Now I really don't know what to do

[bnw]

I've been pretty fed up with the nit picking problems inherent to my (new to me) 2002 BMW X5 3.0 manual trans. Although mine has been really well maintained, I fear there are a ton of stupid problems I will have to address in the future. Owners claim the complete cooling system needs to be changed out at 100K. (I'm at 123K) I currently have door actuator problems and the stupid doors freeze up in cold weather causing you to hang on to the driver's door until it thaws out. The radio display pixels are half out (common) and the crankcase ventilation system can fail at any time and in some cases, lunch the motor. The list can go on and on. So looking for a typically reliable Asian replacement, I stumbled upon the QX4. Joining this forum, I have discovered a potentially serious rust belt rusting problem and worse yet, the strut rusting issue sounds really serious. I'm intrigued by the car, but not certain I'm gaining anything here. Comments??? Thanks

[Chris.m]

Where are you from?

[yeldogt]

The Pathfinder is a bit of a strange duck --- most vehicles at the time had body on frame --- the Pathfinder is unibody with a truck like 4x4 drivetrain. They are unbelievably reliable with few issues ....... except this now known rust issue. We have owned two (bought new) -- still have the one 2002 LE with 150k on it -- this truck has spent its whole life outside in NY, PA and NJ and has absolutely no rust on it at all. Since you should have any used car inspected prior to purchase this should be looked into -- I recently bought another 2002 LE with 50k on it -- absolutely no rust. Maine would not be a good search state.

These do not handle like the german SUV's -- have a P Cayenne and a few onramps have been interesting when I forget I am no longer in the Cayenne.

[bnw]

I'm in Northern Michigan. I love a good handling car. That's why I opted for the 5 speed BMW. But, you can only have so much fun in a Michigan winter. Our summer ride is a 98 BMW M Roadster. Now, that's lots of fun. I just don't want to be stranded on the side of the road with a driver's window stuck in the down position, a cooling system failure, etc.

[lzrj]

I have owned a BMW and at first really liked it. Then after a while I came to find out they are very overrated. I hated all the little problems with it. And the cost to maintain it was high. It ate through tires because of the pitch they set the alignment at. I did like the solid feel of it and the handling but that was about it. I just bought my first pathfinder a few days ago and I am loving it. 2004 Platinum 4x4 with 60,000. Got mine from Pittsburgh (part of the rust belt). It had the recall done last month and they found no rusting areas in the strut housing. They did what they called a level one repair and sealed the area. It has a lot of power, handles great (a little choppy over bumps due to the suspension set up and solid rear axle), good quality feel to it, and has overall great reliability. Go to carcomplaints.com which is a great source for people's gripes about cars. I have only found two cars that do not have a single complaint on them. The 2006 Acura TSX and the 2004 Pathfinder (might be more but I did not sit and look at every single model. Not to say these car also have some problems here and there but it is a guide to steer you in the right direction. I would trade that X5 for a pathfinder (pre 05 model) any day.

[Towncivilian]

See photographs of what to look for in this recall TSB: http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/pathfinder/ ... 4-1111.pdf

If you examine the QX4 you're looking at closely and find little to no corrosion, it should be good to go. Still, if you end up buying it, go to the dealer to have them perform an inspection as well; you'll receive a free undercoating if there is little to no rust.

[bnw]

Boy, that's really ugly. How many board members have run into this?

[Towncivilian]

Boy, that's really ugly. How many board members have run into this?

We've got a giant 14 page and counting thread on the subject.

[bnw]

Well, that about settles it for me. This on going nightmare makes my X5 look really good. Even if I were to get a southern or western car and bring it back to Michigan, it is only a matter of time. I liked the idea of built in running boards as my wife has MS and it is difficult for her to get in and out of the X. I also liked the idea of Asian reliability but this is too much to deal with. What are some of you replacing your vehicles with?

[DAiNiUS]

If you buy a well maintained & yearly rustproofed car, then this rust/corrosion is a non issue to be honest. You see threads with people complaining about stuff, but you rarely have threads people praising the car's reliability. That's usually why people join forums - to find solutions to their problems, and not to express their joy with a working cooling system, windows that actually go up and down, and the lack of rust.

In my opinion, if you want something reliable then you only have two choices - 4Runner or Pathfinder/QX4.

[yeldogt]

Yes ... I agree .... Rust is something that must be looked into on any car you would purchase -- many German cars from the same period have horrific rust problems -- especially MB. Why do some rust and other don't -- who knows. You just have to inspect them - like any car.

Some people never think that they should have to take a car to the car was in the winter with salt on the roads?

[bnw]

Alright, let's go this way: How many of you do not have this problem? I don't mean you car is repairable, I mean NO RUST at all. And, where are you geographically located?

[Towncivilian]

No rust at all, but I'm in Florida so that's nearly a given.

Have you asked the QX4's seller if they had the vehicle inspected at a dealer or had it rustproofed?

[Pathfinder3.5]

I'm in Toronto which means alot of salt. Mine is just scabby on the strut tower/inner tire well. I have yet to bring it in to Nissan to have them repair/seal it. If I were you I would just thoroughly inspect the inner tire well's of the trucks you are looking at. Honestly, I love my truck to death. If there was one vehicle I would bring to hell and back, It would be an R50.

[Chuck Tribolet]

No rust. California.

Chuck

[yngw13]

recently acquired a pathy 01 in nov 11'...bought it BEFORE finding out about the recall (OOPSIE) //
the Rosenthal Dealer in Tysons VA did a multi point inspection and found no corrosion (phew) and did an undercoat service for free
I guess I was lucky - would have been a buy back and would have gotten premium if ever (guessing here)

Here are pics of before the undercoat just to give you an idea of what an OK wheel well should look like
- I still have to take pics of the undercoating job but just imagine it covered in black rubber coating
(Driver SIDE ONLY pics - they will undercoat the dside and the pside > fyi )

[WPGQX4]

I have rust. I've fixed some rust on the doglegs in the rear door area. Some surface rust on the rear hatch and along the top of the windshield. My rockers are in need of replacment as well as the R/F fender.and I've rebuilt my running boards. I've had my Q rust checked completely. They drill holes and spray into every nook and crany. This Q spent most of its life in Quebec and is a 98. They salt their roads alot out there and it eats through vehicles. As long as you check for the bad spots and they are ok then get it rust checked and you shouldn't have any problems.

[carnal_c30]

No rust on my 2001 QX4, it was driven every year in salt during the snow season, but is remarkably clean. Any time I drive a car up to the mountains I pressure wash it when it gets back, so no issues here.

Location: CA

[lzrj]

Like I said in my first post, the 04 I just bought was in Pittsburg since new and there was only minor surface rust. A level one repair was completed on it. Every recalled Pathfinder will having at least a level one done to it to keep the problem from continuing. What you do not want to do is buy one from a southern state then bring it to a northern state because the vehicles in the upper salt states only have the recall. Do that only if you want the dealer to do level one repair at your own cost. Or I'm sure you could do it yourself because it is not that hard to do a level one repair. Just 3M primer and 3M rubber coating sprayed after area scrubbed to remove minor rust.

[Towncivilian]

What you do not want to do is buy one from a southern state then bring it to a northern state because the vehicles in the upper salt states only have the recall.

Technically, the southern states have the recall, just with a different bulletin number and is inspection-only. No level 1 repairs (free undercoating), but I'm sure level 2 repairs are done if significant rust is found.

I deleted your two duplicate posts - I guess the forum hiccuped.

[lzrj]

Thanks, did not know that it duplicated. Also did not know that about all states. The articles I have seen only show certain northern states. I am loving this site. I have already done several small mods seen on here. I will reply in those posts for my thoughts.

[bnw]

Here's another interesting question. The vehicles that live in the salt states with little or corrosion. Why? I have 30 years experience working at a Chrysler store and have lived through years and years of corrosion problems with Chrysler vehicles. The type of rust I see on these Q's and Pathfinders is a metallurgy issue. This is not "normal rusting" in my opinion. Like the whole vehicle, the firewalls and wheel wells are sealed and painted, yet a small amount salt water getting past the seal causes tremendous damage. The whole car should look like this, not just specific areas. There is also a possibility this is an electrolysis issue. I have seen ground straps on the shock towers of some vehicles over the years. Also, the reason the driver's side is usually worse is because the splash from oncoming traffic and the build up of slush both sides of the road crown subject the driver's side of the vehicle to more salt than the passenger side.

[yeldogt]

This can happen to both sides. You would have to look at the design of the vehicle in that area to understand when water sits in that location. The concern is that with heavy rust -- the steering shaft is affected by the compromised structure.