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 2000 Nissan Pathfinder owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Nissan USA refuses to acknowledge that they is a recall on my vehicle, although the NHTSA records shows there is a recall because of the danger of steering column breakage. The steering column broke while my daughter was driving but Nissan says there is no recall and it would not repaid my vehicle. Although there is a NHTSA recall for my VIN, the local Nissan dealer referred me to the Nissan USA website, which states there is no recall. (see below). Nissan recall lookup 2000 Nissan Pathfinder VIN: [redacted] change VIN there are no open recalls or campaigns associated with this vehicle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- you can search for safety recalls all the way back to March 1994. This information was last updated on December 29, 2014. …
Mechanical recall of November 2011 was never completed properly. On or about dec. 21, 2014, the steering column broke while my wife and daughter were in the car. My mechanic inspected the call after the incident. He is willing to submit an affidavit stating that the recall was never properly completed. I have photos showing the un-repaired steering and housing that was supposed to have been repaired. The photos clearly indicate repairs were not done as required by the recall. Nissan USA insists it has no obligation to make repair. ...updated 02-03-15 the mechanic examined the vehicle and saw breakage in the rusty metal housing near the steering column, which allowed water from the road to enter the area of the steering column. Updated 03/02/15. ...updated 03-11-15 updated 04/02/15 updated 06/8/2015
I took my vehicle for a recall free of charge. The Nissan dealer said that they cannot repair it because it is too expensive and the card does not worth it. They refuse to give my car back because they said by the law they cannot give it back without repair it. It has been 2 weeks already. They screwed everything because I need my car to work. They told me that I can have a car but I need to pay 20 dollars daily. It is that acceptable. Why they refuse to give me my car back. I had drove my car for more than 8 years without any problem. I give maintenance to my car really well and just bought new tires. I am very upset about it. How long it will take to resolve it. I do not need money for my car I need my car back because I need it. I have to loan a car from my cousin to go to work and dropped my child to school.
Car veered off road to right unexplainable causing me to hit a guard rail dead on the end. Airbags never deployed either. I thought I did something but got the recall notice right after my accident. Unfortunately, I had already settled with the insurance company on a payout and they took possession of the car so I have no way of verifying that this is what caused it but I honestly believe it was!
I own a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder le, with 149,000 miles, which is now out of warranty. Tues 7/27/10, while pulling out of a parking space, I lost steering control. Find steering column is snapped. Tow to mechanic, who discovers the shock tower, which is part of the frame (uni-body design), has sheared away from the rest of the wheel-well. The shock tower has pushed up into the steering column, causing it to break. Mechanic gave estimate of $640.00 for steering, and at least $1700.00 for the wheel-well, which is a body shop repair. Also suggested to call Nissan to see if there a recall on wheel-wells as this is a safety issue, and is not the first time he has heard of this problem. This is not normal wear and tear, it is a design flaw. Control arms just below tearing in frame, if tearing continued, wheel could also become dislodged, in addition to loss of steering. …
In December 2014, NHTSA's website said there was a recall on my vehicle. It now says there is no recall. About dec 21, 2014, my vehicle suffered the same problem that NHTSA described (a steering column that broke while driving) in the NHTSA notice given for recall (see below) VIN: [redacted] year: 2000 make: Nissan model: Pathfinder number of open recalls: 1 NHTSA recall number: opens new window takes away from VIN lookup section> 11v-244 recall date: April 20, 2011 manufacturer recall number: r1101 summary: in areas of the country in which heavy concentrations of road salt are used, a mixture of snow/water and salt May enter an assembly location hole in the upper strut housing, causing water to collect at the mating surface of the strut housing panel and the inner hood ledge assembly. …
I heard a rubbing sound and the passenger side front brake was acting unusual so I took my truck to my mechanic assuming it needed brakes. When the driver front wheel was taken off it was ovious that my brake pad was fine. It was noted that my tires were wearing unevenly and it was also very very ovious that the entire wheel wheel area was corroded,rusted and missing. There was a extremely large hole being the wheel area. Looking further it was noted that the steering column was rubbing against a part of the engine area. That explains the rubbing sound and diffuculty turning the wheel. It was also noted that the suspension was rotted and that the engine measured around 2 inches lower as it was leaning on the drivers side. I was told by my mechanic that the damage was so extensive that it could not be repaired. …
The steering column broke while my daughter was driving,making it impossible to steer the vehicle. She lost control of the vehicle. NHTSA lists my vehicle as being involved in a recall. But Nissan says there is no recall for the vehicle. Please let me know if the NHTSA information is correct, and what I should with Nissan's contention that there is no recall. Year: 2000 make: Nissan model: Pathfinder number of open recalls: 1 NHTSA recall number: opens new window takes away from VIN lookup section> 11v-244 recall date: April 20, 2011 manufacturer recall number: r1101 safety risk: the strut housing May crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly. This May lead to grinding noises, increased steering effort, and possibly the steering column to break, resulting in the loss of steering control, which could result in a crash. …
Also after having the previously mentioned problem fixed, 1 week later I noticed the following: my 2000 Nissan Pathfinder seemed excessively bumpy and the steering seemed very stiff at times after hitting a pothole. I took it into my mechanic and was told that the frame has rusted through where the wheel well is attached to a strut mount. The strut is loose (causing the bumpy ride) and the strut is pressing against the steering system causing the steering to be stiff. I was told that if I continued to drive it and went over a bump, the strut could plunge through the hood. I feel that this is a safety issue that could cause a serious or fatal accident if I were to hit a pothole at on a highway at a high rate of speed. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle exhibited an abnormal noise and the contact took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer stated that the suspension was completely rusted and it would cost over $2000 to repair. The contact had previously received notification of NHTSA campaign id numbers: 11V244000 (suspension: front) and 11V244000 (steering: column), in which the vehicle was repaired under both recalls. The manufacturer was notified of the failure who advised the contact that they would send out a representative to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was 176,000.
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 2000 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the steering of the 2000 Nissan Pathfinder, 24% of the model year's 112 complaints. The component named most often is gear box (other than rack and pinion) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Nissan Pathfinder steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2000 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 2000 Nissan Pathfinder steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 149,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury and 1 death 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.