2009 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder.

20082010
Complaints
51
per 10K Sold
27.8
US Sales
18,341
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2009 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#19 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:74,548 mi
#28 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:87,900 mi
#37 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:120,420 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder.

Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
74,548
Transmission / Drivetrain
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
87,900
Engine Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
120,420
Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,617
Electrical Faults
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Side/Rear Glass
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Nissan Pathfinder

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~412,638 vehicles.

23V067000Air Bags:frontal
~404,690 affected

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.

10V401000Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
~7,948 affected

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.

Other Nissan Pathfinder Years

2009 Nissan Pathfinder — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has 51 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?
Top reported problems: Airbags (9 complaints, avg 74,548 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (8 complaints, avg 87,900 mi); Engine Problems (7 complaints, avg 120,420 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 90,005 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder include 2 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 412,638 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Pathfinder reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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