Diagsheet

2014 Nissan Pathfinder · symptom sheet

Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard

  • 95owner reports
  • 45,700median miles
  • $1,850median quote
  • 2involved a crash

Newest report Jun 23, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

188 of the 522 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 95 of those describe transmission shudder, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2014 Pathfinder.

Tick what matches of 95 reports

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26
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2

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (10 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2014 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Pathfinder

PE13-029opened Aug 29, 2013
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2013

Transmission cooler hose separation. Closed mar 31, 2014, led to recall 14V-142.

NHTSA summary
On March 25, 2014, Nissan North America (Nissan) submitted a Defect Information Report to NHTSA describing a defect of inadequate hose clamping force that may result in the internal transmission oil cooler (ITOC) hose detaching from the cooler.According to Nissan, transmission fluid leakage from a detached ITOC hose results in a progressive series of symptoms beginning with malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illumination, followed by noise and vibration and culminating in loss of power due to transmission failure.Many of the incident vehicle drivers interviewed by ODI indicated that the loss of power occurred soon after the first symptoms were observed.The recall covers approximately 3,065 Pathfinder vehicles built from the start of MY 2013 production on April 18, 2012, through October 3, 2012, when Nissan implemented several production improvements to address concerns with ITOC hose detachment.Infiniti JX vehicles investigated in PE13-029 are not included in the recall as they are equipped with a different CVT transmission with a lower operating pressure.Owners of all potentially affected vehicles will be notified within 60 days to take their vehicles to a Nissan dealer.The dealer will install an oil hose repair kit at no charge to owners.ODI's analysis of failure data for the 3,065 Pathfinder vehicles that are included in Nissan's recall identified 12 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs), 134 Nissan complaints and field reports and 259 warranty claims.This equates to a complai
DP12-004opened Jun 11, 2012
Transmission and drivetrain · model years 2005 to 2010

Transmission failures. Closed oct 22, 2016.

NHTSA summary
On February 29, 2012 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter petitioning the agency to conduct a defect investigation into MY 2005-2010 Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles [the subject vehicles] for automatic transmission failures related to failed transmission coolers.NHTSA conducted a comprehensive review of data related to this subject. Our report, documenting this review, is available in the document file for this defect petition.It will also be published in the Federal Register. Of the 2,505 referenced complaints, 638 relate to a potential hazard (unable to maintain speed, no motive power, engine stall) and 1,867 concern customer satisfaction issues including, but not limited to, repair cost, vehicle shudder and shake, and engine overheating.Taking into account the allocation of agency resources and priorities and the likelihood that additional investigation would result in a finding that an unreasonable risk to highway safety exists, we conclude that further investigation is not warranted and deny the petition.ODI Complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.

None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.

What owners paid

12 of the 95 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,100 to $4,800.

$1,100$1,850$4,800
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 89,260 miles, from the 60 reports that gave a mileage.

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What owners wrote

“Transmission shudders at 20 miles per hour. It can sometimes buck and jerk pretty hard”

Filed Sep 17, 2024

“In my 2014 Nissan Pathfinder when I drive between the speeds of 25-40 mph my SUV shudder and shakes violently like my car is going to break in half, it's not safe to drive anymore,”

Filed Sep 4, 2024

“When driving the vehicle I experience a shudder/judder when accelerating from a complete stop, and turning at low speeds. The SUV can shake violently at times or subtly, it is alarming when driving. It isn't consistent, it happens periodically when I drive. Imagine the anxiety of waiting for this to happen.”

Filed Aug 17, 2024

“The vehicle while at highway speed would not accelerate at all and rpms go way up. At lower speeds between 20--40 mph the car would shake and jerk violently. On 4 separate times when getting on highway ramps during acceleration it would simply just not go, Locate dealer has done all recalls they have but will not address the CVT transmission problems.”

Filed Oct 30, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 95 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

Other problems on this car