Is the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder a bad year?
891 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 371, 37× a quiet Pathfinder year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 2k–38k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 9 of 136 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Pathfinder owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 6,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 371 (42%) | 2k–38k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 177 (20%) | 3k–35k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 47 (5%) | 3k–44k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 83 (9%) | 18k–80k miles · ahead | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 54 (6%) | 27k–61k miles · ahead | — |
| Engine | 110 (12%) | 2k–36k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 26 (3%) | 2k–57k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 13 (1%) | 2k–60k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 67 (8%) | 7k–59k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 50 (6%) | 7k–48k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 29 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 14 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 13 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 12 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 6,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 891 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 9 report an injury · 14 say the car was towed.
12 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Vehicle was at a stop light. When the light turned green, I started to accelerate. After a few seconds, the vehicle lost power and started to slow down to a crawl even with my foot still on the gas pedal.
Car jutters when accelerating after a stop and when turning. The car was purchased in june, and has done it about 15 times since.
Car was purchased new in the second quarter of 2013. In late 2014 with less than $40k, car began "Shuddering".
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 6,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder: 11
On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed. An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Continual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If the brake override is activated, the driver will not be accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash.
In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash. 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.
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. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated.
In the affected vehicles the hood release cable assembly may have been installed incorrectly preventing the latching claw from fully engaging. The secondary latch may remain in the open position when the hood is closed. 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.
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. The loss of transmission fluid could cause the transmission to function improperly and the vehicle to stop accelerating, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated.
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 distance. The increased stopping distance may increase the risk of a crash.
The front brake torque member was improperly cast resulting in structural weakness. This can lead to premature failure and cracking. 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.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 132
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
DTC P17F0 or P17F1 stored in the TCM
Fluid leak caused by transfer assembly right side drive shaft oil seal
Clicking noise from front or rear axle during take-off/acceleration
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Hood Latch/Bell Crank Assembly
Occupant Classification System Failure
Occupant Classification System Failure
Transmission cooler hose separation
Neighbouring years
2012 Pathfinder: 23 complaints, keep it · 2014 Pathfinder: 574 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Nissan Pathfinder year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Pathfinder years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder a bad year?
891 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 371, 37× a quiet Pathfinder year. At 6,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 2k–38k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 9 of 136 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (371), air bags (177), speed control (47), body structure (83), visibility and wipers (54). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 2k–38k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Latches and locks (NHTSA 22V-420), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 21V-020), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 16V-380), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-244) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.