2013 Nissan Pathfinder Shuddering, Losing Power

Owners of the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are reporting issues with their new crossovers described as “shuddering” and a sudden loss of power.

Some owners have taken their vehicles back to their dealerships with one mechanic’s report saying the vehicle was hesitant upon acceleration from a stop. The Japanese automaker has been contacted in regards to the issue and hopes to have a fix in June.

Currently, Nissan is telling owners that the vehicle is safe to drive, but owners experiencing the issues disagree. Some owners are so concerned that they’re negotiating a buyback with their dealerships, which is understandable considering some have fewer than 1,000 miles before exhibiting the problems.

The shuddering sensation is being described by some forum members as “driving over a rumble strip” and typically occurs between 20 to 40 mph and the power loss lasts for three to four seconds.