The 1988 Nissan Pathfinder has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,480,462 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS95V1030021995-05-242,730,462 affected
Defect
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
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…
EQUIPMENT90V0720001990-04-17750,000 affected
Defect
INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence
INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL CORRECTED TIRE INFORMATION LABEL ON DOORPOST CERTIFICATION LABEL.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2
TIRES
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1
SEAT BELTS
1
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
1
Total complaints17
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“Tire tread came oof while freeway driving, still inflated to 30psi (dot number: 08/93 tiresize: 31x10.50)”
“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…”
“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…”
“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”
“Exhaust manifold failure.”
“Left front exhaust manifold studs and warped manifold. Yh”
“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”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95007 Opened 1995-03-10 · closed 1995-08-02
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Nissan Pathfinder as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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