NISSAN PATHFINDER · model year

1988 NISSAN PATHFINDER

17 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1988NISSANPATHFINDER carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 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 1988 PATHFINDER is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 6 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control (3) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (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 1988 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.

17
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

17 filings

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

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2
TIRES2
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
SEAT BELTS1

Recent Complaints

20081002SEAT 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 SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME AFTER TAKING ALL THE INFORMATION ON WHAT HAPPENED. I NEVER HEARD BACK. DATE BELOW IS VERY APPROXIMATE. *TR

Mileage: 148,000

20010725TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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

20010314TIRES

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)

20000911TIRES

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 )

20000908ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

LEFT FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS AND WARPED MANIFOLD. YH

20000313EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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

19991015SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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

19990914STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

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

19980908ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILURE.

19980604SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

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

19980205ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 125000 MILES. THE MANIFOLD STUDS WERE PUT ON TOO TIGHT, CAUSING THEM TO BREAK. THE MANIFOLD BECAME WARPED, CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE TO LEAK INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

19970318ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ONE STUD LOOSENED/SHEARED FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHEN MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO TIGHTEN IT. *AK

19970215ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ONE STUD ON EXHAUST SYSTEM MANIFOLD LOOSENED AND SHEARED OFF WHEN MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO TIGHTEN. THIS COULD POSSIBLY ALLOW CARBON MONOXIDE TO LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CREATING A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT.

19961202SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

RECEIVCED RECALL # 95V103002 ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AFTER REPAIRS, REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES AREN'T WORKING . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

19960103SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

TAKATA BUCKLES NHTSA RECALL 95V103002; PUENTE HILLS NISSAN CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA., WILL NOT ACCEPT APPOINTMENTS UNTIL MARCH OR APRIL 1996. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

19950501SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

TAKATA SEAT BELTS; DRIVER FRONT LAP/SHOULDER SEAT BELT WILL NOT REMAIN LATCHED TOGETHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

19950414SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

TK#521 SEAT BELT LOCK JAMS WITH A PIECE THAT HAS FALLEN OFF, PREVENTING FASTENING. TT

Compare 1988NISSANPATHFINDER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1988 NISSAN PATHFINDER have?
The 1988 NISSAN PATHFINDER has 17 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 NISSAN PATHFINDER?
The most-complained component for the 1988 NISSAN PATHFINDER is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE.
Is the 1988 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.