The 1989 Nissan Pathfinder has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,480,462 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS95V1030021995-05-242,730,462 affected
Defect
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
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…
EQUIPMENT90V0720001990-04-17750,000 affected
Defect
INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence
INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL CORRECTED TIRE INFORMATION LABEL ON DOORPOST CERTIFICATION LABEL.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
2crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2
SEAT BELTS
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
2
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
1
Total complaints19
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The consumer would like to know if the 1989 nissan pathfinder he has considered purchasing has any recalls. *nm *jb”
“Seat belt cable attachment just broke off with no load. *ak”
“Consumer states front suspension component maybe broken or loose.*jb”
“While starting the vehicle up and still in park, vehicle accelerated at high speed. Consumer applied the brakes, and the pedal went half way to the floorlboard. Vehicle kept going at high speed, and the consumer had to turn the vehicle off to get the vehicle to come to a stop. *ak”
“While starting the vehicle up and still in park, vehicle accelerated at high speed. Consumer applied the brakes, and the pedal went half way to the floorlboard. Vehicle kept going at high speed, and the consumer had to turn the vehicle off to get the vehicle to come to a stop. *ak”
“Vehicle was put in reverse ,went immediately into high speed backwards, hit tree driver. Put vehicle into neutral ,jumped gear into drive, brakes did not hold ,had to hit another tree in order to stop.throttle stuck wide open which caused the vehicle to go out of control, resutling in injuries to…”
“Replacement seat belt (replaced under recall) fails. It will open with moderate forward pressure.”
“Bolts holding exhaust manifold have sheared and fell off, causing leaking hot exhaust fumes. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95007 Opened 1995-03-10 · closed 1995-08-02
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Nissan Pathfinder as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.