VehicleVerdict

2013 Nissan Pathfinder transmission problems

The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder has 371 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 31% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

371

Transmission complaints

31%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Pathfinder transmission complaints by model year591 complaints1987: 2 complaints1990: 13 complaints1991: 15 complaints1992: 10 complaints1993: 3 complaints1994: 10 complaints1995: 21 complaints1996: 13 complaints1997: 20 complaints1998: 23 complaints1999: 9 complaints2000: 6 complaints2001: 3 complaints2002: 11 complaints2003: 3 complaints2004: 9 complaints2005: 591 complaints2006: 451 complaints2007: 337 complaints2008: 155 complaints2009: 8 complaints2010: 11 complaints2011: 7 complaints2012: 2 complaints2013: 371 complaints2014: 214 complaints2015: 76 complaints2016: 6 complaints2017: 34 complaints2018: 11 complaints2019: 8 complaints2020: 7 complaints2022: 17 complaints2023: 11 complaints2024: 8 complaints2025: 6 complaints
Pathfinder transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

14V142000TransmissionMarch 26, 2014 · 3,065 units

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

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.

What owners report

“CVT TRANSMISSION REPLACED 5/2016, ACCIDENT- 6/21/2018 UNABLE TO STOP HITTING AN ANIMAL. REPLACED FOR 2ND TIME 8/2018 TOLD 7/2019 NEEDS REPLACED FOR 3RD TIME TOLD 11/2018 BY NISSAN DEALER NOT TRANSMISSION. GOING UPHILLS OR GETTING ON HIGHWAY RAMP ACCELERATING SUDDEN DECELERATION IMPOSING SERIOUS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · November 2, 2018 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder have?

NHTSA has 371 complaints about the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder transmission — 31% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 14V142000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.