YearToAvoid

2009 Nissan Armada Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

70/100

#7 most-complained of 21 Armada years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Nissan Armada has 23 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 70 out of 100 — #7 highest of 21 Armada model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is structure & body (11 complaints, 48% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 8 injuries.

Complaints
23
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14
12 city / 18 hwy

Top 2009 Nissan Armada problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body11 (48%)
  2. Engine4 (17%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (17%)
  4. Brakes3 (13%)
  5. Electrical System3 (13%)
  6. Fuel System3 (13%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain3 (13%)
  8. Airbags2 (9%)
  9. Other2 (9%)
  10. Steering1 (4%)
2009 Nissan Armada complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2009Jun 2010Jun 2013Aug 2014Jul 2015Dec 2017Jun 2020Nov 2021
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2009 to Mar 2024; peak Jun 2011 (4).

2009 Nissan Armada recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V067000Feb 10, 2023Airbags404,690 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    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.

    Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver’s 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.

  2. NHTSA 10V074000Mar 3, 2010Fuel System340,000 vehicles

    Fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 titan, armada, and infiniti qx56 vehicles. The instrument panel fuel gauge may inaccurately display that the vehicle still has some fuel, typically about one quarter tank, when the fuel tank is empty.

    Risk: This could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall on the highway, which could cause a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel sender unit inside the fuel tank with a new improved sender card. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on march 22, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

  3. NHTSA 10V072000Mar 2, 2010Brakes179,383 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 titan, armada, and infiniti qx56, and model year 2008-2009 nissan quest vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin end was not spin-formed to specification during the manufacturing process of the brake pedal assembly. The pivot pin could slide and cause the brake pedal to partially disengage from the brake pedal bracket.

    Risk: The driver will experience unusual and noticeable looseness in the pedal and a reduction in braking force increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect to see if the pivot pin had been formed properly and will replace the brake pedal assembly if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on march 22, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2009 Nissan Armada fuel economy and fuel cost

City
12 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
14 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Armada years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Caution5586214
2008Avoid90161614
2009Caution7023314
2010Caution5048414
2011Good4540114.5

All Nissan Armada years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Nissan Armada a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Nissan Armada ranks #7 of 21 among Armada model years (Complaint Index 70/100, verdict: Caution). It has 23 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Armada?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (11 complaints), engine (4 complaints), and suspension, wheels & tires (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 80,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Nissan Armada have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2009 Nissan Armada, most recently reported 2023, covering airbags, fuel system, and brakes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Nissan Armada?
EPA rates the 2009 Nissan Armada at 14 MPG combined (12 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,650. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.