2010 Nissan Pathfinder

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Air bags is the leading concern among 40 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 23rd highest complaint count among 25 Pathfinder model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 40

Of the 2010 reports, 2 involved a crash. 3 people were injured.

Primary concernAir bags11 reports · 28% of complaints
Owner complaints40Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Air bags11
  2. Power train11
  3. Engine6
  4. Steering5
  5. Other or unspecified5
  6. Suspension4
  7. Vehicle speed control4
  8. Fuel/propulsion system3

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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 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.

    Campaign 23V067000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Suspension, front, control arm, lower armMay 14, 2010

    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.

    IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    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.

    Campaign 10V208000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Steering, gear box, shaft sectorMar 24, 2010

    NISSAN HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2010 TO MARCH 13, 2010. ON SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE FASTENERS SECURING THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MODULE, AND ALSO THE FASTENERS SECURING THE STEERING SHAFT POSITIONING BRACKET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

    IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TRAJECTORY MIGHT BE AFFECTED. THE FASTENERS COULD POSSIBLY COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN POSITIONING BRACKET INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG FASTENERS AND ANY MISSING FASTENERS WILL BE REPLACED AND ALL LOOSE FASTENERS WILL BE RETIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

    Campaign 10V115000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: fuel/propulsion system

3 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 17, 2022

    I was traveling at approx. 35 mph when the car shuddered violently for a second or two, all panel lights lit up and everything completely shut down while going through a very busy 6-lane intersection. All steering, brakes, and maneuverability were lost. I was lucky to coast to a safe spot and if this had happened on an interstate it may have easily been catastrophic. The dealer found a failed cam shaft sensors (their verbiage on the bill). Replaced both and the crank sensor.

  2. Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 17, 2020

    SERVICE ENGINE SOON, LIGHT TURNED ON AS SOON AS I TURNED ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT TURNED OFF SINCE AND FOR NO REASON, UNTIL I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE THE CODE WAS P0181 AND IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH FUEL SYSTEM. LIGHT IS STILL ON.

  3. Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 22, 2018

    HEATER HOSE BROKE SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING IN MODERATE TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING A SHORT BURST OF STEAM AND THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. MECHANICS STATED THAT THIS PART DID NOT SHOW ABNORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BUSTED ON A 2010 VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE BREAK WAS SUDDEN AND WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE BUSY FREEWAY BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED.