Recall Alert: 2005-09 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, Xterra

Nissan has issued a recall for 242,720 Pathfinders, Frontiers and Xterras from the 2005-09 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall involves a crash sensor that deploys the airbag in an accident. The recall is aimed mainly at vehicles sold in cold-weather climates where road salt can corrode the crash sensor. The airbag warning light may illuminate.

Nissan will replace the faulty sensors with new ones in affected vehicles, and all owners will get a 10-year extended warranty on the crash sensors. Watch for the warning light regardless.  This is the second Nissan recall involving an airbag sensor in the past three months. The other recall affected passenger cars, including the Altima.

Owners can contact Nissan at 800-647-7261 or the NHTSA hotline at (888) 327-4236.

End-of-the-Model-Year Deals: Nissan

It's that time of year again: Manufacturers need to make room on dealer lots for new 2009 models, so the 2008s have to hit the road, and that means more incentives. We'll be highlighting deals from a number of manufacturers, along with notes on which models will change substantially for 2009.

Like many manufacturers, Nissan is offering huge cash-back offers on its trucks and SUVs — the Armada and Titan, specifically — but is also offering a good variety of cash-back deals on other 2008 models. A full list of 2008 Nissan deals from our incentives page is below:

• 2008 Altima: $1,000
• 2008 Armada: $5,000
• 2008 Frontier: $2,500
• 2008 Maxima: $2,500
• 2008 Pathfinder: $2,500
• 2008 Quest: $3,500
• 2008 Sentra: $1,000
• 2008 Titan: $5,000
• 2008 Xterra: $3,000
• 2008 Versa: $800

Those offers are available across a variety of regions we tested, but as always, be sure to use your own zip code to make sure offers apply in your region.The deals are good through Sept. 2.

The Maxima is all-new for 2009, and you can read our coverage of it here. The Frontier and Xterra receive some upgrades, but they aren't as significant. Check out the changes here.

Some SUVs Don't Hold Up in Side Crash Tests

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s latest round of crash tests focused on midsize SUVs, and most of the vehicles tested didn’t do nearly as well as sedans and similarly sized crossover SUVs. The results will no doubt spark more debate among the bigger-is-safer and the get-your-land-yachts-off-the-road segments of the population.

The common thought is that the bigger the vehicle you’re in, the safer you are in an accident. There have been various studies to back that up that compare the number of road casualties to the types of vehicles involved. What IIHS discovered is that many popular midsize SUVs, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Xterra, Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7X, rate Marginal side-impact scores. The two Nissan's did earn Good scores when equipped with optianl side airbags. The others came standard with side airbags. Most of the SUVs tested also didn’t do well in rear crash tests, and none earned a Top Safety Pick award from IIHS.

Interestingly enough, the vehicles tested were truck-based. Car-based crossover SUVs, including the Ford Edge, Subaru Tribeca and Honda Pilot, have gotten IIHS’ Top Safety Pick nod. Check out the full crash results below.

Nissan Prices 2008 Pathfinder

The new 2008 Nissan Pathfinder goes on sale today with a starting price of $25,700 for a V-6 powered 4x2 model, a $100 increase over the 2007 model. At the high end, a 310 horsepower V-8 4x4 is $38,700. This is the first time the Pathfinder has been offered with a V-8, and despite higher gas prices, many shoppers in this segment want the added capability, especially for towing. A full list of prices is listed below.

More 2008 Nissan Pathfinder Photos

We don’t have any more info on the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder today than we did yesterday, but we do have a lot more photos, including one of the new 300-plus-hp V-8 engine and up-­close shots of the upgraded interior below.

Related:
2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Nissan Pathfinder

2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Nissan Pathfinder

The big news for the revised 2008 Nissan Pathfinder lies within the cabin and under the hood. Powering the updated Pathfinder is an optional 300-plus-hp, 5.6-liter V-8 engine that will be offered in addition to the standard 266-hp V-6 that currently sees duty in so many of Nissan’s vehicles.

The interior gets a new center stack, a navigation system and a hard-drive based entertainment system. If you look closely at the outside you’ll notice a revised grille and slight changes to the front and back ends. We’ll learn more about availability next week during the Chicago Auto Show’s media days. 

Nissan to Debut New Titan, Pathfinder and Armada Next Week

Nissan is getting the ball rolling and hoping to generate some pre-Chicago Auto Show buzz by unveiling revised versions of its Pathfinder and Armada SUVs, along with a refreshed Titan pickup, next week in Detroit. The three are getting both exterior and — much more importantly — interior upgrades. We’ll bring you all three next week, then we'll get to see the group in person at the Chicago Auto Show’s media days Feb. 7 & 8.