2013 Nissan PATHFINDER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER has 1208 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 15.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: while driving around 35 mph the pathfinder started sputtering between 3000-4000 rpms and would not increase in speed. i stopped the vehicle and shut off the engine in hopes to reset a problem. when i turned the car back on, the pathfinder would not move in drive or reverse. as the tow truck driver . ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 20 crash reports 24 injuries

1208

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

15.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

371 complaints

31%

• WHILE DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH THE PATHFINDER STARTED SPUTTERING BETWEEN 3000-4000 RPMS AND WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN HOPES TO RESET A PROBLEM. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, THE PATHFINDER WOULD NOT MOVE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. AS THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER
• MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR TWO WEEK OLD 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER PLATINUM EDITION WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED. THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE COOLANT LINE
• AFTER FUELING MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I HEADED OUT AND NOTICED SMOKE AROUND MY VEHICLE. A NEIGHBORING VEHICLE MOTIONED FOR ME TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW AND SAID I HAD FLUID THAT LOOKED LIKE ANTI FREEZE POURING OUT FROM BENEATH MY 2013 PATHFINDER. I TRIED TO PULL OVER BUT THE SUV WOUL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH THE PATHFINDER STARTED SPUTTERING BETWEEN 3000-4000 RPMS AND WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN HOPES TO RESET A PROBLEM. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, THE PATHFINDER WOULD NOT MOVE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. AS THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

178 complaints

15%

• BASE ON MANUAL, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" SIGN WILL BE LIGHT ON (IT MEANS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DISABLE) IF A CHILD OR ADULT (LESS THAN 70 POUNDS) SEAT AT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. BUT FOR MY 2013 PATHFINDER, MY 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO WEIGHT ABOUT 50 POUNDS SITED AT THE FRONT SEAT (PASSEN
• PURCHASED A NEW 2013 PATHFINDER AND THE 1ST TRIP WE TOOK WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WE NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON INDICATING IT WAS NOT ACTIVATED. I THOUGHT THAT WAS WEIRD, BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. FEW WEEKS WENT BY AND ISSUE WAS STILL OCCURRING SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY
• THE AIRBAG AND VEHICLE OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILURE. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SIGN WOULD REMAIN ON DESPITE AN EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON SINCE THE 1ST DAY OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR 10 DAYS WITHOUT COMPLETE RESOLUTION. NISSAN USA HAS BEEN CON

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“BASE ON MANUAL, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" SIGN WILL BE LIGHT ON (IT MEANS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DISABLE) IF A CHILD OR ADULT (LESS THAN 70 POUNDS) SEAT AT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. BUT FOR MY 2013 PATHFINDER, MY 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO WEIGHT ABOUT 50 POUNDS SITED AT THE FRONT SEAT (PASSEN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

114 complaints

• WHEN I WOULD PARK ON A HILL THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS UNTIL THE PARKING PAWL WAS ENGAGED SO THE TRANSMISSION WAS HOLDING THE CAR ON THE HILL. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER AND PARK
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. WHEN A 100 POUND PERSON OCCUPIED THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WOULD RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT O
• ON JUNE 15, 2013 MY VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. I TOOK IN INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY. THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER SO THEY REPLACED IT. THEY CALLED ME 2 WEEKS LATER TO COME GET MY VEHICLE. WITHIN THE FIRST DAY HAVING IT BACK IT WAS SHACKING EVEN WORSE LIKE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN I WOULD PARK ON A HILL THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS UNTIL THE PARKING PAWL WAS ENGAGED SO THE TRANSMISSION WAS HOLDING THE CAR ON THE HILL. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER AND PARK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

110 complaints

• MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR TWO WEEK OLD 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER PLATINUM EDITION WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED. THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE COOLANT LINE
• AFTER FUELING MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I HEADED OUT AND NOTICED SMOKE AROUND MY VEHICLE. A NEIGHBORING VEHICLE MOTIONED FOR ME TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW AND SAID I HAD FLUID THAT LOOKED LIKE ANTI FREEZE POURING OUT FROM BENEATH MY 2013 PATHFINDER. I TRIED TO PULL OVER BUT THE SUV WOUL
• WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD AND 5 MONTH OLD MY 2013 PATHFINDER ON 12/29 (WHICH I HAD FOR 1 MONTH)IT STARTED FEELING LIKE IT WAS MISSING GEARS AND SPUTTERING. THE RPMS STARTED TO REV UP BETWEEN 4000-5000 AND WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING ANY FASTER, AND THE CAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR TWO WEEK OLD 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER PLATINUM EDITION WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED. THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE COOLANT LINE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

84 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD BECOME DEFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER AND T
• ANY ITEMS ON THE FLOOR OF THE CENTER/BACK SEATING SECTION CAN SHIFT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE ITEMS CAN TRAVEL UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT AND WEDGE UNDER THE BRAKE OR GAS PEDAL. THERE IS NOTHING UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT TO PREVENT ITEMS FROM REACHING THE DRIVERS FOOT AREA. ON ONE OCCASION A
• WHEN DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED, THE HOOD OF THE CAR VIBRATES SIGNIFICANTLY. IT FEELS LIKE THE HOOD MAY FLIP UP AT ANY TIME. DOUBLE-CHECKED TO BE SURE THE HOOD WAS LOCKED AND IT WAS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD BECOME DEFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER AND T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1208 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH THE PATHFINDER STARTED SPUTTERING BETWEEN 3000-4000 RPMS AND WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN HOPES TO RESET A PROBLEM. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, THE PATHFINDER WOULD NOT MOVE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. AS THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: BASE ON MANUAL, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" SIGN WILL BE LIGHT ON (IT MEANS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL DISABLE) IF A CHILD OR ADULT (LESS THAN 70 POUNDS) SEAT AT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. BUT FOR MY 2013 PATHFINDER, MY 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO WEIGHT ABOUT 50 POUNDS SITED AT THE FRONT SEAT (PASSEN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHEN I WOULD PARK ON A HILL THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS UNTIL THE PARKING PAWL WAS ENGAGED SO THE TRANSMISSION WAS HOLDING THE CAR ON THE HILL. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER AND PARK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR TWO WEEK OLD 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER PLATINUM EDITION WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED. THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE COOLANT LINE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)