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.

7.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
27,100 miles
Total Complaints:
43 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (24 reports)
  2. replaced cvt transmission (13 reports)
  3. recall on CVT to correct issue (5 reports)
  4. recall (1 reports)
2013 Nissan Pathfinder transmission problems

transmission problem

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2013 Nissan Pathfinder Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #43

Nov 202017

Pathfinder 3.5V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 116,105 miles

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

Bought the car 6 months ago. It's nothing but trouble with jerking. It has been in for repair 8 times and I am still waiting for it to be returned. It has been in the workshop for 5 weeks now, this time the same issue. I bought it from Advantage Cars and Botany New Zealand - I've told them about the problem when it was on 100 day warranty and there was no fix solution from them. Now it's on extended warranty and we took it to Nissan itself, as was told to us from our last mechanic.

One of the workers from Advantage Cars, then another worker from them phoned us and yelled at us that the car was not allowed to go. Nissan did not give a reason but said as we took it there we can pay for it.

- Marie W., Auckland, New Zealand

problem #42

Mar 022022

Pathfinder

  • CVT transmission
  • 2,600 miles

I bought my 2013 Nissan Pathfinder used with warranty - the transmission was replaced 2 months after I bought with warranty. That took me 2 1/2 months to get it approved. New tranny for replacement was sent from Nissan. Old warranty expired 1 month after new, being installed it failed with 2600 miles on the new tranny that is under warranty with Nissan 12,000 miles or 2 yrs.

Nissan wants me to pay for the new tranny when its there fault the brand new tranny they sent was bad. It was not my fault they sent me one that had the bad cvt in it. They need to fix it. I don't owe them anything they made the mistaker and are refusing and want me to pay it.

- Cassie K., Kingman, AZ, US

problem #41

Mar 242018

Pathfinder Platinum 3.5L V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 88,000 miles

2nd CVT failed just outside of the extended warranty. Nissan Consumer Affairs has been contacted. Why are the replacements failing as well?

- Adam T., Kill Devil Hills, US

problem #40

Mar 262017

Pathfinder TI 3.5L V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 31,147 miles

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

The car was stopped in a red light .

I am so angry about this and bloody awful when i have the kids in the car

Just want my money back from Noble Toyota or Nissan

Please help

- Mohammed H.,

problem #39

Aug 202013

Pathfinder

  • CVT transmission
  • 1,000 miles

This has been an ongoing issue since the car was brand new. While accelerating the transmission shakes, shudders, and jerks. There have been countless near misses in heavy traffic and on the freeway. I have asked the service department about this issue on multiple occasions only to be told that it is not a problem, that this is "how this type of transmission works."

This is not acceptable. This is a dangerous defect and only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs.

- Amberlyn G., Snowflake, AZ, US

problem #38

Dec 272016

Pathfinder Platinum V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,564 miles

I bought the car used and it was a salvaged title so Nissan won't cover the warranty. Mind you their was a recall on the cvt repair but I'm excluded because I bought a salvage title. Now if I get the DMV to take off the salvage title they will pay for the transmission. And did I say that my transmission is shot, I'm screwed. So if your transmission is slipping and making noises, take it in right away. Of course reading all of these complaints their is no guarantee they will fix it.

Nissan knows their is a problem, but will do anything to not fix the situation. I've bought all of my cars for the past 17 years from this same dealer and never a problem, and all have been salvage titles. I will never buy another Nissan car, truck , or SUV. This is a serious problem that made me afraid to drive the car and when I did I was afraid to make any turn into traffic because I was never sure I could get up the speed to be out of the way.

Nissan can kiss my ass! I have a Nissan Titan it's been a very reliable truck, both of my sons drive Infinitis and love them. But as for me I'm done, I'm stuck with this Pathfinder because now I'm so upside down I have no choice. I will never ever buy Nissan ever again.

- Stephanie S., Taylorsville, UT, US

problem #37

Dec 012016

Pathfinder L 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,681 miles

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

The transmission has started to jerk at high speed around 80km/h. I thought it was the 4wD but it does the same thing in 2wD. I will have this checked by the dealer. I've had a hard time with this vehicle, mostly the dealer service is so lame.

- martinquebec, Boucherville, Quebec, Canada

problem #36

Dec 012016

Pathfinder

  • CVT transmission
  • 79,000 miles

I have had this problem since the beginning. It was covered and temporarily fixed under one of the recalls early on, however, in the last year and a half it has gotten significantly worse. At the last check, I was told I needed to replace my transmission-- or would eventually-- but it was still driveable. For the past month my car has been making a terrible noise-- sounds like a ghost is under the hood, and sometimes sounds like a bad fan belt. Bringing it in tomorrow and I'm worried that the transmission is going to HAVE to be replaced. Not good!!

- Lissi B., Ponte Vedra, FL, US

problem #35

Jul 252016

Pathfinder

  • CVT transmission
  • 72,000 miles

It's not covered under "warranty", it's violently shacking as I start to accelerate, and NISSAN DEALERSHIP TRIED TO SAY IT WAS AN EXHAUST ISSUE!!!!! AND PRETENDED TO FIX THAT?!? I need help getting this fixed!

- Parker J., Taylorsville, UT, US

problem #34

Aug 012016

Pathfinder S V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 49,000 miles

2013 Nissan Pathfinder S has been jerking when accelerating. Reports shown known issues with CVT yet nissan has done nothing to repair this issue only log a case number. Nissan needs to fix the issue before there is a fatal accident.

- Dennis M., Westminster, MD, US

problem #33

Jul 022016

Pathfinder V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

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

I bought my car used from ORR Dealership, I informed the care dealership that after I drove it off the lot and went up the first incline the car jerked and missed like it was going to die, this also happens when I stop for a stop light or stop sign. I took it back because it is still under the 100M miles. They told me that it has a down time on it, that when you are sitting at a light, or going a low speed it goes into a sleep mode. After reading the stuff on here that it a bunch of who-weeee! Nissan needs to step to the plate and fix these cars.

- Nancy R., Cave City, AR, US

problem #32

Aug 012013

Pathfinder

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles

When I drive between 15-25 mph the transmission seems to pass out. Once the speed gets above 25 mph everything is fine. This has been a problem ever since I got the car brand new. Very disappointing.

- Hilde H., Atlanta, GA, US

problem #31

Jul 232014

Pathfinder SV V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 37,750 miles

I realized the car was shuddering after I purchased the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. I took it into the Nissandealership and they said there was a recall on the CVT, so they reprogrammed it. After I picked it up and was driving home, I called them back and the gentleman told me there was nothing else they could do.he said I needed to bring it back in and they would diagnose the problem. I told him the problem should have been fixed and I couldn't afford to have them rip me off any mk ore than they already have. I called them 3 to!es about the problem and they continued to tell me there was nothing they could do about it.

- Carri F., Lubbock, TX, US

problem #30

Sep 012015

Pathfinder Platinum

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

When I accelerate from low speeds from about 5mph to 30mph the car starts jerking. Once you pass 30mph it's fine. I especially notice it going up bridges and overpasses on the freeway. We took it to the dealer and they couldn't identify the problem. They said they fixed it but it was never resolved.

- Simone G., Houston, TX, US

problem #29

Dec 132013

Pathfinder

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,389 miles

I am a customer. I bought a new Pathfinder car three years ago. Its model is 2013. I have suffered from the car during the last three years, because it has 2 problems. A problem in the brake and a problem in the gear shift. In my country, I went to the company many times to fix my car, but unfortunately the company fixed one problem only. The company tried many times to fix the gear shift, but the problem is still in the car. And I was worried during the last three years, because my new car has a serious problem, and the company didn't know to deal with this serious problem. Finally, the company decided to change the gear shift. When the company changed the gear shift, the problem was still in the car. After that, the company decided to give me two choices. One of them is that the company will replace my car with a new car, but I have to pay extra money. And the other choice is that the company will buy my car, and the price will be less than the price which I paid for my car. So, I can't buy another new car. I think that in both of the cases I will be the loser. Because when the company will buy my car, I will not be able to buy a new car. Also, the price may not help me to buy a good car. According to the first choice, when the company will replace my car with a new car, I will not be able to pay the extra money. Because the extra money may be a lot for me. The car is still under warranty.

- Abdullah A., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

problem #28

Apr 052014

Pathfinder Platinum 3.5L V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 9,000 miles

This issue keeps happening and is getting worse. Somewhere between 15 - 30 mph at low rpm, when I accelearate the car jerks and shudders as if it is losing power. This happens for a few seconds and then the car moves on. I have taken the vehicle to Nissan twice and both times they claim to have adjusted and reprogrammed the transmission but the problem has not gone away. In fact over the last few months the problem has gotten worse, more frequent and more prominent. Nissan seems to do doing nothing to fix this problem even though I have emailed and contacted them several times raising this as a safety concern.

- Adil A., Sugar Land, TX, US

problem #27

Nov 152015

Pathfinder SL 3,5 V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 35,000 miles

The first time I took the vehicle to the Nissan Dealer, they couldn't reproduce the failure. they said they check everything and it was fine. I am still having the problem, when I start accelerating in slow speed, transmission start jerking and the only way to get out of that is hitting the gas to reengage the transmision.

The Second time I took the vehicle to the dealer, they said there was nothing wrong, they drove the vehicle and apparently they couldn't reproduce the failure, one of the service guys jump in to the car with me, but as always hapen, when you want it to happen, it doesn't hapen. they told me that if there were something wrong with the transmission, there is a sensor and a light will come up to warn me. Obviously that never happened but I am still having the issue with the transmission. Currently the vehicle has 48K miles. at high speed I don't feel it, only at low speeds. I feel they are just pushing trying to get to the waranty expiration.

- Hector M., Thiensville, US

problem #26

Sep 272013

Pathfinder Platinum V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 2,300 miles

I was told that I needed to replace the transmission as early as 3 Months old into a new car. I had taken the vehicle to the Nissan service over eight times just for the transmission alone. Transmission has been replace two times and continue jerking and slipping. This is the Worst Nissan that I ever had. I try to make Nissan do a Buy Back but after 21 days waiting they said that it does not warrant a buy back. I will try to contact a Lemon Law Lawyer to see what I can do next, but I think it needs to be a Recall for all Pathfinder 2013. Please do not buy another Nissan so that they see that it is a big problem and that they need to fix it Now, before there is an accident and some one get kill.

- colorado, Fort Worth, TX, US

problem #25

Jun 012015

Pathfinder

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 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. Have taken the vehicle in to Nissan service twice already and both times they said they fixed it and the problem persists. I do not have the time, energy, and money to continue taking the vehicle in for the same problems to still be there.

- Jenny S., Houston, TX, US

problem #24

May 012015

Pathfinder V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

CAR WAS JERKING, INTERMITTANT PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION, FELT LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL OUT. DEALERSHIP FIRST STATED THEY COULD'T REPLICATE PROBLEM. THEN THEY SAID IT NEEDED PROGRAMMING UPDATING. I REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. THEY WAIVED THE FEE. THE CAR RAN FINE FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN THE SAME ISSUE.

- Candace M., Hamden, US

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