Nissan · Pathfinder · 2009
4
Recalls
37
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has 4 recalls and 37 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (9 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Remedy Status
Dealers will replace the drivers airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Remedy Status
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.
Remedy Status
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 242,720 MY 2005-2009 PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH USE HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER INTO THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR (CZS) HOUSING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CZS MAY INTERNALLY RUST RESULTING IN A SIGNAL INTERRUPTION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT CZS WITH A REDESIGNED SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2009. OWNERS IN THE OTHER STATES WILL RECEIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE SENSOR TO 10 YEARS. THESE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY MAIL AND WILL RECEIVE A STICKER TO PLACE IN THEIR WARRANTY BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS OR IN PARK. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS THE DIAGNOSED ISSUE.
MY DASHBOARD HAS A LOGO OF A RED FLASHING PASSENGER WITH A AIRBAG RED BALL. IT FLASHES NON STOP WHEN EVER I TURN ON THE IGNITION. HOWEVER WHEN I CHECKED FOR AIR BAG RECALL IT'S NOT COMING UP ON THE LIST. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
THE VEHICLE JUST STOP. HAD TOW TO THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED WITH COOLENT IN THAT DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH, AND HAD TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE RADIATOR FAILED, CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO GET INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS RUINED THE TRANSMISSION. COST IS ABOUT $4,000 TO REPLACE, AND THIRD PARTY WARRANTY IS REFUSING TO COVER ANY OF IT.
THIS TRUCK IS VERY WELL CARED FOR,,ALL OF A SUDDEN ITS STALLING AT ANY TIME,,SOME HARD STARTS,,RUNS PERFECT ,THAN STALLS,WHILE DRIVING,NO STEERING,VERY SCARRY,I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD GAS I FILLED 2 MORE TIME FROM GOOD GAS STATION 89 AND 91 OCTAN,
MY 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER (AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT), STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND OVERHEATING. LO AND BEHOLD WE HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IS MIXING. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM OTHERS HAVE REPORTED AS A FAILED TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER INTEGRATED IN THE RADIATOR THAT ALLOWED ENGINE COOLANT TO MIX WITH AND CONTAMINATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURES OTHER THAN A SUDDEN JOLT OF THE VEHICLE LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT SLOW AND HIGH SPEEDS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL AT A PARKING LOT, WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE INJURED HER LEG WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, HE ADVISED THE CONTACT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER BAYOU NISSAN (13050 I-10 SERVICE RD, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70128, (504) 245-5900) AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,300. *DT*DT VEHICLE REPAIRED*JB
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING. WE LINE IN NM SO WE'RE NOT PART OF THE RECALL BUT WE DRIVE FREQUENTLY ON SNOWY SALTY MOUNTAIN ROADS SO WE MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE.
I TURN ON THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE IT WAS COLD AND IT STARTED BURNING AND SMOKING, LEAVING A BURN MARK IN THE STEERING. I WAS DRIVING IN BRENTWOOD NEW YORK ME AND FAMILY VISITING FAMILY.
RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING.
2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED RADIATOR FAILURE. ANTI-FREEZE HAS TO BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE ALMOST DAILY AND THE WATER TEMPERATURE WOULD RISE ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS. *JS
TAKATA RECALL- MY TRANSMISSION FLUID IS MIXING AND GOING INTO MY COOLANT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND MY GAGES IN THE CAR WAS NOT INDICATING TO ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ALL I NOTICED WAS A THICK CHALKY FILM IN THE RADIATOR.
THE RECALL FOR AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR FORM A WHILE BACK FOR NISSAN VEHICALES IN THE NORTHERN STATES IS NOW AFFECTING MY PATHFINDER (THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON). MY PATHFINDER WAS ORIGINAL PURCHASED DOWN SOUTH BEFORE I PURCHASED IT IN ERIE PA. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET THE RECALLED EXTEND TO MY CAR AND OTHERS LIKE IT
WHEN DRIVING UPHILL ON LONG MOUNTAIN ROADS AND SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN TO 2, 3 OR 4, THE CAR WON'T STAY IN GEAR. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING IT WILL SHIFT BY ITSELF INTO 5 WITHOUT ALLOWING YOU TO SHIFT DOWN AGAIN. YOU CAN ONLY GO INTO D OR STOP AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP ALREADY REPLACED THE SHIFTING ASSEMBLY, INSPECTED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION & WIRES FROM THE COMPUTER. NO PROBLEM COULD BE IDENTIFIED BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS. THE CAR WILL STAY IN LOWER GEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL. IT'S A MYSTERY AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO DIAGNOSE FURTHER. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS? THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER IS UNABLE TO HELP. THEY WORKED ON THE COMPUTER AND MAIN CIRCUIT BOARDS ABOUT 5 YRS AGO ' COULD THE HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED THIS PROBLEM? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER SYSTEM IS MAKING NOISE. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE AND HAS SENT OUT AN TSB TO DEALERS THAT DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM SINCE 2004 OR EARLIER. I AM LUCKY THIS DID NOT FAIL ON MY RECENT LONG TRIPS ON THE HIGHWAY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.
IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN TO START VEHICLE. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. CAN'T START VEHICLE TO GO ANYWHERE.
THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT FLASHES.
THIS VEHICLE PERIODICALLY WILL ROLL BOTH WINDOWS DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF, THE KEYS REMOVED AND YOU ARE NOT NEAR THE CAR. TRIED EVEN REMOVING THE BATTERIES FROM THE REMOTES. ONLY DOES IT ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS. SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT IT PERIODICALLY RUNS THE BATTERY DOWN, WITH NOTHING ON. VERIFIED NOTHING ON. GONE THRU SEVERAL NEW BATTERIES NOW. ENDED UP INSTALLING A COSTCO INTELLICHARGER, THAT CHARGES THE BATTERY EVERY NIGHT . JUST NEED TO REMEMBER TO PLUG IT IN EVERY NIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS CROSS CONTAMINATION IN THE RADIATOR. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,000. UPDATED 10/05/16*LJ *CN
I WAS ENTERING A PARKING LOT AND TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR PROCEED TOWARDS A BRICK WALL AND WINDOW. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED PUMPING THE BRAKES AND GOT A "SOFT PEDAL" JUST OFF THE FLOOR AND THE CAR STOPPED JUST BEFORE CRASHING INTO A MAJOR GROCERY STORE WINDOW. BEING EXPERIENCED WITH CARS I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR FLUID WHICH WAS FULL. CHECKED ALL THE WHEELS FOR LEAKS AND WERE DRY AS WELL AS THE LINES. I WENT INTO THE STORE AND CALLED FOR SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP. ON RETURNING TO THE CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER I STARTED THE CAR AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FOUND THEM TO BE NORMAL. ON DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH HAVE FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE THAT DRIVE THE SAME PLATFORM VEHICLE NOT JUST THE PATHFINDER. UNITL THIS PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED AND CORRECTED THERE EASILY COULD BE A MAJOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING INJURYS. I AM NOW DRIVING MY PATHFINDER WITH THE VDC BUTTON IN THE OFF POSITION AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I ALSO REMOVE THE ABS FUSE AS THERE IS SOMEKIND OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS SOFTWARE CAUSING THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO SHUTDOWN. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SPENT $1,000 OF DOLLARS HAVING SYSTEMS REBUILT REPLACING MASTER CYLINDERS, PADS AND ROTORS ONLY TO FIND IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. REPEATING THIS NOT JUST THE 2009 PATHFINDER PROBLEM BUT INCLUDES ALL NISSAN VEHICLES THAT SHARE THE SAME PLATFORM AND BRAKING SYSTEM.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 37 owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder are air bags (9 reports), power train (4 reports), service brakes (4 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.