1987 Nissan Pathfinder problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

Q: What gas mileage does the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder get?

The 1987 Nissan Pathfinder has U.S. EPA estimates of 14–16 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

1987 Nissan Pathfinder at a glance

Safety recalls2

Owner complaints28

Combined14–16 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1987 Nissan Pathfinder recalls 2

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #90V072000 · 17/04/1990

INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS.

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

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly NHTSA Campaign #87V137000 · 04/09/1987

MISMATCH OF MALE AND FEMALE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES.

Fix: INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL MISMATCHED BELT ASSEMBLIES.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1987 Nissan Pathfinder common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Seat Belts

Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Visibility

Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.

Vehicle Speed Control

Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.

Seats

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Steering

Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

1987 Nissan Pathfinder MPG & running costs

Combined14–16 mpg

City14 mpg

Highway16 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$4,600

EPA size classSpecial Purpose Vehicles

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd or Manual 5-spd

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$11,000 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1987 Nissan Pathfinder costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$23,000

Fuel only$23,000

Per mile$0.31

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length

172.0 in

Width

66.5 in

Height

65.7–66.1 in

Wheelbase

104.3 in

Curb weight

3,472 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE Closed

NHTSA #EA95007 · Seat Belts · opened Mar 1995 · closed Aug 1995

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 12

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 12.

NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED ON 08-11-2011. *KB

Bulletin NTB-09-101 · Tires · Sep 2010

NISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL VALVE FOR REASON: USE THE ONE LISTED ON PAGE 2; FOR VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE SECTION OF THE ELECTRONIC SERVICE MANUALS (ESM; WHEN IN…

Bulletin NTB-09-129 · Equipment · Sep 2010

NISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS REQUIRED TO STAY CONNECTED WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS/CAUTIONS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

Bulletin NTB-09-030 · Electrical System · Apr 2009

FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT

Bulletin 99022 · Seat Belts · Oct 2005

FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT

Bulletin NTB99022C · Seat Belts · Aug 2003

SUBJECT REGARDING ESSENTIAL TOOL - REAR AXLE BEARING REMOVAL KIT. *TTTHE KIT IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL AND AND WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SENT TO ALL NISSAN DEALERS.

Bulletin NTB01031 · Jun 2001

SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT

Bulletin NTB99022B · Seat Belts · May 2001

CONCERNS WITH THE FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE STOPPER BUTTON MISSING. *TT

Bulletin NTB99022A · Seat Belts · Aug 1999

EXHIBITING A WHINE NOISE WHILE DRIVING IN ALL FORWARD GEARS EXCEPT 4TH. *YC

Bulletin NTB97002 · Power Train · Jun 1998

FS5R30A TRANSMISSION WHINE. *JD

Bulletin NTB97009 · Power Train · Mar 1997

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the PATHFINDER. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Nissan Pathfinder

The Nissan Pathfinder is a range of sport utility vehicles manufactured by Nissan since 1985. Until the third-generation model, the Pathfinder is based on Nissan's compact pickup truck platform which it shares with the Navara/Frontier.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1987 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles on record

1987 Nissan PathfinderJN6ND14Y8HW003590

1987 Nissan PathfinderJN8HD16Y8HW033576

Other Nissan Pathfinder model years

1987 Nissan Pathfinder — frequently asked questions

Does the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder?

Across all 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are seat belts, engine and engine cooling, visibility.

What gas mileage does the 1987 Nissan Pathfinder get?

The 1987 Nissan Pathfinder has U.S. EPA estimates of 14–16 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.