NISSAN PATHFINDER · model year

1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER

144 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999NISSANPATHFINDER carries 144 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 29 crashes, 2 fires, 45 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 PATHFINDER is suspension:front with 22 filings, followed by steering (15) and suspension (14). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 4 investigation files overlapping the 1999 PATHFINDER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

144
Complaints
29
Crashes
2
Fires
45
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

144 filings

Crashes Reported

29 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION:FRONT22
STEERING15
SUSPENSION14
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
AIR BAGS7
STRUCTURE:BODY7
TIRES6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
TIRES:TREAD/BELT3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
EQUIPMENT3

Recent Complaints

20201006FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FUELED AN HOUR BEFORE THE FIRE AND SMELLED GAS. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. NISSAN DECLINED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY FOR 19 YEARS AND NO RECENT MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT THE DEALER.*JS

20200214SERVICE BRAKES

THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF, STAYS OFF EVEN WHEN PARKED.

Mileage: 204,000

20190715SUSPENSION

1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRUT TOWER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DECLINED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR STATING THE WORK WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT AND CONSIDERS IT TO BE BEYOND WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DOING. *JS

20190715STRUCTURE

1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STRUT TOWER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DECLINED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR STATING THE WORK WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT AND CONSIDERS IT TO BE BEYOND WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF DOING. *JS

20190221STEERING

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

Mileage: 160,000

20190221UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

Mileage: 160,000

20180917SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STRUT TOWER BRACE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BYRELY NISSAN (4027 DIXIE HIGHWAY, LOUISVILLE, KY 40216) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS OLD AND NO LONGER IN THE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE CONSUMER DID NOT RECIEVE THE RECALL #11V244000 NOTICE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING RUSTED AND BROKE LOOSE, AND IS RUBBING AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN. *JS

Mileage: 180,000

20180829STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT HOUSING. IN ADDITION, THERE HAD BEEN RUST PROGRESSING OVER TIME ON THE UNDERBODY/FRAMING. THE DEALER (MOUNT HOLLY NISSAN, 1513 NJ-38, HAINESPORT, NJ 08036, (609) 267-2886) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION) IN 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING COULD CRACK AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. **TR CONSUMER STATED THE RUST PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED BY THE RECALL - OBVOUSLY NOT THE CASE. THE PASSENGERS SIDE SHOWS SURFACE RUST BUT NO RUST THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. UPDATED 11/1/18*JB

20180829SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT HOUSING. IN ADDITION, THERE HAD BEEN RUST PROGRESSING OVER TIME ON THE UNDERBODY/FRAMING. THE DEALER (MOUNT HOLLY NISSAN, 1513 NJ-38, HAINESPORT, NJ 08036, (609) 267-2886) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V244000 (STEERING, SUSPENSION) IN 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING COULD CRACK AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. **TR CONSUMER STATED THE RUST PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED BY THE RECALL - OBVOUSLY NOT THE CASE. THE PASSENGERS SIDE SHOWS SURFACE RUST BUT NO RUST THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. UPDATED 11/1/18*JB

20170127UNKNOWN OR OTHER

STRUT HOUSING HAS BEEN LEAKING WHILE PUTTING GAS ABNORMAL METAL CORROSION PROBABLY D/T TO A POOR COATING PROCESS GRINDING NOISES

20160927UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 11V-244 RECALL, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: R1108. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS IN SEATTLE WA. I LIVE IN ILLINOIS AND TOOK THIS CAR YESTERDAY TO ANDERSON NISSAN IN ROCKFORD, IL FOR THE OPEN RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR INSPECTION SHOWED NO RUST AND DUE TO THE LIFE OF THIS CAR, NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON THIS RECALL. MY CONCERN IS THAT NOW THAT THIS CAR WILL BE EXPOSED TO SNOW AND SALT, IT WILL RUST!! THIS CAR IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND I HOPE TO GET MANY MORE YEARS OUT OF IT (ODOMETER IS 152,500 MILES). I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, CASE# 24193883, WHO SAID THAT MY REQUEST TO REMEDY THE STRUT HOUSING (I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FIX IS REMOVE RUST AND THEN APPLY PAINT) WILL BE REFERRED TO THEIR REGIONAL OFFICE. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE ON THIS ISSUE?

20151029TIRES

I WAS SOLD A SET OF FOUR 31/1050R-5/16 PEGASUS ADVANTA AT ALL SEASONS OWL ON 10/15/2012 FROM LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER MILEAGE WAS 114360 ON MY 09 NISSAN PATHFINDER 2WD AFTER/DURING PUTTING 16000 MILES ON THEM I NOTICED THAT A WOBBLE AT SLOW SPEEDS (5-15MPH)LIKE A THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED I NOTICED BULGING IN THE SIDEWALL THEY HAVE WORN OUT MY STRUTS AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE AT 60 MPH THE CAR WILL VIOLENTLY START TO SHAKE I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES FOR AN ALIGNMENT THE ONLY OPTION WAS A BRAND NEW SET OF TIRES PEGASUS ADVANTA AT ALL SEASONS OWL SHOULD BE RECALLED SEE ALSO:HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CRO/NEWS/2014/11/COUNTERFEIT-CAR-TIRES-POSE-CONSUMER-RISK/INDEX.HTM

20150605CrashAIR BAGS

MY LEFT WRIST WAS BURNED BADLY WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER AN ACCIDENT I WAS INVOLVED IN. IS WHATEVER IS PUT IN THE AIR BAG TO BURN A PERSON'S SKIN NECESSARY? IS THERE ANOTHER WAY?

Mileage: 135,000

20150515CrashAIR BAGS

I DON'T KNOW WE ARE THE SECOND OR 3RD OWNER. JUST SHOWS ON CAR FAX THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT

Mileage: 54,490

20150114SERVICE BRAKES

I AM WRITING AS REQUESTED ON OUR PHONE CALL ON JANUARY 3 2015 AS YOU ARE AWARE MY WIFE AND ELEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 15 2014. MY 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD GONE BACK TO THE DEALER IN 2014 AS THERE WAS A RECALL ON STRUT TOWER FAILURE IN HIGH ROAD SALT SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. THEY REPAIRED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER AND HALF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE TOWER THE ENCLOSED PICTURES SHOW WHERE THEY STOPPED THE REPAIR. THIS IS WHERE THE TOWER FAILED. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC IF THEY HAD COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE CORRECTLY THIS PART OF THE TOWER WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKE LINES TO SEPARATE AND BREAK. *TR

Mileage: 209,000

20150114STRUCTURE:BODY

I AM WRITING AS REQUESTED ON OUR PHONE CALL ON JANUARY 3 2015 AS YOU ARE AWARE MY WIFE AND ELEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 15 2014. MY 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD GONE BACK TO THE DEALER IN 2014 AS THERE WAS A RECALL ON STRUT TOWER FAILURE IN HIGH ROAD SALT SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. THEY REPAIRED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER AND HALF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE TOWER THE ENCLOSED PICTURES SHOW WHERE THEY STOPPED THE REPAIR. THIS IS WHERE THE TOWER FAILED. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC IF THEY HAD COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE CORRECTLY THIS PART OF THE TOWER WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKE LINES TO SEPARATE AND BREAK. *TR

Mileage: 209,000

20150114SUSPENSION

I AM WRITING AS REQUESTED ON OUR PHONE CALL ON JANUARY 3 2015 AS YOU ARE AWARE MY WIFE AND ELEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 15 2014. MY 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAD GONE BACK TO THE DEALER IN 2014 AS THERE WAS A RECALL ON STRUT TOWER FAILURE IN HIGH ROAD SALT SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. THEY REPAIRED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER AND HALF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE TOWER THE ENCLOSED PICTURES SHOW WHERE THEY STOPPED THE REPAIR. THIS IS WHERE THE TOWER FAILED. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC IF THEY HAD COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE CORRECTLY THIS PART OF THE TOWER WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKE LINES TO SEPARATE AND BREAK. *TR

Mileage: 209,000

20141016ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOUNTING STRUTS WERE CORRODED AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20140910SUSPENSION

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. *TR

Mileage: 159,890

20140910STEERING

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. *TR

Mileage: 159,890

Compare 1999NISSANPATHFINDER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER have?
The 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER has 144 NHTSA complaints, 29 crashes, 2 fires, 45 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER?
The most-complained component for the 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER is SUSPENSION:FRONT with 22 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and SUSPENSION.
Is the 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.