1999 Nissan Pathfinder: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 104 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is suspension (21% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2011
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 104 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jul 2020
“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”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2019
“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”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Feb 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“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”Owner report · Suspension · Sep 2018
“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”Owner report · Tires · Aug 2015
“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?”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2015
“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”Owner report · Suspension · Dec 2014
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2013
“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. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Oct 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that the strut housing cracked and detached away from the frame. The contact then found the recall associated with NHTSA recall campaign id number 11v224000 (suspension: front) and was informed by the manufacturer that the vehicle was not included. The failure and current mileages were 130,000.”Owner report · Suspension · Apr 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 15 of these complaints and injuries in 21 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DURING THE COATING PROCESS OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY, AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF COATING MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED AT THE LOWER MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN OPENING IN THE COATING WHICH CAN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL OF THE TUBE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE WITH AN IMPROVED COATING PROCESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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.
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. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1999 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Pathfinder by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
NHTSA has 104 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1999 Nissan Pathfinder. The most complained-about area is suspension (21% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1999 Nissan Pathfinder problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 130,000 miles or less.
Does the 1999 Nissan Pathfinder have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.