RoadVitals

2013 Nissan Pathfinder Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Aug 18, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 890 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 18, 2025

Both of my rear passenger door lock actuators stop working. The doors will not unlock from the inside when a passenger tries to unlock the door to exit the car. My break lights stay on . The ABS light turned on then it stopped turning on. The light bulbs inside the car in the second row stopped turning on .

NHTSA ID
11681220
Incident
Dec 31, 1969
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and slowing down, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V020000 (Exterior Lighting). On another occasion while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, the power steering, brake light, battery, check engine, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the steering wheel became firm. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 152,000.

NHTSA ID
11543862
Incident
May 11, 2023
Mileage
152,000 mi
BrakesEngineExterior lighting
Filed Mar 2, 2021
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH DOWNHILL WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL DOWNHILL INCREASING IN SPEED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HOWEVER IT FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A NEARBY HILL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR BACK, NECK, CHEST, AND LEGS. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR NECK AND LEGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (NISSAN OF QUEENS 93-25 ROCKAWAY BLVD, OZONE PARK, NY 11417; (718) 835-8300) AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER, WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THEY ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP WITHOUT ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO AGGRESSIVELY SHAKE AND ALL THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER MENTIONED ABOVE WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AGAIN AND DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE THE CONTACT HAD TO PRESS THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER MENTIONED ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOW INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V020000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF ALL THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ID
11398702
Incident
Sep 20, 2019
Mileage
37,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 12, 2020

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE. SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL IN 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER AWD.

NHTSA ID
11317788
Incident
Mar 12, 2020
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Nov 8, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V380000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10925068
Incident
May 24, 2016
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V380000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10907693
Incident
Jun 3, 2016
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V380000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10906869
Incident
Jun 29, 2016
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Oct 24, 2013

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE I GOT IT. IM FED UP OF GOING TO THE NISSAN TO FIX SOMETHING EVERY FEW WEEKS. THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED ON 2/4/13 THE DAY AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT SIDE STOPPED WORKING SO THE SOCKET WAS CHANGED ON 2/7/13. ON 5/2/13 A FACTORY RECALL WAS COMPLETED. ON 7/30/13 THE WIND SHIELD WASHER PUMP FAILED AND THE PART WAS ORDERED. SAME DAY 7/30/13 PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF WHILE ADULT IS IN SEAT. NISSAN PERFORMED A ZERO POINT RESET AND LIGHT WENT OFF. ON 8/24 WASHER PUMP WAS REPLACED. AROUND 9/30/13 THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF AGAIN WITH ADULT IN SEAT. ON 10/15/13 THEY REPLACED OCS SENSOR FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG. ON 10/20/13 THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AGAIN. NISSAN IS ASKING ME IF IM SITTING WELL ON THE SEAT OR MAYBE IM NOT HEAVY ENOUGH. IM 180LBS. JUST IMAGINE IF MY LITTLE SISTER (A MINOR) IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS A DANGER TO MY FAMILY AND I REALLY NEED SOME HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10549399
Incident
Feb 4, 2013
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Jul 24, 2013

MY NISSAN PATHFINDER SUV LOSES POWER FROM 45HP TO 2HP IT IS AT THE NISSAN COMPANY AT THIS TIME 7/24/2013 WITH 347 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10531690
Incident
Jul 24, 2013
Mileage
347 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .