NissanPathfinder1987Overview/nissan/pathfinder/1987/base/

1987 Nissan Pathfinder

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 Pathfinder.

The 1987 Nissan Pathfinder, with its 3.3-quart oil capacity and recommended viscosities spanning 5W-30 to 20W-50, arrived as a compact SUV that would later see far more owner complaints—its 28 total and 2 recalls pale next to the 1,050 complaints of the 2005 model, marking this first year as a notably low-trouble entry in the model's history.

Model year202520242023202220202019201820171987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172 in
Overall width66.5 in
Overall height65.7 in
Wheelbase104.3 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Pathfinder of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

12.0–12.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 12.00 sec — 1991 SE
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991SE 3.0L V612.00 sec18.70 sec153 hp4x4
1992SE 3.0L V612.30 sec18.90 sec153 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.3 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 5W-30 engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity6 Pints
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40
Engine Oil Capacity3.3 qt
Engine Oil20W-40 · 20W-50 · 5W-30 · 10W-30 · 10W-40
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miOxygen Sensor (replace) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The provided year-by-year federal record begins in 1990 and contains no data for 1987 or its adjacent model years, so generational trend comparison is not supported by this dataset. Available federal data for the 1987 Pathfinder shows zero crash complaints and one fire complaint, with complaint volume highest in Seat Belts (7), followed by Engine & Engine Cooling (4), Visibility (4), and Vehicle Speed Control (3). Because the dataset includes no recall, investigation, or TSB counts for 1987 and omits nearby model years entirely, the data does not specify where this model year falls within any broader reliability arc. The minimal federal footprint—single-digit complaint counts across all top categories and no crash-related filings—suggests a relatively low-severity profile among reported issues. On balance, 1987 appears to be a reasonable year to buy based on the limited severity visible in the record, though any prospective purchase demands an independent mechanical inspection given the lack of surrounding generational context.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
12
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
28
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 28 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts7
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Visibility4
Vehicle Speed Control3
Seats2
Steering2
Power Train2
Engine & Engine Cooling,Seat Belts,Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

90V072000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 17/04/1990

INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES WERE PRINTED ON CERTIFICATION LABELS. Remedy: INSTALL CORRECTED TIRE INFORMATION LABEL ON DOORPOST CERTIFICATION LABEL.

87V137000Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 04/09/1987

MISMATCH OF MALE AND FEMALE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. Remedy: INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL MISMATCHED BELT ASSEMBLIES.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 12 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB-09-1012010-09-30TiresNISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR…
NTB-09-1292010-09-13EquipmentNISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL…
NTB-09-0302009-04-06Electrical SystemNISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS…
990222005-10-28Seat BeltsFRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT
NTB99022C2003-08-05Seat BeltsFRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE RETAINING BUTTON MISSING. *TT

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Pathfinder. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 Pathfinder take?

3.3 qt of ABOVE 50 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 10W-30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 OR 10W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 Pathfinder have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.