A 2001 Nissan Pathfinder With an Inner Tie Rod Broken in Half

Read our guides a lot? Star Supercanic as a source in Google and our new posts show up more often in your Top Stories.

What Our Tech Found

The finding is one line. The inner tie rod was completely broken off in half.

That does not leave much to argue about. It is not a worn part that might last a few more months. It was in two pieces.

The photos show the Pathfinder up on a jack in a carport, not in a bay. The record shows one repair line and no others.

What the Record Does Not Say

The record has no mileage. It does not say what the owner felt first, which side broke, or what made it break. It does not show a separate parts line, so we will not give you a parts number.

It also does not list an alignment or a road test. We will not tell you how it drove after, because nobody wrote that down.

What an Inner Tie Rod Does

This part is general background. It is not a report on this Pathfinder. RepairPal says the inner tie rod end connects the steering gear to the outer tie rod. So it is a link in the chain between your hands and your front wheel. When that link breaks, the wheel on that side loses its hold on the steering.

The same RepairPal page lists three signs of a bad one. The car may pull to one side, the tires may wear unevenly, and the steering wheel may sit off center. None of those prove a bad tie rod. They are reasons to have someone look before you buy parts, because a car that pulls can have other causes.

Why Ask About an Alignment

RepairPal says replacing a tie rod end will change the alignment settings, and it recommends a four wheel alignment after the job. It also recommends replacing tie rod ends in pairs. That is advice from one source, not a law, and our record shows one line on this job.

The part maker Moog says the same in its alignment bulletin. It says every replacement of steering and suspension parts justifies a wheel alignment. Skip it, and the camber and toe can drift outside the maker's limit. That can lead to pulling and early wear on the tires and suspension parts.

Moog also says drivers may not notice at first. So a car that feels fine on the way home does not settle the question. If you just had this repair, ask if the alignment was checked.

A Steering Recall on This Pathfinder Generation

Older Pathfinders have a recall worth knowing about. It has nothing to do with tie rods. Nissan's defect report to NHTSA, campaign 11V-244, covers certain 1996 to 2004 Pathfinders sold in or registered in 20 states and Washington D.C., where heavy road salt is used.

The report says salt and water can rust the strut housing. In extreme cases, the housing can hit the steering column shaft and the shaft may break. It says a grinding noise and heavier steering may come first. California is not on that list of states, but a car first sold in one of them can still count.

The recall applies to certain vehicles. Our record does not show if this Pathfinder was covered or if the recall was done. If you own one, give a Nissan dealer your VIN and ask.

What to Ask Before a Steering Repair

In California, you have rights on any repair. The Bureau of Automotive Repair says you must authorize the repairs before the shop starts, and that can be in writing, by voice or by text. If the shop finds more problems, it has to contact you and get your yes. When the work is done, it must give you a final invoice that lists the repairs and parts.

So ask to see the finding. On this job it fit in one line, and it sits on the record in Shop Desk, the software our San Jacinto shop built. Any mechanic can use it free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was wrong with this 2001 Nissan Pathfinder?

The inner tie rod was completely broken in half. That is what our tech wrote on the job.

How much did this tie rod job cost?

The line on the record is 1.5 hours of labor at $150 an hour, which is $225. The record shows no separate parts line.

Do I need an alignment after a new inner tie rod?

Ask for one. RepairPal says new tie rod ends change the alignment settings, and Moog says any steering part replacement justifies an alignment. Our record for this job does not list one.

What are the signs of a bad inner tie rod?

RepairPal lists pulling to one side, uneven tire wear and a steering wheel that sits off center. Other problems can cause those too, so get it tested before you buy parts.

What made this tie rod break?

The record does not say. It lists the break and the repair. It does not list a cause, a symptom or the mileage, so we will not guess.

What We Read

• RepairPal, Inner Tie Rod End
• Moog, Wheel Alignment Expert Tips and Trouble Tracing
• NHTSA, Nissan Defect Information Report, Recall 11V-244
• California Bureau of Automotive Repair, Maintenance and Repairs