2010 Nissan Pathfinder Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
14/100
#13 most-complained of 15 Pathfinder years
The 2010 Nissan Pathfinder ranks 13th of 15 model years with a Complaint Index of 14 and a "Best" verdict, meaning it has fewer reported problems than most other Pathfinder years. NHTSA lists 40 complaints, 4 recalls, 2 crashes, and 3 injuries for this year.
- Complaints
- 40
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16.5
- 14.5 city / 21 hwy
Top 2010 Nissan Pathfinder problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags11 (28%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (28%)
- Engine9 (23%)
- Other5 (13%)
- Steering5 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (13%)
- Fuel System3 (8%)
- Brakes2 (5%)
- Electrical System2 (5%)
- Seat Belts1 (3%)
What owners report
- Steering wheel fails to hold straight and requires heavy correction to avoid drifting into other lanes, in one case leading to a rollover.
- Transmission unexpectedly shifts from 2WD to rear-wheel drive into 4WD, triggering ABS, VDC, and slip warning lights until the vehicle is stopped and restarted.
- Tire pressure monitoring system warning light illuminates with no actual tire problem found by dealers.
- Passenger airbag warning light stays on or flickers as if the seat is unoccupied or holds a child, even with an adult seated.
- Owners report failing radiators and transmissions prompting concern about long-term drivability.
- Front and rear shock/strut assemblies wear out and cause uneven tire cupping, requiring tire replacement.
2010 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
4 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 10V208000May 14, 2010Suspension, Wheels & Tires41,649 vehicles
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 titan, armada, qx56, frontier, xterra, and pathfinder vehicles manufactured from november 19, 2009 through march 3, 2010. 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.
Risk: If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on may 20, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
2010 Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14.5 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 16.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,850
- 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.
2010 compared with other Pathfinder years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 Pathfinder ranks 13th out of 15 model years with a Complaint Index of 14, making it one of the better years for this model.
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder?
- Airbags and Transmission & Powertrain each account for 28% of complaints, followed by Engine issues at 23% and Steering and Suspension problems each at 13%.
- Does the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2010 Pathfinder, covering airbag cover cracking, a GPS unit battery overheating risk, a suspension lower control link defect, and a steering column/airbag fastener issue.
- Should I avoid the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder?
- No. Compared to other Pathfinder years, especially 2013-2015 which are rated Avoid with Complaint Index values up to 100, the 2010 model year is rated Best.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder?
- EPA rates the 2010 Pathfinder at 16.5 mpg combined (14.5 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,850.