Two problems related to rear suspension shock absorber have been reported for the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Car developed a side-to-side wobble, mostly in the rear, at speeds from about 50 to 65 mph. Wobble is not induced by steering wheel; it just happens. It's worse when car has passengers in the back seat. The problem was solved by replacing the control arm bushings (or trailing arm bushings), only the lower control arm bushings. It is a simple solution to a very serious problem, and it is very common for 97 and 98 Nissan Pathfinders, and a lot of users replace many other parts (shock absorbers, tires, etc) that don't solve the problem and can cause a roll over accident.
While driving between 25-30 mph suddenly there was a clucking noise. Consumer pulled off the road to investigate the noise. Upon exiting the vehicle consumer noticed that front right tire was sticking out at an angle. Also, shock absorber spring was sticking out. Vehicle was towed to a dealership, who was unable to resolve the problem.