Most common 2010 Nissan Pathfinder problems
Share of the 40 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Pathfinder complaints by model year
Best Pathfinder years: 2012, 2011, 2020. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2025, 2022, 2015. Compare all years →
2010 Nissan Pathfinder recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal
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.
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.
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational system(global positioning system)
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.
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.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
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…
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder:
Transmission Failures
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.
What 2010 Nissan Pathfinder owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
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.
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.
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.
On 01/20/25, I brought my vehicle to Nissan of Downtown L.A , to fix a manufacturer recall of drivers side airbag. The invoice indicates "Inspect Driver Bag Module and Replace Driver Air Bag Cover." "Upon Inspection Performed Recall, Inspect Driver Air Bag And Replace Driver Air Bag Cover And Check Found Vehicle OK." Approximately four months later, the red airbag light on my dashboard was flashing. On 05/13/25, I returned to Nissan Of Downtown L A. I explained the issue to service advisor, Litzy Carranza. She stated if the results of the diagnostic testing weren't related to the recall issue, I would be responsible for the cost to repair. When I received the results: "Airbag Light Flashing, Check For DTCS And Found B1049 And B1054. Check Wires And Connectors Found OK. …
Engine & cooling
I bought this vehicle new in 2010. We are a very typical users with a family of four (currently with about 120K miles). I've had regular problems (service engine light would turn on). Started with spark plug replacement a few times, engine control module replacement, and now latest engine replacement. I've already spent more than $6K over the last few years on these issues. The dealer is now quoting $12K for replacing the engine. I simply cannot afford this. Please let me know right away what options I can pursue (including a lemon lawyer, etc.).
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 transmission causing the transmission to fail. I have been quoted $7,050.00 by lander's Nissan in southaven, ms to repair.
2010 Nissan Pathfinder engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD | 13 / 18 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder a good car?
Based on 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Pathfinder rates better than average: 70% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Pathfinder at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder?
The transmission & drivetrain — 11 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the air bags (11) and engine & cooling (8).
How many recalls does the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder, the most recent from February 10, 2023 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Pathfinder?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2011 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2025, 2022 and 2015. See the full Nissan Pathfinder years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Nissan Pathfinder problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 113,000 miles; 23% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.