🚗 AutoDefect IQ

2013 Nissan Pathfinder problems, complaints & recalls

Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (318) · Air Bags (118) · Structure:body (50)

🧭 Reliability snapshot

40 /100
⚠ Known trouble spots — research carefully

Compared against other Nissan Pathfinder model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →

🛣️ Complaints by mileage

<25k miles: 390 complaints 390 <25k 25–50k miles: 90 complaints 25–50k 50–75k miles: 85 complaints 50–75k 75–100k miles: 49 complaints 75–100k 100–125k miles: 36 complaints 100–125k 125–150k miles: 17 complaints 125–150k 150k+ miles: 14 complaints 150k+

681 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.

891
Complaints
11
Recalls
267
Service bulletins
16
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Deaths

Safety recalls (11)

Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch 2022-06-13 · campaign 22V420000 · 322,671 vehicles

Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.

Risk: An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are R22A2 R22A3 and R24B7.

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2021-01-20 · campaign 21V020000 · 264,431 vehicles

Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The location of the brake light switch may cause the brake light switch relay to repeatedly open and close. Overtime, this can cause the relay to stick in the "ON" position, with the brake lights remaining illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, this may interfere with the brake-shift interlock, allowing the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "Park" position, without depr

Risk: Continual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash. With the brake override activated, the driver will not be able to accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver can shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, i

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, either re-install the brake light switch or swap positions with the Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD) switch; depending on the model year vehicle. In addition, the brake light relay will be replaced with a new one. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall PC786. Note: this recall superse

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2016-05-31 · campaign 16V380000 · 79,853 vehicles

Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to June 13, 2013. The brake light switch may have been installed incorrectly causing the relay to make intermittent contact and repeatedly cycle. This may result in the relay remaining in the "ON" position, causing the brake lights to remain illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, the brake light switch may interfere with the brake-shift interlo

Risk: If the brake override is activated, the driver will not be accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. If the brake lights remain illuminated, other drivers may fail to stop when the vehicle actually brakes, increasing the risk of a crash. If the driver inadvertently shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, the vehicle may rollaway, increasing the risk

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake light switch and, as necessary, replace the relay, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2016-04-26 · campaign 16V244000 · 3,296,947 vehicles

Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrec

Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy par

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2015-10-20 · campaign 15V681000 · 919 vehicles

Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front 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 air bag 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 November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments 2015-01-26 · campaign 15V033000 · 170,665 vehicles

Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to November 18, 2013, 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid vehicles manufactured July 18, 2013, to November 18, 2013, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles manufactured November 29, 2011, to June 14, 2013, and 2014 QX60 vehicles manufactured May 16, 2013, to November 18, 2013, and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles manufactured July 18, 2013, to November 18, 2013. In the affected

Risk: If the primary hood latch is released and the secondary latch fails during operation of the vehicle, it could cause the hood to open during vehicle operation impairing the driver's vision, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the angle of the hood release mechanism to provide additional length to the release cable, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines 2014-03-26 · campaign 14V142000 · 3,065 vehicles

Defect: Nissan North America (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Pathfinder vehicles manufactured April 18, 2012, through October 3, 2012, and equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). In the affected vehicles, the internal oil cooler (ITOC) hose may detach from the cooler due to inadequate clamping force, allowing transmission fluid to leak.

Risk: The loss of transmission fluid could cause the transmission to function improperly and the vehicle to stop accelerating, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install an oil hose repair kit, free of charge. The recall began on May 12, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Electrical System:software 2014-03-25 · campaign 14V138000 · 989,701 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Electrical System:software 2013-10-17 · campaign 13V445000 · 151,695 vehicles

Defect: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles manufactured April 18, 2012, through September 20, 2013; model year 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles manufactured September 15, 2011, through January 16, 2013; and model year 2014 Infiniti QX60 vehicles manufactured January 17, 2013, through September 20, 2013. In the affected vehicles, during light braking on rough roads, the antilock brake system (ABS) brake pressure output software may lead to an increase in stopping dista

Risk: The increased stopping distance may increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ABS, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Service Brakes 2013-04-12 · campaign 13V139000 · 19,258 vehicles

Defect: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Pathfinder and Infiniti JX vehicles manufactured December 3, 2012, through January 29, 2013. The front brake torque member was improperly cast resulting in structural weakness. This can lead to premature failure and cracking.

Risk: If the brake torque member fails, the brake caliper may move and contact the inside of the road wheel, resulting in reduced braking, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the manufacturing date of the torque members and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Air Bags 2013-03-01 · campaign 13V069000 · 82,038 vehicles

Defect: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.

Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Service bulletins (267)

Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.

Structure:body 2026-04-13 · ITB09-063C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl

Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl

Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl

Air Bags 2024-09-19 · NTB19-071D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

dtc b00a0-00 stored this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin. if you confirm dtc b00a0-00 (occupant detection sensor unit) is stored, and ocs zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)

Power Train 2024-06-07 · NTB12-103I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

cvt/tcm calibration data “write” procedure this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

Showing the 6 most recent of 267 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.

What owners report

2026-10-22 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 100,000 mi

“the contact owns a 2013 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated that the vehicle shuddered significantly while idling, and the failure persisted while accelerating from a complete stop and while driving. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the catalytic converter was replaced; however, the failure persisted. the vehicle was taken …”

2026-07-10 · Latches/Locks/Linkages · 168,000 mi

“the contact owns a 2013 nissan pathfinder. the contact received notification for nhtsa campaign number: 22v420000 (latches/locks/linkages); however, the recall repair failed to prevent a failure from occurring. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hood unlatched and opened independently. no warning lights illuminated. …”

2026-06-22 · Suspension

“rear sub frame near radial rod on drivers side of vehicle has corroded through without warning. vehicle is unstable during breaking menuvers and pitches towards on coming traffic. sudden loss of control or collision could occur without notice during breaking.…”

2026-05-09 · Power Train

“the vehicle is a 2013 nissan pathfinder experiencing a major transmission/cvt failure that creates serious safety concerns. only 69 days after purchase, the transmission began failing and the vehicle became unsafe and unreliable to operate. the vehicle experiences severe transmission-related drivability problems, including hesitation, loss of prop…”

2026-04-16 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 209,000 mi

“odometer fraud. the contact purchased a 2013 nissan pathfinder. it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. the vehicle was a private sale. at the time of the purchase, the mileage was 93,653. it was later discovered that the mileage was approximately 209,000. the contact reported the fraud to the secretary of state and had since found …”

2026-04-14 · Power Train · 118,000 mi

“the contact owns a 2013 nissan pathfinder. the contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, there was a slight jerking or hesitation before the vehicle accelerated. the failure was intermittent. while driving approximately 45 mph after stopping at a stoplight, the vehicle shuddered and pulled to the left. the contact stated that excessive fo…”

2026-03-10 · Unknown Or Other

“the continuously variable transmission (cvt) assembly failed completely, rendering the vehicle inoperable. the transmission is currently available for inspection at the independent service center where repairs are being performed. the vehicle was purchased in september 2025 with approximately [unknown/low] mileage. within the first week of ownershi…”

2026-01-18 · Power Train

“transmission started jerking & went out leaving me stranded. …”

2026-01-11 · Power Train

“my car has been having issues with what seems to be the transmission. this nissan pathfinder has cvt, which is continuous variable transmission. three months ago i had a radiator blowout and had to change that and the thermostat. i believe that it was due to the transmission issues. currently i have an oil leak and i believe it’s due to your issues…”

2025-12-22 · Power Train

“i have a 2013 pathfinder that is experiencing a high pitch whine coming from the transmission. when shifting in lower gears, there is a soft kick. i have only experienced a shutter once and only at lower speeds and rpm. once i'm at a higher speed it seems to get less. i have had the vehicle for 8 months. just started in the the last week. it has 15…”

Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.

Other Nissan Pathfinder years