2009 Nissan CUBE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
101 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
73,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 101 complaints (21.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 27 | 26.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 18.8% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Steering | 21 |
| Power Train | 19 |
| Engine | 15 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
Electrical System: 22; Steering: 21; Power Train: 19; Engine: 15; Air Bags: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Service Brakes: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 22 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 7; 2013: 4; 2014: 15; 2015: 16; 2016: 12; 2017: 7; 2018: 12; 2019: 9; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10557150 · 2013-12-24 (December 24, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN CUBE. THE CONTACT STATED HIS DAUGHTER WAS STRANDED WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,700. UPDATED 01/23/14
Owner-reported narrative. 20,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10557150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10569477 · 2014-03-11 (March 11, 2014)
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILED, THE CAR WAS TOTALLY IMMOBILIZED, WAS NOT RESPONDING TO KEYLESS START, STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. THE PROBLEM WITH ESCL LOCK IS KNOWN TO NISSAN, IT ISSUED A RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE PART FOR OTHER CAR MODELS. I'M WORRYING WHETHER THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE CAR IS MOVING.
Owner-reported narrative. 86,169 miles reported. Look up ODI 10569477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463615 · 2012-06-29 (June 29, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN CUBE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND THE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AFTER THE PEDAL WAS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND SERVICED FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUES BY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE THE TIME OF REPAIRS AND WAS UNAWARE IF THE FAILURE HAD BEEN REMEDIED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,907 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,890.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,907 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10488755 · 2012-12-13 (December 13, 2012)
WE LEFT SEARS AND PROCEEDED TO PULL OUT OF PARKING SPOT. STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL AND RPM WENT TO OVER 5 GRAND. VEHICLE MOVED BY DRIFTING. AFTER RPMS DROPPED VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE BUT NOT VERY WELL. VEHICLE SHOWED SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING. THE TRANSMISSION IS A CVT TYPE AUTOMATIC. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS DECIDED TO SHUT CAR OFF AND RE-START. HOPING THIS METHOD WOULD ALLOW FOR ECM TO RE-BOOT. NO SUCH LUCK. CAR CARRIED ON FOR SEVERAL MILES.DANGEROUS PART OF JOURNEY WAS AT RED LIGHTS AND INTERSECTION. WAS HOPING THAT WE WOULD NOT BE REAR-…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,540 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532972 · 2013-07-31 (July 31, 2013)
I HAVE A 2009 NISSAN CUBE WHICH HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. WHEN I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM I FOUND OUT THAT IT ALSO IT CAUSES THE FAILURE OF ILLUMINATION OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS; WHICH CAN CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF REAR ENDED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10622001 · 2014-08-13 (August 13, 2014)
I PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE AND THAN PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I LOOKED DOWN AND I WAS IN "D" AFTER A FEW SECONDS I SHIFTED INTO LOW AND NOTHING HAPPENED. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR TOOK OFF. *TR I WAS SO SCARED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. I TRIED AGAIN, I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND SAT THERE, THAN IT INCHED ALONG AND THAN TOOK OFF AGAIN LIKE I WAS ON A ROLLER COASTER. LUCKILY I WAS A BLOCK FROM THE DEALER. SO I DROVE IT THERE ON A WING AND A PRAYER. IT TOOK ME AT LEAST 10 MINS. I HAD TO MAKE A TURN AND OTHER DRIVERS WERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 147,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10622001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10721273 · 2015-05-25 (May 25, 2015)
THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH (COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH) WILL SOMETIMES FAIL TO MAKE PROPER ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN TWO OF THREE CONDITIONS. ONE CONDITION IS A FAILURE OF THE PRNDL INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD (AS OPPOSED TO THE PRNDL INDICATOR AT THE SHIFTER CONTROL) TO ILLUMINATE. THE NEXT TWO CONDITIONS ARE MUCH LESS BENIGN; THEY CAN BE MUCH MORE FRUSTRATING OR DANGEROUS. THE VERY FRUSTRATING CONDITION IS: BECAUSE THE SWITCH FAILS TO INDICATE THE SHIFTER IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE CANNOT BE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10788232 · 2015-11-04 (November 4, 2015)
THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED YELLOW AND REMAINED ON WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STOPPED. I TOOK MY CUBE TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS SAME DEALERSHIP REPAIRED MY CUBE 9/19/2011 FOR A RECALL ON THIS SAME PART. PART D8700-1FA0C LOCK STEERING WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND HAD TO BE REPLACE AGAIN IN MY 2009 CUBE. THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THAT I CALL NISSAN TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPA…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10788232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10473800 · 2012-09-04 (September 4, 2012)
I WAS TRYING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR JUST STALLED WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THIS CONDITION WAS REPEATED SEVERAL TIME WHILE JUST DRIVING AROUND TOWN IN NORMAL TRAFFIC. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF I WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND HAD TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A CRASH, THIS TYPE OF ISSUE COULD LEAD TO DISASTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON THE INTERNET WITHOUT ANY CONCERN BY NISSAN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10693324 · 2015-03-10 (March 10, 2015)
MY WIFE'S 2009 NISSAN CUBE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY TO AND FROM WORK AND MOST RECENTLY IN A PARKING LOT (LUCKILY) IT LOCKED UP COMPLETELY. MOST TIMES SHE DESCRIBES IT LIKE IT IS STALLING, WHERE SHE IS ABLE TO MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO. A FEW TIMES HOWEVER AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, EVERYTHING LOCKED UP. CAR WOULDN'T START, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, BRAKE PEDAL WOULDN'T EVEN BUDGE. AFTER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10693324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10610229 · 2014-07-13 (July 13, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING THE 09 NISSAN CUBE AT 75 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN DECELERATION AND TURNED ITSELF OFF IN THE MIDST OF HEAVY SEMI TRUCK TRAFFIC. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CAR RETURNED TO THE OWNER AND AFTER APPROXIMENTALLY FORTY MORE MILES OF DRIVING THE PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN THREE MORE TIMES BEFORE THE OWNER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A CELL SIGNAL AND BE TOWED OVER 150 MILES TO THE NEXT CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. THAT DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THE V…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10610229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10717816 · 2015-05-21 (May 21, 2015)
THE COMMON PROBLEM OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM COMING APART AT THE FLANGE HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP FROM NASHVILLE, TN TO PITTSBURGH, PA WHEN THE ISSUE PRESENTED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE HOME WITH THE ISSUE AND THAT IT WOULD JUST BE VERY LOUD. WHEN I GOT HOME I FOUND THAT THE HEAT FROM THE BROKEN EXHAUST HAD MELTED THE BACK BUMPER LEAVING IT STRINGING OUT. ALSO, THE HEAT SHIELD SEPARATING THE EXHAUST FROM THE FUEL TANK APPEARS TO NOT COVER THE AREA OF THE COMMON SEPARATION. THIS MAKES ME FEEL IT WAS A V…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717816 at NHTSA ↗