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2009 Nissan Cube

The Verdict

74 Solid Pick

The 2009 Nissan Cube has 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (32 complaints) and electrical (25 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 74/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan Cube, consider the 2013 model year which has 97% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2013 has 97% fewer complaints

View the 2013 Nissan Cube dashboard →

74

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 2

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

26V230000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Cube vehicles. The driver’s air bag inflator may detach from the steering wheel during air bag deployment.

Risk

A driver's air bag that detaches can strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the front air bag inflator serial number, and replace the inflator as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 27, 2026. Owners may c...

Reported Oct 4, 2026

10V330000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

NISSAN IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 NISSAN CUBE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 30, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE...

Risk

FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SPECIAL PROTECTOR AND ATTACH IT TO THE GASOLINE RECIRCULATION TUBE AT THE LOCATION OF THE FILLER NECK CONNECTOR. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY R...

Reported Apr 11, 2026

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2009323252317
20101502695
2011609115
201260445
201310110
201421202

By Category

Body
32
Electrical
25
Engine
23
Transmission
17
Brakes
3

By Severity

1
45
2
49
3
2
4
4

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 2

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Cube. The contact received notification of NTHSA Campaign Number: 26V230000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

12d ago
Electrical 2

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Cube. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V230000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that parts were on back order. The contact was later informed that the parts were not available and were no longer manufactured. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The contact had not experienced a failure.

26d ago
Brakes 1

The TPMS light keeps flashing off and on and all my tires are the pressure they're supposed to be

13mo ago
Body 2

2009 Cube would not start. Steering wheel locked prevented me from starting the car. Called AAA and they tried to jump start and still would not start. AAA towed my car to Capital Nissan in San Jose and they confirmed it was the Steering Lock Unit. Replaced and charged me 1363.46. After researching online there was a recall (not my Cube and I don't know why) back in 2011. I also found that "recalls never expired". I feel because this incident happened at a later time the Steering Lock Unit became defective. I've noticed the warning light on my dashboard for awhile but it was off and on and have been taking my car for maintenance over the years at Premier Nissan (now called Capitol Nissan in San Jose) and thought maybe the tech would find the problem. I feel because it was defective and recalled I shouldn't have to pay for parts and labor. Also on my Invoice they wrote down the mileage as 140000 and that is not true. My Cube has 138000.

14mo ago
Engine 1

Many complaints about the nissian cube... the battery are good and even put new batteries in the key fob.. the car isn't registering it and steering wheel is locked bc is a security feature.. many complaints online for these.. is this a recall yet?

30mo ago
Electrical 1

Started my car at 9. Went to start my car at 10. Wouldn’t start. The escl has failed.

42mo ago
Engine 4

Unknown

55mo ago
Electrical 2

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Cube. The contact stated that the horn failed to operate as needed while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where he was informed that the clockspring was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that if the clockspring was not replaced, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash. The manufacturer informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

57mo ago
Body 2

THE BACK DOOR LATCH/LOCK DOESN'T WORK. IT PERMANENTLY LOCKED AND CAN'T BE UNLOCKED WITH KEY OR ELECTRONIC KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY APARTMENT DESIGNATED SPACE. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE TRUNK, IT WOULDN'T UNLOCK. MY RESEARCH ON THE CUBE OWNER'S BLOG INDICATED SEVERAL OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAD ESTIMATES FROM DEALERS OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE LOCK. NISSAN DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT REQUIRES REPLACING THE ENTIRE LOCKING MECHANISM. THERE ARE A FEW INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS ON LINE OF HOW TO REPAIR THE LOCK. IT REQUIRES REMOVING BACK DOOR INSIDE OF VEHICLE.

72mo ago
Transmission 2

ON 07/20/2020 TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING. VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHUTTERS IN MOTION. LACK OF POWER. AT 124,000 MILES. UNABLE TO GET TO 50 MPH. VEHICLE ALSO VIBRATES WHEN STATIONARY.

72mo ago
Body 2

TIRE VALVE STEM LEAKING AIR, TIRE GOING FLAT ON 2009 NISSAN CUBE. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE.

72mo ago
Electrical 2

MY 2009 NISSAN CUBE HAD A RECALL FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRICAL STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL). IT WENT OUT IN JANUARY 2020 AND THE NISSAN DEALER WANTS 832.00 TO REPAIR WHAT IS A NISSAN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. INVESTIGATING THIS IT WAS FOUND THAT IN JANUARY 2012, JUST BEFORE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM THE NISSAN DEALER, THE ESCL RECALL WAS FIXED AT THE MURFREESBORO DEALERSHIP. AS I WASNT THE OWNER AT THE TIME I DO NOT HAVE PAPERWORK TO SHOW THIS, ONLY THE WORD FROM THE DEALER. THE ESCL IS OBVIOUSLY STILL A PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID SINCE IT WAS FIXED ONCE THAT MET THE RECALL CRITERIA AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURERS DEFECTIVE ESCL. THE RED LIGHT WITH THE KEY CAME ON WHEN IT WAS PARKED AT A STORE AND WOULDN'T MOVE SO IT WAS TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALER. THEY HAVE STATED THE PART IS 579.93 AND THE LABOR WILL BE 312.50. NISSAN CONSUMER HOTLINE WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS REPAIRED BUT WOULDN'T GIVE ME A DATE/PLACE SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM TO GET THIS INFORMATION. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO STATED IT WAS DONE IN JANUARY 2012 WHEN IT WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION TO SELL ON THE LOT. SINCE IT IS A DOCUMENTED MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP SUPPOSEDLY DID THE WORK WHILE THE CAR WAS FOR SALE ON THEIR LOT (MEANING WE HAVE TO TRUST THEY ACTUALLY DID THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR), WHEN THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS WHY IS IT NOT BEING COVERED? THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET OF NISSAN 2009 CUBE OWNERS WHO TO THIS DAY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ESCL AND THE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILLS THAT GO WITH IT.

78mo ago
Engine 2

1) CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS REPAIRED. THE LIGHT IS BACK ON ALMOST A YEAR LATER AND HAS CONTINUED TO FLASH ON AND OFF. 2) TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO ON AND OFF AND I REPLACED AND ALIGNED MY TIRES AND STILL IT CONTINUES. 3) WHEN PUTTING GAS IN MY TANK THE GAUGE IS NEVER ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP AND YET THE PUMP WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO INPUT MORE GAS. ALSO THE GAS IS NOT LASTING THE AMOUNT OF MILE IT SHOULD, AND THE READING DOES NOT SEEM ACCURATE.

81mo ago
Electrical 2

THE ANTITHEFT LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. NOW THE CAR WONT START.

84mo ago
Engine 2

VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT.

84mo ago
Brakes 2

THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS PROGRESSIVELY GONE LOWER TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THERE IS A SPONGY FEEL AND ONLY ENGAGES FULLY AT THE LAST MOMENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. STOPPING IS AT THE LAST MOMENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE PUMPED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. THE ROTORS, BRAKE PADS AND SHOES AND NEW BRAKE FLUID HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THE BRAKE ISSUE REMAINS.

86mo ago
Engine 2

THE CUBE WILL FREQUENTLY STOP WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT IS POSSIBLE TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR AT THE MOMENT THIS HAPPENS AND SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL CATCH AND CARRY ON. IF THIS DOES NOT WORK, THE CAR MUST BE SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING A RESTART. UNFORTUNATELY ONCE THIS SITUATION HAPPENS, IT WILL VERY LIKELY RECUR SOON AFTER. IT IS MY OBSERVATION THAT THIS HAPPENS MOST OFTEN WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS QUITE HIGH (75 F AND ABOVE). ON COOL DAYS THE SITUATION IS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN UNLESS THE CAR IS DRIVEN OVER AN HOUR IN DURATION. AS ANOTHER OBSERVATION IT IS MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IF THE GAS GAUGE IS LESS THAN FULL. I TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM TWICE FOR MAUS NISSAN BUT IT DID NOT OCCUR. THERE WAS A ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ON DURING BOTH THOSE ATTEMPTS INDICATING A CATALYTIC CONVERTER ERROR. SINCE THAT TIME (EARLY 2018) THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WITHOUT ANY SERVICE ENGINE WARNING BEING ON. THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, I TOOK THE CAR INTO NISSAN IN CHATTANOOGA. THEY SAID THERE WAS A LITTLE TOO MUCH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY REMOVED SOME AND I CONTINUED ON THE FLORIDA. WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. WHILE IN FLORIDA, WE LIMIT DRIVING TO EARLY MORNINGS AND EVENINGS FOR LESS THAN 30 MINUTES AND WE MAINTAIN THE GAS TANK ON FULL.

89mo ago
Body 2

REAR HATCH DOOR LOCK DOES NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE LOCK HAS WORKED AND THEN IT QUITS WORKING. IN AN EMERGENCY A PERSON WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THROUGH THE HATCH DOOR. ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THE EARLY MODELS.

89mo ago
Body 1

SAME ISSUE AS THE OWNERS IN THIS THREAD WITH REGARDS TO THE ESCL. WENT TO START MY CAR AS A SNOW STORM WAS STARTING AND NO LUCK. MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ESCL AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE CUBE. HOWEVER, MY PARTNER OWNS A 2009 ALTIMA AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE A MONTH AGO AND GOT IT FIXED AT NO COST. THE FACT THAT NUMEROUS 09 CUBE OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AROUND THE SAME TIME WITH NO OFFER TO RECALL OR REIMBURSE US IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE EMAILED CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH SCREEN SHOTS OF EVERYONE'S COMPLAINT AND REACHED OUT TO NISSAN VIA TWITTER. THEY HAVE RESPONDED AND ARE LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE NOW. FINGERS CROSSED THEY DO SOMETHING FOR US

90mo ago
Engine 1

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE WHILE MY WIFE WAS AT WORK. SHE CAME OUT OF WORK AFTER DARK, WITH NO ACCESS BACK INTO A BANKING BUILDING, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER CALLING ME AND TRYING A COUPLE THINGS, WE CALLED OUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND I GOT IN MY CAR TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES THERE. MY WIFE HAD TO WAIT IN THE LOCKED CAR, ALONE, UNTIL MYSELF AND THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THIS WAS AN UNSAFE SITUATION. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER AND FOUND OUT THE NEXT DAY THAT THE ESCL (ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK) HAD FAILED, WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. AFTER SPENDING $650 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, I DID SOME INVESTIGATION AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM NOT JUST ON THE NISSAN CUBE, BUT WITH ALTIMAS, MAXIMAS, 370Z AND INFINITI VEHICLES. AFTER OUR REPAIR, NISSAN HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART, BUT WE WERE PAST THE MILEAGE AND THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE US. THEY STILL HAVE AN OPEN SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE ALTIMAS AND MAXIMAS, BUT NOT THE CUBE OR OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS IS A SEVER SAFETY CONCERN. MY WIFE WAS ALONE IN A DARK PARKING RAMP FOR ALMOST AN HOUR IN THE INNER CITY. IMAGINE IF THIS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AFTER NISSAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IT AS A PROBLEM, AND SOMEONE GETS MUGGED OR KILLED WHILE IN AN UNSAFE AREA AND CANT GET THEIR CAR STARTED. NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A 100% RECALL ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AND PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR.

90mo ago

100 total

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