1990 Nissan Van: problems, recalls and reliability

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.