YearToAvoid

2013 Nissan Pathfinder Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 370 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder, 42% of all complaints filed for the year. A related CVT recall (14V142000) covers vehicles built April 18–October 3, 2012, for an oil hose issue. Median mileage at failure is 5,120.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
370
42% of 890
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
5,120 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a periodic shudder or judder felt like driving over rippled pavement, occurring during light acceleration at low speeds and recurring over months.
  • Multiple owners describe the CVT slipping or shifting erratically between 0 and 40 mph, sometimes accompanied by RPM fluctuation and whole-vehicle vibration.
  • Some drivers report sudden deceleration or stalling while accelerating, including one case tied to a crash after the vehicle failed to accelerate on a highway ramp.
  • Several complaints describe repeated full transmission replacements on the same vehicle, with one owner reporting five replacements since 2014.
  • One owner reported the transmission shutting down completely while driving on the highway, leaving the vehicle unable to move.
  • A diagnostic trouble code (P1750) was retrieved on one vehicle after it jerked abnormally at various speeds.

When 2013 Nissan Pathfinder transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 3, 2013, latest May 9, 2026.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter442013 Q12014 Q42016 Q32018 Q22020 Q12021 Q42023 Q42025 Q4
370 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2013 Q4 (44).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

  1. NHTSA 14V142000Mar 26, 2014Transmission & Powertrain3,065 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines

    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.

    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.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Pathfinder model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201011 (28%)
  2. 20117 (16%)
  3. 20122 (9%)
  4. 2013370 (42%)
  5. 2014214 (37%)
  6. 201576 (24%)
  7. 20167 (7%)
  8. 201734 (18%)
  9. 201812 (16%)
  10. 20199 (12%)
  11. 20208 (17%)
  12. 202217 (13%)
  13. 202313 (13%)
  14. 20248 (10%)
  15. 20257 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does NHTSA have for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA lists 370 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Pathfinder, which is 42% of all 890 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?
Yes. Recall 14V142000 covers certain 2013 Pathfinder units built April 18 through October 3, 2012, with a CVT oil hose issue; dealers install a repair kit free of charge.
At what mileage do 2013 Pathfinder transmission problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 5,120 miles.
Did the 2013 Pathfinder transmission issues cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 1 crash and 1 injury tied to Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 Pathfinder, with no reported fires.
How does the 2013 Pathfinder compare to other years for transmission complaints?
The 2013 model's 42% share of complaints tied to Transmission & Powertrain is the highest among the listed years, compared to 37% in 2014 and 24% in 2015.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.