KnownCarProblems2013 Nissan Altima Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 2,313 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Altima, most often about the air bags (22% of complaints, typically around 14,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Altima model year since 2000 and has 12 recalls.
Most common 2013 Nissan Altima problems
Air bags
514 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: air bag/restraint control module.
In approximately march 2013, the passenger air bag "off" light began coming on while driving our 2013 Nissan Altima. At first, the light would come for a minute or two and then go off. As time progressed, the occurrences became more frequent and longer in duration. On may 31, 2013, the car was taken to the Nissan…
Passenger air bag indicator light indicates that airbag remains off while passenger is in the seat. Nissan dealer tech claims that this is not a problem; just the way the system works. He wouldn't even look at it.
Transmission
505 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
I was driving my car on the highway when it started to shutter. It was first happening on inclines then all the time. It eventually just slowed down and I had to quickly exit to avoid getting stuck in the middle of the highway. I have brought the shuttering/jerking issue to the dealer previously and was told that no…
I was driving on the expressway doing about 40mph and then all of a sudden the care seemed as though it had problems shifting out. Then when I stop the car hesitated to take off and then when it did take off it jerk and the took off. When I got home I turned off the car and started it back up it drove fine, but later…
Lights
442 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
1) the low beam headlights are entirely inadequate to provide sufficient lighting intensity and distance. The lights barely illuminate about 2 car lengths ahead, which is too short a distance at speeds above 25-30mph, making highway travel at night very dangerous. Objects in the path of travel and on the side of the…
We haven't driven the car in like 10 days and tried starting it and it wouldn't start. Got the car jump started and noticed that every time I turned the steering wheel the car bogged down the navigation system shuts off and the steering wheel becomes very difficult to turn. Also the same exact thing happens when I put…
Suspension
289 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front, subframe/mounting bracket.
While driving yesterday the vehical became difficult to steer and shook vigorously at 35 MPH . Stopped to inspect and found the right rear lower control arm broken.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. While driving at an unknown speed, the rear passenger side wheel became jammed in the wheel well and almost detached from the vehicle. The contact immediately had to pull the vehicle over to the shoulder. The vehicle was towed to treiber Nissan (320 n comrie ave, johnstown, ny…
Other or unspecified
240 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles.
While driving the vehicle on 12/17/15 on an on ramp to a highway, the secondary latch (recall previously at dealership to be repaired 7/2015) failed causing the hood to fly up. Filed complaint with Nissan who told US to take it to a dealership. We took it to a dealership in which they verified the secondary latch was…
I was driving on highway at about 60mph on rt 95 in maryland and my sunroof exploded and glass fell all around me. The glass that was left was raised up, suggesting that the cause of the shatter was from something other than an item falling onto the sunroof from the outside.
Engine
166 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Car randomly shuts off in stop and go traffic after driving over 20 miles. Car has been towed to local dealership twice, however, the dealer is unable to duplicate. Car shakes, shudders, cuts off. Car will restart but gas has to pressed excessively hard for engine to turn over, car continue to jerk while restarting.…
The contact owned a 2013 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 30 MPH, an abnormal odor emitted from the vehicle and smoke came from the hood. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred after the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be serviced for an oil change. The fire department extinguished…
Electrical
159 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery, wiring.
Purchased car may of 2013, pre-owned certified and only 21000miles. From onset of ownership, brakes made noises, "cyclop brake light in rear window would blink constantly, dash lights would go from dim to bright all the time. The car would hesitate when leaving stop position, pushing electronic start button would not…
Dashboard cluster went out while driving. Lost speedometer, odometer and all other gauges etc. Car only had 42,000 miles on it. I turned my car on and started driving out of a parking lot when it went out. I pulled over, restarted my car and still nothing. Had to exit car to see if lights/blinkers were working and…
Body and structure
134 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Driving to work , going about 45 MPH. With no warning the hood just flew up to the windshield. I was able to stop promptly, and did not have an accident. My hood was not popped open, and it was not just the safety latch holding it, it just popped open. I was so lucky not to have been on a busy street, so no accident…
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the interior passenger side door handle detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16v029000 (latches/locks/ linkages). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Nissan Altima recalls
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. If the primary latch is inadvertently released again and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an ownerâs manual addendum card with instructions on how to lubricate and maintain the secondary hood latch mechanism, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed june 30, 2021. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: recall 16v-029 remains open for any unremedied 2013-2015 altimas and this recall applies to all vehicles covered by 16v-029 even if those repairs have already been performed.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 nissan altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ecu and update the ocs software free of charge. The recall began february 13, 2017. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 altima vehicles manufactured january 3, 2013, to july 29, 2013, 2015-2016 rogue vehicles manufactured october 14, 2014, to august 12, 2016, and 2016 maxima vehicles manufactured june 4, 2015, to august 19, 2015. An incorrect occupant classification system (ocs) electronic control unit (ecu) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ecu and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant.
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet city express owners will be notified by general motors. Dealers will reprogram the air bag control unit (acu) and ocs electronic control unit (ecu) in altima, maxima, murano, rogue, and sentra vehicles, and replace the ocs ecu in leaf, nv200, nv200 taxi, pathfinder, infiniti q50, jx35, and qx60 and chevrolet city express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on may 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, infiniti customer ser
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 nissan maxima, 2013-2016 nissan altima, nv200, leaf, sentra, and pathfinder, 2014-2016 nissan nv200 taxi, infiniti qx60, qx60 hybrid, and q50 hybrid, 2014-2017 nissan rogue and infiniti q50, 2015-2016 nissan murano, murano hybrid, and chevrolet city express, 2014-2015 nissan pathfinder hybrid, and 2013 infiniti jx35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger occupant classification system (ocs) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: These vehicles were previously included in recalls 14v-565 and 15v-116, however the previous remedy plan may not have been performed consistently to remove the safety risk. To correct this issue, nissan will re-notify all affected owners and dealers will replace the hood latch with a new one, free of charge. The recall began on february 17, 2016. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: this recall supersedes recalls 14v-565 and 15v-116.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 nissan altima vehicles manufactured march 6, 2012, to december 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: If the ocs does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the ocs software, free of charge. The recall began on november 30, 2015. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 altima and pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 nissan sentra vehicles, 2013 infiniti jx35 vehicles, 2014-2015 infiniti qx60 vehicles and 2014 infiniti qx60 hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (ocs) control unit during a repair. These ocs control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Fuel system: fuel system, gasoline
Risk: If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit. The recall began on september 28, 2015. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) notified the agency on july 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 nissan maxima vehicles manufactured february 10, 2015, to august 18, 2015. On october 14, 2015, nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a v6 engine manufactured march 30, 2012, to august 18, 2015 as well as the vehicles covered by the july 31, 2015 notification. In the affected vehicles, due to an improperly installed o-ring that may not have been seated correctly at the time of assembly, fuel may leak during a crash from the area where the fuel sending unit attaches to the fuel tank.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel. In addition, dealers will clean and lubricate the latch joint as needed. If significant corrosion is observed, the latch assembly will be replaced. This repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began march 31, 2015. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: this recall is an expansion of recall 14v-565.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 nissan altima vehicles manufactured march 1, 2013, to december 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel. In addition, dealers will clean and lubricate the latch joint as needed. If significant corrosion is observed, the latch assembly will be replaced. This repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on october 20, 2014. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 nissan altima vehicles manufactured march 6, 2012, to february 28, 2013. In the affected vehicles, interference between the hood inner panel and the secondary latch lever, in combination with debris and corrosion, may cause the secondary hood latch to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Electrical: software
Risk: If the ocs does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the ocs software, free of charge. The recall began on april 14, 2014. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 altima, leaf, pathfinder, and sentra, model year 2013 nv200 (aka taxi) and infiniti jx35 and model year 2014 infiniti q50 and qx60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (ocs) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Wheels and tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk: Tires that are significantly over- or under-inflated may fail without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and adjust the spare tire pressure, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on april 29, 2013. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america is recalling certain model year 2013 altima vehicles manufactured march 21, 2012, through march 26, 2013. The spare tires may have been significantly over- or under-inflated.
Air bags
Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ods sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on may 6, 2013. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 altima, leaf, pathfinder, sentra, and infiniti jx35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger occupant detection system (ods) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.
Suspension
Risk: The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during november 2012. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 altima vehicles manufactured from may 10, 2012, through july 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper specification.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Rear suspension control arm failure
Summary
On july 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened ea19002 to investigate instances of alleged rear lower control arm failures in 2013-2018 nissan altima and 2016-2018 nissan maxima vehicles. At the time the investigation was opened odi had 91 consumer complaints alleging rear lower control arm failures in the subject vehicles.odi was concerned about these complaints because many of them alleged an increased steering effort or loss of vehicle control.at the time these complaints were received, odi was also aware of a proactive service campaign addressing 2013 nissan altima in salt-belt states for a similar concern. Since opening the investigation, odi has confirmed, based on
Rear suspension control arm failure
Summary
Pe18-013 was opened on december 1, 2018, with 4 complaints to odi alleging incidents of the lower control arm fracturing at a connection point to the vehicle chassis due to corrosion. Odi has received an additional 87 complaints since the pe was opened. During pe18-013, nissan indicated model years 2013-2018 shared a common rear lower control arm design. Nissan provided complaint and warranty data regarding 48 incidents of the subject failure. The majority of the complaints are from vehicles registered in salt belt states. There have been no crashes, injuries, or fatalities confirmed as of this date. Nissan advised that it has conducted testing to assess safety risk. Nissan states that due t
Occupant classification system failure
Summary
In may 2016, nissan north america issued a safety recall (16v-244) to address the problem of improper classification of adult front seat passengers in approximately 3.3 million vehicles, including those in the scope of this investigation when it was opened (almost one million vehicles) and additional vehicles, as shown below.nissan models: certain model year 2013-2016 altima, 2013-2016 leaf, 2016-2017 maxima, 2015-016 murano and murano hybrid, 2013-2016 pathfinder, 2014-2015 pathfinder hybrid, 2014-2017 rogue, 2013-2016 sentra, 2013-2016 nv200, and 2014-2016 taxi.infiniti models: certain model year 2013 jx35, 2014-2017 q50, 2014-2016 q50 hybrid, and 2014-2016 qx60 and qx60 hybrid.chevrolet m
Occupant classification system failure
Summary
In april 2014, nissan north america launched safety recall 14v-138 to address problems with the occupant classification system (ocs) algorithm in the following vehicles: model year (my) 2013-2014 nissan altima, pathfinder, sentra and leaf; my 2013 infiniti jx35; my 2014 infiniti qx60 and q50; and my 2013 nissan nv 200/taxi vehicles.according to nissan, the ocs may misclassify adult front passenger occupants and turn off the passenger's frontal air bag for an adult occupant of sufficient weight.in march 2015, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened this recall query after the agency received approximately 124 complaints alleging problems with the ocs after the recall repairs and/or o
Questions about the 2013 Nissan Altima
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Altima?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (514 complaints, typically around 14,000 miles); transmission (505 complaints, typically around 69,000 miles); lights (442 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Altima have?
- 12 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 28, 2020 (doors and locks). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Nissan Altima?
- It is the most complained-about Altima model year since 2000, with 2,313 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.