What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?

The biggest complaint groups are the power train with 370 complaints, air bags with 177 and the engine with 110. See the problems section above for what owners describe.

Are there recalls on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?

Yes. This model year has 11 recalls on record. They are listed by code in the Recalls section of this page.

How many miles per gallon does the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder get?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA ratings and the estimated annual fuel cost.

Is the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?

NHTSA has 890 owner complaints for this year. Read the problems and recalls sections together to judge for yourself.

Is 2013 a good year for the Nissan Pathfinder?

The by-year comparison section of this page shows how this model year stacks up against the others, so you can compare complaints and recalls side by side.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 890 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder^[1]. The largest group names the power train, with 370 complaints^[2].

890owner complaints^[1]

11recalls^[3]

21–22MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups in the NHTSA record for this year, biggest first.

Power Train. 370 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the SUV sputtering, revving without picking up speed, or refusing to move in drive. Some say it happened within weeks of buying it and ended with a tow.
Air Bags. 177 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a passenger air bag light that stays on or an occupant sensor that seems to misjudge who is sitting in the seat. Several say dealer resets did not solve it.
Engine. 110 complaints^[7]. Owners describe the same loss of power and rough running, sometimes with smoke or a fluid leak.
Unknown Or Other. 110 complaints^[8]. These reports do not fit a single component group.
Structure. 83 complaints^[9]. Owners describe a hood that shakes at highway speeds and items sliding under the seat toward the pedals.
Brakes. 66 complaints^[10].
Electrical System. 50 complaints^[11].
Speed Control. 47 complaints^[12].

These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, and one complaint can name more than one component.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2013 Pathfinder is necessarily included.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch (22V420), June 2022. About 322,671 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch (21V020), January 2021. About 264,431 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, reduced braking, the car rolling away. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch (16V380), May 2016. About 79,853 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, reduced braking, the car rolling away. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification (16V244), April 2016. About 3,296,947 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification (15V681), October 2015. About 919 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge And Attachments (15V033), January 2015. About 170,665 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit And Lines (14V142), March 2014. About 3,065 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[19]
Electrical System › Software (14V138), March 2014. About 989,701 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[20]
Electrical System › Software (13V445), October 2013. About 151,695 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[21]
Service Brakes (13V139), April 2013. About 19,258 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[22]
Air Bags (13V069), March 2013. About 82,038 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[23]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Pathfinder 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	20 / 25 / 22	$3,050
Pathfinder 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[24]	19 / 25 / 21	$3,200

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[5]	4	4	5	4	16.9%
SUV FWD^[25]	4	4	5	4	19.1%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2013 Nissan Pathfinder with 3.5L 6-cylinder^[26]	265 hp

How 2013 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Pathfinder model year. The 2013 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	170	0
1996	159	3
1997	217	2
1998	149	2
1999	104	2
2000	112	2
2001	230	3
2002	156	5
2003	110	3
2004	67	3
2005	1,050	2
2006	837	3
2007	561	1
2008	328	4
2009	37	3
2010	40	4
2011	45	2
2012	23	2
2013	890	11
2014	585	12
2015	321	6
2016	107	2
2017	186	2
2018	78	3
2019	76	2
2020	48	0
2022	136	5
2023	107	1
2024	86	2
2025	55	1
2026	12	0

NHTSA's counts for the Pathfinder show 890 complaints and 11 recalls for 2013^[3]. Among the 31 model years listed, 29 have fewer complaints than 2013 and 1 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (12) and the most are for 2005 (1,050)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2013 Pathfinder?

The 2013 Pathfinder has a large complaint record at 890 reports^[1]. Power train and air bag reports lead the list^[2]^[6]. Owners describe trouble that showed up early in ownership, which is worth weighing if you are shopping for one. Check the recalls and the other sections on this page before you decide. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so they say more about patterns than about how likely any single car is to have trouble.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?: The biggest complaint groups are the power train with 370 complaints^[2], air bags with 177^[6] and the engine with 110^[7]. See the problems section above for what owners describe.
Are there recalls on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?: Yes. This model year has 11 recalls on record^[3]. They are listed by code in the Recalls section of this page.
How many miles per gallon does the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder get?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA ratings and the estimated annual fuel cost.
Is the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder reliable?: NHTSA has 890 owner complaints for this year^[1]. Read the problems and recalls sections together to judge for yourself.
Is 2013 a good year for the Nissan Pathfinder?: The by-year comparison section of this page shows how this model year stacks up against the others, so you can compare complaints and recalls side by side.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Nissan Pathfinder

2005 1,050 complaints, 2 recalls
2006 837 complaints, 3 recalls
2012 23 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 this page
2014 585 complaints, 12 recalls
2015 321 complaints, 6 recalls
2016 107 complaints, 2 recalls
2017 186 complaints, 2 recalls
2018 78 complaints, 3 recalls
2019 76 complaints, 2 recalls
2020 48 complaints, 0 recalls
2025 55 complaints, 1 recall

Compare all model years of the Nissan Pathfinder

Other Nissan models from 2013

2013 Nissan Maxima 62 complaints, 0 recalls
2013 Nissan Quest 18 complaints, 0 recalls
2013 Nissan Rogue 610 complaints, 1 recall
2013 Nissan Sentra 638 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 Nissan Titan 11 complaints, 3 recalls

All Nissan models

Similar cars from 2013: small suvs

2013 GMC Terrain 364 complaints, 3 recalls
2013 Honda CR-V 382 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 Lincoln MKX 163 complaints, 1 recall
2013 Volkswagen Tiguan 140 complaints, 3 recalls
2013 Volvo XC60 66 complaints, 3 recalls
2013 Acura RDX 162 complaints, 3 recalls

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 890 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder (16 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 16 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
370 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 5,120). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Nissan Pathfinder model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Pathfinder 2WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 25 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
177 complaints name the air bags component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 13 injuries, median mileage at failure 10,500). NHTSA vehicle records
110 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 8,750). NHTSA vehicle records
110 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,337). NHTSA vehicle records
83 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
66 complaints name the brakes component group (10 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 16,000). NHTSA vehicle records
50 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 30,750). NHTSA vehicle records
47 complaints name the speed control component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 17,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 22V420, filed June 13, 2022: Latches / Locks / Linkages › Hood › Latch. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V020, filed January 20, 2021: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V380, filed May 31, 2016: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V244, filed April 26, 2016: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V681, filed October 20, 2015: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V033, filed January 26, 2015: Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge And Attachments. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V142, filed March 26, 2014: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit And Lines. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V138, filed March 25, 2014: Electrical System › Software. NHTSA recall database
Recall 13V445, filed October 17, 2013: Electrical System › Software. NHTSA recall database
Recall 13V139, filed April 12, 2013: Service Brakes. NHTSA recall database
Recall 13V069, filed March 1, 2013: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Pathfinder 4WD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 19.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2013 Nissan Pathfinder with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 265 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder: problems, recalls and fuel economy