2013 Nissan Pathfinder Problems And Complaints

User complaints and problems

Electrical Problems 

• Infotainment – The screen was found to go blank or have static lines and this meant that functions like radio and reverse camera were not available or operable. The distorted screen also distracted the driver while driving and the dealers had to replace the entire unit.

• ECU – Users found the car to be stuttering without any warnings or signs. The car was diagnosed and the mechanics found that the Engine Control Unit needed to be reprogrammed.

Mechanical Problems 

• Engine – Users stated the car jerked and hesitated to accelerate while driving and this issue recurred on multiple occasions. Dealers diagnosed the engine and found it to burn a lot of oil. This led the engine to hold a very limited amount of oil, causing it to jerk and underperform.

• Transmission – The car would shudder vigorously and this issue was reported by many users. There was also a class-action lawsuit filed against Nissan for the same issue and it was revealed that the CVT control valve inside the transmission was faulty causing the vehicle to decelerate and sometimes even kill the transmission completely. Nissan extended the warranty of the affected vehicles and offered to repair or replace the transmission.

• Brakes – The users claimed the brakes to be hard, failing to slow the car down. Drivers had to try depressing the brakes multiple times before it could finally work and it was found that a vacuum hose assembly inside the master cylinder was the reason for the hard brakes and mechanics replaced the cylinder to solve the issue.

Safety Problems 

• Airbag – The passenger airbag warning light stayed on all the time regardless of whether the seat was empty or occupied. The car was taken to the dealers where the under-seat sensor was said to have failed and needed a replacement.

Exterior Problems 

• Brake lights – The brake lights were said to stay on even after the car was turned off. This caused the battery to drain after than usual and the car had to be taken to the dealers. Mechanics checked the electronics linked to the brake and it was found that the brake switch was faulty, for which Nissan rolled out a recall.

• Sunroof – Multiple users complained that the sunroof would shatter for no reason and the dealers gave no explanation for the issue and simply replaced the glass.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder recalls

S. No.	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1.	20TH January 2021	21V020000	Brake light switch relay may stick.	If the brake lights continuously stay on, it may confuse the other drivers in realizing when the car is actually slowing down. This can increase the risk of injury.	The brake light switch will be re-installed or swapped position with the automatic speed control device.
2.	31st May 2016	16V380000	Brake light switch malfunction.	The brake light switch may have been installed incorrectly, causing the relay to make intermittent contact and repeatedly cycle.	The brake light switch relay will be replaced.
3.	26th April 2016	16V244000	Passenger airbag may not deploy due to OCS error.	The occupant classification system may incorrectly classify an adult as a child or as empty. As a result, the passenger airbag may be turned off.	Dealers will reprogram the airbag control unit and OCS.
4.	20th October 2015	15V681000	Airbag may not detect the passenger on the seat.	If the OCS does not detect an adult passenger in the seat, the airbag would be deactivated.	Dealers will update the OCS software.
5.	26th January, 2015	15V033000	Hood release cable assembly.	If the primary hood latch is released and the secondary latch fails during the operation of the vehicle, it could cause the hood to open while on the move.	Dealers will modify the angle of the hood release mechanism to provide additional length to the release cable.
6.	26th March 2014	14V142000	CVT oil cooler hose may detach and leak.	Loss of transmission fluid could cause the transmission to function improperly and the vehicle to stop acceleration.	Dealers will install an oil hose repair kit.
7.	25th March 2014	14V138000	Airbag may not detect passenger in the seat.	If the OCS does not detect an adult passenger, the airbag may not deploy during a crash.	Dealers will update the OCS software.
8.	17th October 2013	13V445000	Increased stopping distance when using ABS.	During light braking on rough roads, the ABD pressure output software may lead to an increase in stopping distance.	Dealers will reprogram the ABS.
9.	12th April 2013	12V139000	Front brake torque member may fail.	This may lead to the brake caliper to move and make contact with the inside of the road wheel, resulting in reduced braking.	The torque member will be inspected and replaced.
10.	1st March 2013	13V069000	Occupant detection system may get disabled.	If the passenger airbag is suppressed and the car is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment, there may be an increased risk of injury.	The ODS sensor will be inspected and replaced.

Should you buy the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?

The high complaint numbers really shouldn’t affect the buying decision when it comes to the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. Since most of the complaints pertained to the transmission of the car, a lawsuit filed against the brand forced Nissan to provide an extended warranty to the affected vehicles, leading the users to be able to replace the transmission without any added charges within the extended time period. However, not every Pathfinder came with a faulty transmission and the majority of users found the car to have no major issues. We recommend getting the car diagnosed to see if the airbag sensors are in ideal condition as Nissan has addressed this issue multiple times through recalls. Nonetheless, the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder is one of the affordable options in the segment while offering great reliability.