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Light NHTSA footprint — 37 owner complaints and 4 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has 37 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 9 complaints, typically surfacing around 99,398 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Pathfinder | 837 | 5 |
| 2007 Pathfinder | 561 | 2 |
| 2008 Pathfinder | 328 | 5 |
| 2009 Pathfinder (this page) | 37 | 4 |
| 2010 Pathfinder | 40 | 5 |
| 2011 Pathfinder | 45 | 2 |
| 2012 Pathfinder | 23 | 2 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 84,217 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
The vehicle just stop. Had tow to the mechanic diagnosed with coolent in that damaged the transmission
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,…
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Nissan pathfinder. The contact stated that he received a letter from the manufacturer stating that there may be a failure in the radiator and they would not replace any parts until the failure occurred within the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by a…
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…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Nissan Pathfinder is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average; 4 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 9 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 99,398 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 37 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 99,398 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 9 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 99,398 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 99,398 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 37 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.