Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Nissan Armada problems

Owners filed 23 complaints about the 2009 Nissan Armada with NHTSA between May 2009 and Mar 2024. The most-cited component is structure (9).

Complaints
23
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure9
  2. Suspension4
  3. Electrical system3
  4. Engine3
  5. Power train3
  6. Fuel system, gasoline3
  7. Air bags2
  8. Seats2
  9. Wheels1
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  11. Engine and engine cooling1
  12. Service brakes1
  13. Steering1
  14. Tires1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20092
20102
20111
20120
20134
20142
20152
20161
20172
20182
20190
20202
20212
20220
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Structure

9 reports1 crash1 fire
“I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE MORNING OF 11/17/2020, WHEN I HIT A DEER WITH A FRONT OF MY SUV. THE FRONT END OF MY SUV WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY, WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BURNT ME INSTEAD IT WAS EMBLEM RETAINING RING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL THAT HOLDS THE PLASTIC ADVERTISEMENT / EMBLEM OF THE VEHICLE COME OUT AND CUT / IMPALED ME ACROSS THE NECK. WHICH LED ME TO GOING TO THE ER IN THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE. WHEN I GOT TO THE ER THE DOCTOR ON CALL SAID IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INCH OVER IT WOULD HAVE CUT THE MAIN CULINARY ARTERY WHICH I WOULD HAVE BLED TO DEATH. AT THE ER I RECEIVED X-RAYS AND STITCHES NOW I'M LEFT WITH A SCAR.*DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR*JB*DT*DT*DT*DT*JB CONSUMER STATED MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED BUT CASE NOR FILE NUMBER WAS NOT GIVEN. CONSUMER HUSBAND WAS CAN BE CONTACTED FOR MECHANICAL ISSUES HIS NAME IS [XXX] AND PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX]. CONSUMER'S REFERENCE NUMBER IS [XXX]. VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO A SALVAGE YARD BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AS OF MARCH 1ST. ””
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2020Air bags, Structure, Unknown or otherCrash reportedFire reportedODI 11383509

Suspension

4 reports1 crash1 related recall
“1.VEHICLE FRONT SUSPENSION FELT LOOSE WHEN DRIVING OVER SOME BUMPS ON ROAD, ALMOST LOST CONTROL HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 45MPH AND AT 65MPH UNSAFE TO DRIVE. 2. FUEL GAUGE SOMETIMES NOT READING CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL SHOWING HALF TANK WHEN ALMOST EMPTY COULD GET STRANDED. 3. COMPRESSOR FOR AIRSHOCKS ON REAR LEAKS CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2014Suspension, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10640362

Electrical system

3 reports
“DRIVERS SEAT WON'T MOVE FORWARD OR BACK. ALL OTHER SEAT FUNCTIONS WORK Plan to have the Nissan dealership fine out what the problem is. . Heated seat will not work. Appeared to me to be a fuse, replaced the fuse. Works for about a minute, then the fuse blow Air bag light blinking. I also plan to have it look at. Could use financial assistance with the these repair cost.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2021Electrical system, Air bags, SeatsODI 11440936

Engine

3 reports
“BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AT THE SAME TIME”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2018EngineODI 11155890

Power train

3 reports1 crash
“THERE WAS A SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE COOLING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWED FLUIDS TO MIX WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT ALONG WITH COMPONENTS WITH THE RADIATOR/COOLING SYSTEM. WE WERE AT A STOP WAITING TO TURN LEFT, WHEN THE SIGNAL TURNED GREEN, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE REVVED AS WE TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CALLED AAA AS WE NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. THE AUTO SHOP EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE COOLING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION. REPAIR COSTS TOTALED $6000!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2017Power train, Electrical systemODI 11055986

Fuel system, gasoline

3 reports1 crash
“LEAVING WORK, I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT TRIED TO TURN OVER BUT STOPPED. THE DASH LIGHTS WENT DIM AND THE NEEDLE INDICATORS QUIVERED AND THE CAR QUIT TRYING TO START. I CLEANED THE BATTERY TERMINALS AND THE CAR CRANKED CONTINUOUSLY BUT WOULDNT TURN OVER. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHOSE COMPUTER COULDNT COMMUNICATE WITH THE VEHICLE COMPUTER, THEN A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (NO NISSAN DEALER IN MY TOWN) WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, MY COWORKER BROUGHT ME A COPY OF A RECALL BY NISSAN FOR HIS 2006 PATHFINDER FOR A ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. I HAD IT TOWED FOR A 3RD TIME (TOTAL OF $415.00) TO THE NISSAN DEALER IN HELENA, MT 65 MILES AWAY, THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD E.C.M. ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID "I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY"!!!! NOW IM OUT OF $1700.00 FOR A BAD ECM THAT I WAS NOT NEGLEGENT IN BREAKING, ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. I FEEL SINCE IT WAS A FAULTY PART, I SHOULDNT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. NOW IM IN MORE DEBT!!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2013Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, EngineODI 10521916
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.