2013 Nissan Pathfinder Reliability ReportCommon Problems, Repair Costs & Expert Verdict
Quick Facts · 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
- Has 11 NHTSA recalls on record — the most notable involves the electrical system:software.
- Scores 23 points below the strongest nearby year — the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder earns a 78.
- The system most likely to surface first: cvt transmission (critical severity).
Should You Buy the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder, the inaugural year of its redesign, represents a significant risk for potential buyers primarily due to its notoriously unreliable Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). While it offers ample space and comfort for families, the catastrophic failure potential of the transmission makes it a vehicle to approach with extreme caution and a substantial repair budget. Do not assume this vehicle will provide trouble-free ownership past 80,000 miles without significant investment.
Biggest Strengths
- Spacious and comfortable three-row interior
- Decent fuel economy for its size (when transmission functions)
- Smooth ride quality
Top Risk Areas
The systems that break first on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. Mileage windows, repair costs, and fix-before-you-buy notes are in the full report.
NHTSA Recalls
11 recalls on record from NHTSA. Check your VIN atnhtsa.gov to see if the repair was performed.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. 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.
What breaks on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?
Full reliability breakdown — engine, transmission, rust, electrical. With repair costs and mileage danger zones.
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Nissan Pathfinder by Year
Compare KeepScores across nearby years of the Nissan Pathfinder. Click any year for its full report.
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Similar class, similar year range — ranked by KeepScore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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