Nissan Pathfinder Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes, in certain years. 956 of the 3,089 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Nissan Pathfinder (30.9%) name the transmission, 2.5× the median share across the 139 models we track. Across the 2015–2020 and 2022 cohorts with published sales, the Nissan Pathfinder rate is 0.33 per 1,000 sold, close to the 0.28 median. The worst years are 2013, 2014 and 2008.
Transmission complaints
956
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
0.33
2015–2020 and 2022 cohorts
Share of all complaints
30.9%
of 3,089 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Nissan Pathfinder transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008WORST | 155 | — | 47.3% | 1 | — | 7 |
| 2009 | 8 | — | 21.6% | 1 | — | 0 |
| 2010 | 11 | — | 27.5% | 0 | — | 13 |
| 2011 | 7 | — | 15.6% | 0 | — | 11 |
| 2012 | 2 | — | 8.7% | 0 | — | 11 |
| 2013WORST | 370 | — | 41.6% | 2 | 14V142000 | 101 |
| 2014WORST | 216 | — | 37.1% | 9 | — | 94 |
| 2015 | 76 | 0.93 | 23.9% | 1 | — | 78 |
| 2016 | 7 | 0.09 | 6.7% | 0 | — | 69 |
| 2017 | 34 | 0.42 | 18.6% | 2 | — | 64 |
| 2018 | 11 | 0.16 | 14.5% | 2 | — | 53 |
| 2019 | 8 | 0.12 | 11% | 0 | — | 43 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0.16 | 16% | 0 | — | 30 |
| 2022 | 17 | 0.29 | 12.8% | 1 | — | 14 |
| 2023 | 12 | — | 12.4% | 1 | — | 7 |
| 2024 | 8 | — | 11.8% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | 6 | — | 14.3% | 0 | — | 0 |
- Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- No row for 2021: NHTSA's complaints data returned no records for that year under this model's names.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Nissan Pathfinder transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 956 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid for the transmission
2013 Nissan Pathfinder
370 transmission complaints (41.6% of the year's 889). Most often described: shudder or vibration. Covered by transmission recall 14V142000.
2014 Nissan Pathfinder
216 transmission complaints (37.1% of the year's 582). Most often described: shudder or vibration.
2008 Nissan Pathfinder
155 transmission complaints (47.3% of the year's 328). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Nissan Pathfinder years to avoid.
Nissan Pathfinder transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Nissan Pathfinder model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 14V142000 · 2014-03-26 · 2013 models
In the affected vehicles, the internal oil cooler (ITOC) hose may detach from the cooler due to inadequate clamping force, allowing transmission fluid to leak.
Which transmission does the Nissan Pathfinder use?
- Nissan CVT — 2013–2020
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 370 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder, 41.6% of all 889 complaints for that year. The most common description is "shudder or vibration" (162 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 14V142000. 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 216 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder, 37.1% of all 582 complaints for that year. The most common description is "shudder or vibration" (90 complaints). 9 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 155 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Nissan Pathfinder, 47.3% of all 328 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (20 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Nissan Pathfinder years have the most transmission complaints?
2013 (370), 2014 (216) and 2008 (155), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Nissan Pathfinder transmission problems?
In the 956 transmission complaints, owners most often describe shudder or vibration (31.3%), transmission repaired or replaced (19.8%) and jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (16.1%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Nissan Pathfinder model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration