Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1987 Nissan Pathfinder
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
825.8%
Engine & Cooling
619.4%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
412.9%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control
39.7%
Seats
26.5%
Steering
26.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain
26.5%
Tires
13.2%
Fuel & Propulsion
13.2%
Suspension
13.2%
Body & Structure
13.2%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 5Apr 2002
NHTSA investigations into the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA95007Opened 10 Mar 1995Closed 2 Aug 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
Recalls on the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199011340,564 units in Canada
Suspension
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 120 - TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS. INCORRECT LABELLING.
Recall 198709979 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
ONE OR MORE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LATCH BECAUSE THE MALE PORTION OF THE BUCKLE IS INCORRECT. CORRECTION: ALL POTENTIALLY INVOLVED VEHICLES IN CANADA HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND NONE WERE FOUND TO BE MISMATCHED.
NHTSA complaint #504299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Finksburg, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK, AND CONSUMER HAS TO PHYSICALLY FORCE ACCELERATOR TO BECOME UNSTUCK. VEHICLE ACCELERATES TO HIGHER SPEEDS DUE TO SUCH FORCE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED., AND INSPECTED THE PROBLEM 2 YEARS WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THE SAME WAY.
NHTSA complaint #8007424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eugene, OR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER WAS GOING 20 MPH & HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. VEHICLE CAME TO A GRINDING HALT AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. IT CUT OFF RIGHT IN FRONT OF A AUTO SHOP. THEY FOUND TOP OF HEAD BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF AND FELL DOWN INTO CAMSHAFT AND BUSTED IT. IT WAS PASSED MILEAGE FOR MANUFACTURER TO COVER IT.*AK THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. THERE WAS A DEFECT CAMPAIGN BY NHTSA, # FC0002519 ABOUT HEAD BOLT SEPARATION.
NHTSA complaint #882789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eugene, OR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER WAS GOING 20 MPH & HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. VEHICLE CAME TO A GRINDING HALT AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. IT CUT OFF RIGHT IN FRONT OF A AUTO SHOP. THEY FOUND TOP OF HEAD BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF AND FELL DOWN INTO CAMSHAFT AND BUSTED IT. IT WAS PASSED MILEAGE FOR MANUFACTURER TO COVER IT.*AK THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. THERE WAS A DEFECT CAMPAIGN BY NHTSA, # FC0002519 ABOUT HEAD BOLT SEPARATION.
NHTSA complaint #882789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garden City, NY
SEAT BELTS
THE FLOOR UNDER THE BACK SEAT RUSTED THROUGH. SEAT BELT ANCHORS WERE RUSTED SO THAT THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT IN AN ACCIDENT. EXHAUST WAS COMING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THRU THE FLOOR. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO YOU (BY OTHER PATHFINDER OWNERS) FOR 1987 THROUGH 1996 PATHFINDERS(PROBABLY ABOUT 20 TIMES)THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHENT HE REAR SEAT WAS FOLDED DOWN TO USE THE EXTENDED CARGO AREA. THE REPAIR COST $2000.
NHTSA complaint #738838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garden City, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE FLOOR UNDER THE BACK SEAT RUSTED THROUGH. SEAT BELT ANCHORS WERE RUSTED SO THAT THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT IN AN ACCIDENT. EXHAUST WAS COMING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THRU THE FLOOR. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO YOU (BY OTHER PATHFINDER OWNERS) FOR 1987 THROUGH 1996 PATHFINDERS(PROBABLY ABOUT 20 TIMES)THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHENT HE REAR SEAT WAS FOLDED DOWN TO USE THE EXTENDED CARGO AREA. THE REPAIR COST $2000.
NHTSA complaint #738838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garden City, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FLOOR UNDER THE BACK SEAT RUSTED THROUGH. SEAT BELT ANCHORS WERE RUSTED SO THAT THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT IN AN ACCIDENT. EXHAUST WAS COMING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THRU THE FLOOR. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO YOU (BY OTHER PATHFINDER OWNERS) FOR 1987 THROUGH 1996 PATHFINDERS(PROBABLY ABOUT 20 TIMES)THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHENT HE REAR SEAT WAS FOLDED DOWN TO USE THE EXTENDED CARGO AREA. THE REPAIR COST $2000.
NHTSA complaint #738838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #6900214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Normanville, PA
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. WHEN PULLING SEAT UP IT IS RUSTED, AND CONSUMER CAN SEE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FOOT BOARD. *AK
NHTSA complaint #856301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chantilly, VA
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
REAR VIEW MIRRORS INADEQUATE IN DESIGN CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE STRUCK UNSEEN VEHICLES DUE TO BLIND SPOTS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chantilly, VA
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
REAR VIEW MIRRORS INADEQUATE IN DESIGN CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE STRUCK UNSEEN VEHICLES DUE TO BLIND SPOTS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chantilly, VA
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO FISHTAIL ON WET PAVEMENT WHEN TURNING. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chantilly, VA
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
REAR VIEW MIRRORS INADEQUATE IN DESIGN CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE STRUCK UNSEEN VEHICLES DUE TO BLIND SPOTS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesville, GA
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
NEW REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED, DUE TO LACK OF POWER.
NHTSA complaint #524481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesville, GA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL REPLACED BECAUSE ON ONE SIDE OF IT WAS LIKE A PLIABLE RUBBER HOSE, REPLACE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #524481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesville, GA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL STUCK WHEN IT ACCELERATED ON AN INCLINE, INSTALLED NEW CRUISE CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #524481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesville, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
NOISY EXHAUST SYSTEM, NOTIFIED OF EXHAUST LEAKS PROBLEM REPLACE MUFFLER ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #524481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesville, GA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL/TEMP GAUGE REPLACED, STOPPED WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #524481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seminole, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST HEADERS, MANIFOLD AND STUDS, WARPED AND LEAKS CAUSING TICKING SOUND AT COLD STARTS AS WELL AS STRONG EXHAUST SMELLS.
NHTSA complaint #530118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anchorage, AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS FAILURE, CAUSING LEAKAGE.
NHTSA complaint #530013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mckinley, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT.
NHTSA complaint #522068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oviedo, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE: WHEN ENGINE IS COLD MOTOR RACE UP AND DOWN AT 1800 RPMS, AFTER SITTTING FOR 9 MINUTES IT WENT TO 900 RPMS. DEALER SAID ALL PATHFINDERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.W HEN STARTING VEHICLE ONE DOESN'T KNOW HOW FAST IT'S GOING TO ACCELERATE AND DON'T HAVE TO TOUCH THE GAS.
NHTSA complaint #810343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newark, NJ
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS REPLACED THE CLUTCH (3) TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO REPLACED AGAIN. HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR (2) YEARS AND (9) MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #802962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.