The 1987 Nissan Van has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,872,487 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 8 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…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING94V0310001994-02-2533,000 affected
Defect
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES AND OTHER THERMAL INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON VEHICLES WHICH HAD RECEIVED ALL OF THE REMEDIES PROVIDED BY A PREVIOUS SAFETY-RELATED RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 93V036000). THE FIRES ARE ATTRIBUTED TO ERRORS IN INSTALLING THE REMEDY SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL.
Consequence
IF THE REMEDY SPECIFIED FOR RECALL 93V036000 WAS NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY OR THE VEHICLE HAS NOT RECEIVED THE REMEDY, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy
NISSAN WILL OFFER TO REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES FROM THE OWNERS. THE VEHICLES WILL THEN BE DESTROYED. FOR OWNERS THAT DECLINE THE REPURCHASE OFFER NISSAN WILL PROVIDE A REINSPECTION OF THEIR VEHICLE, FREE OF CHARGE, TO CONFIRM THE PRIOR RECALL WAS COMPLETED PROPERLY. ALSO, NISSAN WILL PERFORM ANY RECALL-RELATED…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING93V0360001993-03-1533,000 affected
Defect
NISSAN HAS MADE A PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION THAT A DEFECT EXISTS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENT(S) THAT MAY FAIL DUE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEAT.
Consequence
THE UNDETERMINED ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENT(S) CANCAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO VEHICLEOCCUPANTS.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE FAN BELTS, RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, FREEZE PLUG SHIELDS, AND ASSOCIATED HOSES. THE REMEDY WILL ALSO INCLUDE A NEW AUXILIARY ELECTRIC FAN AND POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER. TO COMPLETE THE REMEDY, A WARNING SYSTEM TO MONITOR COOLING SYSTEM…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING91V2110001991-12-2733,000 affected
Defect
THE COOLING SYSTEM HOSES DETERIORATE AND FAIL BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE HEAT RESISTANCE. FAILURE FIRST OCCURS AT THE CLAMP CONNECTIONS, CAUSING COOLANT FLUID TO BE LEAKED OR SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENTS.
Consequence
IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED WITH A LOW COOLANT LEVEL, THECOOLING SYSTEM TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE WOULD RISE VERY QUICKLY. COOLANTREACHING THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENTFIRE.
Remedy
REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COOLING SYSTEM HOSES WITH IMPROVED HEAT RESISTANT HOSES, MODIFY THE COOLANT RECOVERY SYSTEM TO PREVENT SUDDEN INCREASES IN COOLING SYSTEM TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE, AND REPLACE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENTS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR WOULD DETERIORATE WITH TIME.
STEERING90V1360001990-08-0633,000 affected
Defect
POWER STEERING HOSES MAY LEAK FLUID THAT CAN SPREAD TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
Consequence
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE MANIFOLD MAY BECOME HOTENOUGH TO IGNITE THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENTFIRE.
Remedy
INSTALL NEW HEAT RESISTANT POWER STEERING HOSES. ALSO, INSTALL NEW FAN COUPLING TO INCREASE AIR FLOW VOLUME THROUGH ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND REPLACE ANY OTHER DAMAGED COMPONENTS.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING87V1090001987-07-1610,025 affected
Defect
VALVE COVER GASKET MAY LEAK OIL.
Consequence
OIL MAY DRIP ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND IF ENGINE ISOPERATED UNDER SEVERE CONDITION OR OPERATED AT CONTINUOUSLY HIGH SPEEDS. THEMANIFOLD MAY BECOME HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE OIL. THIS COULD RESULT IN ANENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy
THE VALVE COVER GASKET WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW GASKET REDESIGNED TO CORRECT THE OIL LEAK.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2
1fires2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
1
1fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
1
Total complaints8
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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”
“Recall related, 94v031000, engine cooling system failure, never received the notice, in for repair, will not accept the vehicle as a trade in. *ak”
“Passenger side seatbelt do not latch at all. Tt”
“Standeser nissan 93v0261. After installation of alarm system vehicle overheated and a short developed in the wire.*ak”
“Standeser nissan 93v0261. After installation of alarm system vehicle overheated and a short developed in the wire.*ak”
“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”
“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”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95007 Opened 1995-03-10 · closed 1995-08-02
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE90065 Opened 1990-03-27 · closed 1990-10-15
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE93019 Opened 1993-03-31 · closed 1993-07-28
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Nissan Van as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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