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.
Be warned: the 2014 & 2015 Nissan Altima appears to share these same problems.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,423 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.
The Nissan Altima 2013, driver side door handle breaks, trapping individual in car causing a safety issue in any urgent or emergency situation. Car was stationary when complaint happened. Frequent occurrence with thousands or models 2011-2015 as indicated by consumer reports. Consideration for recall.
My 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5sv, the gear shifter will not come out of park, this is a safety issue and Nissan refuses to take care of it. They offered a 60/40 split but this clearly being a safety issue should be issued as a recall or taken care of 100% by the manufacturer. This is not safe if you can't get you care out of park, Nissan knows of the issue but continues to ignoring the problem.
Instrumental gauges flickers and sometimes staying off for a second or two causing the vehicle to jerk with power lose while driving on the highway. Radio will also lunimate and die when this happens. Current vehicle has around 50K and I have replace battery, +\-battery terminal and alternator to see if this correct the problem, but this still happens!!! also all the instrumental gauge will reset its self when this happens!!!
Car will not release from park unless you press on the brake release button. This happened as my car reached 65K miles. This could be a huge issue and safety if someone was to be stranded out somewhere and they are H able to leave because there car will not come out of park. This problem is affecting a lot of vehicles coming out of Nissan.
As I was driving my 2013 Nissan Altima with 35K miles on it, I came to a stoplight at a busy intersection and my car cut off completely without any indication that something was wrong. I was not able to put my foot on the brakes, I could not move my steering wheel, it just cut off. I was able to cut my car back on, however whenever I shifted my gear into drive it cut off again. I had my car towed to the Nissan dealership, and they stated they could not find the issue but reprogrammed my cvt since there was a recall issued for my car. They determined that after driving it for 25 minutes that day and 25 minutes the next that the cvt reprogramming could have been the solution to the problem but to return it to the dealer if it happened again. 3 days later my car began shaking and stalling very roughly while in motion and again cut off in the middle of the road while in drive. This time my young son was in the car with me, and him and I could have both been harmed or caused an accident and harmed someone else. This is unacceptable that Nissan has not recalled these vehicles or the car has been returned to customers without a solution to the problem.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Nissan 112 dealer (730 medford ave, patchogue, NY 11772, (631) 651-1987) where it was diagnosed that the battery sensor needed to be reset. The battery sensor was reset; however, the air bag warning indicator illuminated again. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the battery sensor was reset a second time; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the occupant detection system needed to be reset and the front driver's and passenger side sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
Complaint: No warning lights came on during transmission failure. 2013 Nissan Altima bought new experienced malfunction on Nov 10, 2017 while stopped at intersection in downtown baltimore traffic. Prior to and during malfunction no indicators on dashboard lit up to alert us to any problem. After car was towed to nearby Nissan dealership, dealership determined transmission would need to be replaced. However dealership's service dept could not explain why the transmission failure did not trigger any warning lights. The day before the malfunction, Nov 9th, Nissan of richmond had performed the 48 months scheduled maintenance ' during which they also did a PC490 recall, referring to it as an 'Altima cvt software diagnostic update' and describing it as a software update for the transmission ' allowing their computer to interact better with the transmission computer. Conditions: Night time, below freezing (mid 20's), had just taken off-ramp to downtown after 3 hours of interstate driving averaging 65-70 mph on interstate and 25-30 mph downtown. While approaching intersection, car bucked, then stalled and gas pedal failed to work. Turned car off and back on. Car limped another 3 or 4 blocks, then stopped completely and had to be towed. History: Altima bought new, all vehicle maintenance was performed at recommended times/intervals with Nissan service dept, warning light malfunction and transmission replacement occurred at 39,848 miles.
We haven't driven the car in like 10 days and tried starting it and it wouldn't start. Got the car jump started and noticed that every time I turned the steering wheel the car bogged down the navigation system shuts off and the steering wheel becomes very difficult to turn. Also the same exact thing happens when I put the car in reverse and turn the steering wheel, the navigation system and the back up camera goes completely dark.
I bought my car in April 2016 I've had nothing but issues it chugs all the time on highway/city/county roads, and while turning left and right with Cruze set or not. Every time I get in my car and try to shift it down from park it don't always shift or if I try shifting up it's like it sticks it has been fixed once already, when the heated seats are on low or high setting if left on longer than 5 minuets it gets burning hot. The steering wheel is also super loose my car has 82,000 miles on it I've had it for a year and a half and I've had so many issues including the air conditioning marquart motors out of chippewa falls wi refuses to return my calls (I bought the car from them they are useless and unhelpful ) I have a extended warranty as well so most repairs are covered thank god but won't be for long. It's very frustrating that I paid 23,000 for a car that has so many issues I really just wish I could give it back so scared to have my children in it and I shouldn't have to feel that way. Alsothere are 3 or four recalls and I can't seem to ever get it in for repair because our Nissan dealer is always so booked or don't have the parts to fix it till days or weeks later.
Drivers electronic door unlock/lock switch has disconnected from the door lock ability, unable to safely exit vehicle without rolling down the window to unlock manually from outside he car. Makes it unsafe to exit in case of an emergancy
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5S shuts off electrical while driving key dont work (1 out of 2 keys dont work) door handles are broken both driver and passenger A/C compressor doesnt work
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. Whether the vehicle was shifted into park or drive, it would experience a loss of power. The contact stated that the vehicle operated normally while in neutral. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle sputtered and stalled without warning. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated after the vehicle stalled and remained lit. The vehicle was taken to Nissan 422 of limerick (55 autopark blvd, limerick, pa 19468, (610) 495-1856), but it had not yet been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,458.
I tried to start my car and the onboard computer screen say no key detected, I have the key in my hand and still it will not start, I can unlock the doors, trunk etc. Fine, I even went and bought the same exact new battery for the key fog and the problem persist, I went online and look up Nissan owners with similar problem with Nissan Altima key fog problem and it seem like a common issue, but surprise that there is no recall on the issue, everybody I know that owns a Nissan told me there is time they be driving and the onboard computer state no key detected, thank god I don't live I a remote location or else I would be stranded, online everyone that had the problem had to end up paying $500 or more to fix the issue, which I feel is a defect in Nissan engine control unit system, I contact the dealership that I bought my Nissan Altima from and they wanted to charge me over #500 total to fix the issue, I think it is a scam, I found a work around the issue but it is just not right that they know the engine control unit has a problem and the refuse to address the issue, except leave the customer with a new bill or stranded
Electrical issue, my car wouldn't start saying incorrect key, when I opened the hood the battery post had completely burned off, wires was burnt, and battery exploded. The fusible link for the terminal breaker for the battery was also burnt, every now and then when I went to start my car it would say key not detectable or wrong key id. I thought the battery in the key probe was going out replaced it and the problem still was present. I have 2 co-workers and there vehicle are doing the same thing one has a 2014 and the other is a 2016 brand new had less than 6 months. I was told by the mechanic this has been going on and my vehicle almost caught on fire.
Engine start problems! when I push the engine start button, the engine crank and start engine. And the dashboard screen are all renew like a factory reset.
The Nissan Altima starts through a technology called "push to start". when I get into my vehicle, the dashboard says "key id incorrect". this started happening shortly after my car was programmed for an airbag recall at the dealership. The car will not start since you need the key to start the car. There is no manual way to start the car, and if the key is not recognized for too long the car has stopped driving while in motion. Lastly, the car will not lock when you are inside and the key id is not being recognized. If you are in a dangerous situation this can be problematic.
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5S was serviced on December 19, 2016 at planet Nissan 5850 centennial center blvd. Las vegas, nv 89149 dealer performed R1609 OCS recall & PC490 cvt reprogram recall. During these process some electrical items damage. Now cvt (continues variable transmission) is failing. On April 6, 2017 took vehicle to autonation Nissan las vegas 5800 w. sahara ave the service consultant said cvt is bad and needs to be replace but Nissan do not want to pay. Vehicle drives but when you reach 25-35 miles per hour it jerks, also 65 miles per hour it jerks then it looses power, vehicle comes to a stop and it does not move. This vehicle is not safe to be on the road. Nissan needs to correct this issue before somebody gets injured.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hyde Park, MA, USA