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:
43,230 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 2 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #79

Jun 142020

Altima

  • 10,000 miles

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

The trunk latch became undone and lifted while I was on the highway headed home. All of my items fell out and I had to figure out a way to relatch.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #78

Oct 252018

Altima 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
On the morning of Oct 25,2018 I entered my 2014 Nissan Altima approx 7:15 am and put vehicle in reverse, traveled approx 20 ft put car in park to run in for something I had forgotten. I safely exited the vehicle, closed the door and walked the 20 ft to my 3 steps and approached my door to my home as I started to unlock the door I heard a pop and turned around and observed my car leaving the driveway, it had gone into reverse and crossed the street where it stopped against a granite wall damaging the trunk.

- Elberton, GA, USA

problem #77

Jun 262020

Altima

  • miles
On Friday 6/26/2020 while driving on the MA turnpike I-90 w, shortly before exit 20, the hood of my 2013 Nissan Altima flew all the way back crashing into the windshield and front portion of the roof. Luckily I was able to slow down and peek under the bottom portion of the hood to pull over to the side of the highway. My windshield was cracked, both side fenders were bent up/ slightly displaced, the roof was dented, inside the car the ceiling speaker/ sunglass console came crashing down and my hood was dented and having trouble staying shut. I managed to secure it down and drove slowly to exit 20. I immediately stopped at an auto shop near by and the owners first words were, "looking at your car, I can tell you this is exactly how people get killed in motor vehicle accidents". I am not surprised. Had I not been able to see or safely slow down, I may be dead. The shop owner showed how the sprained hinges allow the hood to go all the way back causing windshield damage mainly due to the secondary hood latch not functioning properly. He did spray some wd 40 on the latch to get it to function a little better; he stated that the vehicle was not safe and would not recommend driving it. The damage was estimated at $4000.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #76

Nov 012019

Altima

  • 10 miles

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

I was driving my car (2013 Nissan Altima) last week all of the sudden without prior notice the rear lower control arm cracked down. I was in motion but luckly not in a highway. The car was traveling about 20 miles/H. I lost control of the car but didn't cause injuries or accidents. I had to tow the car home.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #75

Nov 022019

Altima

  • 52,000 miles
Have a 2013 Nissan Altima, low mileage. Pulling out of driveway and noticed the back end of car was swerving as if I was on ice. I pulled over tire was not flat and nothing was stuck by the tire. No ice was on the road. I pulled down a little further on rode and the right rear end collapsed. The tire was sitting bent outward. When I looked under the car a metal bar was cracked in half. I called my son in law who is familiar with car repair and he and a mechanic stated it was the right rear control arm that had huge amount of corrosion and had broken in half. I called Nissan dealer in wausau Wisconsin and they stated no recalls or service action is in place. Had I gone 5 minutes more down the road I would have been on a major highway at 65 miles and hour and believe I would have rolled the car and been in the ditch. I usually drive my 2 grandchildren in the car with me but today thank god they were at home. I found thru your website that Nissan has been aware of this for sometime. This is a horrific finding. Does it take a death to get them to pull this part. I have pictures of the corrosion and breakage that I will try to send with this.

- Rhinelander, WI, USA

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problem #74

Aug 012019

Altima

  • miles
My front drivers side door handle failed at 71 000 along with my automatic brake lock on the gear shifter.

- Grand Prairie, TX, USA

problem #73

Jul 302019

Altima

  • 78,000 miles

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

My dashboard is melting when it is too hot outside. I'm unable to drive correctly due to the glare that it creates.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #72

Jul 202019

Altima

  • 60,000 miles
About a month ago I noticed a weird noise when going over small bumps, I took the car to the shop to investigate it to find out the rear arms that holds the springs in had cracked at the weld more so on the read driver side and the arms in the rest of the car started to crack also right at the welds. Car is only 60K miles on

- Oswego, NY, USA

problem #71

Jul 292019

Altima

  • miles
Rear control arm rusted through and broke. Rear undercarriage all rusted through

- Yorkville, IL, USA

problem #70

Jul 122019

Altima 4-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. While driving 70 mph, the control arm gave out and completely corroded off the vehicle. The contact towed the vehicle to his home. The contact called boucher Nissan of waukesha (1451 E moreland blvd, waukesha, wi 53186, (262) 542-5500) and was informed to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed to take the vehicle to a local dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 95,000.

- Elkhorn, WI, USA

problem #69

Jun 152019

Altima

  • 77,962 miles

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

I was driving my 2013 Nissan Altima on a busy city street and lost control of steering ability due to the right rear control arm that was completely rusted and broke apart. My vehicle had to be towed and this part had to be replaced.

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #68

Jun 242019

Altima

  • 70,000 miles
The problem we encountered was, when leaving to go to the movies, we heard a large bang went to see if something was under the car. Next we drove a few feet and heard a dragging noise. Upon inspection the rear tire was out of line. When checking the underside of the car, we were taken back by what we saw. The entire part of the car was rusted and the frame had rusted away from the main part of the car. We had gone out the night before and were on the highway going at least 50 mph, had this happened then we would have been killed. That night we were heading toward the highway to go to the movies. I can't believe the condition of the car. This car is kept in the garage and the underside had been hosed down to keep the salt from harming the underside. I have looked into this and found these cars have had many complaints about the rust underneath these cars. It has been happening for years. Some around 2005 and some even older that that. I would like to know why there hadn't had a recall in regards to this complete rust problem on the underside of these cars. I think we may have a case against Nissan after reviewing and having the knowledge of all the cars dealing with this problem.most of these people said they will never buy another Nissan because of this problem. I will have to have the photo's sent later as I do not have the phone with them on it.

- Apollo, PA, USA

problem #67

Jun 012019

Altima

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 15 mph, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear passenger side control arm fractured and needed to be replaced. Additionally, there was severe corrosion to the control arm and the secondary hood latch on the vehicle was faulty. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V029000 (latches/locks/linkages). The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Bedford, PA, USA

problem #66

May 142019

Altima

  • 85,000 miles
On 14 May 2019, while I was driving to a family member's house on livingston road in accokeek, md, my hood popped open and obstructed my view of driving. I had to pull of the road to pull the hood down. It was very fearful. I could have killed myself or someone else. This isn't the 1st time it happened to me. It also happened in August 2018 in doswell, va. Both of these incidents were reported to my insurance company.

- Oxon Hill, MD, USA

problem #65

Apr 022019

Altima

  • miles
The clear coat is peeling off on the hood and top of the car. The low beam headlights are very dim can barley see at night this has been getting progressivly worse over the last year has 98000 miles on

- Picayune, MS, USA

problem #64

Mar 292019

Altima

  • miles
The control arm broke in my 2013 Altima. The mechanic said he has never seen one break like this and it appears to be a defect on the weld. I looked online and see other people have had similar complaints and it is under investigation.

- Campton, NH, USA

problem #63

Feb 262019

Altima 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle began to swerve. The contact noticed that the rear passenger side lower control arm was detached due to corrosion. The vehicle was still able to be driven. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. Consumer stated transmission also failed at 90,000, lower control arm rusted and broke, almost causing consumer's daughter to wreck. Total control arm failure.

- Spring Girl, IL, USA

problem #62

Feb 032019

Altima

  • miles
Shift gear get stuck at parking mode while moving car. This is serious problem at it may occur while moving. We approach Nissan but no help from them. How come Nissan allow to not having recall on this as many owners are feeling this problem. We would appreciate if NHTSA comes in help. We have had this problem going since one month and vehicle is in motion. We are lucky that so far no major incident. I feel that this problem may cause a lot of problem if not fix proper by Nissan. While searching this problem at online, many owners are felling this issue. Also Nissan offering solution to problem at youtube.com. Here is video from Nissan. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=tq4untc8saw surprised that they have not taken any action even knowing this.

- Weston, FL, USA

problem #61

Dec 092018

Altima

  • 56,000 miles
The latch will not release on the trunk. The fob or the button release is not working!

- Pleasantville, NJ, USA

problem #60

Nov 152018

Altima

  • 119,000 miles
Three major issues has been occuring with my 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 sl 1. brake light comes up randomly while driving at local or highway speed. 2. hood pop up while driving - issue with latch 3. transmission is making grinding noise.

- Edison, NJ, USA

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