What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2013 Nissan Altima

Typical pattern

13.1% of complaints about the 2013 Nissan Altima came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2013 vehicle — around the middle of the 210 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (503 complaints), typically at 5.6 yr or about 69,500 miles.

Complaints
2,943
Median age at failure
5.6 yr
Median mileage
64,000 n=2120
Crash / fire / tow
6.7% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
503 reports · 69,500 mi
5.6 yr
5.4%
Air bags
503 reports · 15,000 mi
3.0 yr
6%
Exterior lighting
440 reports · 80,000 mi
6.7 yr
2%
Suspension
290 reports · 100,350 mi
7.0 yr
10%
Other
240 reports · 70,000 mi
5.8 yr
4.2%
Electrical system
159 reports · 39,848 mi
3.7 yr
8.8%
Engine
153 reports · 61,808 mi
4.8 yr
8.5%
Structure
137 reports · 51,950 mi
5.1 yr
14.6%
Steering
91 reports · 31,000 mi
3.0 yr
7.7%
Latches / locks
61 reports · 60,000 mi
3.7 yr
9.8%
Visibility / wipers
52 reports · 50,000 mi
5.2 yr
9.6%
Service brakes
49 reports · 36,000 mi
3.3 yr
12.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V315000 2020-05-28
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.

Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

16V911000 2016-12-19
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant.

If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

16V244000 2016-04-26
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

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 Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied.

If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

16V029000 2016-01-22
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

15V681000 2015-10-20
Air bags:frontal

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 affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

15V486000 2015-08-04
Fuel system

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine manufactured March 30, 2012, to August 18, 2015 as well as the vehicles covered by the July 31, 2015 notification. In the affected vehicles, due to an improperly installed o-ring that may not have been seated correctly at the ti

If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.

15V116000 2015-02-27
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

14V565000 2014-09-15
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to February 28, 2013. In the affected vehicles, interference between the hood inner panel and the secondary latch lever, in combination with debris and corrosion, may cause the secondary hood latch to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

14V138000 2014-03-25
Electrical system:software

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 occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

13V158000 2013-04-24
Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire

Nissan North America is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima vehicles manufactured March 21, 2012, through March 26, 2013. The spare tires may have been significantly over- or under-inflated.

Tires that are significantly over- or under-inflated may fail without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Power train 500 mi 1 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IDLING AND WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IMMEDIATELLY AFTER THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 700.
Power train 1,890 mi 2 mo in service
ALTIMA 3.5 TRANSMISSION HAS A SEVERE SHUDDER WHEN ACCELERATING NORMALLY AT ABOUT 15-25 MPH. THIS IS INTERMITTENT BUT SERIOUS AS IT RESULTS IS SEVERE SHOCK TO THE DRIVETRAIN. THIS WAS NOT PRESENT WHEN NEW AND HAS BEEN INCREASING IN SEVERITY OVER THE LAST 1000 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS THAT NISSAN ENGINEERS CLAIM THAT IT IS "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE 3.5. THIS IS NOT TRUE AS IT WAS NOT PRESENT WHEN NEW AND IS CONSTANTLY GETTING WORSE. IT WILL PROBABLY SOON RESULT IN TRANSMISSION DAMAGE OR COMPLETE FAILURE WHICH COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Power train 30 mi 0 mo in service
SINCE BUYING THE CAR NEW, THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION/SHUDDER COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN SLOWLY ACCELERATING. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM TWICE AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH A TECH HAS HEARD THE VIBRATION WHILE RIDING WITH ME ON A TEST DRIVE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE POWERTRAINS THAT ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY SHOULD NOT MAKE THIS NOISE. *TR
Air bags mileage not reported 0 mo in service
PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM - ONGOING SINCE NEW. *TR

Other Altima model years

2021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

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