Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Nissan Pathfinder owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I started having issues with my brakes. I had recently had the front rotors and pads replaced, but I still heard squeeking, and a little fishtailing on my back end. I figured I needed my brakes in the rear checked, so I took it to Pep Boys for a free inspection. The mechanic showed me that my rear control arm on the left was very loose, and the compartment that connected to it was severely rusted thru. He told me this was across the whole back end and it was actually part of my FRAME. He said it is called a K-Frame and it should not be rusted through with my car being barely 11 years old. There are massive holes all the way across. He said that is why I thought that I might need my struts replaced because of a thunk sound when pulling off. There was no connection at all. He says I should not drive it AT ALL because my whole back end could fall off literally!
My vehicle has a CVT transmission problem, It would shake when driving the car, when I made turns or went down hills. On the interstate it shook so bad a had to pull over. I got stuck in the parking a lot one day, the gears were stuck. I tried to go in reverse and the vehicle was moving forward. Then I tried to put the car back into park and try to put it in drive it was still stuck. SO I cut my vehicle off and cut it back on just to move. My vehicle would stall out in traffic, there would be no acceleration of the vehicle and the vehicle would jerk, shudder and pull. It felt like its going to cut off. The shaking of the vehicle terrified me the most because it felt like my tires would fly off on the interstate or any road I was driving on.
My car powers off as I am driving it. The brakes work but nothing else. The dials go crazy and all the warning lights on my car turn on with all the other lights remaining off. I'm not sure what component stopped working when it shuts off but I would be okay with it being inspected. My safety was put at risk because I could no longer drive the car and the gas pedal doesn't work so I don't gain any speed leaving me stranded on the street having to pull over which could lead to an accident. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service dealer. The first sign I know the problem is gonna happen when driving is when I turn on the car and the emergency brake light turns on and the battery light.
When Accelerating from a stop, or increasing speed from a turn, the car sputters, power fluctuates, and sometimes it vibrates and feels like I am driving over a grid. The car sometimes feels like it's going to stall. I have owned this car for 10 years and this problem has been ongoing. It has been happening alot more recently. I have not been in an accident but I feel very unsafe when this happens and afraid it could cause an accident. I have been told it could be a known CVT issue but in the past, Nissan dealers always dismissed my complaints about the issue. No warning lamps or messages have ever appeared regarding this.
I was driving down the road and the car wouldn't shift into second gear. The speed limit was 35 mph and my car would only go 20 mph. I couldn't drive home safely, no warning lights came on or anything. Dealership said my CVT transmission needs to be replaced. This sudden drop in speed became a hazard for me and my passenger.
Problem #1: several instances where the unit loses acceleration while in motion (driving) or when trying to accelerate from a complete stationary at a light. I press the pedal to accelerate with no response, cero acceleration. In order for me to get acceleration back I have to park and put in on parking and try the pedal again. I have taken my car to Nissan where the diagnose can't be determine because the lack of warning signs on the control panel. The unit did not show the condition at that moment and they were not able to replicate it. After taking the unit out of the mechanical workshop, a warning sig was revealed as follows: p0603: internal control module keep alive memory (kam) error. I called the workshop and they told me no recalls were claimed for that reason (error code). Problem #2: the warranty was over (36months) and both visors went permanently down. …
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'.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle vibrated, decelerated, and momentarily accelerated. There were no warning indicators. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and called a local dealer who advised her to drive the vehicle to the shop. The following day, the failure recurred. The technician kept the vehicle for a couple of days, but was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but stated that nothing could be done. The failure mileage was 59,000. The VIN was not provided.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled, while driving at 60 MPH. In addition, the vehicle rpms increased to six and seven. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that failure occurred on two separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. The VIN was not provided.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. While accelerating from a stop the vehicle hesitated to respond without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 04/28/17 the consumer stated the issue of the delay in acceleration was related to the existing brake light relay modulator recall. The consumer was concerned that there is no indicator to warn the driverof accelerating across an uncontrolled intersection. Updated 7/31/2017
Acceleration complaints in other Pathfinder years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder?
NHTSA has 47 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder, 5% of the model year's 890 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Nissan Pathfinder acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Nissan Pathfinder acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 17,000 miles, and 56% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.