Is the 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER reliable?

The 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER has 1208 complaints filed with NHTSA (10.0x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (371 complaints, avg repair $500); AIR BAGS (178 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (114 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER?

Yes, there are 11 recall(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH. Contact any Nissan dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER?

The 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER gets 22 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2182. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER is approximately $1,617/year (suv-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

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 10.0x the segment average of 121. 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 . There are 11 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 20 crash reports 24 injuries

1208

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

10.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

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

When Problems Appear on the 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER

Based on 920 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 15K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

556

30-60K

165

60-100K

117

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 5K mi · 313 reports

0-30K

226

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

In line with typicalmedian 11K mi · 137 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 9K mi · 90 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

In line with typicalmedian 45K mi · 58 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 17K mi · 53 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

In line with typicalmedian 17K mi · 39 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (11)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE25/03/2014

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Risk: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,182

Per month

$182

Per mile

18.2¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,401/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,920/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Nissan PATHFINDER

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,617

Full coverage / month

$135

Liability only / year

$639

vs US avg

-3%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1617

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Nissan PATHFINDER Service Intervals

Oil change

5K mi / 6 mo

Tire rotation

5K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

105K mi

Spark plugs

105K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2013 PATHFINDER, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

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
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 11 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)