CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2013 Nissan Altima has multiple problem trends including the CVT transmission, and now that this model is out of warranty, it earns our "Avoid Like The Plague" badge.

Owners complain about vibration and transmission failure related to the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), a whining noise from the power steering pump, and constant windshield problems that appear to be the result of poor design.

Be warned: the 2014 & 2015 Nissan Altima appears to share these same problems.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,374 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Nissan Altima body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2013 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 6)

problem #101

Jun 082024

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The paint bubbles and chips off. Bad paint job on this vehicle.

- Gaston, SC, USA

problem #100

May 252024

Altima

  • miles
I have contacted 2 dealerships about fixing the recall and nobody will call me back to schedule to fix. All they say is they will talk to the shop manager, and I never hear back. Now the hood is constantly stuck or not opening.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #99

Nov 212023

Altima

  • miles
Hello, I took my Nissan Altima into my local Nissan dealer for a hood latch recall on 11/13/2023. On 11/21/2023 at about 6:40 pm I was driving my car at a speed of maybe 45-50mph and my hood flew open hitting my windshield causing damage to my car, and scaring my son and I. I called the dealer the next morning and spoke to Anthony from the service department regarding this situation, and he stated a faulty latch could have been put on my car, causing this to happen. I sent pictures to him via email, and he advised that he would contact the director and call me back with an update. I received a callback within hours advising Nissan would cover the damages but I would need to contact consumer affairs to see which location could do the repairs as they were behind by 8 month at that location in particular and could not provide me with a loaner car. After a week of waiting for an update from a dealer to confirm repairs, I had the car towed to the Thomas Nissan of Joliet on 12/4/2023 as the car would not accelerate anymore due to the hard brake. As of today 12/18/2023 I have spoken to the service manager there and he advised parts came in but they do not have a date for repairs or approval on the acceleration issue and for now will only repair the body. I advised that I am extremely saddened by the way I am being handled after such a traumatic ordeal that could have been deadly or life altering. This recall was supposed to prevent this issue, and it only caused it. This recall hasn't done anything to fix the cars, and neither have three other hood latch recalls for Altima cars. Altima drivers are in danger from hoods that suddenly fly open while driving, and this situation just proves a problem. Nissan doesn't know how to properly repair it, and my car and I are proof.

- Westchester , IL, USA

problem #98

Apr 222023

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on a highway at approximately 65 mph the car seemed to lose traction and the slip indicator light appeared. Once able to safely look at the vehicle it was noticed the rear wheels were not aligned and the lower rear control arm had snapped.

- Big Lake, MN, USA

problem #97

Jan 032023

Altima

  • miles
My power steering somehow had a slow leak which caused steering wheel to lock on while driving. Also, when I turn it sounds like a clucking sound like something is wrong with my power train. When I drive my accelerator seems like it be taking its time to catch up to speed. I've done did so much mechanical work to this car and it seems like nothing is working.

- Miami, FL, USA

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problem #96

Aug 282022

Altima

  • miles
While driving at 35mph on a city road the car hood flew up open & smashed into the windshield despite their supposed fix of hood latch spring being replaced & assembly lubricated by the Nissan dealership in Aug 2021 due to a Nissan hood latch recall (NHTSA recall 16V-029) in response to a class action lawsuit. At highway speeds, this would have seriously compromised human lives. In this case, neither the primary hood latch lever or fuel door release lever had been pulled open by the driver just prior to the incident; yet the hood flew open without warning. (Hoods have primary latches located inside the vehicles, then secondary latches located under the hoods. Primary hood latches in the cars are located too close to the fuel door latches that might cause drivers to accidentally unlatch the hoods instead of the fuel doors. Then once the primary hood latch is pulled in the Altima, the secondary latch under the hood fails to hold the hood down, allowing the Altima hood to open while driving.) No warning lights or messages came on. The car was not drivable & was towed to the Nissan dealership where it is currently pending repairs estimate $5234.58. At this time, Nissan Motors accepts no liability for this incident; clearly shifting the blame again. Nissan Motors has issued multiple (2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2022interim) hood latch recalls in response to this problem in various Nissan models 2013-2018, the most recent in 2022 (still in progress). Design and manufacturing defects allegedly cause the hoods to open while driving at any speed. According to the Altima class action lawsuit, Nissan blames the problems on multiple sources but still can-??t properly repair the cars. The Altima hood latch systems are allegedly not strong enough to perform in real-world conditions and aren-??t up to industry standards used for more than 100 years. The return springs are also allegedly too weak, as are the locking systems which prevent the hoods from securely latching.

- Sewickley, PA, USA

problem #95

Oct 152021

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I received a recall notice in the mail today for a defective hood latch. I called Bill Robertson Nissan in Pasco, Wa to set up an appointment to get the latch replaced. I was told that they are out of the parts that are needed to fix the problem.

- Pasco, WA, USA

problem #94

Aug 292021

Altima

  • miles
On Sunday August 29th 2021 my hood came up while I was driving and broke the front window glass and damaged both sides of the side hood due to the latch not being secured and lose and not being applied the right way.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #93

Apr 222021

Altima

  • miles
my 2013 Nissan Altima 4 door sedan hood is flapping on my car. If I go a certain speed limit the windshield will come up and hit my front window. Very unsafe and very dangerous for me and my 1 year old daughter. Thanks.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #92

Mar 022021

Altima

  • 100,298 miles
Driving on the highway and the hood flew up and busted the windsheld.

- Louisville, TN, USA

problem #91

Feb 222021

Altima

  • 158,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving down highway New York rte 104 West in webster NY at 60mph. The hood lifted and slammed the roof of the car. I was able to see between the dash and just under the hood and was able to safely move off to the side of the road. I was able to re-latch the hood and return home. The image attached is the frame from my dashcam. You can see the entire video here. Https://youtu.be/C7zuw9ze-Z0

- Webster, NY, USA

problem #90

Dec 302020

Altima

  • 77,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 60 mph, the vehicle began shaking uncontrollably. The vehicle was taken to woodhouse Nissan (7801 Nebraska dr, bellevue, ne 68005) where she was informed that the vehicle was safe and that the turbulence was probably from ice on the road. Two days later her daughter was driving 30 mph, she heard an abnormal popping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle started to lose control of the steering wheel. Her daughter drove the vehicle to her sister's house and upon inspection, she discovered that the driver's side rear tire was turned inwards to the body of the vehicle. The contact's daughter had a friend inspect the vehicle who discovered major corrosion on the driver's side rear control arm. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer who then diagnosed the vehicle with a defective rear control arm and eccentric bolts that needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #89

Dec 232020

Altima

  • miles
Unable to securely close the hood as primary latch will not stay engaged. Followed the procedure on the recall notice, but whenever driving on a road imperfection hood pops up to secondary position. We do not trust the vehicle at highway speeds.

- S. Dennis, MA, USA

problem #88

Sep 252019

Altima

  • 85,000 miles
There is a recall on the hood latches of these vehicles that has not yet been completed but I had an incident occur where my hood did fly open on me while driving and caused extensive damage to my vehicle which I have not yet been able to pay for. I was able to purchase a new hood latch and secure the hood but the damage is still present, the hood does not close properly, the fenders were pushed back and damaged....I would like to know if I could have my vehicle inspected and possibly repaired with no cost to me due to this recall? I was driving approximately 40mph on a secondary highway with a good deal of traffic when this incident occurred with my 2 year old daughter. It was terrifying. I still have trauma to this day from that incident and my hood still does not look properly sealed and when I drive over 60mph I can see vibrations in the hood which make me feel without the proper fix, it will happen again.

- Torrington, CT, USA

problem #87

Dec 142020

Altima

  • 70,000 miles
1)extremely dim headlight assembly in motion and stationary. Dangerously dim and has steadily gotten worse over 2 years even after light bulbs have been replaced. Both headlight assembly are issue. 2)hood will not close and latch properly as of today 12-14-2020 following stationary routine opening of hood. Vehicle was stationary. Recall replacement for latch has not been provided by maker as of this date. Recall was in May 2020.

- Sartell, MN, USA

problem #86

Dec 122020

Altima

  • 55,000 miles
On Saturday December 12, 2020 I was driving and the hood opened up, slammed above the windshield. I luckily was not in heavy traffic at that point and pulled over. The hood is dented, chipped paint, both right and left upper fenders are bent, and hinges are no longer reliable. The rubber on the sides of the windshield lifted and separation of the upper fenders on both sides along right and left side of windshield. I was luckily driving straight in the suburbs of NY, not much traffic at the time.

- New Windsor, NY, USA

problem #85

Nov 242020

Altima

  • miles
There has been a recall on the second latch of the hood on my Nissan Altima for more than 3 months now and the issue has not been resolved. The vehicle is still able to be used however, it is quite dangerous if the latch accidentally gets puled while driving.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #84

May 152020

Altima

  • 0 miles
Have been waiting over 6 months for resolution repair to the hood latch, I am loosing income waiting on recall repair

- Bonita, CA, USA

problem #83

Sep 232020

Altima

  • 100,000 miles
The floorboard is full of water every time it rains. The car smells and mold is starting to form. Both the front and rear floorboards. It was parked in the driveway.

- Clinton, MS, USA

problem #82

Jun 012020

Altima

  • miles
Hello its September now and Nissan hasnt fixed the hood latch recall yet can't use car now since June because of recall they told me it wont take long but its taking long now

- Philadelphia, NY, USA

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