Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and driver assistance categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 12 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| May 1995 | 2 | 4 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Mar 1996 | 1 | 6 |
| May 1996 | 1 | 7 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 8 |
| Mar 1997 | 1 | 9 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 10 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 11 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 12 |
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 13 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 14 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 15 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 16 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 17 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 18 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 19 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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.*AK
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. *YH
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.*AK
FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX 31/10.5/R15 LT M&S TIRE FAILURE - TREAD SEPARATION. (CLAIM# 14-1295-337) *MW
REAR SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. WHEN PULLING SEAT UP IT IS RUSTED, AND CONSUMER CAN SEE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FOOT BOARD. *AK *ML
REAR VIEW MIRRORS INADEQUATE IN DESIGN CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE STRUCK UNSEEN VEHICLES DUE TO BLIND SPOTS. MJS
EXHAUST HEADERS, MANIFOLD AND STUDS, WARPED AND LEAKS CAUSING TICKING SOUND AT COLD STARTS AS WELL AS STRONG EXHAUST SMELLS.
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS FAILURE, CAUSING LEAKAGE.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED ON 08-11-2011. *KB
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
NISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL VALVE FOR REASON: USE THE ONE LISTED ON PAGE 2; FOR VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE SECTION OF THE ELECTRONIC SERVICE MANUALS (ESM; WHEN INSTALLING THE NEW VALVE, DO NOT ADD ANY LUBE TO ITS O RING; FOR FRONTIER (D40 SERIES) ONLY, INSTALL THE PROTECTOR LISTED IN PARTS INFORMATION. *PE INCLUDES 2005-09 FRONTIER. UPDATED 12/8/10. *PE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
NISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS REQUIRED TO STAY CONNECTED WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS/CAUTIONS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT
SUBJECT REGARDING ESSENTIAL TOOL - REAR AXLE BEARING REMOVAL KIT. *TTTHE KIT IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL AND AND WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SENT TO ALL NISSAN DEALERS.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 49.7 |
| 2024 | 73 | 2 | 0 | 52.2 |
| 2023 | 101 | 1 | 0 | 46.8 |
| 2022 | 133 | 5 | 0 | 54.1 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 41.9 |
| 2019 | 74 | 2 | 0 | 53.4 |
| 2018 | 77 | 3 | 0 | 53.3 |
| 2017 | 184 | 2 | 0 | 48.8 |
| 2016 | 105 | 2 | 1 | 56.1 |
| 2015 | 319 | 5 | 1 | 54.6 |
| 2014 | 574 | 11 | 3 | 61.4 |
| 2013 | 890 | 11 | 4 | 58.3 |
| 2012 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 53.1 |
| 2011 | 45 | 2 | 0 | 40.3 |
| 2010 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 50.8 |
| 2009 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 50.8 |
| 2008 | 328 | 5 | 1 | 51.5 |
| 2007 | 561 | 2 | 1 | 48.5 |
| 2006 | 837 | 5 | 1 | 51.0 |
| 2005 | 1,050 | 4 | 1 | 50.9 |
| 2004 | 67 | 7 | 4 | 54.6 |
| 2003 | 110 | 7 | 4 | 61.8 |
| 2002 | 156 | 9 | 2 | 59.8 |
| 2001 | 230 | 7 | 1 | 56.9 |
| 2000 | 112 | 6 | 1 | 56.4 |
| 1999 | 104 | 5 | 1 | 60.2 |
| 1998 | 149 | 4 | 1 | 59.6 |
| 1997 | 217 | 4 | 1 | 57.9 |
| 1996 | 159 | 5 | 1 | 59.3 |
| 1995 | 170 | 0 | 0 | 38.4 |
| 1994 | 91 | 2 | 1 | 56.0 |
| 1993 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 38.1 |
| 1992 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 41.1 |
| 1991 | 39 | 1 | 1 | 50.4 |
| 1990 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 52.4 |
| 1989 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 57.0 |
| 1988 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 45.4 |
| 1987Viewing | 19 | 2 | 1 | 49.6 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.