1997 Nissan Pathfinder Suspension Problems

NHTSA component category: SUSPENSION · data through 07/14/2026

42Suspension complaints

19.4%Of all 217 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How suspension ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION42 · 19.4%

SUSPENSION:FRONT28 · 12.9%

SUSPENSION:REAR28 · 12.9%

STEERING20 · 9.2%

TIRES14 · 6.5%

Share of the 217 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder overview page.

What owners report

“: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHAKES AS IF THERE MAY BE A LOSS OF CONTROL…”NHTSA complaint 10152590 — filed 03/13/2006

“FIRST NOTICED PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO ROCK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMED TO GET WORSE…”NHTSA complaint 10088359 — filed 08/22/2004

“WHEN DRIVING AT 50MPH OR HIGHER IF VEHICLE HIT A PUMP OR UNEVEN PATCH ON FREEWAY VEHICLE SWAYS AND ROCKS, MAKING DRIVER UNABLE TO CONTROL…”NHTSA complaint 8008553 — filed 04/24/2002

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Suspension complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder have suspension problems?

Suspension is the most-reported problem area on the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder: 42 of 217 complaints on file (19.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder have in total?

217 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 18 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's suspension category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the SUSPENSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.