Complaints
44
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1990 Nissan Pathfinder Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#19 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Avg mileage:226,904 mi
#29 complaints
Automatic Transmission
#33 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 9 | — | — | 226,904 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
226,904
Automatic Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Nissan Pathfinder Years
1990 Nissan Pathfinder — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1990 Nissan Pathfinder has 44 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe (9 complaints, avg 226,904 mi); Automatic Transmission (9 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 226,904 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA complaints for the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder include 1 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1990 Nissan Pathfinder?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Pathfinder reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1990 Nissan Pathfinder
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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