1998 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1998 Nissan Pathfinder has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 568,241 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 194 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SUSPENSION 11V244000 2011-04-20 195,991 affected
Defect

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,…

Consequence

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.

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 07V435000 2007-09-18 372,250 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

THIS MAY RESULT IN SURFACE RUST BUT NOT PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. HOWEVER, IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, IF A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL, CORROSION MAY OCCUR TO A DEGREE WHICH RESULTS IN PERFORATION OF THE TUBE. IN THIS…

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.

Complaints by component

SUSPENSION
20
1crashes
SUSPENSION:REAR
17
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
13
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
11
1crashes1injuries
TIRES
10
3crashes16injuries4deaths
STEERING
9
3crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
3crashes2injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
4crashes4injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
6
1crashes
Total complaints194

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“We own a 1998 nissan pathfinder. There is a strong fuel odor emitting from the . The order of gasoline was so strong it filled the first floor of my home when the vehicle was parked in the garage. He vehicle was about 1/4 full of fuel my records indicate that the filler tube had been replaced. The…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2017-05-01

“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. When the vehicle was taken in for inspection, the front driver's side strut assembly was fractured and separated from the uni-body. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that it was unable to be repaired. The vehicle was not…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2017-04-03

“I cant even drive down the street over 40 without the vehcle doing a death shake from hell to top that off due to the recall for the strut placement error causing my strut tower wall directly behind my passenger side front wheel to almost be completly gone from rusting out. This is total bullshit.…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2016-09-08

“I cant even drive down the street over 40 without the vehcle doing a death shake from hell to top that off due to the recall for the strut placement error causing my strut tower wall directly behind my passenger side front wheel to almost be completly gone from rusting out. This is total bullshit.…”

STEERING · reported 2016-09-08

“I cant even drive down the street over 40 without the vehcle doing a death shake from hell to top that off due to the recall for the strut placement error causing my strut tower wall directly behind my passenger side front wheel to almost be completly gone from rusting out. This is total bullshit.…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2016-09-08

“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the scene. In addition, the power steering malfunctioned on…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2016-05-02

“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the scene. In addition, the power steering malfunctioned on…”

STEERING · reported 2016-05-02

“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 nissan pathfinder. When the shift lever was shifted into the reverse position, the vehicle failed to operate without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2015-05-18

Defect investigations

Investigation PE11004 Opened 2011-01-28 · closed 2011-06-30

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…

Investigation PE11004 Opened 2011-01-28 · closed 2011-06-30

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…

Investigation PE11004 Opened 2011-01-28 · closed 2011-06-30

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…

Investigation PE11004 Opened 2011-01-28 · closed 2011-06-30

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…

Investigation PE11004 Opened 2011-01-28 · closed 2011-06-30

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…

Investigation PE11004 Opened 2011-01-28 · closed 2011-06-30

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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Nissan Pathfinder as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.