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2010 Nissan Pathfinder Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder, most often about the transmission (28% of complaints, typically around 148,000 miles). It is 23rd of 26 Pathfinder model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2010 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Transmission
11 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 148,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Radiator leaked for an unknown amount of time cross contaminating fluid with the automatic transmission. Replaced radiator, and flushed all fluids, but transmission is now ruined.
Transmission fluid mixed into radiator. Vehicle stalls, overheats, vibrates, transmission does not function right. Vehicle was driven on city street.
Air bags
11 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 136,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving on a bumpy road, the side curtain air bag deployed without warning. The seat belt activated as designed. The driver and passenger frontal air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact to take the vehicle…
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning lamp illuminated sporadically with or without an occupant on the seat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 94,000.
Engine
8 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 129,000 miles.
On my way to work in early morning rush hour traffic my transmission completely locked up in a lower gear. The car began to shudder and I was forced to slow to about 15 MPH. I was very lucky that no one struck me from the rear as traffic was very heavy. Nissan stated that the radiator fluid leaked into the…
While driving the gear changed and the car made vibration and noise and the service engine light turned on. I went back home and had a mechanic checked and he found out that the coolant and the transmission fluid mixed. The liquid inside the radiator looked like a strawberry milk shake.
Steering
5 complaints · 13%Tl 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…
Popping and/or cracking noise that is very similar to service bulletin no.: ntb-10-072a ( NHTSA id number: 10034904). It only occurs when turning the wheel to the left or right at very low speeds, typically backing out or pull into a parking space or garage. Had repair performed on 11/2/2013 related to the referenced…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 13%On my way to work in early morning rush hour traffic my transmission completely locked up in a lower gear. The car began to shudder and I was forced to slow to about 15 MPH. I was very lucky that no one struck me from the rear as traffic was very heavy. Nissan stated that the radiator fluid leaked into the…
"takata recall"; while driving on the city streets in los angeles, ca the power train (automatic transmission) failed and the radiator failed. The gasket in the radiator that separates the oil and water failed in the radiator while these fluids are cooled when the vehicle is running. Once this gasket failed, the water…
Suspension
4 complaints · 10%I recently found out that the shock/strut assembly on my vehicle was faulty resulting in a major overhaul of the rear oe spectrum shock and front oe spectrum strut in the amount of $850.00. This has caused my wheels to "cup" which is resulting in a need for a complete set of new tires.
Popping and/or cracking noise that is very similar to service bulletin no.: ntb-10-072a ( NHTSA id number: 10034904). It only occurs when turning the wheel to the left or right at very low speeds, typically backing out or pull into a parking space or garage. Had repair performed on 11/2/2013 related to the referenced…
Speed control
4 complaints · 10%On my way to work in early morning rush hour traffic my transmission completely locked up in a lower gear. The car began to shudder and I was forced to slow to about 15 MPH. I was very lucky that no one struck me from the rear as traffic was very heavy. Nissan stated that the radiator fluid leaked into the…
While driving the gear changed and the car made vibration and noise and the service engine light turned on. I went back home and had a mechanic checked and he found out that the coolant and the transmission fluid mixed. The liquid inside the radiator looked like a strawberry milk shake.
Fuel system
3 complaints · 8%Heater hose broke suddenly while driving in moderate traffic on the freeway causing a short burst of steam and the engine to overheat. Mechanics stated that this part did not show abnormal wear and tear and should not have busted on a 2010 vehicle. There was no warning, the break was sudden and we were lucky to be…
Service engine soon, light turned on as soon as I turned on the vehicle and have not turned off since and for no reason, until I had a diagnostic test done the code was p0181 and it appears to be an issue with fuel system. Light is still on.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 Nissan Pathfinder recalls
Air bags: frontal
Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driverâs 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: navigational system(global positioning system)
Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Suspension: lower arm
Risk: If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Transmission failures
Summary
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 satisfa
Questions about the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (11 complaints, typically around 148,000 miles); air bags (11 complaints, typically around 136,000 miles); engine (8 complaints, typically around 129,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 10, 2023 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2010 a bad year for the Nissan Pathfinder?
- It is 23rd of 26 Pathfinder model years by number of complaints, with 40 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.