2009 Nissan PATHFINDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
91,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 37 complaints (24.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 24.3% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 16.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 8.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Air Bags: 9; Power Train: 8; Engine: 7; Service Brakes: 5; Electrical System: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 8 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 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 5; 2016: 5; 2017: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 8; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10560943 · 2014-01-22 (January 22, 2014)
WAS ON MY WAY HOME AND TRUCK LIGHTS CAME ON TRANSMISSION STARTED JUMPING AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON ... PARKED CAR WOULD NOT CRANK THE NEXT DAY ,,, CALLED AND HAD TOWED. WAS TOLD BY NISSAN THAT TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR WAS NOT ANY GOOD AND IT WOULD COST ME $4800 TO FIX ... NO ONE OFFERED TO HELP .. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD CONTACT NISSAN SO I DID , WAS TOLD BY NISSAN THAT IT WAS TO BAD THAT I WAS PAST THE EXTENTION OF THE WARENTY OF THE TRUCK. AND THEY COULD NOT HELP AT ALL.... AND HUNG UP. IT COST ME $3800 TO REPAIR MY CAR.. I FEEL RIPPED OFF, …
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10615087 · 2014-07-21 (July 21, 2014)
THE DEFECT IN THE RADIATOR CAUSED THE ANTIFREEZE AND OIL TO MIX. IT THEN MIXED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THAT WAS FIXED BY A REPAIR SHOP. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED OUT BECAUSE OF THE MIXTURE OF THE THREE FLUIDS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10615087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563495 · 2014-02-08 (February 8, 2014)
@NISSAN FOUND A NEARLY FATAL SOFTWARE BUG IN THE 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHEN THE KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZED AND YOU CONTINUE TO DRIVE AS THE VEHICLE WILL ALLOW, THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAN FAIL AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU LOST THE BRAKES! TO FIX PULL OVER AFTER MASHING THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP, TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON WITH THE PHYSICAL KEY IN THE IGNITION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568764 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
PULLED OUT OF MY HOUSE AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN, WHEN PUSHED ON BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND FINALLY STOPPED MY VEHICLE IN THE INTERSECTION OF A 4 WAY STOP, ONE OTHER VEHICLE WAS AT THE STOP SIGN ALSO. DROVE TO SEARS AUTOMOTIVE (CLOSEST) TO HAVE INSPECTION. THEY CHECKED BRAKES, BRAKE LINES WITH NO LEAKAGE FOUND. THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING INSIDE. REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKES WORK GOOD NOW. CHECKED NISSAN AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,292 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10933810 · 2016-12-08 (December 8, 2016)
IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN TO START VEHICLE. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. CAN'T START VEHICLE TO GO ANYWHERE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10933810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11300627 · 2020-01-21 (January 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 184,148 miles reported. Look up ODI 11300627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11349535 · 2020-08-15 (August 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,
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11349535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11415614 · 2021-05-07 (May 7, 2021)
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS OR IN PARK. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS THE DIAGNOSED ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11415614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316755 · 2010-03-04 (March 4, 2010)
I STRUCK A DEER WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER AND SLIGHT DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT FENDER. ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT A HIGH IMPACT COLLISION WITH THE DEER, THE WIRING FROM THE BUMPER TO THE AIRBAG WAS CUT IN TWO. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE. THE BODY SHOP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE NONE ARE AVAILABLE. IF A SLIGHT ACCIDENT MANAGED TO SEVER THE WIRES THEN WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A HIGH IMPACT CRASH WHEN THE WIRES ARE SEVERED. …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10810994 · 2015-12-17 (December 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10810994 at NHTSA ↗