2017 Pathfinder vibration during acceleration.

13382 Views 26 Replies 12 Participants Last post by saif1434, 15 d ago

electrichorseman

Discussion Starter · Mar 1, 2020

Hi everyone,
This past December I bought a 2017 Pathfinder (CPO from a Nissan Dealer) with about 18,000 miles. I had issues with power train vibration during acceleration. I don't want to go into detail too much because the situation is presently being evaluated by Nissan Customer Service. I will say this, it's been to two different dealers a total of 4 times.In short I'd like to know if anyone feels a vibration in the power train, in their 2017 models, during light acceleration. I mainly feel it between 20 and 45 miles per hour. It's not enough to make your teeth chatter, but it is annoying.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

FloatingCow

· #2 · Mar 1, 2020

I have a 2017 Platinum and I haven't noticed anything like that...yet. I bought mine new and just turned 9,000 miles last week. The only power train issue I notice is the engine braking effect when it is cold, however that has been discussed on other threads and may be normal. It's a shame you can't go into detail because it would be nice to know what the dealerships found or told you about this problem.

electrichorseman

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 1, 2020

FloatingCow said:
I have a 2017 Platinum and I haven't noticed anything like that...yet. I bought mine new and just turned 9,000 miles last week. The only power train issue I notice is the engine braking effect when it is cold, however that has been discussed on other threads and may be normal. It's a shame you can't go into detail because it would be nice to know what the dealerships found or told you about this problem.

All I can say is that the service techs agree there's a problem and the service managers say it's normal. I brought it to the second dealer yesterday. I'm waiting for a call from customer service tomorrow.

FloatingCow

· #4 · Mar 1, 2020

Interesting that the service techs and managers have differing opinions. Is the vibration constant while in that speed range or only noticeable while accelerating? The 2017 and up Pathfinders have not had a lot of the transmission issues that have plagued the earlier models. It could be something as simple as a tire or wheel issue...

PoManzPathy

· #5 · Mar 1, 2020

I'm not aware of any changes between the 2017-2019 model years. I'm at ~31K miles on our 2019 and she's smooth as butta. No suspension or power-train weirdness. We purchased it as an ex rental with 24K miles on it a few months ago. Only annoyance is the driver's side window motor barely able to move the window up/down in the cold.

Findmypath

· #6 · Mar 10, 2020

electrichorseman said:
Hi everyone,
This past December I bought a 2017 Pathfinder (CPO from a Nissan Dealer) with about 18,000 miles. I had issues with power train vibration during acceleration. I don't want to go into detail too much because the situation is presently being evaluated by Nissan Customer Service. I will say this, it's been to two different dealers a total of 4 times.In short I'd like to know if anyone feels a vibration in the power train, in their 2017 models, during light acceleration. I mainly feel it between 20 and 45 miles per hour. It's not enough to make your teeth chatter, but it is annoying.

Hi all! My 2017 Pathfinder (37,000 mi) started doing this over the weekend, giving a vibration mostly between speeds of 20-45 mph, but especially when accelerating from a stop or climbing a hill. When I drove the interstate and put it on cruise, it wasn’t noticeable anymore.

However, this is also acccompanied by an undeniable fan noise kicking on and off intermittently. The used car dealer I got my PF from, called Nissan and they said almost positively a radiator fan assembly (over $1K part). I was told I can get this part for $150-250 and have my mechanic swap it out...just want to see if you found out anything further at your last appt? Btw, Nissan also said this vibrating, or chugging as I like to describe it, is normal when the radiator fan is affected. Any thoughts/experience with that issue?

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electrichorseman

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 10, 2020

FloatingCow said:
Interesting that the service techs and managers have differing opinions. Is the vibration constant while in that speed range or only noticeable while accelerating? The 2017 and up Pathfinders have not had a lot of the transmission issues that have plagued the earlier models. It could be something as simple as a tire or wheel issue...

I thought it might have been tires also. Had brand new Yokohama Geolander HTs installed the 2nd week. Still the same vibration.

jman

· #8 · Mar 10, 2020

Findmypath said:
Hi all! My 2017 Pathfinder (37,000 mi) started doing this over the weekend, giving a vibration mostly between speeds of 20-45 mph, but especially when accelerating from a stop or climbing a hill. When I drove the interstate and put it on cruise, it wasn’t noticeable anymore.

However, this is also acccompanied by an undeniable fan noise kicking on and off intermittently. The used car dealer I got my PF from, called Nissan and they said almost positively a radiator fan assembly (over $1K part). I was told I can get this part for $150-250 and have my mechanic swap it out...just want to see if you found out anything further at your last appt? Btw, Nissan also said this vibrating, or chugging as I like to describe it, is normal when the radiator fan is affected. Any thoughts/experience with that issue?

Welcome to the forum !

Fans usually fail around 60 k miles and I am disgusted to see the 2017 still had the same crappy fans. At 37 k miles they should still replace it under warranty. Call Nissan and open a case for it.

Findmypath

· #9 · Mar 10, 2020

Thanks for your reply. I will do that today.

Findmypath

· #10 · Mar 10, 2020

electrichorseman said:
I thought it might have been tires also. Had brand new Yokohama Geolander HTs installed the 2nd week. Still the same vibration.

Th

electrichorseman said:
I thought it might have been tires also. Had brand new Yokohama Geolander HTs installed the 2nd week. Still the same vibration.

The issue of chugging and vibration is only noticeable when accelerating, and only within lower speed range. But, even when I start it, it doesn’t sound right, like it’s hard for it to idle normally, if that makes sense. I don’t know if the two issues are related or not? It seems to be more than a tire/wheel issue, but you never know. I’ll call Nissan today and ask about the warranty beyond the 36K mi that just ran out. My own mechanic insists if it is the radiator fan, it should still be covered. I didn’t buy an extended warranty, but looked up where a 5 yr/60K mi power train factory warranty may cover it. I don’t know much about all this obviously, but seems Nissan could classify it as normal wear & tear or mechanical breakdown (not covered), instead of a defect from the factory, the only way it’s covered. I will find out more today.

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jman

· #11 · Mar 10, 2020

Findmypath said:
I’ll call Nissan today and ask about the warranty beyond the 36K mi that just ran out. My own mechanic insists if it is the radiator fan, it should still be covered. I didn’t buy an extended warranty, but looked up where a 5 yr/60K mi power train factory warranty may cover it.

You need a dealer to determine the fans are bad BEFORE calling Nissan.
Fans are not covered by power train but since you are just shy of 36k miles and the fact that this is a known issue, they should cover it.

If you go to the dealer tell them about the vibration and ask them to look for any codes related to the transmission.

electrichorseman

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 26, 2020

Just wanted to give everyone an update on the status of my vibration issue. After 7 service appointments at 2 dealerships and an evaluation from a field service rep Nissan finally has given a verdict on what the vibration issue is. After test driving the vehicle the field service rep says the vibration is "Cabin Drone". he showed me a T.S.B. dating to 2016 that explains the CVT transmission will send a noticeable vibration to the cabin while the vehicle is driving at 25 to 40 miles per hour and with engine RPM between 1,000 and 1,500. Needless to say I'm not happy with this. The original complaint was that I heard a banging sound from the engine compartment while making slow turns through a parking lot. The service tech got in the vehicle with me for a test drive and we didn't even make it out of the parking lot before the problem happened. He said, "I may know what this is". After an hour the repair was complete and the problem was "A loose torque rod bolt". I asked the service manager if this what was causing the vibration issue and he said "Most likely". since then service techs and been tightening something which they won't give details on. All the tickets said, "Tightened all engine mount bolts to spec". During the past few months, while N.J. was shut-down for Covid-19, I took the vehicle to a local repair shop which was highly recommended. I explained the issue and told the owners about the first time I brought the vehicle in for service (only 3 days after I picked it up from the dealer). One of the owners took it for a test drive and, while parked at his shop, one of his techs revved the engine, trans in drive, foot on brake, hood open. The owner and I could plainly see the engine lurching to one side on each rev. He said this is usually the sign of a bad engine mount. I did not discuss this with any Nissan tech or rep. It's easy enough to replace but an OEM part is well over $100 plus the labor. At this point should I just start changing parts?

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jman

· #13 · Jul 27, 2020

Is the engine mount cracked?
The engine is supposed to move a bit as it is supported on rubber oil-filled mounts. IMO a bad engine mount should not cause vibration, maybe a clunk noise when you accelerate.
I had a minor vibration on mine since new and after balancing the tires multiple times and replacing 3 rims, they finally found that the issue was caused by the drive shaft being out of balance. In my case vibration occurred at 110 km/hr (~65 mph), fixed by replacing the drive shaft.

PoManzPathy

· #14 · Jul 27, 2020

So is this fixed?

electrichorseman

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 27, 2020

PoManzPathy said:
So is this fixed?

Basically no. The field service rep is telling me to live with it.

electrichorseman

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 26, 2020

FloatingCow said:
Interesting that the service techs and managers have differing opinions. Is the vibration constant while in that speed range or only noticeable while accelerating? The 2017 and up Pathfinders have not had a lot of the transmission issues that have plagued the earlier models. It could be something as simple as a tire or wheel issue...

Can't be tires. Installed new Yokohama Geolander HTs right after I bought it.

mercina

· #17 · Aug 26, 2020

if it's the tires you would feel the vibration in the steering, at least if it was the front tires.
I just had a transfer case seal replaced, got back from the dealer last week, and over the weekend could feel like a vibration/drone at certain speeds. Took back today, and took the service guy for a drive so he could hear it also, anyway they had it up on the hoist and found it to be the heat shield around the exhaust near the transfer case, it has an up and down adjustment on it, and once they did that my problem was gone.

Any chance you can film the vibration or noise when it happens ?

electrichorseman

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 26, 2020

mercina said:
if it's the tires you would feel the vibration in the steering, at least if it was the front tires.
I just had a transfer case seal replaced, got back from the dealer last week, and over the weekend could feel like a vibration/drone at certain speeds. Took back today, and took the service guy for a drive so he could hear it also, anyway they had it up on the hoist and found it to be the heat shield around the exhaust near the transfer case, it has an up and down adjustment on it, and once they did that my problem was gone.

Any chance you can film the vibration or noise when it happens ?

I just had it in to a small independent repair garage yesterday. They put it on the lift and revved the engine, they said it looks like a transmission issue (which I don't think is the problem). I'm going to try filming it this weekend and post the video on YouTube with a link on this board.

Tam1217

· #19 · Feb 8, 2021

electrichorseman said:
Hi everyone,
This past December I bought a 2017 Pathfinder (CPO from a Nissan Dealer) with about 18,000 miles. I had issues with power train vibration during acceleration. I don't want to go into detail too much because the situation is presently being evaluated by Nissan Customer Service. I will say this, it's been to two different dealers a total of 4 times.In short I'd like to know if anyone feels a vibration in the power train, in their 2017 models, during light acceleration. I mainly feel it between 20 and 45 miles per hour. It's not enough to make your teeth chatter, but it is annoying.

Hi. I have the same exact issue! Brought it to Nissan but they said they couldn’t duplicate the vibration. The vibration is so annoying! If you find the answer please post it. I plan on taking it back and taking a service rep for a ride to show them what I mean. To me it does not sound like a normal sound. If I find out anything I will post it.

Reactions: 1

Tutti57

· #20 · Feb 9, 2021

Cvt drone is real. Some people hate it and insist something is wrong with the vehicle when there isnt, but I don't even notice it anymore.

Download an NVH app and see what the vibration is coming from. Using the vibration frequency you can determine if it's source is wheel, driveline, or engine.

Reactions: 1

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