is not notified & even mislead as to safety issues upon inquiry keep track of your complaints to Nissan -when you call back they deny any prior complaints you made at least this has been my experience with Nissan …
I was driving my car into my neighborhood. I turned a corner heard a "clunk" my steering was tight. I then turned into my driveway and lost my steering. Fortunately I was moving slow and did not hit anything. I got out of my vehicle looked under the hood and discovered that my left front wheel well had rusted through and had rotated up and into my steering column breaking the spring in the column and knocking out my steering. So far Nissan and my dealer have done nothing. They have rejected my claim that this is a safety problem and they have not given me a formal estimate of the cost to repair. They did offer me $500 of trade in value towards a new vehicle purchase. On November 13, 2009 I requested that the vehicle be repaired at my cost. I visited the dealer on December 1, 2009 to check on progress, and as of this afternoon December 4, 2009 they have not prepared an estimate. …
I had the Pathfinder tested for the rusted strut mount and corrosion issue in 2011. Now it is more than three years since I had the recall performed but I have no way of knowing if the Pathfinder three and a half years later is now safe to drive. What is the NHTSA policy on rust-related issues when an owner would like to keep their vehicle but with increased driving time on salty roads, they no longer have access to the recall that was designed to ensure safety? I am at the point where I have to make a substantial investment in major maintanence on the vehicle yet I do not know if the vehicle would pass the recall that it was tested for some 40 miles ago and, more importantly, three very hard winters on salty streets.
Noise and wobble in steering. Repair shop said the passenger side, front steering control arm and frame are severely rusted. This connection is weak. Should this control arm break lose, steering would fail.
This is for Nissan Pathfinder voluntary safety recall campaign 1996-2004 Pathfinder in salt states left front strut housing corrosion campaign id # r1107 NHTSA # 11v-224. I dropped in Pathfinder in the dealership at the end of sept.2011. The dealership told me that the car was unrepairable and leased a car to me. I have not got any information until March 27, 2012. Dealership called me said that car was fixed. Dealer told me that they did not think it was repairable, but Nissan wanted them to repair. Based on NHTSA safe recall compendium (a guide for the reporting, notification, and remedy of motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipment in accordance with title 49 of the united states code, chapter 301 and supporting federal regulations) prepared by the recall management division office of defects investigation national highway traffic safety administration U.S. …
I took my car to the mansfield ohio Nissan mmg dealership to be inspected for a corrosion recall. The dealership provided me with a loaner while the inspections were carried out. Nissan decided that the car was not repairable and offered to buy the vehicle for $5,600. I had a few days to consider the offer but was under immense pressure and threats that I would have to pay for storage charges for my car on their lot and also the loaner car if I did not accept their offer. The dealership even threatened resorting to "other measures" which I interpreted as "call the police" if I did not either accept the offer or return the loaner car. We are a single income family, partially disable spouse who can't work with 2 kids in college so I can't afford a car payment or to take a loss on the vehicle. …
NHTSA investigations
Frame/Body Structure Corrosion
In their Defect Information Report (DIR) of April 20, 2011, Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified NHTSA that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder and 1997-2003 Infinity QX4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.The vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states…
Steering complaints in other Pathfinder years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1999 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the steering of the 1999 Nissan Pathfinder, 19% of the model year's 104 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Nissan Pathfinder steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 1999 Nissan Pathfinder, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Nissan Pathfinder steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 140,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 11 injuries to steering 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.