Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 33% |
| Power train | 14 | 33% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 7% |
| Tires | 2 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 2% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% |
| Structure | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
INQUIRY WHETHER NISSAN IS OBLIGATED TO REPAIR OR COVER THE COST OF REPAIR FOR BROKE EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS WHICH COULD CAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE PROBLEMS. *PH *LA
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS HAVE BROKEN ON BOTH MANIFOLDS AT AN ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL OF $800. WE HAVE NO CHOICE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS WE CANNOT RECEIVE OUR EMMISSION TEST APPROVAL TO GET OUR VEHICLE REGISTERED (1990 PATHFI
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
MULTIPLE STUDS BROKEN ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD MULTIPLE TIMES. RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE TWICE. LEFT SIDE ONCE.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NISSAN RECOGNIZED EXHAUST MANIFOLD DESIGN DEFECTS LEADING TO MANIFOLD WARPAGE AND REPEATED EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT BREAKAGE. EVENTUALLY CAUSING EXHAUST GAS LEAKS AND NOISE PROBLEMS . NISSAN RECOGNIZES DESIGN FAILURE BU
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, GENERAL AMERI-TECH TIRES, SIZE P23575R15, DOT#3HL27W443; REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. CONSUMER HAS TIRES. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TO SEND TIRES T
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO FAILURE OF INTERNAL COMPONENETS. THERE SEEM TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AROUND THE TRANSMISSION OF THE 1990 NISSAN PATHFINDERS. I HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSION FAILURE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS ARE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PATHFINDER WITH MANY OF THE REPAIRS BEING PERFORMED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. MY FIRST REPAIR WAS COMPLETED IN THE FALL OF 1996 WITH THE MANIFOLDS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
EXHAUST MANIFOLD WARPED, CAUSING BOLTS , THAT HOLD THE ENGINE, TO BREAK. VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. ALSO, EXHAUST VAPOR GOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALER SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THAT THE BOLTS WERE TOO SMAL
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1990 Nissan Pathfinder. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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 A
INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS.
Risk: INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: INSTALL CORRECTED TIRE INFORMATION LABEL ON DOORPOST CERTIFICATION LABEL.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 14 of them (33%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.