YearToAvoid

2009 Nissan Quest Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2009 Nissan Quest has 22 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 45, and ranks 7th worst out of 12 model years, earning a Good verdict. It carries 2 recalls, for airbag covers and brake pedal pivot pins.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
45/100
#7 of 12 Quest years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
22
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
4
Top issue
Structure & Body
Best nearby year
2013
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
16 city / 24 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2009 Nissan Quest problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body6 (27%)
  2. Fuel System5 (23%)
  3. Brakes4 (18%)
  4. Engine4 (18%)
  5. Electrical System3 (14%)
  6. Steering3 (14%)
  7. Other2 (9%)
  8. Airbags1 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Sliding doors stick, fail to latch in the open position, or won't close automatically, sometimes rolling shut on their own on windy days.
  • Front seats have reclined backward unexpectedly during rear-end or side impacts, raising injury concerns.
  • Steering wheel shakes violently after extended highway driving, then intermittently returns.
  • Brake pedal has failed to slow the vehicle on first press, requiring pumping to engage.
  • Front engine mount wears out and reportedly needs replacement at 84,000 miles.
  • Rear and front brake pads wear out repeatedly, with owners needing multiple replacement sets.
2009 Nissan Quest complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2009Aug 2010Jan 2015Jun 2015Apr 2017Oct 2021
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2009 to Dec 2023; peak Jan 2015 (3).

2009 Nissan Quest recalls

2 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 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 Quest fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,200
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 Quest years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid100228119
2008Avoid8250319
2009Good4522219
2011Caution7366121
2012Avoid9193121

All Nissan Quest years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Nissan Quest reliable?
NHTSA lists 22 complaints for the 2009 Quest with a complaint index of 45, and it ranks 7th worst of 12 Quest model years. That places it in the Good tier relative to other Quest years.
What are the main problems with the 2009 Nissan Quest?
Structure & Body complaints lead at 27% of the total, followed by Fuel System at 23%, and Brakes and Engine each at 18%. Sliding door and seat structural issues stand out among owner reports.
Does the 2009 Nissan Quest have any recalls?
Yes, two recalls: one for a driver airbag cover resin emblem that may crack and detach, and one for a brake pedal pivot pin that was not spin-formed to specification.
How does the 2009 Quest compare to other model years?
The 2009 Quest's complaint index of 45 is lower than 2007 (100), 2008 (82), and 2012 (91), all rated Avoid, but higher than 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017, which rate Best or Good.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Nissan Quest?
EPA rates the 2009 Quest at 19 mpg combined (16 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200.

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.