The problem
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 island, vermont, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin. 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. Over time, this snow/water and salt intrusion May result in corrosion of the strut tower housing in some subject vehicles.
The 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.
The fix
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. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 11V-244 (11V244000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| Component | Suspension › Front |
| Report date | April 20, 2011 |
| Owners notified | August 25, 2011 |
| Vehicles affected | 195,991 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
- 1997 Infiniti QX4
- 1998 Infiniti QX4
- 1999 Infiniti QX4
- 2000 Infiniti QX4
- 2001 Infiniti QX4
- 2002 Infiniti QX4
- 2003 Infiniti QX4
- 1996 Nissan Pathfinder
- 1997 Nissan Pathfinder
- 1998 Nissan Pathfinder
- 1999 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2002 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2003 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner complaints about the suspension
- 1997 Infiniti QX4 suspension problems 20
- 1998 Infiniti QX4 suspension problems 10
- 1999 Infiniti QX4 suspension problems 14
- 2000 Infiniti QX4 suspension problems 9
- 2001 Infiniti QX4 suspension problems 12
- 2002 Infiniti QX4 suspension problems 14
- 2003 Infiniti QX4 suspension problems 8
- 1996 Nissan Pathfinder suspension problems 64
- 1997 Nissan Pathfinder suspension problems 105
- 1998 Nissan Pathfinder suspension problems 47
- 1999 Nissan Pathfinder suspension problems 35
- 2000 Nissan Pathfinder suspension problems 41
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 11V-244 repair free?
Yes. Infiniti dealers will fix the problem at no cost: 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. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 195,991 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.