1987 Nissan VAN: complaints, problems and recalls

INADEQUATE HEAT RESISTANCE OF THE COOLING SYSTEM DESIGN CAUSED HOSES AND HEAD GASKET DETERIORATED, LOSS OF COOLANT TO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD IGNITED AND CAUSED SMOKE AND FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN AT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR COMPARTMENT. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 568339 at NHTSA ↗

STANDESER NISSAN 93V0261. AFTER INSTALLATION OF ALARM SYSTEM VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND A SHORT DEVELOPED IN THE WIRE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801971 at NHTSA ↗

THE HOSES AND HEAD GASKET DETERIORATED RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK. THE COOLANT LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SMOKE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED FOUR RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM AND ALTHOUGH THE CORRECTIONS WERE MADE THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST ( RECALLS 91V-211, 90V-136, 95V-103.002). *TS *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 8022793 at NHTSA ↗

PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT DO NOT LATCH AT ALL. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961425 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1987-07-16 (July 16, 1987)

VALVE COVER GASKET MAY LEAK OIL.

Consequence: OIL MAY DRIP ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND IF ENGINE ISOPERATED UNDER SEVERE CONDITION OR OPERATED AT CONTINUOUSLY HIGH SPEEDS. THEMANIFOLD MAY BECOME HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE OIL. THIS COULD RESULT IN ANENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: THE VALVE COVER GASKET WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW GASKET REDESIGNED TO CORRECT THE OIL LEAK.

Reported: 1990-08-06 (August 6, 1990)

POWER STEERING HOSES MAY LEAK FLUID THAT CAN SPREAD TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE MANIFOLD MAY BECOME HOTENOUGH TO IGNITE THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENTFIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL NEW HEAT RESISTANT POWER STEERING HOSES. ALSO, INSTALL NEW FAN COUPLING TO INCREASE AIR FLOW VOLUME THROUGH ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND REPLACE ANY OTHER DAMAGED COMPONENTS.

Reported: 1991-12-27 (December 27, 1991)

THE COOLING SYSTEM HOSES DETERIORATE AND FAIL BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE HEAT RESISTANCE. FAILURE FIRST OCCURS AT THE CLAMP CONNECTIONS, CAUSING COOLANT FLUID TO BE LEAKED OR SPRAYED ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENTS.

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED WITH A LOW COOLANT LEVEL, THECOOLING SYSTEM TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE WOULD RISE VERY QUICKLY. COOLANTREACHING THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENTFIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COOLING SYSTEM HOSES WITH IMPROVED HEAT RESISTANT HOSES, MODIFY THE COOLANT RECOVERY SYSTEM TO PREVENT SUDDEN INCREASES IN COOLING SYSTEM TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE, AND REPLACE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENTS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR WOULD DETERIORATE WITH TIME.

Reported: 1993-03-15 (March 15, 1993)

NISSAN HAS MADE A PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION THAT A DEFECT EXISTS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENT(S) THAT MAY FAIL DUE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEAT.

Consequence: THE UNDETERMINED ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENT(S) CANCAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO VEHICLEOCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE FAN BELTS, RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, FREEZE PLUG SHIELDS, AND ASSOCIATED HOSES. THE REMEDY WILL ALSO INCLUDE A NEW AUXILIARY ELECTRIC FAN AND POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER. TO COMPLETE THE REMEDY, A WARNING SYSTEM TO MONITOR COOLING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE WILL BE INSTALLED TO DETECT POTENTIAL ENGINE OVERHEATING.

Reported: 1994-02-25 (February 25, 1994)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES AND OTHER THERMAL INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON VEHICLES WHICH HAD RECEIVED ALL OF THE REMEDIES PROVIDED BY A PREVIOUS SAFETY-RELATED RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 93V036000). THE FIRES ARE ATTRIBUTED TO ERRORS IN INSTALLING THE REMEDY SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL.

Consequence: IF THE REMEDY SPECIFIED FOR RECALL 93V036000 WAS NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY OR THE VEHICLE HAS NOT RECEIVED THE REMEDY, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL OFFER TO REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES FROM THE OWNERS. THE VEHICLES WILL THEN BE DESTROYED. FOR OWNERS THAT DECLINE THE REPURCHASE OFFER NISSAN WILL PROVIDE A REINSPECTION OF THEIR VEHICLE, FREE OF CHARGE, TO CONFIRM THE PRIOR RECALL WAS COMPLETED PROPERLY. ALSO, NISSAN WILL PERFORM ANY RECALL-RELATED REPAIRS THAT MAY BE NEEDED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER.

Reported: 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)

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 SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE.