2009 Nissan Pathfinder recalls and problems

The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has 3 safety recalls and 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Nissan dealer.

Recalls
3
Complaints
37
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2009 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2009 Nissan Pathfinder recalls

Recall 23V-067: Air Bags

Reported Feb 10, 2023 · 404,690 vehicles affected · Nissan North America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Recall 10V-401: Equipment

Reported Sep 10, 2010 · 7,948 vehicles affected · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: 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.

Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.

Fix: 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.

Recall 08V-690: Air Bags

Reported Dec 29, 2008 · 242,720 vehicles affected · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

2009 Nissan Pathfinder problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Air Bags11
Power Train8
Engine7
Service Brakes5
Electrical System4
Engine and Engine Cooling4
Structure2
Unknown or Other2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Seat Belts1
Equipment1
Visibility1

Most reported parts

  • Air Bags › Frontal — 2
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly — 2
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System — 1
  • Structure › Body — 1
  • Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner — 1
  • Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 91,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2009 Nissan Pathfinder complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · reported May 7, 2021
Vehicle stalls intermittently at low to moderate speeds or in park. Camshaft position sensor was replaced which was the diagnosed issue.
Air Bags · at 92,000 miles · reported Apr 30, 2021
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?
Power Train · at 107,000 miles · reported Dec 2, 2020
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 transmission. Cost is about $4,000 to replace, and third party warranty is refusing to cover any of it.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) · reported Aug 15, 2020
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,
Engine · at 92,000 miles · reported Jul 30, 2020
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 transmission fluid cooler integrated in the radiator that allowed engine coolant to mix with and contaminate the automatic transmission fluid. There were no warning signs leading up to the failures other than a sudden jolt of the vehicle like the transmission was slipping. This always happens while the vehicle is moving at slow…

Other Nissan Pathfinder years

Compare all Nissan Pathfinder years · All Nissan models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder: 23V-067 (air bags), 10V-401 (equipment), 08V-690 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder?

Owners report air bags problems most often (11 reports), followed by power train (8). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 91,000 miles.

Are Nissan recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Nissan dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.