CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2013 has a growing number of transmission complaints at low mileage. The issue is part of a class-action lawsuit that says the transmissions shake violently during acceleration between 15mph and 30mph.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,367 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 5 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #270

Jul 062017

Pathfinder

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gear shift assembly recall. The gear shift stick got stuck in parking, in order to get the car out of park I need to use the emergency park release button which creates a safety risk because when you use the emergency release button the break needs not be applied which may cause a crash, injury or death. In Nissan service shop it was determined that the entire gear shift assembly needs to be replaced, cost - $850. Switching gears safely is an essential vehicle function and the gears shift stick is not a wearable part for which malfunction I should pay.

- Allen, TX, USA

problem #269

Oct 182017

Pathfinder

  • 77,000 miles
Intermit - vehicle fails to accelerate after depressing gas pedal. After releasing the gas pedal - intermit operation still present. This issue occurred when the vehicle was in motion on local streets, parking lots and highways. Current speed of vehicle does not appear to be factor, only when trying to accelerate.

- Laguna Niguel, CA, USA

problem #268

Jul 282017

Pathfinder

  • 56,000 miles
My 2013 Nissan Pathfinder has experienced 8 incidents of no acceleration, sometimes at critical moments, like merging from one highway to another in heavy traffic. One incident involved a semi-truck nearly rear-ending me on a flyover ramp while my Pathfinder was stuck at 40 mph. It was like a funeral procession stuck behind me until I was able to get on a shoulder of the highway, after the flyover ramp. All 8 incidents have happened after the car was serviced on 2/14/17 by the Nissan dealership for recall PC500 (dealing with the transmission). We had no problems with our Pathfinder before the warranty/recall work was done. The car tends to get stuck in lower speeds, between about 15-40 mph. It has done this twice from a dead stop at a red light. When it finally did accelerate from the red light, it shot off like a rocket and caused us to go over a median and off the road. It does it on local streets and also on highways. The severity of the situation seems greater when it happens on the highway, however, it could be deadly on local roads as well. I am scared to turn left without an arrow for fear of it not accelerating. I have to drive differently, allowing tons of space/time to pull out of parking lots, in case it doesn't accelerate. I have all of my service records and have done everything to service the car that it requires.

- Prairie Village, KS, USA

problem #267

Jun 282017

Pathfinder

  • 82,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car began jumping and jerking as it accelerated on both the interstate and city streets. I was certainly not in control. The tachometer kept accelerating and decelerating on its own. After I accelerated to above 45-50, it stopped jerking and became smooth again. Upon stopping at a stop light or sign, the vehicle was jerky and had trouble engaging and shifting. It was extremely dangerous.

- Opelika, AL, USA

problem #266

Jun 252017

Pathfinder

  • 58,000 miles
Vehicle does not respond when the gas pedal is depressed, resulting in no acceleration. This has been an ongoing problem and happens at random, and at varying speeds: Including acceleration from a complete stop, acceleration at highway speeds, and acceleration at city speeds. When this happens, rpms do not rise while the gas pedal is depressed and the vehicle becomes totally unresponsive. This problem began occurring after the dealer replaced the cvt and torque convertor ' both deemed bad by the dealer. Vehicle has been back to the dealer on several occasions to address this concern, but the dealership cannot replicate the problem, and there are no codes appearing during diagnostic testing. The problem is ongoing and there has been no resolution. Nissan corporate has not formally acknowledged this to be a systemic problem, but is 'aware of some concerns'.

- Grand Island, NY, USA

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problem #265

May 012017

Pathfinder

  • 55,000 miles
Nissan Pathfinder 2013 revs engine and jerks vehicle while firmly pressing brake (at a stop light). At first, I thought it was just the wind, but it kept happening for weeks. Then I noticed the rpms jump when it happened. Furthermore, the vehicle would slowly roll forward if stopped on a hill, requiring pressing the brake pedal all of the way to the floor. Just yesterday, it revved and jerked about a dozen times. The vehicle has the latest recalls done as of April/may when I took in in for service (rosen Nissan) and they verified the brake system was ok. Vehicle should not be revving and trying to turn tires while it is stopped.

- Edgerton, WI, USA

problem #264

Jun 012015

Pathfinder

  • 30,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The dealer diagnosed that the cvt transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact indicated that the cvt was replaced on two previous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Leesburg, GA, USA

problem #263

Apr 032017

Pathfinder

  • 58,000 miles
Vehicle will not respond when accelerator is pressed occasionally. This poses great safety issues. Vehicles shakes tremendously when accelerating up a hill under 30 mile per hour

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #262

Mar 252017

Pathfinder

  • 83,500 miles
Transmission shudder at lower speeds when accelerating into traffic. First transmission replaced by Nissan at ~5400 miles. The second event: Transmission shudder at low speeds, accelerating in city (atlanta) traffic. Noticeable shudder on deceleration as well. The second transmission is going in 03/31/17 at ~84000 miles.

- Statesboro, GA, USA

problem #261

Mar 012017

Pathfinder

  • 10 miles
When driving the vehicle it stalls when pressing the gas to accelerate. When at a stop or turning when switching from braking to accelerating you have to press the gas several times to get the car to accelerate. Nissan Consumer Affairs will not assist and the dealership cannot replicate. I dont know what to

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #260

Jan 282017

Pathfinder

  • 65,400 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving the RPM and speed of the vehicle will not go past 1500 thus causing very slow acceleration. Especially when trying to turn into any street where you need to accelerate faster. Trying to de press and re press the gads pedal does nothing. Our Nissan dealership has said the transmission valve body assembly is to blame.

- La Porte, TX, USA

problem #259

Jan 182017

Pathfinder

  • miles
I was given a new transmission when purchased because it had jerky gear changes. Inside door handles are breaking, trapping passenger in car.

- Bethel Park, PA, USA

problem #258

Dec 022016

Pathfinder

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the driver's side door handle was fractured. The contact had to roll down the driver side window to open the door from the outside. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a plastic ring inside the door fractured and needed to be replaced. The repairs were not completed. The contact also mentioned that there was a flipping noise under the vehicle. The dealer was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 14V142000 (power train), but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 60,000.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #257

Nov 142016

Pathfinder

  • 77,000 miles
Cvt is failing. Vehicle shudders and shakes at low speeds and at speeds above 60mph. Nissan dealership knew immediately what the problem was.

- Stone Mountain, GA, USA

problem #256

Aug 012016

Pathfinder

  • 49,000 miles
Nissan-usa has known about a cvt transmission issue with this vehichle. We purchased it used in February 2016. Leckner had the vehicle in stock when the announcement was made and did nothing to repair the issue. They sold us the vehicle without disclosing the information. Nissan now does not want to make any repairs, though the car id deemed dangerous as the engine makes sudden jerking and shuddering when accelerations. There have been at least two class action lawsuits where Nissan has agreed to fix the issue or change a new engine. When calling and dealing with leckner and Nissan they keep saying the issue is closed and won't do anything.

- Westminster, MD, USA

problem #255

Oct 182016

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
I take my car to steven creek Nissan dealer located in santa clara California to fix the brake switch recall ntb16-062 on 10/1/2016. I started have having problem with my gear shift lock issue on 10/18/2016. I cannot shift my gear unless I use a screw drive. I cannot move my gear from park position unless I use a screw driver. I took my car to the dealer on 10/29 and they found that brake lamp stop switch (which they inspected on 10/1) is out of spec and adjusted back into spec and release my car. For that adjustment they charge me $160 for it which I think is unfair because they are the one who touch it on 10/1. before they touch it I never have this problem. On 10/30/2016 the problem reappeared I still cannot shift the gear without a screw driver. Car transmission is in shift lock.

- Milpitas, CA, USA

problem #254

Oct 152016

Pathfinder

  • miles
Takata recall-transmission completely failed 1500 miles after warranty expired-started jerking at low speeds and finally just wouldnt move after it was parked.

- Kevil, KY, USA

problem #253

Nov 192014

Pathfinder 6-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
Car was purchased new in the second quarter of 2013. In late 2014 with less than $40K, car began "shuddering". mostly at low speeds and when accelerating. Dealer could not find an issue. Driving back from vacation in late 2014, on the interstate, the car lost power and we limped off the exit after which the car was undriveable. Nissan indicated it was an issue with the cvt and the transmission was replaced under warranty. Looking back at the situation on the highway, given the loss of power, this could have been a lethal situation. Fast forward to Oct 2016 and at 88K, the same issue is re-occurring and the dealer indicated today, transmission will (again) need to be replaced.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #252

Jun 012016

Pathfinder

  • 80,000 miles
Have had continual transmission problems since purchase of this new vehicle. Bought the vehicle new and transmission replaced once already. New transmission has same exact issues as old. Car hesitates and stutters upon acceleration. Limited recourse through Nissan, only pay for parts

- South Hamilton, MA, USA

problem #251

Jul 142014

Pathfinder

  • 21,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to acclerate. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

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