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:
8 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
58,689 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 9 of 25)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #327

Nov 012018

Altima

  • 60,000 miles

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

The car does not accelerate properly when driving causing it to stall in unsafe areas (intersections, inclines, freeway on-ramps). Many times the accelerator will be pressed down completely and the car will barely move. When driving up small inclines, the car will stutter and make terrible sounds. (this has been a problem since 2017)

- Redlands, CA, USA

problem #326

Mar 292019

Altima

  • 98,000 miles
Their has been many complains on this cvt transmission breaking down between 62,000 miles and 99000 miles it is defective Nissan will do nothing and will not acknowledge defective transmission or powertrain and will not pay to replace any it's a major problem and safety, I am a disabled veteran and was stranded many other consumers have experienced the same and also problems with airbags modules

- Roanoke, TX, USA

problem #325

Mar 292019

Altima

  • 98,000 miles
Air bag lite keeps going off was rekey by Nissan dealer want me to pay for airbag module $3700 Nissan states they would pay half month ago, this is a defective part this is not acceptable, I am a disabled veteran now power as of 3/29/19 is going out after 98,000 cvt trans many consumer complains filed for defective transmissions

- Roanoke, TX, USA

problem #324

Mar 282019

Altima

  • 82,200 miles

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

Transmission judder, primarily at lower speed, while accelerating slightly car does not react and then judders and shakes and accelerates; RPM go up and down wildly

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #323

Feb 282019

Altima

  • 36,000 miles
Transmission began making grinding, rumbling sound and some vibration while in motion at 36,000 miles. Nissan provided no help.

- Canal Winchester, OH, USA

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problem #322

Mar 222019

Altima

  • 120,000 miles
I have owned this vehicle for the past 4 years and the car was running great. It has about 120K miles and all of a sudden the cars RPM was jumping while driving. It was driving normally then out of no where it has loss of acceleration almost causing a crash due to people behind me on the main road. Had the cvt fluid changed out and the car was okay for 2 days then again it would not go up the hill. Called the dealership and no recall or tsb for the transmission problem.

- Hagatna, GU, USA

problem #321

Dec 172017

Altima

  • 0 miles

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

When the car is in park, 99% of the time I can't put the gear shift in drive. If I want to move, I have to use the key down in the gear lock box to unlock the gear.

- Stafford, TX, USA

problem #320

Mar 142019

Altima

  • 60,000 miles
Call stalls and jerks when coming to a stop, and engine then cuts out and dies. Car then has trouble re-starting and loses power. Appears to be a transmission failure. Car is a 2013 and only at around 60K miles. Extremely dangerous. There should be a recall on the cvt transmission of the 2013 Nissan Altima - a very well-documented problem.

- Rutherford, NJ, USA

problem #319

Mar 152019

Altima

  • 84,020 miles
Cvt transmission failed in highway traffic.

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

problem #318

Mar 182019

Altima

  • 79,000 miles
On the way home as I exited highway my 2013 Altima 79000 miles started jerking upon slowing down to stop, on the move as well as when fully stopped. Next day I took it to the dealer ken ganley medina Ohio, the car showed even more symptoms and totally stalled right in front of service door and wouldn't start. Similar problem happened in January 2016 at 59900 and then the same dealership service reset transmission module. The car was driving normal until now. Only this time I paid $177 for diagnostics just to hear what I already suspected: Internal transmission failure. Cost of replacement $3995 plus tax. On the way home, my car completely died and had to be towed home. From 2012 to 2018, several modoels of Nissan vehicles received the continuously variable transmission, including the Sentra, versa, versa note, Altima, rogue, and murano models. Some of the most common issues with the vehicles directly relate to the transmission. Reported issues include loss of power, transmission jerking, transmission slipping, cvt coolant hose leaks and failures, and a cvt error message being displayed. These problems call the Nissan cvt transmission reliability into question and can result in serious harm to unsuspecting drivers. Nissan extended the warranty on some of these vehicles equipped with the cvt transmission from 5 years or 60,000 miles to 10 years or 120,000 miles. The extension covers repairs, replacements, and towing for issues related to the continuously variable transmission. For the warranty to be effective, vehicle owners must take their Nissan to a dealership for repairs. Strangely enough, my VIN doesn't fall (?) under that category even it showed exact same failure. The dealer refused to follow that warranty in terms of replacement and/or providing a loaner car.

- North Royalton, OH, USA

problem #317

Mar 012019

Altima

  • 92,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle decelerated to 40 mph and the engine revved as it was coasted off the road. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for a tune-up and was subsequently towed to crown Nissan dealer (866-239-1758, located at 5151 34th St N, St. Petersburg, fl 33714) where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered a seventy-five percent discount off the repair cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

- Palmetto, FL, USA

problem #316

Jun 072018

Altima

  • 66,992 miles
I was driving my vehicle when I lost power I then pulled over and parked when I put the gear in drive it was no power I kept taking the car back to the deal and they didn't do anything to fix the problem all they want is the money for the car note so on 3/1/19 I took my car to aamco to run a test on it this is the 6 place that told my my transmission is bad

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #315

Mar 052019

Altima

  • 91,000 miles
My car was diagnosed with transmisdion issues yesterday at my Nissan dealership. I had no warniing for my 2013 Nissan Altima. It appears to be a defect in this transmission model. I have reviewed several complaints on line about this 2013 Nissan transmission issue. My car stalled on the highway and was blessed know one hit me. Now I have to put out money for a transmission. I am on a fix income. Nissan should look at these complaints and recall issues with the 2013 Nissan Altima transmission and assist in reimbursing those that had to replace this detective transmission. This is serious and can cause a major accident if your car stalls on a highway.. I am a loyal customer and have kept my car maintained.

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #314

Feb 222019

Altima

  • 60,000 miles
Two hours from home car shut off on highway, after it start shaking during shifts. After tow to service station, then to dealership, and home it was determined to be bad transmission with 60,000 miles on vehicle. This is a known and common issue with this model.

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #313

Feb 212019

Altima

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the transmission was faulty. The vehicle would jolt forward, transmission fluid was leaking, and the vehicle powered down at will. In addition, the service transmission indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that a new transmission was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Port St. Lucie, FL, USA

problem #312

Feb 122019

Altima

  • 124,000 miles
Vehicle's transmission causes engine to shut off while driving and at idle (while waiting for a traffic light). Also causes violent shaking when accelerating. Nissan has a "recall" to reprogram the transmission module stating that it it is not done transmission damage will happen. However was never notified and it seems to appear this notice came out only in the last 2 years. Meaning Nissan knows the transmission is being damaged. Brought the car into the dealership and they told menit needed a new transmission ($4400). Called Nissan of North America where they decided to deny any claim to replace the tranmission... even though as I previously stated they knew this issue was causing damage to the transmission. Have tried to reach back out to Nissan and had to leave a message asking my "rep" to call me back the next day.... which she never did of course.

- Catawba, NC, USA

problem #311

Jan 232019

Altima

  • 49,000 miles
While driving the car just died all of a sudden. I was in traffic and good thing and not on highway. I started it again, only to die again after putting into drive. There was jerky, shuddered and hesitation. It died three times before I could pull to the side of the road. It was ok for about a week and now it happens daily. While accelerating or coming to a stop, it shakes, jerks, shudders, vibrates. Very spooky. I am afraid of it dying on me on the highway. Not safe at all. Took it to the dealer and they said it is the cvt control valve body which I understand is very common with 2013 & 2014 Altima. Repair cost will be $1,700. I only have 49,000 miles on it. But because I owned it for more than five years, I am told it is not covered on warranty. This is not fair. Nissan is well aware of this consistent problem and they should be paying for this. All Nissan Altima owners need your assistance to make Nissan accountable. I understand there are class action lawsuits due to this same problem. Thank you.

- Kurtistown, HI, USA

problem #310

Mar 102016

Altima

  • 45,000 miles
Shift handle does not move out of parking unless you push down on the shift release button with a hard straight object like a pen or allen wrench.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #309

Jun 152018

Altima

  • 63,225 miles
As I was driving home on a highway, and especially at stop lights, the tachometer would drop to 0 RPM and I would have to try to get the vehicle going again by restarting the engine, sometimes several times. After getting home, the vehicle refused to move even though the engine would start. The vehicle was 3000 miles over the power train warranty limit of 60,000 miles, so I took it to a local aamco transmission shop. The aamco shop found that the transmission had completely failed and determined that it needed to be replaced, which cost roughly $4000.

- Davis, CA, USA

problem #308

Dec 312018

Altima

  • 65,000 miles
Transmission failed at 65K mileage

- San Francisco, CA, USA

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