CSR

Nissan · NHTSA safety record

2010 Nissan Pathfinder

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

40

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder have filed 40 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2010 and July 2025. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 11 of them (28%). The typical failure was reported at 111,386 miles, the median across the 26 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

23V067000 · February 10, 2023

The defect
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
The risk
A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.

Nissan North America, Inc. · up to 404,690 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

10V401000 · September 10, 2010

The defect
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
The risk
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · up to 7,948 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

10V208000 · May 14, 2010

The defect
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, QX56, FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER WELDING PROCESS SOME COLLARS MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS.
The risk
IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · up to 41,649 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR

10V115000 · March 24, 2010

The defect
NISSAN HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2010 TO MARCH 13, 2010. ON SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE FASTENERS SECURING THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MODULE, AND ALSO THE FASTENERS SECURING THE STEERING SHAFT POSITIONING BRACKET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TRAJECTORY MIGHT BE AFFECTED. THE FASTENERS COULD POSSIBLY COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN POSITIONING BRACKET INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG FASTENERS AND ANY MISSING FASTENERS WILL BE REPLACED AND ALL LOOSE FASTENERS WILL BE RETIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · up to 4,038 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Transmission Failures

DP12004

Closed defect petition · opened June 11, 2012 · closed October 22, 2016

the power train

On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 40.

AIR BAGS 11 28%
POWER TRAIN 11 28%
ENGINE 6 15%
STEERING 5 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 13%
SUSPENSION 4 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 5%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 7.

2010 2017 2025
2010 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STEERING

2 injured · crash · 1,000 miles

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT REMAIN STRAIGHT. SHE HAD APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEELS IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AVOID DRIFTING INTO THE LEFT OR RIGHT LANE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. SINCE THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED, THE DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN FOUR ACCIDENTS. THE MOST RECENT CRASH (INVOLVING THREE OTHER VEHICLES) RESULTED IN THE DRIVER BEING INJURED ALONG WITH ANOTHER DRIVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT

NHTSA complaint 10344976, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 200,000 miles

VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE ON FREEWAY THEN WENT INTO DIRT MEDIAN TRIED TO GET IT BACK ON THE FREEWAY AND IT STARTED ROLLING WENT ACROSS THE FREEWAY AND DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEERING AT SPEED LIMIT (75 IN AZ). PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. ROOF SMASHED DOWN, I COULD BARELY CRAWL OUT OF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A HAMILTON TOWING, BUCKEYE, AZ

NHTSA complaint 11217839. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
rear sub frame rusted through. Vans in Mansfield Ohio showed us were were the frame was completely rusted out.

NHTSA complaint 11619961. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
I had a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder that was “bought back” by Nissan after 6 years of use because of a “rusted frame” and now once again I have a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder, where the rear sub-frame rusted through and caused the wheel to give out and track wrong -causing a life-or-death situation. I do not need an independent or dealer to confirm, it is obvious. There was no prior warning, thank God I was not on a turnpike going fast! I went on line an evidently other Pathfinder owners have had experience the same issue of a rusted sub-frame holding the rear wheels on the vehicle. I think the NTSA is well aware of the problem concerning this issue with Nissan and should take action to have this

NHTSA complaint 11521638, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V067000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint 11509721. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was traveling at approx. 35 mph when the car shuddered violently for a second or two, all panel lights lit up and everything completely shut down while going through a very busy 6-lane intersection. All steering, brakes, and maneuverability were lost. I was lucky to coast to a safe spot and if this had happened on an interstate it may have easily been catastrophic. The dealer found a failed cam shaft sensors (their verbiage on the bill). Replaced both and the crank sensor.

NHTSA complaint 11484939. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Coolant leaked into transmission causing transmission failure . Car maker will not acknowledge the problem. Car towed to repair shop. Told $6000.00 for new radiator and transmission.Thank God I was only going 35-40 miles an hour.

NHTSA complaint 11466139. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

115,000 miles

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while approaching a traffic light at approximately 35 MPH, he depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated causing the vehicle to run the red light. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to coast to a stop and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated he waited 10 minutes before restarting the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer replaced the brakes and brake drums. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

NHTSA complaint 11455873. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Nissan Pathfinder

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 47 1
2024 73 2
2023 101 1
2022 133 5
2020 47 0
2019 75 2
2018 77 3
2017 185 2
2016 105 2
2015 319 5
2014 574 11
2013 890 11
2012 23 2
2011 45 2

Other 2010 Nissan models

Every Nissan on this site — 200 vehicles, 319 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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