The Lemon Index2010 Nissan Pathfinder.
The 2010 Nissan Pathfinder is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 7 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 30, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 14 to 18 mpg combined. The best Nissan Pathfinder year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 40 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Pathfinder year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 48K to 148K miles on the car (26 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 5
- airbags 2023
The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
- equipment 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
- suspension 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 A…
Show all 5 recalls
- suspension 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, QX56, FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010.
- steering 2010
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 103 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Front suspension noise
- CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been…
- NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin does NOT…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedTransmission failures2012–2016
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side — · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $4400–5700 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.0L 6-cyl, 5.6L 8-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 3.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 30; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Pathfinder year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2010 Nissan Pathfinder problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (29%), engine (29%) and steering (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder have?
5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder get?
14 to 18 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2010 Nissan Pathfinder problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 48,500 and 148,600 miles. The middle report was at 111,400 miles, from 26 complaints.
Does the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 29% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder cost in fuel a year?
About $4400 to $5700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder have?
4.0L 6-cyl, 5.6L 8-cyl.
What Nissan Pathfinder year is better than the 2010?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2010 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works