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.

6.8

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$420
Average Mileage:
22,950 miles
Total Complaints:
35 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (24 reports)
  2. replace brakes, calipers & pins (6 reports)
  3. replaced brakes (5 reports)
2013 Nissan Altima brakes problems

brakes problem

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2013 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

Nov 112013

Altima S 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

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

I have a 2013 Nissan Altima with a very, very, bad brake squealing noise that started 4 months after I drove off the car lot which was a brand new car. The dealership worked on my car with this noise for 2 months. The noise was always there but now after 4 months it's terrible and I had the brakes changed and rotors turned and still have the terrible noise on my brakes that I never heard on any car. The dealership is saying this is not an issues and I really hope these complaints have Nissan to recall these brakes system before someone is hurt or results in death.

- Rachel S., Minden, LA, US

problem #14

Jun 242014

Altima SE 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles

Bought a 2113 Altima in Sept. It has developed a bad squeal in the brakes when the car is in reverse. I have had the dealer check this 3 times. I have been told this normal. It didn't happen when the car was new. The service manager would not take a new car off the lot to show me this was normal. He did offer to treat the brakes with an anti-squeal treatment for $100! This is my 2nd Nissan, maybe my last!

- Riley F., Atwater, OH, US

problem #13

Apr 012014

Altima S 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,200 miles

I purchase the car in Oct of 2013. Everything was fine, begining of this year I started to hear noise from my brakes only when i reverse. I thought i might need new brakes weird since I just got the car. Had them look at and they are still good I was told. Now the noise is getting louder and more annoying. I took my car in for oil change at the nissian dealer and mention it to the tech guy he said oh you are okay its normal. I have decided to take it in July 2nd and mention that it is very loud and not getting better. We will see what they say then.

- Claudia M., Moore, OK, US

problem #12

Sep 132013

Altima V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 1,493 miles

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

We purchased our Altima 30 Aug 2013, have had several ongoing issues with it. On this occasion, the car was in for the transmission to be replaced and we complained of brake noise. Squealing and sometimes grinding.

- Debra P., Gainesville, TX, US

problem #11

Sep 192013

Altima S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,467 miles

Another factory defect!!! This car was put together by the drunk guy at the factory that day. It's 6 months old & has been totally disassembled. The dashboard has been taken out of the car 3 times. The rear braking system has been replaced. This car is a LEMON!!!!!

- Cheryl F., Davie, FL, US

problem #10

Jul 172013

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 12,100 miles

Made a few complaints to the dealer about a squeaking in the brakes. Happens mostly when there has been some moisture in the air because of rain or dew. I hear it when I first start to drive the car and the windows are down with the radio/music off. It is especially loud in the parking lot after work and will often attract attention of those passing by.

I pointed out to the service manager there is a bulletin that addresses brake squeal on 2013 Altima with steel wheels but you already know that I was told it did not apply to my car, didn't you? Well after pitching a fit (politely) and becoming the squeaky wheel (pun intended), the service manager had the brakes replaced. That fixed it. Yeah! NOT. Within 3 weeks it was back, not as bad yet, but it is back. I have discovered that if I start to roll and hit the brakes firm, after two or three times, the sound goes away. I will take it to a brake shop and have them put non-Nissan aftermarket pads on and hope that works.

- John P., Orlando, FL, US

problem #9

Aug 112013

Altima S 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,500 miles

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

My complaint is my brakes squeal really bad, every time you stop or hit the brakes.

- Angela P., Parsons, KS, US

problem #8

Jul 192012

Altima S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,500 miles

I drove off the lot with this automobile on July 5, 2012 - One week later I heard some squeaking noise at a red light. My immediate thought was that someone around me needed a brake job. I drove thru Starbucks and heard the noise again - and again, not thinking it was my car, my immediate reaction was - man people in this city don't take care of their brakes. After a few more visits to Starbucks I realized it was My Car! I felt nothing but embarrassment. I took the car to the dealership and they called me back saying it was ready. Happily I drove off thinking everything was peachy. Two days later the squeaking was back with a vengeance. It was louder and more frequent. I took the car back and they shaved the rotors or something and got me back in the vehicle promising it would fix the problem. I didn't hear anything at first until I tried the true test - the drive thru at Starbucks. Yep, the problem was there - not as loud - but there. It didn't take long however for the noise to increase with time. The car has been back five times and nothing has been done. Essentially the last email I received from the Service Manager at one of the dealerships I took it to was that if the car was stopping when the brakes were applied then they are working as intended.

- jusiment, Dallas, TX, US

problem #7

Sep 052012

Altima S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles

Brakes seem to be an issue with this automobile. I have squeaky brakes and on top of that - the Brake Light comes on intermittently. I was in the car with a friend when he noticed me panic - he asked what was the matter - something is wrong I exclaimed - the brake light is on. I pulled over, checked the emergency brake which was not on and opened the hood. When I turned the car back on - the light was off. I figured it was just a "glitch." I took the car back to the dealer with squeaky brakes and informed them of the brake light. They said the problem was fixed. Like a bad toothache that shows up unexpectedly, the brake light came back on one evening. The next day I took the car to a different dealership and asked them to look into it. They said that because the brake light wasn't on at the time I drove to the service center that they couldn't do anything about it. I waited for the light to come back on and figured I would go straight to the dealership if it happened - sure enough - the light came back on one Saturday when I was out and about. The dealer then "repaired" the problem. A couple of nights ago the brake light came back on as if to taunt me and let me know that this problem isn't going anywhere. So, I am stuck with a beautiful car that has squeaky brakes and a Brake Light that flashes me. Not the kind of situation I can say that I am enamored with.

- jusiment, Dallas, TX, US

problem #6

Mar 012013

Altima SL 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 1,200 miles

Well My brake light would come on and stay on while driving. I took it back to the dealer and they did something and now it has not come back on.

- dynarider84, Reston, VA, US

problem #5

Sep 052012

Altima 2.5 S 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 600 miles

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

I purchased a 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S from a dealership in September 2012. I may have had the car 3 days when I noticed a whistling noise while driving. The noise began to get louder. Also, when I'd come to a complete stop my brakes would squeal loudly. So not only was I driving a brand new car that squealed while in motion, but when it stopped it also had issues. I immediately took my car to the local Nissan dealers who claimed to have fixed the problem. Needless to say I pull out of the dealership and the vehicle is still squealing.

So Nissan sends me a survey after my purchase asking about my vehicle. I was very honest in my descriptions. This led to a phone call from a Nissan Rep who explained that he would call the dealership because my car needed to be looked at. When I came in for the 2nd appt they had a technician ride with me to hear the noise. He couldn't seem to hear anything, except the braking at the stop signs. So of course they put lube on my brakes and send me on my way again. The THIRD time a service manager rode with me and heard both noises almost immediately. I'm not sure what they did to my car while in service but I haven't heard the whistling noises since. However, the brakes are still loud as ever :( During that visit they also performed a recall on the CVT. My biggest complaint now are my brakes as a new car certainly shouldn't make these noises or perform in this manner!

- resea23, Cary, NC, US

problem #4

Mar 272013

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 22,522 miles

I had recently had the rear brake pads replaced due to Squealing that came about each time the brakes were applied. About two weeks after the were replaced i was in a drive thru and was waiting in line with my foot on the brake pedal and fully stopped when the brake light comes on all of a sudden. I sat in line with my foot on the brake for nearly ten minutes and the light remained on. After i picked up my food at the window i pulled in a parking space and shut the vehicle off and turned it back on and the light went off. The next day i returned my car for service and they said that everything was fine and the brakes were good. Now a month later i am hearing a clanking noise when i apply the brakes. It sounds like something is going to break. I have returned it for service for this issue as well and they, again assure me that everything is fine. I bet in another 15k when my warranty expires they will find the problem and fix for everything because it will be at my expense then. When are they gonna start properly fixing these cars? Will it be when someone is driving 50 to 60 mph in one of these cars and go to stop and the brakes totally fail and they slam into someone and kill the other driver or themself because lets not forget that the airbags do not come on half of the time too if at all??

- natbugzmom, coden, AL, US

problem #3

Apr 022013

Altima SL 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 3,700 miles

Well my brakes are making a squeling and thunking sound i had them checked out by the dealer and all they tell me is that its is workign properly. unacceptable. I feel that these mechanics are not getting paid to diagnose the problems so instead they just get on a tech line or tech support system either on the phone or internet or books, and just write down what others have said. its always the same answer well that is how this model works or this is normal for this model car. Why were none of these things brought up to me while purchasing this vehicle?

- dynarider84, Reston, VA, US

problem #2

Dec 012012

Altima

  • CVT transmission
  • 5,000 miles

had to take it back twice to get the squeak checked out -- they thought it was a minor squeak , then burned the glaze off the pads, and that mostly fixed it, though there is still a squeak first thing in the mornings.

- Tim H., Waterloo, IA, US

problem #1

Aug 082012

Altima S 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 1,500 miles

I Purchased a 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S on July, 12th 2012 and i have returned this vehicle for service 3 times only to mask my problem temporarily. First off this is not a slight squealing noise it is very loud and very rare to hear on a brand new vehicle. I would expect a 10 year old clunker that never had the brakes serviced to sound like this. The sound was present each time i applied the brakes, even the slightest application of the brakes would result in a excruciating high pitched screech. The first time i had the vehicle serviced they informed me that the noise was coming from the rear brakes and that they cleaned them and applied some [No Squeal] And shaved the rotors down. I did not like the idea of shaving the rotors on a new car. I leave the dealer ship and do not hear the squealing the next two days. On the third day i get in my car that morning and begin backing out of my drive way and hear that very same high pitched squealing noise again. So i make another service appointment and return it once more for the problem. This time they tell me it is front brakes and that once again they shaved those rotors as well, cleaned them and applied [No Squeal]. This Time i drove for about 3 weeks before the squealing returned. So now that the noise is back i am forced to schedule yet again another service appointment for the very same issue that they can not seem to permanently resolve. I purchased yet another nissan because i believed that i was purchasing a reliable car. I have noticed it these now 2013 altima's that the price is significantly lower than previous year models with there top of the line priced at $34k Vs. previous years at $37-39K I hope this does not mean that they put these together with much cheaper lower quality material to make you feel as if you are getting MORE car for less. I owned a 2010 altima and put 60,000 miles on it and never experienced one problem, i just did now care for the acceleration and overall power due to the cvt.

- natbugzmom, coden, AL, US

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