2001 Nissan Pathfinder

On certain vehicles operated in areas of heavy road salt usage during winter months, 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 structure.  If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, the strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly.  Should the strut housing separate and contact the steering column upper shaft, the steering shaft could break.  A loss of steering control could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.  Correction: Dealers will inspect the strut housing and, if no corrosion or only minor surface corrosion is present, an anti-corrosion seal will be applied.  If moderate corrosion is present, resin patches will be applied in addition to the sealant.  If there is evidence of more significant corrosion, a metal reinforcement plate will be used to reinforce the strut housing assembly.  In instances where it is impossible to repair the vehicle, Nissan will provide an appropriate remedy.

On certain vehicles, inadequate coating of the fuel filler tube assembly could allow water to penetrate past the coating and cause surface rust.  In areas which use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, corrosion may occur to a degree which results in perforation of the tube.  In this case, fuel leakage may occur when filling the tank or shortly thereafter.  Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.  Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel filler tube assembly.

On certain vehicles, some of the brackets used to attach the two gas struts to the rear door (hatch) may have been improperly made. At high ambient temperatures, the increase in gas pressure in the strut(s) could cause one or both brackets to bend, resulting in the struts detaching from the bracket(s) when opening or closing the rear door. If both struts detach from the brackets, the door will rapidly fall down possibly striking someone.  Correction:  Dealers will replace the strut brackets.