IllustrationNO SUMMARY
1991 Nissan Pathfinder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Nissan Pathfinder do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 97.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pathfinder years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 2 of 39 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.
- Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
39 reportsDRIVING ABOUT 45MPH, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP UNTIL VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. TRANSMISSION IS BEING REBUILT BY AAMCO. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
THE FUEL TANK WAS NEITHER DAMAGED OR RUSTY, YET AT ONLY 65K MILES IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS THE TANK FAILED THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED PRESSURE TEST IN DE WHEN UNDERGOING ITS 2 YEARLY INSPECTION. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE TANK HAD WARPED JUST ENOUGH WHERE THE PUMP SEALS TO THE TANK THAT IT WAS BUBBLING AND AS THE TANKS WERE…
Read full complaint
THE FUEL TANK WAS NEITHER DAMAGED OR RUSTY, YET AT ONLY 65K MILES IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS THE TANK FAILED THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED PRESSURE TEST IN DE WHEN UNDERGOING ITS 2 YEARLY INSPECTION. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE TANK HAD WARPED JUST ENOUGH WHERE THE PUMP SEALS TO THE TANK THAT IT WAS BUBBLING AND AS THE TANKS WERE MADE OUT OF TOO THIN A METAL AT THAT POINT, AND AS THIS WAS THE 4TH ONE TO GO THIS YEAR AND THEY HAD ALREADY TRIED 2 SEALS, AND LIQUID SEALANT, ALL TO NO EFFECT, THAT I THEREFORE NEEDED A NEW TANK. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE AN ITEM THAT SHOULD LAST A VEHICLES LIFETIME. ALSO, AS ONLY A FEW STATES HAVE THE PRESSURE TEST, JUST HOW MANY OF THESE OLDER PATHFINDERS ARE IN USE THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE SEALS, POLLUTING THE ATMOSPHERE AND POSING A FIRE HAZARD, THAT ARE CURRENTLY GOING UNNOTICED? IS THIS SOMETHING THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL AND RESOLVE AS A MATTER OF SAFETY. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED AS TO THE OUTCOME. THANKYOU,
REAR DRUM AUTOMATIC BRAKE ADJUSTERS ARE INOPERATIVE, RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKE CAPABILITY. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS CAME APART. *AK
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS EXHAUST FLUID. WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP THE FUMES COME UP TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
SEAT BACK COLLAPSED INTO BACK SEAT, WHEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING INJURY.
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS LEFT AND RIGHT FAILED.
AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL STUCK WHEN ACCELERATING ON AN INCLINE.
Official recalls
195V103002 · 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.
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
1EA95007 · 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