Total Complaints
31 filings
NISSAN PATHFINDER · model year
1987 NISSAN PATHFINDER
31 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987NISSANPATHFINDER carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 PATHFINDER is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 3 filings, followed by visibility:rearview mirrors/devices (3) and steering: steering wheel/handle bar (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 4 investigation files overlapping the 1987 PATHFINDER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
31
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES | 3 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020411VEHICLE 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.*AK
20010312ENGINE 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. *YH
20010312ENGINE 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. *YH
20010110STRUCTURE: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.*AK
20010110ENGINE 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.*AK
20010110SEAT 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.*AK
20001020TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX 31/10.5/R15 LT M&S TIRE FAILURE - TREAD SEPARATION. (CLAIM# 14-1295-337) *MW
20000204SEATS: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 *ML
20000131VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
REAR VIEW MIRRORS INADEQUATE IN DESIGN CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE STRUCK UNSEEN VEHICLES DUE TO BLIND SPOTS. MJS
20000131VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
REAR VIEW MIRRORS INADEQUATE IN DESIGN CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE STRUCK UNSEEN VEHICLES DUE TO BLIND SPOTS. MJS
19990830SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO FISHTAIL ON WET PAVEMENT WHEN TURNING. MJS
19990830VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
REAR VIEW MIRRORS INADEQUATE IN DESIGN CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE STRUCK UNSEEN VEHICLES DUE TO BLIND SPOTS. MJS
19980604VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL STUCK WHEN IT ACCELERATED ON AN INCLINE, INSTALLED NEW CRUISE CONTROL.
19980604STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL REPLACED BECAUSE ON ONE SIDE OF IT WAS LIKE A PLIABLE RUBBER HOSE, REPLACE STEERING WHEEL.
19980604ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
NOISY EXHAUST SYSTEM, NOTIFIED OF EXHAUST LEAKS PROBLEM REPLACE MUFFLER ASSEMBLY.
19980604FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL/TEMP GAUGE REPLACED, STOPPED WORKING.
19980604POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
NEW REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED, DUE TO LACK OF POWER.
19980205ENGINE 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.
19980127ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS FAILURE, CAUSING LEAKAGE.
19971204SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT.
Compare 1987NISSANPATHFINDER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 NISSAN PATHFINDER have?▼
The 1987 NISSAN PATHFINDER has 31 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 NISSAN PATHFINDER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 NISSAN PATHFINDER is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES and STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR.
Is the 1987 NISSAN PATHFINDER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.