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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 7 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $20,770–$27,484 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
Our scoring places the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder at 6.5/10 overall, which translates to a Good rating for this suv. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 7.6/10, while Performance at 6.1/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional suv — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. Reliability is the weak spot: 6.1/10, under the class average. Review the recall record on this page and price in extra maintenance headroom. The safety score of 7.6/10 is solid mid-pack territory. If advanced driver aids matter to you, compare standard equipment carefully and verify ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance at 6.1/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. Technology scores 6.2/10 — the infotainment and driver-assist features feel dated against current-generation rivals. This is worth weighing if you prioritize connected features or modern safety tech.
Priced from $20,770–$27,484, 11 MPG, seating 7, the Nissan Pathfinder sits in the budget-friendly tier of the suv market. The value score of 6.5/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 13 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Our take: The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder is a passable suv but not a standout one. Weaknesses in value and technology and reliability and performance hold it back from being a strong recommendation. It may suit buyers with specific needs it serves well, but we'd encourage comparing at least two or three higher-scored alternatives before deciding.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder ranks #2376 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 3% of the segment. Its 6.5/10 overall score is 0.9 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $20,770 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $36,079 by about 42%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking → · Best SUVs under $25k →
Across the Pathfinder model years we've scored, the 2013 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.6/10 | $37,533 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.6/10 | $37,533 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.4/10 | $36,440 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.4/10 | $35,346 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.3/10 | $34,253 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.3/10 | $33,160 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.2/10 | $32,067 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.2/10 | $30,974 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.2/10 | $29,880 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.1/10 | $28,787 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.0/10 | $27,694 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.0/10 | $26,601 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Electrical system / Software 25/03/2014 · 14V138000 | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the… |
|---|---|
| Air bags / Frontal 20/10/2015 · 15V681000 | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The… |
| Power train / Automatic transmission / Cooling unit and lines 26/03/2014 · 14V142000 | Nissan North America (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Pathfinder vehicles manufactured April 18, 2012, through October 3, 2012, and equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). In the affected vehicles, the internal oil cooler… |
| Exterior lighting / Brake lights / Switch 31/05/2016 · 16V380000 | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Pathfinder vehicles manufactured June 20, 2012, to June 13, 2013. The brake light switch may have been installed incorrectly causing the relay to make intermittent contact and… |
| Air bags / Sensor / Occupant classification 26/04/2016 · 16V244000 | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and… |
Showing 5 of 11 campaigns — see the full list on NHTSA's site.
We rate the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder's reliability 6.1/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
11 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 6.5/10 overall, ranking #2376 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 3% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder starts at $20,770 and ranges up to $27,484 across trims (MSRP when new). At 11 MPG, expect roughly $4,773/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Nissan models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.