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:
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.

2013 Nissan Altima miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2013 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 6 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #133

Dec 182018

Altima

  • 103,000 miles

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

When some one sits in the passenger seat the seat belt notification ding does not come on and it also says the air bag is turned off. Just recently purchased no accidents reported to my knowledge.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #132

Mar 262019

Altima

  • 90,000 miles
On 3/25/19 my 2013 Nissan Altima stalled while driving home from work on a city street. While driving to work the following day 3/26/19 during rush hour traffic on a city street my car shut off without warning while idle. There were no dash lights to indicate what was wrong with my car. The car starts but when it is placed in gear it shuts off again and again. This is a safety hazard, thankfully I was not on the freeway. I was finally able to get the car started and pulled into a gas station. I have to get my car towed to a dealership due to it shutting off.

- Desoto, TX, USA

problem #131

Mar 022019

Altima

  • 87,899 miles
The transmission on my 2013 Altima failed at 87,899 while in motion on the highway. Cost to replace $3,802.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #130

Feb 032019

Altima

  • miles

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

Seat belt light stays on when there someone sitting in the seat and have the seat belt on....and the gearshift locks for no reason. For the seatbelt this will be my second time tacking it in for the same reason.

- Bowie, MD, USA

problem #129

Feb 272019

Altima

  • 160,000 miles
My clutch in stuck in "park". this has been dangerous for my family and I bc if we are stuck in traffic I would put my car in park, and when traffic starts moving again my car is now holding up traffic behind me bc my car is stuck in park. This car is only 6 years old and I've already had to get the transmission replaced. Nissan needs to know they can't sell cars that cause a danger to families!!!!!!!

- High Point, NC, USA

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problem #128

Feb 262019

Altima

  • 68,000 miles
Gear shift is unable to move. It will not move when breaks are pressed. Also, engine dies when car is put in reverse or drive. The engine will also die while driving, and when I go to turn it back on, it only dies when I try to switch the gears.

- Many, LA, USA

problem #127

Jan 032019

Altima

  • 60,000 miles

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

- replaced 3 alternators - less than 60K miles - now the transmission is failed and needing replaced - too many significant quality issues for a new car

- Hiawatha, IA, USA

problem #126

Jul 122018

Altima

  • 50,000 miles
My Altima is having a problem with the shift release. I have to use the shift lock release mechanism every time I need to move the shifter from park to drive.

- Farmington, NM, USA

problem #125

Dec 282018

Altima

  • 82,350 miles
When the vehicle is stationary, I am unable to change the gear out of park even though the brake is pressed. It takes several attempts before I can successfully change the gear out of park. This has been happening for almost a week.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #124

Dec 212018

Altima

  • 87,000 miles
Accelerating between 0 to 50mph, transmission shudder occurs. It might not be a problem now, but according to many mechanics and dealers, the transmission could fail any time, days or years. Driving with such uncertainty is very dangerous. What if the transmission fails while I am driving. There are many of the same problem with this model.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #123

Dec 172018

Altima

  • miles

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

Yesterday while I was driving on the road, my right side back view mirror blew up with a huge bang. And the whole thing was in million pieces fly away. On the plastic it has black marks inside, looks like it burned inside and then it blasted

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #122

Dec 122018

Altima

  • 86,240 miles
While driving on the highway at about 67 mph my entire car swerved to the left side. I felt like my steering wheel was loose and the wheel alignment was suddenly off. I did have to have the car towed from work. The final diagnosis is my left rear control arm split in half and my right rear control arm is cracked in the same spot. This is a significant safety issue as it could of caused a major accident if there was a car to the left of mine during this incidence. Nissan reports $1192.05 to replace both rear control arms. I am in the process of attempting to get reimbursement from Nissan because the local Nissan dealership states that they stock the parts for the repair because they have had a a few of them lately. My case # with Nissan is 33841223

- Endicott, NY, USA

problem #121

Dec 052018

Altima

  • miles
After purchasing this vehicle brand new, first owner in September 2013, 4 months later the left fog light went out did not think anything of it. Two months later the right head light went out. Thought it was weird but did not stress myself about it. A year later the right rear light only works when you tap it. Now I am driving all the lights are out from the car. No brake lights no park lights no lights. Took my vehicle to tire kingdom to change bulbs only to find out the new bulbs are not working either and the vehicle has a N electrical problem. Never did understand why drivers behind me would honk their horns at me or be flashing me with their high beam lights. Nissan needs to fix this issue as well as their air conditioning problem. The vehicle only gets cool when the vehicle is in motion. You cannot have the A/C on when being stationary the A/C only produces heat during that time.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #120

Nov 012018

Altima

  • 78,000 miles
First issue: Went to open inside driver door and heard something snap. Now the door handle just flops back and forth without opening the door. Second issue: I put my foot on the break and tried to move the gear shifter from park to reverse. The button that you would press to shift wouldn't move. Now my car is stuck in park. Both of these issues happened with the car stopped. My only issues is someone with the same car and same year has had both issues happen the them as well. The only difference between our car is mine has 78,000 miles and hers has 56000 miles.

- Miamisburg, OH, USA

problem #119

Jun 012015

Altima

  • miles
In 2015 the A/C compressor when out and was covered under warranty, then 21/2 years later the compressor went out again and Nissan refused to repair. Two compressors in 5 years and they didn't think this was a issue. I end up paying 1200 dollars to replace after 2/12 years.

- Spring Branch, TX, USA

problem #118

Oct 092018

Altima

  • miles
The battery seems to drain quickly for no reason even I had a new battery installed.I had to jump start my car very often.this has been happening for the past 4 years.I have owned this car for 6 years now.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #117

Oct 052018

Altima

  • 128,000 miles
"takata recall" my gear shifter remains in a stuck position. The car was stationary on a city street. I was unable to shift from park to another gear. This is a major safety issue as I have gotten stuck with my toddler in the car and was unable to move to a safer location. It took me at least 15 minutes to get the car to shift from park into gear. I was terrified! I had to leave the car in its location and take a lyft home with my daughter. The next day my local mechanic came to check the car. He said that this is a common issue for 2013 Nissan Altima. He said he would have to take the car to his shop to investigate what might be causing this failure or I should call up Nissan because they should be aware of this safety issue.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #116

Sep 272018

Altima

  • 100,000 miles
Both my driver interior door handle and passenger interior door handle within weeks of each other fail to open doors. After looking online this is a common problem with the Altima and due to a cheap plastic part that breaks which holds steel wire to engage handle mechanism. This is a danger and can cause life threatening problems because the only way to get out is to crawl to back doors or use power windows to lower windows and reach arm outside window and open via ecterior handle. If there was a fire or crash or end up in water there would be little chance to excape if power went out of injury. This should be a recall, I was quoted $185 dollars per door handle for a the fault of Nissan quality parts.

- Romeoville, IL, USA

problem #115

Sep 272018

Altima

  • 78,000 miles
Around 7 months ago my car was jerking and stops in the middle of a highway, it was tow to the dealer and they just "reset the car". today happened again, the car start but stops when changing the gear to drive or reverse mode same situation as the last time.

- Sachse, TX, USA

problem #114

Sep 262018

Altima

  • 53,000 miles
My car has 53,000 miles on it and being a single mom of 3 I can't afford to put new transmission in it. I still have payments on the car. Does this car have a cvt warranty?

- Plant City, FL, USA

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