The 1990 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 44 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. 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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
9
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
1
Total complaints44
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Exhaust manifold studs have broken on both manifolds at an estimated repair bill of $800. We have no choice to have it repaired as we cannot receive our emmission test approval to get our vehicle registered (1990 pathfinder) there is no warning for this defect and it was not detected last may…”
“Exhaust manifold studs have broken on both manifolds at an estimated repair bill of $800. We have no choice to have it repaired as we cannot receive our emmission test approval to get our vehicle registered (1990 pathfinder) there is no warning for this defect and it was not detected last may…”
“Multiple studs broken on exhaust manifold multiple times. Right (passenger) side twice. Left side once.”
“Original equipment, general ameri-tech tires, size p23575r15, dot#3hl27w443; rear driver's side tread separated while traveling 65mph. Dealer has been contacted. Consumer has tires. Consumer is requesting to send tires to office of defects. *ak tread kicked up, smashing rear left panel, left tail…”
“Transmission failure. Transmission failed due to failure of internal componenets. There seem to be a large number of complaints around the transmission of the 1990 nissan pathfinders. I have had 2 transmission failures in 10 years of ownership. The primary driver of the vehicle for the first five…”
“Exhaust manifold warped, causing bolts , that hold the engine, to break. Vehicle made a loud noise. Also, exhaust vapor got inside of vehicle. Dealer said it was a common problem, and that the bolts were too small to hold the engine. *ak”
“Repeated transmission planetary gear failure.”
“Dealer advises warping of exhaust manifold caused exhaust studs to break. Also states that this is a common problem with this vehicle.”
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 1990 Nissan Pathfinder as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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