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2013 Nissan Pathfinder problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
59% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 164 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 48%).
Does the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 428 of 726 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (59%), and the largest group is filed under power train (370). For comparison, the 2014 scores 54%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Nissan Pathfinder years
Of the 12 Nissan Pathfinder years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (59%). The worst is the 2017 (65%), the best the 2022 (25%). By volume, the 2013 drew 890 complaints (428 drivetrain), against 23 for the 2012 and 573 for the 2014.
Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid and best years →
2010 Pathfinder problems · 2011 Pathfinder problems · 2013 · 2014 Pathfinder problems · 2015 Pathfinder problems · 2016 Pathfinder problems · 2017 Pathfinder problems · 2018 Pathfinder problems · 2019 Pathfinder problems · 2020 Pathfinder problems · 2022 Pathfinder problems · 2023 Pathfinder problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 428 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Nissan Pathfinder transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
10 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Nissan Pathfinder? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
Does the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 428 of 726 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (59%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder is power train: 370 of 890 complaints (42%) name it, followed by air bags (177) and engine (105). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 59% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 79% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 12 Nissan Pathfinder years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total: 14V142000 (power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Nissan Pathfinder years are better?
Among the Nissan Pathfinder years we track, the 2022 (25%), the 2018 (32%) and the 2019 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (59%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-pathfinder
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.