The Nissan Pathfinder is perhaps one of the automaker’s most popular vehicles. However, the SUV is not always reliable. There are some fairly common problems that have affected many models of the vehicle. Although the automaker has fixed many of these issues, the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder is still far from perfect. Here are the most common Nissan Pathfinder problems.
Transmission failure is a problem
Some Nissan Pathfinder models have the dreaded problem of transmission failure. This primarily affects model years 2005 through 2010 with automatic transmissions. Cracks in the oil cooler tube caused this problem. Unfortunately, it causes coolant to leak into the transmission system. For the most part, these used Nissan Pathfinders failed around 90,000 miles. Although there aren’t many for sale these days, buyers should be on the lookout for 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinders.
In addition to total transmission failure, these models are subject to other problems. They experience shaking when driving, noises from under the hood and offer an unpleasant ride. Unfortunately, the Nissan Frontier and Xterra models of that era had many of the same problems, including transmission failure.
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder presented problems at the demand level
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder also has some major issues. Unfortunately, many of the biggest ones also have to do with the transmission. In particular, models equipped with continuously variable transmissions FK-*k2. The affected vehicles experienced jerking or shaking when accelerating from lower speeds, which could be dangerous and lead to accidents in certain cases.
These widespread problems for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder led to a class action lawsuit. In the end, Nissan settled, and it’s important to note that the lawsuit claimed the automaker knew about the defective transmissions. Affected buyers got 24 months or 24,000 miles added to their warranties. Previous owners who had two or more transmission replacements received discounts on new Nissan or Infiniti vehicles.
The 2023 model isn’t perfect
The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offers pretty good performance. Car and Driver reports that it has a 284-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine under the hood. It uses a nine-speed automatic transmission instead of the CVT. Unfortunately, when it comes to Nissan Pathfinder issues, the newest model is still pretty bad. It is generally considered less reliable than other vehicles. One of the biggest problems some owners have had is that it randomly shuts off while driving. Also, experience some intense vibration.
There are also some complaints about the AC/heater in the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder. Some say that the air will change from hot to cold or vice versa after running for about half an hour. Overall, the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder’s issues aren’t as bad as previous years, but perhaps it shouldn’t be a better choice for SUV buyers.
