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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Nissan Pathfinder Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 37 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Nissan dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2009 Nissan Pathfinder owner complaints

Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder, describing incidents dated June 19, 2009 to May 7, 2021.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 11 complaints
  • Engine 11 complaints
  • Power Train 8 complaints
  • Service Brakes 5 complaints
  • Electrical System 4 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints

Of the 37 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 37 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11415614 · Filed

    VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS OR IN PARK. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS THE DIAGNOSED ISSUE.

  • ODI #11414622 · Filed

    MY DASHBOARD HAS A LOGO OF A RED FLASHING PASSENGER WITH A AIRBAG RED BALL. IT FLASHES NON STOP WHEN EVER I TURN ON THE IGNITION. HOWEVER WHEN I CHECKED FOR AIR BAG RECALL IT'S NOT COMING UP ON THE LIST. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

  • ODI #11385341 · Filed

    THE VEHICLE JUST STOP. HAD TOW TO THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED WITH COOLENT IN THAT DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION

Read all 37 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Driver's Side Air Bag Cover Emblem May Detach

NHTSA #23V067000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported February 10, 2023 · Nissan North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 404,690 vehicles

Repair completion: 16.1% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Nissan campaign PC944, PC945, PC946 · Owners notified December 8, 2023

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

PORTABLE AUTOMOTIVE GPS PRODUCTS/OVERHEATS

NHTSA #10V401000 · Equipment — Electrical — Navigational System(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) · NHTSA notice

Reported September 10, 2010 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 7,948 vehicles

Owners notified September 16, 2010

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

LOWER LINK REPLACEMENT PARTS

NHTSA #10E019000 · Suspension — Front — Control Arm — Lower Arm · NHTSA notice

Reported May 20, 2010 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 1,873 vehicles

Owners notified July 12, 2010

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR HOUSING/ROAD SALT

NHTSA #08V690000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported December 29, 2008 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 242,720 vehicles

Owners notified January 26, 2009 · Vehicles built June 1, 2004 – November 19, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Nissan Pathfinder model years

Check your 2009 Nissan Pathfinder VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Nissan Pathfinder at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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