2013 Nissan Pathfinder Problems

What owners report

Most complaints about the 2013 Pathfinder concern the continuously variable transmission, which owners describe shuddering, jerking, hesitating or failing outright, sometimes at low mileage and often ending in a replacement quote. A second cluster covers rear subframe corrosion and fracture, mostly on higher-mileage vehicles, plus recurring hood latch, hood-opening and airbag occupant-sensor complaints.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   CVT shudder, judder, hesitation and transmission failure

   • 422 complaints (47%)
   • median 6,000 mi at 1.1 yrs old (347 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,000 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe the vehicle shuddering or shaking during acceleration, jerking or hesitating when shifting into gear, and revving without the vehicle responding. Some say the vehicle stalled or lost power while driving and that a mechanic or dealer then diagnosed the continuously variable transmission as needing replacement. Others report the dealer performed a fluid top-up, calibration reflash or reset that did not resolve the shudder. Reported across a wide mileage range, from near-new to over 170,000 miles, with many in the 80,000-150,000 mile range.

   Recall 14V1420005 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, accelerate gently from a stop and at steady highway speed, watching for shudder or hesitation, and ask whether any CVT reprogramming or transmission fluid service has been done. A pre-purchase scan for transmission codes such as P17F0 or P17F1 is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My warranty ended at 80,000 and my transmission went out on me at 83,000. Warranty ended july 2020 but I was not notified of such information. I have purchased two vehicles from Nissan and I will not purchase another one due to this matter. B/c Nissan will not cover it and wants $6,500 to replace it with a use transmission. They have lost it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11386930, filed 2021-01, 83,000 miles

   “Increasing engine noise, heavy highway vibration (almost like unbalanced tires) and very choppy start-from-stop exceleration caused me to have the car looked at by a mechanic. Diagnosed as a transmission problem. Only option is to replace. I thought there was an earlier recall on this model for powertrain issues, but my car shows 0 unrepaired recall items”

   NHTSA complaint #11301768, filed 2020-01, 133,200 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Rear subframe corrosion and fracture

   Mentioned in 12 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the rear subframe rusting through and, in some cases, fracturing, which owners notice as a clunking or popping noise from the rear, loose or wandering steering, or the vehicle swaying under braking. In several reports a control arm or stabilizer bar attachment separated from the frame, and mechanics replaced the subframe or crossmember. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles, often on older vehicles in rust-belt use.

   What to check: Have the rear subframe and control-arm mounting points inspected on a lift for rust perforation or flaking, especially on vehicles from snowy or coastal areas, and ask about any prior subframe repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The front passenger control arm snapped free from the subframe while sitting at a stop sign. I heard a loud noise and had no idea what it was until I started driving and felt an issue in the steering. When I went underneath to look, I realized that the entire control arm assembly was completely separated from the subframe. When looking online for a possible recall, I realized that I'm not the only one where something similar has happened. This is clearly not a wear and tear issue and no way should this ever happen. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11412873, filed 2021-04, 61,000 miles

   “Vehicle with no known mechanical issues/never involved in an accident was traveling 50mph on a major state route when suddenly the vehicle seized and began vibrating as if it had a flat tire. As the driver tried to control the vehicle and pull over there was a loud scraping sound. The control arm on the rear passenger side had broken from the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11310699, filed 2020-02, 148,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake lights staying on and shift lock issues

   • 136 complaints (15%)
   • median 25,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (113 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $875 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners report the brake lights remaining illuminated after the pedal is released, which some link to difficulty accelerating or being unable to shift out of Park because the shift interlock does not release. Some complaints also describe a soft or slow-returning brake pedal and longer stopping distances. Reported from about 23,000 to 118,000 miles, with several under 100,000 miles.

   Recall 21V020000Recall 16V380000Recall 13V445000Recall 13V139000

   What to check: Check that the brake lights go out when the pedal is released and that the shifter moves freely out of Park, and confirm whether the brake light switch recalls 21V020000 and 16V380000 were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car was on a city street, when I stopped by my mailbox, and couldn't shift into gear, because it was stuck in park. I went on the internet to find out how to temporarily get it out of park, so I could drive my car to the Nissan repair shop.the whole shift assembly was changed for $900.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327538, filed 2020-06, 51,577 miles

   “Brake lights staying on even when brake pedal not depressed and also causing car to not accelerate sometimes and causing the shift interlock to not automatically work to be able to shift out of park.”

   NHTSA complaint #11375432, filed 2020-11, 99,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag warning light and occupant sensor

   • 182 complaints (20%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (141 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe the passenger airbag off or airbag warning light staying illuminated even with an adult in the front passenger seat, indicating the occupant classification system is not detecting a passenger. Owners report dealers clearing codes, replacing the occupant detection unit or airbag control module, and in some cases the light returning. Reported from roughly 37,000 to 150,000 miles, including some vehicles with low mileage.

   Recall 13V069000Recall 15V681000Recall 14V138000Recall 16V2440003 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the ignition on, sit in the front passenger seat and confirm the passenger airbag status shows enabled, and ask whether any occupant-sensor recalls or the DTC B00A0 bulletin work were performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The light indicating the passenger airbag was disabled came on one day and never went off, indicating the passenger airbag was never enabled, even if an adult was sitting in the front passenger seat. First time to the dealership for this issue, they cleared the codes and told me to come back if it happened again. It happened again immediately upon starting the vehicle to depart from the dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11376364, filed 2020-11, 65,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. He also stated that the OCS sensor failed to recognize an occupant seated in the passenger’s side seat, which would cause the air bag to become inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V681000 (Air Bags) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11434855, filed 2021-09, 149,989 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Hood opens while driving or latch does not hold

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the hood popping open on its own at speed, in some cases striking and shattering the windshield, and say the secondary latch did not hold the hood. Some complaints note the hood latch was replaced or lubricated and that the hood continued to flutter or release, including on vehicles that had received a latch recall. Reported from about 75,000 to 145,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   Recall 22V420000Recall 15V033000

   What to check: Check that the hood closes firmly and that the secondary latch catches, and confirm with a dealer whether recall 22V420000 was completed and whether the latch was replaced afterward.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving down a road, the hood flew up and hit the windshield. I could not see in front of me at all. The hood ripped through the fenders by the windshield. I was driving approx. 35 miles per hour at the time this happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #11349105, filed 2020-08, 105,396 miles

   “The contact owned a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the hood unintendedly opened and shattered the windshield. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the vehicle was a total loss. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11632133, filed 2024-12, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for the recall and service history first, then have a mechanic inspect the CVT behavior and the rear subframe for rust before buying. A well-documented transmission service history and a clean subframe inspection are the two things worth confirming on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.