AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2009 Nissan Xterra
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Nissan Xterra, most frequently naming the airbags, powertrain (other) and engine categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 87 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 2009 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 2 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 3 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 4 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 6 |
| May 2013 | 1 | 7 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 8 |
| May 2015 | 1 | 9 |
| Sep 2015 | 2 | 11 |
| Aug 2016 | 1 | 12 |
| Apr 2018 | 1 | 13 |
| Jan 2019 | 1 | 14 |
| Apr 2019 | 1 | 15 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 16 |
| Jul 2020 | 1 | 17 |
| Aug 2021 | 1 | 18 |
| Mar 2026 | 1 | 19 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags623.1%
- Powertrain (other)519.2%
- Engine415.4%
- Electrical311.5%
- Driver assistance27.7%
- Brakes27.7%
- Body & structure27.7%
- Suspension13.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
5 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
EQUIPMENT
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Transmission Failures
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I took my car to complete Recall NumberPC945, I was told that my car has an issue with the driver side air Bag - Clockspring Assembly / Spiral Cable: REPLACE SPIRAL CABLE - C1163/B1049 and also another issue related to the driver side airbag that is under the steering wheel. I was quoted over $2000 to fix the issue. The recall is to replace the decal over the airbag and I think the issue is bigger than that, the issue is the airbag clock spring/ spiral cable that malfunctions and not only the plastic plate. A quick Google search will show you that this is a known issue that impacts thousands of Xterra owners. Nissan is fraudulently just replacing the plastic Nissan Emblem when the issue is way bigger than that and could cause bodily harm to the driver if the air bag doesn't deploy.
- NHTSA ID
- 11722570
- Incident
- Mar 6, 2026
Cracked cooler tube caused transmission oil & coolant to mix causing transmission failure.
- NHTSA ID
- 11430763
- Incident
- May 4, 2021
A FAULTY RADIATOR CAUSED MY TRANSMISSON AND COOLANT TO LEAK TOGETHER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. NOW MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED
- NHTSA ID
- 11340619
- Incident
- Jun 23, 2020
- Mileage
- 260,000 mi
I PURCHASED THIS 1 OWNER TRADE IN 4/11/19. AS OF 5/9/19 I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE PRONOUNCED ISSUES WITH LOSING POWER AROUND 40 MPH . DIAGNOSTICS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE COOLING COIL WHICH RESULTED IN COOLANT IN MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM UNDER THE CLASS ACTION REQUIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY. AS I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HONESTLY AFRAID TO FIND OUT SINCE I STILL OWE 5000 DOLLARS ON THE CAR I PUT OFF GETTING THE DIAGNOSTICS. THE FINAL STRAW CAME WHEN I WAS MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND LOST POWER TRYING TO MERGE INTO FAST TRAFFIC. I FINALLY CALLED A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTICS ON 5/31/19 AND TOOK THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT ON 6/4/19. I WAS TOLD THERE MAY BE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS THE NEXT DAY 6/5/19 AND NISSAN IS REVIEWING MY CLAIM. I AM PRAYING THEY WON'T DENY IT BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTICS WERE COMPLETED A COUPLE BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE EXTENSION EXPIRED ON 5/31/19.
- NHTSA ID
- 11219416
- Incident
- May 30, 2019
- Mileage
- 98,600 mi
I TOOK MY XTERRA IN BECAUSE IT CONSTANTLY BLEW HOT AIR. UPON INSPECTION I WAS INFORMED OF THE TSB ISSUED BY NISSAN THAT THE RADIATOR TUBES CAN CRACK AND MIX COOLANT WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THAT I WAS LOW ON COOLANT BECAUSE OF THAT. THE TECH INFORMED ME THAT THE LEAK WAS MINIMAL BUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACES ASAP. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND LINES FLUSHED AND ALSO HAD TO TAKE MY CAR INTO A TRANS EXPERT TO FLUSH AND INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION
- NHTSA ID
- 11203345
- Incident
- Feb 13, 2018
- Mileage
- 103,000 mi
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE LAST YEAR I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE BREAK SYSTEM OF MY NISSAN XTERRA. WHEN USING THE BREAKS THE ANTI LOCK BREAK SYSTEM (ABS) WONT WORK AND THE VEHICLE TAKES LONER TO STOP. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BREAKS ALL THE WAY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS BUT NO ONE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, INCLUDING AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER REPAIR SHOP.
- NHTSA ID
- 11171459
- Incident
- Dec 18, 2018
- Mileage
- 3 mi
RADIATOR INTERNAL FAILURE CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.
- NHTSA ID
- 11083706
- Incident
- Apr 2, 2018
- Mileage
- 104,000 mi
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE, WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN RUSH-HOUR IN AUGUST IN PHOENIX, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND LOST ALL POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION, I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HAD FAILED AND SPRAYED FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE,-THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH ZERO WARNING AND NO SERVICE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY HOUSE AND INSPECTED FURTHER, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID AT 120K I NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR A WARRANTY COVERED REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. I'M NOW FACING A REPAIR BY MYSELF OR PAY A MECHANIC TO FIX AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW.
- NHTSA ID
- 10896965
- Incident
- Aug 16, 2016
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
STRUCTURE:BODY
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. · The “VIN Plate/Label” (metal plate or vinyl label) is attached to the instrument panel or body on the driver side at the base of the windshield (see Figure 1). · The “Certification Label” (vinyl adhesive label) is located on the lower area of the driver side B-Pillar (see Figure 1).
STRUCTURE:BODY
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. · The “VIN Plate/Label” (metal plate or vinyl label) is attached to the instrument panel or body on the driver side at the base of the windshield (see Figure 1). · The “Certification Label” (vinyl adhesive label) is located on the lower area of the driver side B-Pillar (see Figure 1).
AIR BAGS
VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2005-2013 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA; DRIVER AIR BAG COVER CAMPAIGN ID #: PC945 and PC948 APPLIED VEHICLES: 2005-2013 Frontier (D40) 2005-2012 Pathfinder (R51) 2005-2013 Xterra (N50) Check Service COMM or Dealer Business Systems (DBS) National Service History to confirm campaign eligibility. INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary safety recall campaign on certain specific model year 2005-2012 Pathfinder, and 2005-2013 Frontier and Xterra vehicles to inspect and, if necessary, replace the Driver Air Bag Cover. This service will be performed at no charge to the customer for parts or labor. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Nissan has assigned identification number PC945 and PC948 to this campaign. This number must appear on all communication and documentation of any nature dealing with this campaign. DEALER RESPONSIBILITY It is the dealer’s responsibility to check Service COMM or Dealer Business Systems (DBS) National Service History for the campaign status on each vehicle falling within the range of this voluntary safety recall which for any reason enters the service department. This includes vehicles purchased from private parties or presented by transient (tourist) owners and vehicles in a dealer’s inventory. Federal law requires that new vehicles in dealer inventory which are the subject of a safety recall must be corrected prior to sale. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While federal law applies only to new vehicles, Nissan strongly encourages dealers to correct any used vehicles in their inventory before they are retailed.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.