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1988 Nissan Pathfinder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Tires complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2001
Tires

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

NHTSA ODI #748880

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2001
Tires

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. …

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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)

NHTSA ODI #741757

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2000
Tires

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 …

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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 )

NHTSA ODI #729977

Official recalls

2

95V103002 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

May 24, 1995

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 & remedy

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 SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE.

90V072000 · Equipment:other:labels

Apr 17, 1990

INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL CORRECTED TIRE INFORMATION LABEL ON DOORPOST CERTIFICATION LABEL.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA95007 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure

Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 2, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

There is no summary currently available