Nissan Pathfinder 2013–2020
4th generation (R52)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20263,093 complaints, 2,029 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 34% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 4 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 34% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 7 complaints (0.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 747
- 25%
- 5,200
- Median
- 32,000
- 75%
- 62,000
- 90%
- 94,450
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 482 | 23.8% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 156 | 7.7% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 99 | 4.9% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 78 | 3.8% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 85 | 4.2% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 70 | 3.4% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 76 | 3.7% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 92 | 4.5% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 99 | 4.9% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 86 | 4.2% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 85 | 4.2% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 73 | 3.6% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 72 | 3.5% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 69 | 3.4% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 53 | 2.6% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 41 | 2.0% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 34 | 1.7% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 38 | 1.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 43 | 2.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 29 | 1.4% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 31 | 1.5% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 18 | 0.9% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 18 | 0.9% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 10 | 0.5% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 14 | 0.7% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 12 | 0.6% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 11 | 0.5% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 9 | 0.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 200,000+ | 7 | 0.3% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 3,093 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2020 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2,029 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
34% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 4 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (23.7% of complaints, typically around 13,000 miles), the engine (12.7% of complaints, typically around 40,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (12.4% of complaints, typically around 48,000 miles).
17 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline13,000median 12,622 miles, middle half 2,000 to 65,000
- Engine40,000median 40,500 miles, middle half 12,000 to 58,000
- Problems owners could not categorise48,000median 48,000 miles, middle half 29,000 to 65,000
- Airbag system12,000median 12,000 miles, middle half 2,500 to 35,000
- Electrical system40,000median 40,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 59,000
- Brakes26,000median 26,000 miles, middle half 7,000 to 57,000
- Body structure45,000median 45,000 miles, middle half 13,000 to 70,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 732 | 23.7% | 13,000 | 2,000–65,000 |
| Engine | 393 | 12.7% | 40,000 | 12,000–58,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 382 | 12.4% | 48,000 | 29,000–65,000 |
| Airbag system | 359 | 11.6% | 12,000 | 2,500–35,000 |
| Electrical system | 181 | 5.9% | 40,000 | 15,000–59,000 |
| Brakes | 179 | 5.8% | 26,000 | 7,000–57,000 |
| Body structure | 162 | 5.2% | 45,000 | 13,000–70,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 124 | 4.0% | 45,000 | 30,000–64,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 123 | 4.0% | 33,000 | 4,000–57,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 57 | 1.8% | 30,000 | 2,000–65,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 32,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 23.7% of complaints (732 reports, 522 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 12,622 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,200 and 65,400 miles.
The engine accounts for 12.7% of complaints (393 reports, 267 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 40,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,033 and 58,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 12.4% of complaints (382 reports, 210 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 48,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 29,000 and 65,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 11.6% of complaints (359 reports, 230 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 12,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,700 and 35,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 5.9% of complaints (181 reports, 105 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 40,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 59,000 miles.
The brakes account for 5.8% of complaints (179 reports, 122 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 26,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,900 and 57,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2013 model year drew the most — 1,209 complaints — while 2020 drew the fewest at 72. The median year sits at 192.
That makes 2013 an outlier: roughly 6.3 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 17 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (4), the exterior lighting (2), the hydraulic brake circuit (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 3,093 complaints filed against this generation, 118 reported a crash; 12 reported a fire; 114 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 3.8% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 34% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 12,622, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission (jatco CVT8/Cvt8ht) 2013–2018 (litigated); complaints continue 2019–2020
CVT belt slip condition producing shudder, judder, hesitation, overheating and sudden loss of motive power. Two separate class actions: one covering 2013-2014 vehicles (settled with a warranty extension and purchase coupons) and a later settlement covering 2015-2018 Pathfinder alongside 2014-2018 Rogue and 2015-2018 QX60, approved March 2022. This is the generation's defining failure mode and drives most of its complaint volume.
Hood Latch 2013–2016
Secondary hood latch can corrode and fail to hold, allowing the hood to fly open while driving; NHTSA recall.
ABS Actuator 2015–2018
Brake fluid can leak from the ABS actuator pump onto the circuit board, creating a short and fire risk; recall issued for affected Nissan models including the Pathfinder.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1,209 | 920 |
| 2014 | 750 | 461 |
| 2015 | 433 | 295 |
| 2016 | 130 | 75 |
| 2017 | 254 | 165 |
| 2018 | 124 | 59 |
| 2019 | 121 | 49 |
| 2020 | 72 | 5 |
Recalls (17)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 22V420000 | 2025-03-26 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch |
| 21V020000 | 2021-03-01 | Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch |
| 19V807000 | 2019-12-16 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip |
| 19V654000 | 2019-11-11 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 18V601000 | 2018-10-29 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip |
| 16V380000 | 2016-07-25 | Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch |
| 16V244000 | 2016-06-10 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification |
| 15V681000 | 2015-11-30 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification |
| 15V033000 | 2015-03-09 | Structure:body:hood:hinge and Attachments |
| 15V012000 | 2015-02-02 | Service Brakes |
| 14V229000 | 2014-06-16 | Wheels:lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs |
| 14V142000 | 2014-05-12 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit and Lines |
| 14V138000 | 2014-04-14 | Electrical System:software |
| 13V456000 | 2013-11-18 | Air Bags:frontal |
| 13V445000 | 2013-11-18 | Electrical System:software |
| 13V139000 | 2013-05-20 | Service Brakes |
| 13V069000 | 2013-05-06 | Air Bags |
What owners reported
I purchased my 2013 Nissan Pathfinder brand new on november 13th, 2012. The day after purchasing the vehicle, the passenger airbag light came on, even though the person sitting in the seat (5'9, 175lbs) was sitting in the seat "properly". I brought the car back to the dealer and was told the person wasn't sitting…
2013 · 2 miles · Airbag system
On 08/16/2016 i purchased a motor vehicle from star Nissan located at 5757 w. Touhy ave., Niles, il 60714 (2013 Nissan Pathfinder SUV VIN). On october of 2016 i was driving in the express way going 60mph and my vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating and came to a complete stop while i had other vehicle passing me…
2013 · 2 miles · Transmission and driveline
I have my 2013 Pathfinder for around 2 weeks and since day 2 it's having problems i think with the power train. It start to fail the acceleration, like when on a manual car you step out the clutch early. I went twice to a Nissan dealer to verify the problem and on both visits they said there's no problem with the SUV.…
2013 · 45 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 2,029 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page