2013 Nissan PATHFINDER: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER(N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE BRAKING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489001 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AROUND 35 MPH THE PATHFINDER STARTED SPUTTERING BETWEEN 3000-4000 RPMS AND WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN HOPES TO RESET A PROBLEM. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, THE PATHFINDER WOULD NOT MOVE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. AS THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS LOADING THE PATHFINDER HE NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF LIQUID COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE HAD BURST AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. ALSO ANOTHER OWNER OF A 2013 PATHF…

Owner-reported narrative. 306 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490959 at NHTSA ↗

THE NIGHT OF SATURDAY JANUARY 19TH, 2013, ONE MONTH AND A HALF AFTER I PURCHASED MY "NEW 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER," IT WAS IT!!! I THOUGH THAT WE WERE PUTTING THE WRONG TYPE OF GAS IN IT, BUT NO!!! WE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS "RUNNING OUT OF GAS MOVEMENT" FROM A $40,000 VEHICLE WITH ONE OF THE BEST MARKETING PROMOTIONS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THE 21ST OF JANUARY, AND THE ONLY RESPONSE FROM GENERAL MANAGEMENT WAS " OH!... WE ARE SO SORRY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING ON HERE...IT LOOKS LIKE A TRANSMISSION MODULE, BUT WAIT... NO, THAT'S NOT …

Owner-reported narrative. 989 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493691 at NHTSA ↗

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR TWO WEEK OLD 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER PLATINUM EDITION WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DISABLED. THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE COOLANT LINE BURST AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A "PRECAUTION" THEY WILL BE REPLACING THE RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION LINE (S), AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE RETURNING IT TO US. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE TRANSMISSION…

Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493701 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER FUELING MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I HEADED OUT AND NOTICED SMOKE AROUND MY VEHICLE. A NEIGHBORING VEHICLE MOTIONED FOR ME TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW AND SAID I HAD FLUID THAT LOOKED LIKE ANTI FREEZE POURING OUT FROM BENEATH MY 2013 PATHFINDER. I TRIED TO PULL OVER BUT THE SUV WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE FORWARD AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN. NOT KNOWING WHY MY VEHICLE WAS SMOKING, I CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SOME PEOPLE STOPPED TO HELP AND PUSH THE VEHICLE FROM THE STREET. THE FIRE DEPARTME…

Owner-reported narrative. 326 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493759 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD AND 5 MONTH OLD MY 2013 PATHFINDER ON 12/29 (WHICH I HAD FOR 1 MONTH)IT STARTED FEELING LIKE IT WAS MISSING GEARS AND SPUTTERING. THE RPMS STARTED TO REV UP BETWEEN 4000-5000 AND WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING ANY FASTER, AND THE CAR WAS JERKING AS I WAS DRIVING IT. I STOPPED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF HOPING IT WAS JUST A FLUKE BUT WHEN I STARED IT WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I WAS IN REVERSE I THEN PUT IN DRIVE AGAIN IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING BUT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME O…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,510 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494526 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY @55MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV FROM LOW TO VERY HIGH RPMS. ALL OF A SUDDEN CABIN BEGAN TO FILL WITH SMOKE AND LOST COMPLETE POWER TO DRIVE TRAIN. MOVE TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND AVOIDED A HUGE ACCIDENT WITH 2 CHILDREN ON BOARD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494583 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN MY 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER STARTED TO ACT STRANGE. THE RPM'S WOULD BE ERRATIC GOING FROM 3000 - 5000 IF I TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR. THEN IT WOULD STOP IF I DID NOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR. THEN 4000 - 6000 RPMS. IT SEEMED VERY UNSAFE AND OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I DECIDED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ON THE EXIT RAMP WHEN I HEARD A LARGE GRINDING NOISE AND THE CAR STOPPED. THERE WAS AN AWFUL BURNING SMELL AND THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE IN ADDITION TO THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495247 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-03-01 (March 1, 2013)

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.

Consequence: If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2013-04-12 (April 12, 2013)

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Pathfinder and Infiniti JX vehicles manufactured December 3, 2012, through January 29, 2013. The front brake torque member was improperly cast resulting in structural weakness. This can lead to premature failure and cracking.

Consequence: If the brake torque member fails, the brake caliper may move and contact the inside of the road wheel, resulting in reduced braking, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the manufacturing date of the torque members and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 20, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles manufactured April 18, 2012, through September 20, 2013; model year 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles manufactured September 15, 2011, through January 16, 2013; and model year 2014 Infiniti QX60 vehicles manufactured January 17, 2013, through September 20, 2013. In the affected vehicles, during light braking on rough roads, the antilock brake system (ABS) brake pressure output software may lead to an increase in stopping distance.

Consequence: The increased stopping distance may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ABS, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2014-03-25 (March 25, 2014)

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.

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2014-03-26 (March 26, 2014)

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.

Reported: 2015-01-26 (January 26, 2015)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to November 18, 2013, 2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid vehicles manufactured July 18, 2013, to November 18, 2013, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles manufactured November 29, 2011, to June 14, 2013, and 2014 QX60 vehicles manufactured May 16, 2013, to November 18, 2013, and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles manufactured July 18, 2013, to November 18, 2013. In the affected vehicles the hood release cable assembly may have been installed incorrectly preventing the latching claw from fully engaging. The secondary latch may remain in the open position when the hood is closed.

Consequence: If the primary hood latch is released and the secondary latch fails during operation of the vehicle, it could cause the hood to open during vehicle operation impairing the driver's vision, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the angle of the hood release mechanism to provide additional length to the release cable, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2015-10-20 (October 20, 2015)

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.

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

Reported: 2016-05-31 (May 31, 2016)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to June 13, 2013. The brake light switch may have been installed incorrectly causing the relay to make intermittent contact and repeatedly cycle. This may result in the relay remaining in the "ON" position, causing the brake lights to remain illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, the brake light switch may interfere with the brake-shift interlock, allowing the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "Park" position, without depressing the brake pedal.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake light switch and, as necessary, replace the relay, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2021-01-20 (January 20, 2021)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The location of the brake light switch may cause the brake light switch relay to repeatedly open and close. Overtime, this can cause the relay to stick in the "ON" position, with the brake lights remaining illuminated even when the brakes are not applied. Additionally, this may interfere with the brake-shift interlock, allowing the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "Park" position, without depressing the brake pedal.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, either re-install the brake light switch or swap positions with the Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD) switch; depending on the model year vehicle. In addition, the brake light relay will be replaced with a new one. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall PC786. Note: this recall supersedes 16V-380.

Reported: 2022-06-13 (June 13, 2022)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Pathfinder vehicles. On certain Pathfinder vehicles, the secondary hood latch may malfunction and remain in the unlatched, unsecured, position when the hood is closed.

Consequence: An unsecured hood could unexpectedly open while driving, obstructing the driver's view, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the bell crank assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 26, 2025. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are R22A2 R22A3 and R24B7.