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KLUNK
KLUNK

2009 Nissan Pathfinder

The Verdict

91 Smooth Ride

The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder has 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (12 complaints) and engine (11 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 91/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan Pathfinder, consider the 2012 model year which has 37% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2012 has 37% fewer complaints

View the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder dashboard →

91

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

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.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000741020196
20011611120452
2002811118529
2003321116492
2004201512128
200554941670274
200672525539195
200741520351143
20082674016095
20095512114
201011211115
201110514115
2012102560
201323452167129304
2014185309476185
20159715688157
2016351324285
2017418238922
2018242010139
201929128186
202010711166
20225831122210
2023291614299
202422185185
2025223575

By Category

Electrical
12
Engine
11
Body
5
Brakes
5
Transmission
4

By Severity

1
22
2
13
3
1
4
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 2

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS OR IN PARK. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS THE DIAGNOSED ISSUE.

63mo ago
Electrical 1

MY DASHBOARD HAS A LOGO OF A RED FLASHING PASSENGER WITH A AIRBAG RED BALL. IT FLASHES NON STOP WHEN EVER I TURN ON THE IGNITION. HOWEVER WHEN I CHECKED FOR AIR BAG RECALL IT'S NOT COMING UP ON THE LIST. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

63mo ago
Transmission 1

THE VEHICLE JUST STOP. HAD TOW TO THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED WITH COOLENT IN THAT DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION

67mo ago
Transmission 1

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 TRANSMISSION. COST IS ABOUT $4,000 TO REPLACE, AND THIRD PARTY WARRANTY IS REFUSING TO COVER ANY OF IT.

68mo ago
Engine 2

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,

72mo ago
Engine 1

MY 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER (AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT), STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND OVERHEATING. LO AND BEHOLD WE HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IS MIXING. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM OTHERS HAVE REPORTED AS A FAILED TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER INTEGRATED IN THE RADIATOR THAT ALLOWED ENGINE COOLANT TO MIX WITH AND CONTAMINATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURES OTHER THAN A SUDDEN JOLT OF THE VEHICLE LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT SLOW AND HIGH SPEEDS.

72mo ago
Transmission 3

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL AT A PARKING LOT, WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE INJURED HER LEG WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, HE ADVISED THE CONTACT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER BAYOU NISSAN (13050 I-10 SERVICE RD, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70128, (504) 245-5900) AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,300. *DT*DT VEHICLE REPAIRED*JB

74mo ago
Transmission 1

WHEN DRIVING UPHILL ON LONG MOUNTAIN ROADS AND SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN TO 2, 3 OR 4, THE CAR WON'T STAY IN GEAR. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING IT WILL SHIFT BY ITSELF INTO 5 WITHOUT ALLOWING YOU TO SHIFT DOWN AGAIN. YOU CAN ONLY GO INTO D OR STOP AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP ALREADY REPLACED THE SHIFTING ASSEMBLY, INSPECTED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION & WIRES FROM THE COMPUTER. NO PROBLEM COULD BE IDENTIFIED BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS. THE CAR WILL STAY IN LOWER GEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL. IT'S A MYSTERY AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO DIAGNOSE FURTHER. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS? THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER IS UNABLE TO HELP. THEY WORKED ON THE COMPUTER AND MAIN CIRCUIT BOARDS ABOUT 5 YRS AGO ' COULD THE HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED THIS PROBLEM? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

78mo ago
Electrical 1

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING. WE LINE IN NM SO WE'RE NOT PART OF THE RECALL BUT WE DRIVE FREQUENTLY ON SNOWY SALTY MOUNTAIN ROADS SO WE MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE.

78mo ago
Body 1

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.

79mo ago
Electrical 1

RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING.

79mo ago
Engine 1

TAKATA RECALL- MY TRANSMISSION FLUID IS MIXING AND GOING INTO MY COOLANT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND MY GAGES IN THE CAR WAS NOT INDICATING TO ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ALL I NOTICED WAS A THICK CHALKY FILM IN THE RADIATOR.

86mo ago
Engine 2

2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED RADIATOR FAILURE. ANTI-FREEZE HAS TO BE ADDED TO THE VEHICLE ALMOST DAILY AND THE WATER TEMPERATURE WOULD RISE ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS. *JS

86mo ago
Electrical 1

THE RECALL FOR AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR FORM A WHILE BACK FOR NISSAN VEHICALES IN THE NORTHERN STATES IS NOW AFFECTING MY PATHFINDER (THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON). MY PATHFINDER WAS ORIGINAL PURCHASED DOWN SOUTH BEFORE I PURCHASED IT IN ERIE PA. IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET THE RECALLED EXTEND TO MY CAR AND OTHERS LIKE IT

89mo ago
Engine 2

THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER SYSTEM IS MAKING NOISE. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE AND HAS SENT OUT AN TSB TO DEALERS THAT DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM SINCE 2004 OR EARLIER. I AM LUCKY THIS DID NOT FAIL ON MY RECENT LONG TRIPS ON THE HIGHWAY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.

111mo ago
Body 2

IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN TO START VEHICLE. STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. CAN'T START VEHICLE TO GO ANYWHERE.

116mo ago
Electrical 1

TAKATA RECALL. 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER SUSPENSION FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM NHTSA CAMPAIGN #10E019000 DATE ANNOUNCED: MAY 20, 2010 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER AIR BAGS:FRONTAL NHTSA CAMPAIGN #08V690000 DATE ANNOUNCED DECEMBER 29, 2008 DOOR AJAR LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAR LOCKS AND UNLOCKS ON ITS OWN. ALL FOUR WINDOWS ROLL DOWN ON THEIR OWN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. RADIATOR LEAKS.

121mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

121mo ago
Electrical 1

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT FLASHES.

125mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER TO RESUME TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE CHAMBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO PERFORMED UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 05/06/16*LJ ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 05/11/16.*JB

128mo ago

37 total

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