2009 Nissan Pathfinder Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder logs 37 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 11, ranking 18th worst out of 20 model years. It carries a Good verdict, though that rating is capped because complaint records for 2005-2009 are less complete.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 11/100
- #18 of 20 Pathfinder years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 37
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16
- 14 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2009 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags11 (30%)
- Engine11 (30%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (22%)
- Brakes6 (16%)
- Electrical System4 (11%)
- Other3 (8%)
- Fuel System2 (5%)
- Seat Belts1 (3%)
- Steering1 (3%)
- Structure & Body1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbag wiring near the front bumper can be severed in low-speed impacts, disabling deployment.
- The passenger airbag sensor sometimes fails to detect an adult occupant, shutting off the airbag as if the seat were empty.
- Some owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor at stops, with one linking it to a software issue that misreads the ignition key.
- Radiator defects have allowed coolant, oil, and transmission fluid to mix, leading to transmission slipping or failure at higher mileage.
- Seat belts have failed to lock during sudden braking in at least one reported case.
- Windshields have cracked from minor stone impacts on more than one occasion for the same owner.
2009 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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 driverÂs 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.
- NHTSA 10V401000Sep 10, 2010Other7,948 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)
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.
Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 08V690000Dec 29, 2008Airbags242,720 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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.
Risk: This issue could result in the non-deployment of the driver and passenger front air bags in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: 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.
2009 Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14 MPG
- Highway
- 20 MPG
- Combined
- 16 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $5,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- 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 Pathfinder years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
- It has a complaint index of 11, the second-lowest among the 20 model years with data, and a Good verdict relative to other Pathfinder years.
- What problems does the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder have?
- NHTSA data shows its top problem areas are airbags and engine issues, each making up 30% of complaints, followed by transmission and powertrain issues at 22%.
- Does the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls, including one for airbag emblem cracking, one for a Garmin GPS battery overheating risk, and one for a front crash zone sensor replacement.
- Why is the 2009 Pathfinder's verdict capped at Good instead of Best?
- NHTSA notes that complaint records for model years 2005-2009 are less complete, so the verdict is capped at Good despite the low complaint index of 11.
- How does the 2009 Pathfinder compare to other years?
- It ranks 18th worst out of 20 years, far better than 2013 and 2014, which have complaint indexes of 100 and 95 and Avoid verdicts.