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The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder has 890 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 11 active recall campaigns.
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder has 890 NHTSA owner complaints and 11 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 360 complaints (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Pathfinder | 40 | 5 |
| 2011 Pathfinder | 45 | 2 |
| 2012 Pathfinder | 23 | 2 |
| 2013 Pathfinder (this page) | 890 | 11 |
| 2014 Pathfinder | 573 | 11 |
| 2015 Pathfinder | 320 | 5 |
| 2016 Pathfinder | 107 | 2 |
Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 11 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 4.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Rear Subframe/under body completely rusted out at cracked. My daughter and I drive a lot for her health condition to appointments. The Nissan Dealership said this could have been catastrophic driving down the freeway had it broke apart while driving. It completely fell apart in…
2013 Nissan pathfinder hesitated (shudder) when I accelerated the vehicle from a standstill in traffic on the freeway. The vehicle did not move for about 2-3 seconds. It sounded like the vehicles power just shut off. After 2-3 seconds, the vehicle then accelerated. This…
On slow road coasting between 15-20mph, the vehicle hesitated and shaked for around 3 seconds until accelerated above 20 MPH. On dec 17, made the same in another road, same MPH. Yesterday 12/30 did it again. In routine maintenance on the dealer, 12/26 informed about the two (2)…
We purchased a new 2013 Nissan pathfinder on approx 6/2013 and now have 10,000 miles on it. The last few weeks we have been noticing at slow speeds approx 25 MPH we are experiencing a shudder in the transmission. It is happening fairly consistent now at 25mph and under a load…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Continual illumination of the brake lights can prevent other drivers from realizing the vehicle is actually slowing down, increasing the risk of a crash. With the brake override activated, the driver will not be able to accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver can shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.
If the brake override is activated, the driver will not be accelerate normally, increasing the risk of a crash. If the brake lights remain illuminated, other drivers may fail to stop when the vehicle actually brakes, increasing the risk of a crash. If the driver inadvertently shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, the vehicle may rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 4.6 out of 10 based on 890 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Brakes: 35 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 4.6/10 — below the segment average; 11 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 360 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 4.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 890 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 360 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 890 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.