YearToAvoid

2009 Nissan Xterra Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#6 most-complained of 11 Xterra years

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

The 2009 Nissan Xterra has 19 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 50 out of 100 — #6 highest of 11 Xterra model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is airbags (6 complaints, 32% of the total).

Complaints
19
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15.5 city / 20 hwy

Top 2009 Nissan Xterra problems

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

  1. Airbags6 (32%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain6 (32%)
  3. Engine4 (21%)
  4. Brakes3 (16%)
  5. Electrical System3 (16%)
  6. Structure & Body2 (11%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)
2009 Nissan Xterra complaints: complaints filed per month5Dec 2009Jun 2011May 2013Sep 2015Jan 2019Jul 2020
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2009 to Mar 2026; peak Sep 2015 (5).

2009 Nissan Xterra 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 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.

  3. 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 Xterra fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15.5 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
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 Xterra years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid80557117
2008Caution70119617
2009Caution5019317
2010Caution6038417
2011Good4024217

All Nissan Xterra years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Nissan Xterra a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Nissan Xterra ranks #6 of 11 among Xterra model years (Complaint Index 50/100, verdict: Caution). It has 19 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 Xterra?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (6 complaints), transmission & powertrain (6 complaints), and engine (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 66,550 miles.
Does the 2009 Nissan Xterra have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2009 Nissan Xterra, most recently reported 2023, covering airbags and other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Nissan Xterra?
EPA rates the 2009 Nissan Xterra at 17 MPG combined (15.5 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. 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.