2015 Nissan Pathfinder: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jul 17, 2025 · Transmission · 158,000 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and depressing the accelerator pedal, there was a significant delay in the vehicle response. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle overheated, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle hesitated to shift into the intended gear. The contact stated that the vehicle had overheated while driving and had failed to shift beyond first or second gear on some occasions. The contact stated that the vehicle had overheated and had stalled on other occasions, and the vehicle would become drivable after half an hour. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. An unknown dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

Filed Feb 12, 2024 · Acceleration · AL

While driving my Pathfinder, the transmission hesitated, jerked, and spuddered while trying to merge into traffic. Almost caused a severe accident. This was not the first time this has happened and Nissan refuses to do anything about the CVT transmission that apparently has been recalled in the past as well as had lawsuits against it. There are no warning lights or notice at all before this happens.

Filed Apr 27, 2023 · Transmission · 121,320 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving from a complete stop. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the CarMax where the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,320.

Filed Jan 22, 2022 · Acceleration, Transmission · IL

Purchased this vehicle in february 2019. Two years later in may 2021, I was slowing down to make a turn and when it was time to accelerate out of the turn, the car felt like it lost power and even though I was pushing the gas pedal, the car seemed to be stuck and hesitating. It wouldn't go over 5mph. Brought into carmax where I purchased it from, but because there were no lights on they couldn't find the problem and the diagnostic didn't pick up any codes. Two days later the car did this again and this time it literally died as well in the middle of a busy street. This time is rattled and shook when it died. Carmax said to bring it in to a nissan dealership. Nissan tried to get me to pay for a new engine!! Said there was sludge on the oil cap and that was an indication that we never changed the oil. We change the oil every 5,000miles! Carmax warranty wouldn't approve a new engine based on 1 mechanics opinions. I kept insisting it felt like a transmission issue, but they can only investigate if they have a direction via idiot lite or code from the diagnostic. So if they did the inspection and there was an issue, then it would be covered by the ext. Warranty. But if they didn't find an issue, I was responsible for inspection and labor $300+. They replaced the alternator. Car has been running great for the last 9 months until this week! The car is doing it again. Several times in a matter of 3 days the car has literally felt like it loses its power and wont go over 20mph no matter how far you push on the gas pedal. Seems to happen when accelerating from a slow down, stop, turn or an incline. You can literally feel the loss in power. Brought it to a different nissan dealer, who said right away it sounds like the CVT transmission issue. I am devastated. I love everything about this vehicle. I am praying that carmax's extended warranty covers this and that it fixes the problem. Concerned when I read others had it fixed but still having the issue!

Filed Nov 2, 2021 · Transmission · IL

Vehicle started hesitation between 20 and 30 mph. Took to Nissan of Wood River and paid for diagnostic test and came back with code to replace transmission. Vehicle could have broke down on highway. Took to transmission shop, they verified and replaced transmission at 127k miles. There were never any warning lights or messages that appeared.. cost over $4500.00 for replacement. Nissan is aware of the CVT transmission problems and should recall.

Filed Oct 28, 2020 · Transmission · 71,000 miles · NY

Good day. Since the 1st day of purchasing this vehicle I was experiencing issues with transmission like hesitation, jerking / shuddering / shaking and abnormal whining noise while driving at low speeds. I was not aware about nissan's major CVT issues until recently. Vehicle's braking is affected because of this abnormal transmission's operation as the vehicle does not immediately stop as needed or requested instead often slipping occurs when downshifting to lower gears. Nissan service center was visited once about a year ago or less. I was told that the software for transmission was somehow missing on the vehicle, without explaining how can a vehicle be manufactured without transmission software. After installing the software, the dealership was unable to pin point what is the problem with my vehicle. I was charged about $140 without being provided a clear diagnose, but was told that most likely the car needs a new transmission. Control valve body was replaced since then, however vehicle drives the same exact way. Please, advise how can get assistance from.

Filed Nov 28, 2016 · Transmission · 29,000 miles · TX

While taking off from 0-20mph the car will hesitate and jerk. Took the vehicle to nissan service dept. Back in may 2016 and they could not find nothing wrong with car. Now it has been happening more frequently and we took it back on 11/18/16 and the service dept. Said they still can't find nothing wrong with vehicle because there are not check engine code popping up, so they needed permission to have a service tech take it home to see if he can see what we are experiencing and will follow up with us tomorrow. I believe this problem started back in early 2015 when we bought the car, but it would only happen so rarely that I never thought about it until my wife who drives it every day brought it up to my attention.

Filed Mar 22, 2016 · 22,400 miles · CA

It started with the dreaded hesitating/jerking thing I have read about nissan CVT trannys. The dealership stated it was a valve inside the transmission, and not the tranny itself. How is a valve inside the transmission not be a part of the transmission?!?! They needed to replace it and it will take approximately 3 days. They said if it might or might not solve the problem. If after repair, it continues, they will have to replace the whole transmission. I thought nissan already fixed this CVT transmission issue?

Filed Nov 13, 2015 · Fuel system, Transmission · 1,581 miles · AL

Vehicle was taken into shop because of shudder in transmission and hesitation from stop when applying accelerator. The nissan dealer installed a new valve body in the transmission which seemed to stop the shudder until today when it has returned. The hesitation from stop problem was not fixed and I returned the pathfinder a second time to fix this problem but since it did not throw a code and could not be duplicated it was not fixed. The hesitation problem is an itermittent problem but when it happens the vehicle does not move forward when the gas is first applied for a second or two. I have almost had two accident because of this problem when pulling into traffic and the car will not move when gas applied. The shudder problem as returned and can be felt at around 40mph.