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:
7 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 1
Average Mileage:
53,584 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.
My catalytic converter is rusted. There were other parts that were on a recall because of rusting I've had replaced, but there is still my catalytic converter that is rusting as well. This is all documented in my last service report
I was reversing out of a driveway. Didn't hit anything. Heard a small 'thump.' I got out and checked my car. Everything looked ok. Then about 2 blocks later, in drive, on a side street, my car started shaking violently, as though I had been hit, but I wasn't. it was like the worst roller coaster ever made. Loud and extremely shaky. I got home and as it was night and dark out, didn't see anything. Today when the daylight came out, I noticed my rear passenger tire leaning inwards 'drastically. So I looked under the tire area and there was a corroded piece of metal hanging down with my spring loose. My friend and I searched everywhere and couldn't find the part'13-14 Nissan Altima sedan rear passenger right lower main spring support arm. I called Nissan and was quoted $200 and some change. Ok, not too bad... then I started googling for a cheaper price and lo and behold, I come across a few sites saying you guys are investing this, and I believe a usa today article said there was no 'recall, ' but that they were going to have roughly 200,000 cars in the usa and Canada come in to have it fixed. I did not get notice for this! I was luckily about a mile from home. But I could barely control the car. To make matters worse, the left side (driver rear) is showing signs of the same wear. I was driving idle speed in order to 'be safe.' Why was I not notified"! and why is it that when I called Nissan, they did not tell me this was a 'known issue' as they have in the past? why, when my car was under warranty did they not fix it? anything! this is dangerous! I literally had hardly any control of the vehicle. Are you still investigating this? and again, I should have gotten notice to have it fixed! why only 200,000 cars"! this needs to be a recall. I will need reimbursement since they have known about this issue!
While driving down the road, approximately 3 miles into my drive, I stopped at a stop light. When I tried to accelerate, my car would not move. After 2-3 seconds it decided to accelerate. About another half mile down the road at the next stop light, it did it again. Each time, I was almost rear ended by cars behind me trying to get to the interstate. The car is now at the dealership being looked at.
On one day I was driving my vehicle down the street heading towards the freeway. I was going to take the streets but the freeway is always the fastest option. I got on the freeway with no problem and started to increase speed. As I sped up, I started to feel my car shutter. I continued with my drive and thought nothing of it. Im heading towards my exit and I start to stop my car, and all of a sudden my car comes to a complete turn off while exiting the freeway. I almost hit two cars and almost got rear ended. At first I didn't know what to do because I was in fear of my safety. I looked down at the dashboard of my car to see what it could possibly be and no warning lights or check engine light was displayed. I was still in shock because I could have been involved in a major accident or even dead. I put the car in park and then turned the car off. I turned the car back on and it started perfectly normal like nothing had happened. With a lot of traffic and about 3 cars honking at me, I then put the car in drive again and shortly down the street a couple blocks away the car does it again to me, this time almost causing another accident. I was so terrified I had my car towed to a mechanic where he said this problem is common with Nissan Altima transmissions particularly the 2013 models. I reached out to the corporate office and I was advised that I have no warranty or coverage to fix this problem. This is very serious and sad because the makers of this vehicle could have taken my life. I put my trust and money into a vehicle to find out it has problems that Nissan are well aware of and will not bother fixing. The car only has around 80,000 and I'm still paying it off. Im just still in shock because I could have been seriously hurt.
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.
When driving my car it jerks, when I'm at a complete stop and then go to take off the car jerks. My car has the cvt transmission which has or had a class action claim against them however to my understanding I wasn't able to qualify for the extended warranty because my mileage exceeded what was required. I don't feel safe transporting my family in this car due to the hesitation/ jerks, however I'm not financially able to take the car to a certified mechanic. I've tried contacting someone in regards to the Nissan Altima cvt settlement to see if they could direct me to someone who could help resolve this issue but I've had no success reaching anyone. I've had numerous issues with the car besides the hesitation/ jerking, the traction control light randomly comes on for no reason, the A/C want properly work. This has been a ongoing problem for awhile, when I purchased the car ( used ) I was concerned about the jerking when I first drove it but the salesman said that its normal for that type transmission and that I'd get use to it hence the fact I didn't know I was purchasing a car that was putting myself and family in danger. Please help
Complete transmission failure at nearly 122,000 miles in the middle of a major interstate wherein the vehicle could not turn back on. Prior to the failure, there were weeks of jerky shifting, the car was unable to coast, quickly accelerate, or come to a stop without jerking the car until stopped. The idle of the car was unusually high near the day of full transmission failure. After completely replacing the transmission with a brand new one, the car still is having trouble shifting smoothly.
Without warning my car stopped accelerating. It died at in intersection and had to have it towed to a dealership. The problem started on the highway and the car died at a busy intersection. Car has 123000 miles with never an issue with cvt.. dealer told us it will cost 4,000 dollars to fix. Transmission shouldn't fail at 123 000 miles.
(1) the passenger side airbag light is faulty. It is always lit as 'off' even when there is a passenger on the seat. (2) car jerks when changing gears. I was reversing into a parking space. When I tried changing gears from reverse to drive, there was a delay and then the car jerked. As I tried to slowly accelerate, the car would not advance as it normally should. I then parked and the car began to accelerate/ rev while in park. My car is up to date on everything. I'm afraid this could happen on a busy street or highway. Please help.
Cant get car to go from put to drive always gotta keep restarting I think its shift lock I keep putting foot on brake and have too do it 3 or 4 times very stressful.
Replaced the battery and now brake light and check engine like is on and won't start. Brakes are hard. Car was parked for 2 days and came out to a dead battery. Replaced battery and the copper battery connector. Went to start it and then all these other issues happened.
The shift lock solenoid has failed in the car. I can not take the car out of park.this is a common problem among Nissan and they refuse to acknowledge the problem. Numerous dealers have said that the piece in the shift lock that Nissan uses is defective. Nissan is requiring me to pay $1,000 to fix.
I was driving my 2013 Altima with 73,000 miles on the interstate going about 85mph and all of a sudden I fell a sudden surge in power the RPM went from 2,400 to 5,300 simultaneously and the I smelled something burning and my engine died I almost got into a horrific accident but luckily the person behind me wasn't on there phone but they had to slam on the brakes beacause my car was slowing down quickly probably beacause of the jatco cvt but once I am pulled over I am going through my glove box to find the roadside emergency card with a number on it but I found a recall notice from 2 years ago that said that the computer that controls your transmission does not work and I need to take it in to service immediately or damage will occur well when I had the recall performed I had 55,000 miles on the car and that is 55,000 miles of damage happening to my transmission so I called Nissan and told them since they do not know how to make a car and that I almost died in a car wreck beacause of them that they need to send me a tow truck asap to tow it to a Nissan dealership they sent me one but they did not pay fore it so 200 dollars later I am sitting in my brocken car in a Nissan dealership and I went in and told them since they can't build a transmission that won't get someone killed they need to put a new one in my car that eorks and of course they refused to do it so I gave it to them and they lowballed me and gave me 4,000 dollers fore the car whatever I was so mad at that moment then I drove my but over to Hyundai and got me a 2020 Hyundai sonata limited.
Gear stuck in park unable to shift out of it. Happens every time I park my car or put it in park. Noticed this has been an issue for sometime since 2016. I think this needs to investigated and a recall definitely needs to be done to address this issue. Totally unsafe!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Diberville, MS, USA