1990 Nissan Pathfinder Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 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
- Engine1434.1%
- Transmission1229.3%
- Fuel system37.3%
- Seat belts37.3%
- Tires & wheels24.9%
- Exterior lighting12.4%
- Powertrain (other)12.4%
- Interior & seats12.4%
- Brakes12.4%
- Driver assistance12.4%
- Electrical12.4%
- Body & structure12.4%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
INQUIRY WHETHER NISSAN IS OBLIGATED TO REPAIR OR COVER THE COST OF REPAIR FOR BROKE EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS WHICH COULD CAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE PROBLEMS. *PH *LA
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS HAVE BROKEN ON BOTH MANIFOLDS AT AN ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL OF $800. WE HAVE NO CHOICE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS WE CANNOT RECEIVE OUR EMMISSION TEST APPROVAL TO GET OUR VEHICLE REGISTERED (1990 PATHFINDER) THERE IS NO WARNING FOR THIS DEFECT AND IT WAS NOT DETECTED LAST MAY BECAUSE IT DID PASS THE INSPECTION AT THAT TIME. THE BOLTS ON THE VALVE COVERS WORK THEMSELVES LOOSE AND I AM ABLE TO MOVE THEM WITH MY BARE FINGERS. ALSO, WE CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE HIGH-BEAM OF THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WON'T WORK.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF INTERNAL COMPONENETS. THERE SEEM TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AROUND THE TRANSMISSION OF THE 1990 NISSAN PATHFINDERS. I HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 10 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE PRIMARY DRIVER FOR THE SECOND FIVE YEARS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM. IN ADDITION MY DEALER INFORMED ME THAT NISSAN DID REDESIGN THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THI IS A HUGE PROBLEM. IS THERE A WAY TO BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION INTO NISSAN SURROUNDING THIS VEHICLE PROBLEM.*AK
THERE ARE 2 RECURRING PROBLEMS THAT APPEAR TO BE PATENT DEFECTS WITH MOST EARLY 90'S PATHFINDERS. THEY DESERVE INVESTIGATION BY DOT. FIRST IS PREMATURE AND REPEATED FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, PROBABLY (BUT NOT CERTAINLY) DUE TO INADEQUATE OIL COOLING. I NOTE THAT IN THE YOUR DATABASE THERE ARE 30+ REPORTS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES (SEVERAL OF THEM INDICATING MULTIPLE FAILURES) FOR MODEL YEARS 1989-1991. THERE ARE ALSO A DOZEN OR MORE REPORTS OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUD FAILURE - MOST INDICATING MULTIPLE FAILURES - AND NISSAN DEALERS REPORT THAT THIS HAPPENS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY EARLY 90'S PATHFINDER. AT $300-400 A POP, THIS IS AN OUTRAGE...AND IF YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD (WHICH MAY WARP WHEN THE STUD BREAKS), IT'S $1,300 PLUS! I'VE SPENT OVER $8,000 ON REPAIRS FOR THESE 2 TYPES OF PROBLEMS, AND NISSAN IS UNRESPONSIVE. I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THEIR OWN RECORDS SHOW IN TERMS OF # AND $ VOLUME OF DEALER SERVICE INCIDENTS RELATING JUST TO THESE PATENT DEFECTS. *AK
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LOSS OF ALL BRAKES AND CLUTCH WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE OF FIRE MAY BE LINKED TO THE FUEL INJECTOR WHICH POSSIBLE HAD A CRACK CAUSING A LEAK WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE HAS NO POWER, HEARS KNOKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING, FOUND VEHICLE JUMP TIME, REMOVED AND REPLACED TIMING BELT, FUEL PUMP SHOULD STILL BE REMOVED AND FOLLOWED UP, PROBLEM OCCURED AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY BUCKLED, PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED BY DEALER. *AK
THE DRIVERS SEATBELT BUCKLE FAILS AND DOES NOT LOCK. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, GENERAL AMERI-TECH TIRES, SIZE P23575R15, DOT#3HL27W443; REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. CONSUMER HAS TIRES. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TO SEND TIRES TO OFFICE OF DEFECTS. *AK TREAD KICKED UP, SMASHING REAR LEFT PANEL, LEFT TAIL LIGHT AND MUD FLAP. *TT
THREE FIRESTONE TIRES CRACKED. *SKD
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS HAVE BROKEN ON BOTH MANIFOLDS AT AN ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL OF $800. WE HAVE NO CHOICE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS WE CANNOT RECEIVE OUR EMMISSION TEST APPROVAL TO GET OUR VEHICLE REGISTERED (1990 PATHFINDER) THERE IS NO WARNING FOR THIS DEFECT AND IT WAS NOT DETECTED LAST MAY BECAUSE IT DID PASS THE INSPECTION AT THAT TIME. THE BOLTS ON THE VALVE COVERS WORK THEMSELVES LOOSE AND I AM ABLE TO MOVE THEM WITH MY BARE FINGERS. ALSO, WE CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE HIGH-BEAM OF THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WON'T WORK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
REPEATED TRANSMISSION PLANETARY GEAR FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE UNLOCKED WITH KEY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ACCELERATING AT AN HIGH SPEED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR IN ORDER FOR ENGINE NOT TO CONTINUE ACCELERATING UNTIL THE RPM COME BACK DOWN TO NORMAL. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE. COST FOR REPAIR WOULD GO TO CONSUMER. CAN YOU HELP IN THIS MATTER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
OWNER STATES THAT FOR NO REASON HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN PARKING LOT .FIRE DEPARTMENT STATES THAT IT MAY HAVE STARTED FROM ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR SEATBACK IS RUSTING OUT, NO ONE WILL HELP HIM GET IT FIXED. *AK
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .