RoadVitals

2009 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
37
Latest May 7, 2021
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 6, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 37 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 37 · page 1 of 2

EngineFuel system
Filed May 7, 2021

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

NHTSA ID
11415614
Incident
May 7, 2021
Airbags
Filed 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?

NHTSA ID
11414622
Incident
Apr 15, 2021
Mileage
92,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 28, 2020

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

NHTSA ID
11385341
Incident
Dec 19, 2020
Mileage
87,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed 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.

NHTSA ID
11377508
Incident
Nov 24, 2020
Mileage
107,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed 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,

NHTSA ID
11349535
Incident
Jul 20, 2020
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed 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 AND HIGH SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID
11342448
Incident
Jul 15, 2020
Mileage
92,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 15, 2020
1 injury reported

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 CONTACT STATED SHE INJURED HER LEG WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, HE ADVISED THE CONTACT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER BAYOU NISSAN (13050 I-10 SERVICE RD, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70128, (504) 245-5900) AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,300. *DT*DT VEHICLE REPAIRED*JB

NHTSA ID
11329033
Incident
Jun 15, 2020
Mileage
11,300 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 13, 2020

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 THE ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP ALREADY REPLACED THE SHIFTING ASSEMBLY, INSPECTED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION & WIRES FROM THE COMPUTER. NO PROBLEM COULD BE IDENTIFIED BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS. THE CAR WILL STAY IN LOWER GEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL. IT'S A MYSTERY AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO DIAGNOSE FURTHER. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS? THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER IS UNABLE TO HELP. THEY WORKED ON THE COMPUTER AND MAIN CIRCUIT BOARDS ABOUT 5 YRS AGO ' COULD THE HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED THIS PROBLEM? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ID
11308894
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 12, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11308892
Incident
Feb 12, 2020
Mileage
1 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 21, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11300627
Incident
Jan 18, 2020
Mileage
184,148 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 27, 2019

RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING.

NHTSA ID
11291489
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Engine
Filed Jun 17, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11220524
Incident
May 18, 2019
Mileage
157,100 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 31, 2019

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

NHTSA ID
11209851
Incident
May 31, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2019

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 RECALLED EXTEND TO MY CAR AND OTHERS LIKE IT

NHTSA ID
11187162
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
Mileage
132,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 3, 2017

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 FAIL ON MY RECENT LONG TRIPS ON THE HIGHWAY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.

NHTSA ID
10993006
Incident
Jun 2, 2017
Mileage
170,000 mi
Filed Dec 8, 2016

IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN TO START VEHICLE. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. CAN'T START VEHICLE TO GO ANYWHERE.

NHTSA ID
10933810
Incident
Dec 8, 2016
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jul 31, 2016

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 WHILE DRIVING. CAR LOCKS AND UNLOCKS ON ITS OWN. ALL FOUR WINDOWS ROLL DOWN ON THEIR OWN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. RADIATOR LEAKS.

NHTSA ID
10891895
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Airbags
Filed Jul 12, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10884201
Incident
Apr 20, 2015
Mileage
91,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 7, 2016

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT FLASHES.

NHTSA ID
10854096
Incident
Apr 7, 2016
Mileage
98,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineVisibility
Filed Jan 12, 2016

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 OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE CHAMBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO PERFORMED UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 05/06/16*LJ ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 05/11/16.*JB

NHTSA ID
10819607
Incident
Apr 1, 2014
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 17, 2015

THIS VEHICLE PERIODICALLY WILL ROLL BOTH WINDOWS DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF, THE KEYS REMOVED AND YOU ARE NOT NEAR THE CAR. TRIED EVEN REMOVING THE BATTERIES FROM THE REMOTES. ONLY DOES IT ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS. SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT IT PERIODICALLY RUNS THE BATTERY DOWN, WITH NOTHING ON. VERIFIED NOTHING ON. GONE THRU SEVERAL NEW BATTERIES NOW. ENDED UP INSTALLING A COSTCO INTELLICHARGER, THAT CHARGES THE BATTERY EVERY NIGHT . JUST NEED TO REMEMBER TO PLUG IT IN EVERY NIGHT.

NHTSA ID
10810994
Incident
Dec 2, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 17, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS CROSS CONTAMINATION IN THE RADIATOR. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,000. UPDATED 10/05/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10794416
Incident
Aug 17, 2015
Mileage
101,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 22, 2015

I WAS ENTERING A PARKING LOT AND TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR PROCEED TOWARDS A BRICK WALL AND WINDOW. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED PUMPING THE BRAKES AND GOT A "SOFT PEDAL" JUST OFF THE FLOOR AND THE CAR STOPPED JUST BEFORE CRASHING INTO A MAJOR GROCERY STORE WINDOW. BEING EXPERIENCED WITH CARS I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR FLUID WHICH WAS FULL. CHECKED ALL THE WHEELS FOR LEAKS AND WERE DRY AS WELL AS THE LINES. I WENT INTO THE STORE AND CALLED FOR SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP. ON RETURNING TO THE CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER I STARTED THE CAR AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FOUND THEM TO BE NORMAL. ON DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH HAVE FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE THAT DRIVE THE SAME PLATFORM VEHICLE NOT JUST THE PATHFINDER. UNITL THIS PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED AND CORRECTED THERE EASILY COULD BE A MAJOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING INJURYS. I AM NOW DRIVING MY PATHFINDER WITH THE VDC BUTTON IN THE OFF POSITION AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I ALSO REMOVE THE ABS FUSE AS THERE IS SOMEKIND OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS SOFTWARE CAUSING THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO SHUTDOWN. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SPENT $1,000 OF DOLLARS HAVING SYSTEMS REBUILT REPLACING MASTER CYLINDERS, PADS AND ROTORS ONLY TO FIND IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. REPEATING THIS NOT JUST THE 2009 PATHFINDER PROBLEM BUT INCLUDES ALL NISSAN VEHICLES THAT SHARE THE SAME PLATFORM AND BRAKING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
10758609
Incident
Aug 13, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 14, 2015

WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY I WAS ABOUT TO START MY VEHICLE WHEN MY DAUGHTER MOVE THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIRBAGS INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, I HAD JUST HAD THE TENSION BELTS REPLACE BY THE DEALERSHIP, TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE HOPING TO AVOID HAVING TO REPLACE THE SEAT PRESSURE PLATE. NOT SURE WHY ALL THIS IS HAPPENING BUT I HOPE THIS WILL HELP FUTURE OWNER TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
10733975
Incident
Jul 8, 2015
Mileage
132,385 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 17, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V690000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

NHTSA ID
10725790
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
51,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Narrow this down by component

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .