2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. This model year has 37 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2009 Nissan Pathfinder Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Airbag Malfunctions
Transmission / Drivetrain
Considering a 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 11 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
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.
Showing 37 most recent complaints
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS OR IN PARK. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS THE DIAGNOSED ISSUE.
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?
THE VEHICLE JUST STOP. HAD TOW TO THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED WITH COOLENT IN THAT DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH, AND HAD TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE RADIATOR FAILED, CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO GET INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS RUINED THE TRA…
THIS TRUCK IS VERY WELL CARED FOR,,ALL OF A SUDDEN ITS STALLING AT ANY TIME,,SOME HARD STARTS,,RUNS PERFECT ,THAN STALLS,WHILE DRIVING,NO STEERING,VERY SCARRY,I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD GAS I FILLED 2 MORE TIME FROM GOOD GAS STATION 89 AND 91 OCTAN,
MY 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER (AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT), STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND OVERHEATING. LO AND BEHOLD WE HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IS MIXING. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM OTHERS HAVE REPORTED AS A FAILED TRANSMIS…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL AT A PARKING LOT, WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTAC…
WHEN DRIVING UPHILL ON LONG MOUNTAIN ROADS AND SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN TO 2, 3 OR 4, THE CAR WON'T STAY IN GEAR. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING IT WILL SHIFT BY ITSELF INTO 5 WITHOUT ALLOWING YOU TO SHIFT DOWN AGAIN. YOU CAN ONLY GO INTO D OR STOP AND SHUT DOWN T…
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING. WE LINE IN NM SO WE'RE NOT PART OF THE RECALL BUT WE DRIVE FREQUENTLY ON SNOWY SALTY MOUNTAIN ROADS SO WE MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE.
I TURN ON THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE IT WAS COLD AND IT STARTED BURNING AND SMOKING, LEAVING A BURN MARK IN THE STEERING. I WAS DRIVING IN BRENTWOOD NEW YORK ME AND FAMILY VISITING FAMILY.
RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING.
TAKATA RECALL- MY TRANSMISSION FLUID IS MIXING AND GOING INTO MY COOLANT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND MY GAGES IN THE CAR WAS NOT INDICATING TO ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ALL I NOTICED WAS A THICK CHALKY FILM IN THE RADIATOR.
2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED RADIATOR FAILURE. ANTI-FREEZE HAS TO BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE ALMOST DAILY AND THE WATER TEMPERATURE WOULD RISE ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS. *JS
THE RECALL FOR AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR FORM A WHILE BACK FOR NISSAN VEHICALES IN THE NORTHERN STATES IS NOW AFFECTING MY PATHFINDER (THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON). MY PATHFINDER WAS ORIGINAL PURCHASED DOWN SOUTH BEFORE I PURCHASED IT IN ERIE PA. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET THE REC…
THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER SYSTEM IS MAKING NOISE. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE AND HAS SENT OUT AN TSB TO DEALERS THAT DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM SINCE 2004 OR EARLIER. I AM LUCKY THIS DID NOT …
IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN TO START VEHICLE. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. CAN'T START VEHICLE TO GO ANYWHERE.
TAKATA RECALL. 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER SUSPENSION FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM NHTSA CAMPAIGN #10E019000 DATE ANNOUNCED: MAY 20, 2010 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER AIR BAGS:FRONTAL NHTSA CAMPAIGN #08V690000 DATE ANNOUNCED DECEMBER 29, 2008 DOOR AJAR LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF WH…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT FLASHES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO RESUME TO NORMAL OPE…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder.
Recalls for 2009 Nissan Pathfinder
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2009 Nissan Pathfinder — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?▾
Notable Issues. The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has 37 NHTSA owner complaints, 1 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (11 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?▾
#1: Engine Problems (11 complaints). #2: Airbag Malfunctions (11 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (8 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?▾
The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has 1 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 37 total NHTSA complaints. 1 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. The largest issue: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?▾
The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has notable issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Pathfinder reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2009 Nissan Pathfinder
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.