Total Complaints
8 filings
NISSAN VAN · model year
1987 NISSAN VAN
8 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987NISSANVAN carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 2 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 VAN is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:cooling system (2) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1). 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 54 investigation files overlapping the 1987 VAN, and 5 remain open. 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.
8
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
2
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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030131FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
INADEQUATE HEAT RESISTANCE OF THE COOLING SYSTEM DESIGN CAUSED HOSES AND HEAD GASKET DETERIORATED, LOSS OF COOLANT TO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD IGNITED AND CAUSED SMOKE AND FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN AT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR COMPARTMENT. *TT
20021115ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE HOSES AND HEAD GASKET DETERIORATED RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK. THE COOLANT LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SMOKE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED FOUR RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM AND ALTHOUGH THE CORRECTIONS WERE MADE THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST ( RECALLS 91V-211, 90V-136, 95V-103.002). *TS *NLM
Mileage: 1,000
19980804ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL FOR ENGINE IN 1994. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE RADIATOR HOSE TO BURST. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19970911FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS UNDER A RECALL . HE HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL IN 94. HE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERICNING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS HE WAS HAVING BEFORE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
19970114FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
RECALL RELATED, 94V031000, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE, NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTICE, IN FOR REPAIR, WILL NOT ACCEPT THE VEHICLE AS A TRADE IN. *AK
19960906ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
STANDESER NISSAN 93V0261. AFTER INSTALLATION OF ALARM SYSTEM VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND A SHORT DEVELOPED IN THE WIRE.*AK
19960906STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
STANDESER NISSAN 93V0261. AFTER INSTALLATION OF ALARM SYSTEM VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND A SHORT DEVELOPED IN THE WIRE.*AK
19950307SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT DO NOT LATCH AT ALL. TT
Compare 1987NISSANVAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 5 Open
PE25005Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
PE24020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Inner Tie Rod Failures
PE24017Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
PE24007Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
PE23020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 NISSAN VAN have?▼
The 1987 NISSAN VAN has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 NISSAN VAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 NISSAN VAN is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1987 NISSAN VAN 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.