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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,167 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 accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2013 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #3

Aug 092015

Altima

  • 24,000 miles

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

2013 Nissan Altima recall notice malfunction hood release which could cause a collision. Well happened to my daughter on August 9th, who had my permission to drive my car she by the way is 28. I was never notified of this recall, however my friend that leased the same vehicle two months prior at the same dealership, was notified. My daughter was just getting onto the expressway doing approx. 20 mph if that when the hood of my vehicle "released" and blew up against the windshield to where she could not see at all. Luckily god was with her and she was able to pull over safely. My vehicle is still at a Nissan dealership as of today, August 26th, collision shop still sitting in the same spot that it was towed to. Over $6,000 in damages for a recall that I should have been notified and Nissan should be praying and feeling blessed that this horrific accident and believe me it was horrifying to see that people were not killed, shame on Nissan corporation for me not receiving the recall notice, shame on Nissan for not figuring out when my car was in for service that my VIN number showed nothing or it was ignored, recall notices are connected automatically to any numbers whether car, appliance, car seats, etc., come on we are living in 2015. Shame on Nissan that this is not important to them to help me. I have dates and records of communication and am trying to reach out and try to make this public however I am at a stand still and need advice and help, thank you!

- Prattsburgh, NY, USA

problem #2

May 262014

Altima

  • 12,500 miles
On May 26, 2014 approx 9:30am while driving at normal highway speed in eastern pa. In my 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 sl, we heard what sounded like an extremely loud gun shot type sound right above the car roof. After slowing down and visibly shaken including my 2 occupants we slowly pulling back the sunroof liner that was closed at the time. It was noticed the entire sunroof had blown out of the car onto the highway and trunk area. The remaining glass was bulged outward like the glass was pushed outward from inside. There was no indication whatsoever of impact from outside the car. The roof, trunk and rear spoiler were covered in small shards of glass with many noticeable deep scratches from the glass impact. We stopped at the Nissan dealership in wilkes barre, pa and showed the dealership the problem we just encountered. The dealership cleaned and covered the damaged sunroof and advised us to drive slowly home until you could contact your local dealership. They could give me no reason why this happened or had never heard or seen this problem. I notified my local dealership when I got home and brought the car in for service. I was advised from my dealership after they claimed they contacted Nissan motors and the local Nissan area rep. That they could not give me any reason why this would happen. They told me they usually don't cover glass breakage but called it a good will gesture and would replace the smashed sunroof at no charge but refused to fix the damaged paint that was caused from the glass hitting the roof, trunk and spoiler surface.

- Wethersfield, CT, USA

problem #1

Apr 012013

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
I love the fact that my car has the heated steering wheel and for paying so much for this vehicle to have this wonderful feature you would expect it to work. Well it did for the first month, but I used it alot, usually on highway trips when it would cut off I would turn it back on, then about a month after that I noticed it was only getting warm at the top of the steering wheel and not the rest. Then a little later it doesn't even get warm anymore. I have taken it to service at least 2 different times, and they just tell me that it is normal. But in the armada, and maxima they loaned me while my car was in the shop those seemed to work fine. Their answer to that is that in the Altima it reads the temperature inside the car to determine how hot it gets. This is not the problem because in March of 2013 here in northern va we had a big snowfall. I went to my car at 3:40 am the day of the snowfall, and started it. It was about 28 degrees outside, and the inside of the car felt the same. I turn on the heated steering it I never felt it the entire 30 miles I drove. To me it feels like the electricity is not getting to any or all of the heating element. Nissan says to take it to another dealership, but all the dealers around me are owned and managed by the same.

- Reston, VA, USA

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