MODELYEARINDEX

Which Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid

Across 11 scored model years, the 2013, 2014 and 2015 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Nissan Pathfinder Full report
F
Grade 2010–2020
2013 vs model median 9.2×
Model median3× median
Drivetrain 268
Airbags & Restraints 163
Engine 81
Avoid

2013 · 2014

Best

2012 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.14× 12 B
2011
0.22× 21 A
2012
0.15× 11 A
2013
9.25× 782 F
2014
4.32× 360 F
2015
2.97× 252 F
2016
1.00× 80 C
2017
2.22× 169 F
2018
0.88× 73 C
2019
1.00× 75 C
2020
0.39× 35 A
2022 P
2.24× 195 F
2023 P
2.15× 156 D
2024 P
1.41× 123 C
2025 P
1.04× 78 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2013 F 782 reports · median 8,000 mi

  1. Drivetrain 268

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Airbags & Restraints 163

    Base on manual, the "passenger airbag off" sign will be light on (it means that the passenger airbag will disable) if a child or adult (less than 70 pounds) seat at the passenger front seat. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 81

    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. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

19 crash · 1 fire · 19 injuries

2014 F 360 reports · median 18,000 mi

  1. Airbags & Restraints 88

    While driving the vehicle, the front passenger "air bag off" light illuminates while an adult is in the passenger seat. The light stays on until the engine was turned off. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 86

    Hi sir/madam, my name is [xxx] I reported to nissan USA corporate office. I got a call from [xxx], nissan corporate office on 24 september. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Lights & Visibility 37

    The driver side view mirror creates a real blind spot for the driver. It is smack in the middle of your face and blocks your view to the left for making left turns. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

26 crash · 2 fire · 28 injuries

The best year for the Pathfinder

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2012 is the best-scoring Pathfinder model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 91.3 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2010 at 0.14× this model’s median, against 0.15× for 2012.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2012 0.15× 11 A
2020 0.39× 35 A
2011 0.22× 21 A

Recalls

33 campaigns on record, 2 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
16V244000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION 2013–2016 3,296,947
19V654000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2018, 2019 1,228,830
14V138000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2013, 2014 989,701
23V067000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 2010, 2011 404,690
19V807000 Park it SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 2017–2019 391,479
22V420000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH 2013–2016 322,671
21V020000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 2013–2015 264,431
18V601000 Park it SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 2017, 2018 215,124
15V033000 STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS 2013, 2014 170,665
13V445000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 2013, 2014 151,695
13V069000 AIR BAGS 2013 82,038
16V380000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 2013, 2014 79,853

+ 21 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2013 were reported at a median of 8,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Nissan Pathfinder years should you avoid?
2013, 2014, 2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Nissan Pathfinder model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Nissan Pathfinder?
2012 is the best-scoring Nissan Pathfinder model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 91.3 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Nissan Pathfinder have?
33 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Nissan Pathfinder model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2013 Pathfinder
Complaints in window
782
Severity-weighted
1,054
Model median (weighted)
114
vs model median
9.25×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
11
Open investigations
0
Score 10 F