RoadVitals

1988 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Oct 2, 2008
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Nissan Pathfinder, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Seat belts741.2%
  • Engine529.4%
  • Tires & wheels317.6%
  • Exterior lighting15.9%
  • Steering15.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MY DAUGHTER, SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WENT TO PUT ON SEAT BELT AND THE BUCKLE SIDE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ANCHORED DOWN TO FRAME CAME OFF IN HER HAND. THANKFULLY IT WAS BEFORE WE STARTED DRIVING. 1ST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I BOLTED IT BACK DOWN TO FLOOR FRAME. I CALLED NISSAN AND REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED. THE LADY SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME AFTER TAKING ALL THE INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED. I NEVER HEARD BACK. DATE BELOW IS VERY APPROXIMATE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10244223 · filed Oct 2, 2008

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO REMAIN LOCKED WHEN IN USE. DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

NHTSA ID 850805 · filed Oct 15, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

LEFT FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS AND WARPED MANIFOLD. YH

NHTSA ID 782012 · filed Mar 8, 1999

EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILURE.

NHTSA ID 540656 · filed Sep 8, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TIRE TREAD CAME OOF WHILE FREEWAY DRIVING, STILL INFLATED TO 30PSI (DOT NUMBER: 08/93 TIRESIZE: 31X10.50)

NHTSA ID 748880 · filed Jul 21, 2001

WHEN DRIVING HOME A 18" SECTION OF TIRE TREAD CAME OFF. COOPER TIRES HAD PROBLEMS WITH TREAD SEPARATION UNDER WET CONDITIONS. THEY WOULD FIX THIS BY POKING A HOLE THROUGH THE TREAD TO RELEASE THE AIR BUBBLE. IN MY OPPINION THIS IS UNEXEPTABLE! WHEN I ASKED PEP BOYS FOR HELP THEY SAID BUY A NEW ONE, AGAIN AN UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER. TWO MACHANICES BOTH SAY IT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. IT JUST SO HAPPENNED TO BE RAINING IN VEGAS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE TIRE PROBLEMS. PLEAS HELP. THANK YOU. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 30HH/86K35 TIRESIZE: P225/75R15)

NHTSA ID 741757 · filed Mar 1, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE PATHFINDER AND MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 3, 2000. WE WERE TRAVELING ON A BLACKTOP SECONDARY ROAD WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. MY SON WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. WE SOON REALIZED THAT THE LOW BEAMS WOULD STILL WORK AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY HOME. THE LOW BEAMS STILL WORK AND WE ARE STILL ABLE TO USE THE PATHFINDER EVEN AT NIGHT, BUT THE HIGH BEAMS STILL DON'T WORK. MY CONCERN IS FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE OPERATING THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF NISSAN PATHFINDER AS WELL AS THOSE WHO COULD BE IN THE VICINTY IF THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN IN THEIR VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 720067 · filed Mar 13, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

REPORTING LOCKING PIN BROKE, PREVENTING STEERING WHEEL FROM UNLOCKING. SEEKING HELP OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. ALSO DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID 847730 · filed Sep 14, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .