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1988 Nissan Pathfinder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

17 reports
148,000 miles · Oct 2, 2008
Seat Belts

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 …

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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 ODI #10244223

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2001
Tires

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

NHTSA ODI #748880

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2001
Tires

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. …

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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 ODI #741757

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2000
Tires

I BROUGHT MY TIRE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T THE TIRES THAT GOT RECALLED. BUT WHEN I BROUGHT MY TIRES TO BIG O TO HAVE THE DAMAGED TIRE AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE REPLACED, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TIRES WERE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. ALTHOUGH THE TIRES HAD THE LEMANS BRAND NAME ON THEM, THEY ARE FIRESTONE MADE …

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I BROUGHT MY TIRE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T THE TIRES THAT GOT RECALLED. BUT WHEN I BROUGHT MY TIRES TO BIG O TO HAVE THE DAMAGED TIRE AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE REPLACED, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TIRES WERE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. ALTHOUGH THE TIRES HAD THE LEMANS BRAND NAME ON THEM, THEY ARE FIRESTONE MADE TIRES AND HAVE THE SAME DOT NUMBER AS THE TIRES THAT WERE RECALLED. AS OF TODAY, FIRESTONE IS NOT RECALLING ANY TIRES THAT DO NOT HAVE THE FIRESTONE BRAND NAME ON THEM. I FELT THAT YOU SHOULD BE INFORMED THAT THE TIRES MADE UNDER FIRESTONE'S PRIVATE SECTOR ARE DEFECTIVE AS WELL AND JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE FIRESTONE NAME ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT DEFECTIVE AND HAVE NO NEED OF RECALL. THANKYOU( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P835/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #729977

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2000
Exterior Lighting

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…

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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 ODI #720067

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Seat Belts

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 ODI #850805

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1999
Steering

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 ODI #847730

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

LEFT FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS AND WARPED MANIFOLD. YH

NHTSA ODI #782012

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #540656

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 1998
Seat Belts

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#95V103002), SEAT BELT BUCKLES SEVERAL YEARS AGO. TOOK VEHICLE IN. INFORMED WORK ALREADY DONE LAST YEAR. OWNER NEVER TOOK VEHICLE IN. MECHANIC TOOK CREDIT SLIP & DID NOT RETURN IT. MANUFACTURER WILL INVESTIGATE & CALL OWNER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823968

Official recalls

2

95V103002 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

May 24, 1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE.

90V072000 · Equipment:other:labels

Apr 17, 1990

INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL CORRECTED TIRE INFORMATION LABEL ON DOORPOST CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA95007 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure

Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 2, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

There is no summary currently available