2009 Nissan Pathfinder
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 37 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 24th highest complaint count among 25 Pathfinder model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 1 involved a crash. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontalFeb 10, 2023
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.
A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Dealers will replace the drivers 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.
Campaign 23V067000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electrical, navigational system(global positioning system)Sep 10, 2010
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.
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
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.
Campaign 10V401000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, lower armMay 20, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND QX56, AND MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2010 FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES. 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.
IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 10E019000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalDec 29, 2008
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 08V690000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
37 reports, newest first.
Service brakes, Nov 2, 2014
AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM MY WIFE ABOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP, I CHANGED THE MASTER CYLINDER. SEEMED TO HAPPEN DURING RAINY DAYS. THE FRONT AND REAR PADS HAD BEEN CHANGED PRIOR. NO LEAKS DETECTED IN LINES, NOR WHEN THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REMOVED. BRAKES BLED, NEW FLUID THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. NO AIR IN THE SYSTEM. PROPER FLUID LEVEL MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES. A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHANGED, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AS I WAS BRAKING. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY WITH NO DEBRIS OR WET SURFACES. FLUID STILL AT MAX, NO LEAKS, ALL NEW PARTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ABS COMPONENTS. ANY INFO, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING WITH MORE OWNERS, WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Power train, Engine, Jul 21, 2014
THE DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR CAUSED THE ANTIFREEZE AND OIL TO MIX. IT THEN MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THAT WAS FIXED BY A REPAIR SHOP. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED OUT BECAUSE OF THE MIXTURE OF THE THREE FLUIDS. *TR
Service brakes, Mar 18, 2014
ON MARCH 6, 2014 WAS DRIVING MY PATHFINDER AND CAME TO A 4 WAY STOP. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY 10 FT INSIDE THE INTERSECTION. ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD GONE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I CAME TO A STOP. THE CLOSEST AND SAFEST REPAIR SHOP WAS AT SEARS AUTOMOTIVE. AN INSPECTION WAS DONE ON MY BRAKES (GOOD), BRAKE LINES (GOOD), NO LEAKAGE WAS FOUND SO THE MECHANIC CONCLUDED THAT SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER THERE WAS A LEAK. A REPLACEMENT PART WAS BOUGHT AND NOW MY BRAKES WORK GOOD. (I DO HAVE THE OLD MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER). *TR
Service brakes, Mar 12, 2014
PULLED OUT OF MY HOUSE AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN, WHEN PUSHED ON BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND FINALLY STOPPED MY VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION OF A 4 WAY STOP, ONE OTHER VEHICLE WAS AT THE STOP SIGN ALSO. DROVE TO SEARS AUTOMOTIVE (CLOSEST) TO HAVE INSPECTION. THEY CHECKED BRAKES, BRAKE LINES WITH NO LEAKAGE FOUND. THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING INSIDE. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKES WORK GOOD NOW. CHECKED NISSAN AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. *TR
Electrical system, Service brakes, Feb 8, 2014
@NISSAN FOUND A NEARLY FATAL SOFTWARE BUG IN THE 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN THE KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZED AND YOU CONTINUE TO DRIVE AS THE VEHICLE WILL ALLOW, THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAN FAIL AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU LOST THE BRAKES! TO FIX PULL OVER AFTER MASHING THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP, TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON WITH THE PHYSICAL KEY IN THE IGNITION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jan 22, 2014
WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND TRUCK LIGHTS CAME ON TRANSMISSION STARTED JUMPING AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON ... PARKED CAR WOULD NOT CRANK THE NEXT DAY ,,, CALLED AND HAD TOWED. WAS TOLD BY NISSAN THAT TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WAS NOT ANY GOOD AND IT WOULD COST ME $4800 TO FIX ... NO ONE OFFERED TO HELP .. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD CONTACT NISSAN SO I DID , WAS TOLD BY NISSAN THAT IT WAS TO BAD THAT I WAS PAST THE EXTENTION OF THE WARENTY OF THE TRUCK. AND THEY COULD NOT HELP AT ALL.... AND HUNG UP. IT COST ME $3800 TO REPAIR MY CAR.. I FEEL RIPPED OFF, AND WILL MOST LIKLEY NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN EVEN THOUGH I HAVE OWNED 3. *TR
Equipment, Jul 26, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE AIR CONDITIONER THEN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESET THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Structure, Aug 22, 2011
I OWNED A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER AFTER FRONT WINDSCREEN WAS HIT BY A SMALL STONE THERE APPEARED A CRACK WHICH I DISMISSED. I NOW HAVE A 2009 PATHFINDER AND THE FRONT WINDSCREEN WAS HIT BY A SMALL STONE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOW AGAIN I HAVE A CRACKED WINDSCREEN - 2ND TIME AROUND IS NOT AN ACCIDENT - I CONSIDER IT A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 8, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THERE MAY BE A FAILURE IN THE RADIATOR AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS UNTIL THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.
Electrical system, Air bags, Mar 4, 2010, crash
I STRUCK A DEER WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER AND SLIGHT DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT FENDER. ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT A HIGH IMPACT COLLISION WITH THE DEER, THE WIRING FROM THE BUMPER TO THE AIRBAG WAS CUT IN TWO. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE. THE BODY SHOP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE NONE ARE AVAILABLE. IF A SLIGHT ACCIDENT MANAGED TO SEVER THE WIRES THEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A HIGH IMPACT CRASH WHEN THE WIRES ARE SEVERED. NO AIRBAG. NISSAN NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT IMMEDIATELY AND THEY NEED TO HAVE PARTS ON HAND DUE TO THE SHODDY WORKMANSHIP AND DESIGN OF THE WIRING HARNESS. *TR
Air bags, Oct 26, 2009
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DISENGAGES WHEN I SIT IN THE SEAT (AS IF A CHILD IS SITTING THERE.) I AM AN ADULT, 38 YEAR OLD FEMALE, 5'2" WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 115 POUNDS. WHENEVER I AM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, I WILL HAVE NO AIR BAG IF WE ARE IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Seat belts, Jul 6, 2009
MY SEATBELTS DO NOT LOCK WHEN THE BREAKS ARE MASHED. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN A BREAKS ARE SUDDENLY MASHED IN THE SEATBELTS CATCH TO PREVENT THE PASSENGER FROM GOING ANYWHERE. (MINE DON'T) I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH 2009. IN MAY 2009, THE DEALERSHIP REQUESTED THAT A BRING IT BACK FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATION. WHEN I RETURNED IN JUNE THEY STATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT MADE FOR THE SEATBELTS TO LOCK. THAT MY VEHICLE IS PROPERLY WORKING. I KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR