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 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,951 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.
doing 55 or 60 the car goes into limp mode and wont let me go more then 35 to 45 at times its a safety hazard as cars almost ran right into the back of my car if nissan dont fix the issue i will hire a lawyer and sue nissan its not worth losing my life or the life of others in my car GET THIS ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF NOW....i have called nissan in mansfield about this issue 3 different times ive emailed nissan and still to this day they have not reached out to
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, he heard abnormally loud sounds coming from the transmission. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle responded as needed and the contact continued driving. However, the contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
CVT Failure yes it is available for inspection at this time. I was driving down Massachusetts Route 114 and slowed as approaching a traffic light the car shook and sputtered and shut off and could not get it to move as cars behind me were speeding up behind me the car would start again but shut off when placed in gear could not move from the middle of the road. Yes my safety and the people speeding up behind me were at risk. The dealer has confirmed that the CVT transmission has failed this is a known Nissan problem. No warning until the time it happened the engine light came on as it died. Nissan should be required to recall this known part failure instead of placing lives in danger.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, while slowing the vehicle for traffic ahead, the vehicle started to shake with the steering wheel jerking to the left and the right. The contact was able to slow the vehicle however, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failure occurred constantly. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the CVT transmission and front and rear suspension needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact was informed that the drive train and bearing needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while his son was driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering significantly and the parking brake engaged independently, which locked the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times the same day. The son was able to restart the vehicle on each occasion. However, the failure persisted and the contact's son could no longer start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) software needed to be updated. However, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) module was replaced. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who reprogrammed the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) module. However, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
- Downers Grove, IL, USA
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The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while at a red traffic light, the vehicle stalled and vibrated, and then lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact then restarted the vehicle and drove to her destination; however, the vehicle lost motive power again. The vehicle remained at the location for a day; the contact then returned and noticed the transmission fluid had drained out onto the ground. The local mechanic confirmed the transmission fluid leak. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer out of town and diagnosed with transmission failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the transmission was repaired by another mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
1) Driver-??s side airbag warning light is on all the time, constant red. 2) Transmission shift lever would not move out of park and had to be replaced @ 115,000 at a cost of $954. 3) The transmission failed and had to be replaced at 118,000 at a cost of $4,500. When I contacted Nissan about these issues, I was told that there was nothing they could do.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her grandson was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle then lost motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000.
I own a 2013 Nissan Altima SV with about 70,000 miles. It had an extended warranty, that expired late May 2021 and started have problems thereafter. The CVT transmission would cause the car to lunge and stall when shifting from park. The car would stall once you backed out onto the road. Several times at a busy traffic signal, the car would lunge forward, even though you had your foot on the brake. I had the car towed to the local dealer after the first incident. They kept the car about 4 days, but mainly worked on the recalls. They said, nothing showed up on diagnostic. However, I drove my car south about 1000 miles and the situation became worse. Made an appointment, at the local dealership and drove my car there. Within 1 hour, the service guy stated I needed a new transmission, a $5,600 repair. It was mentioned that I may want to contact Nissan about the situation. By reading many reviews, this is a serious problem that Nissan should fix. s
I key system error. Engine control module malfunction. Car loses power when accelerating, not safe when driving on road. Car will not start up at times.
I was driving on a road that is 40 mph. I was getting close to a stop light that had been red and cars had not moved yet once the light turned greened. I started pressing my brake to slow down and my cars emergency brake came on by itself and I got stuck in the middle of the road. My cars brake light and battery light came ln and the car was stuck- could not change gears or drive. I had to turn the car on and off five or six times in order for it to finally I brake itself and let me drive very slowly. Got the car checked by two auto shops, one was Nissan and the other David-??s Auto repair Service. David-??s said code P17F1 and I would need a new transmission. Nissan said it was my battery, got my battery changed and the car kept doing the same thing, got inspected again by Nissan and they also got the same code and said I would need a new transmission. My car only has 107k miles - no other issues prior to this. I cannot drive my car now because it judders and brakes itself and it-??s dangerous to drive
While driving, the vehicle began to make a loud noise followed by shuddering. It was taken to the dealership and a code was returned that indicated a transmission failure. This same CVT Transmission was replaced in August 2017 and has been driven only 23,000 more. While Nissan is aware that their transmissions are defective, they offer no assistance outside of the limited warrant that only lasts 3 years. No warning light appeared.
Transmission shifter would not come out of park have put new transmission fluid in this car twice in 112,000 miles Had to replace whole shifter assembly $1300 been warned this CVS TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED EVERYONE INCLUDING DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD AND NEED TO CHANGE FLUID AND FLUSH EVERY 30,000 miles now -?? $300 to do it !!!! I-??ve owned 3 Nissans never had anything like this ?
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power without warning. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle however, after several attempts the vehicle failed to start-up. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the transmission fluid; however, while the contact was driving home, the failure recurred without warning. The contact attempted to notify the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly jerked and would no longer accelerate properly. The vehicle was driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the transmission was previously replaced for the same failure, but the failure recurred. The failure mileage was 97,722.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the gear shifter would remain stuck in the park position and a screwdriver was used to unlock the gear shift lever. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the gear shift actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while his wife was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk and then seized. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to a storage garage. The contact called and notified the local dealer about the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- North Fairfield , OH, USA