2013 Nissan ALTIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Nissan ALTIMA has 2976 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 37.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: intermittently, "passenger airbag off" warning light remains on even though passenger (130 lbs) is in the front passenger (cloth) seat. *tr. ⚠️ 15 fire reports filed.

15 fire reports 78 crash reports 59 injuries

2976

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

37.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

513 complaints

17%

• INTERMITTENTLY, "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER (130 LBS) IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER (CLOTH) SEAT. *TR
• THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT THAT WAS OVER 100 POUNDS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE IN THE SYSTEM. I HAD TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VE
• PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM - ONGOING SINCE NEW. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 29 crashes

“INTERMITTENTLY, "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER (130 LBS) IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER (CLOTH) SEAT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

505 complaints

17%

• THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP OR SHUDDERING GOING DOWN HILL, THROWING THE VEHICLE AND ME FORWARD. EVER BEEN ON A GOLF CART GOING DOWN A HILL WHERE THE GOVERNOR THROWS YOU FORWARD? MULTIPLY THAT BY ABOUT 5 AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GET. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE, TO THE POI
• THE VEHICLE SURGES AT AROUND 25MPH. IT CUTS OUT, SLOWS DOWN FOR A COUPLE SECONDS, THEN JERKS FORWARD. WHEN IT JERKS FORWARD, IT SLAM HARD LIKE IT IS DOING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IDLING AND WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IMMEDIATELLY AFTER THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO HAS NOT BEE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP OR SHUDDERING GOING DOWN HILL, THROWING THE VEHICLE AND ME FORWARD. EVER BEEN ON A GOLF CART GOING DOWN A HILL WHERE THE GOVERNOR THROWS YOU FORWARD? MULTIPLY THAT BY ABOUT 5 AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GET. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE, TO THE POI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

442 complaints

15%

• BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON RIGHT AFTER TAKING IT OUT OF THE SERVICE CENTER OF NISSAN DEALER BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO FLOOR. *TR
• I SPOKE TO 5 TOWN NISSAN WHO DID A SO CALLED THOROUGH CHECK ON MY CAR STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT BUT THE BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON. HOW CAN EVERYTHING BE PERFECT WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT GOING ON. ALL I SEE IS THAT THESE DEALERS SAY ITS GOOD AND CARS ARE IN PERFECT WORKING CONDITION WHEN THEY ARE N
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHTS BECAME ABNORMALLY DIM. THE FAILURE AFFECTED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 9 crashes

“BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON RIGHT AFTER TAKING IT OUT OF THE SERVICE CENTER OF NISSAN DEALER BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO FLOOR. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

291 complaints

10%

• ON AUG. 10TH WE RECD AN EMAIL FROM THE EMPIRE NISSAN FLEET MNGR [XXX]. HE STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR BACK AND WOULD PAY OUR FIRST MTH PYMT AND GIVE US A REPLACEMENT CAR OF LIKE KIND AND QUALITY. THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHY THE VEH NEEDED TO BE RETURNED. WE NOTIFIED CORP NISSAN CONSUMER A
• SINCE NEW THIS CAR HAS HAD A SERIOUS HANDLING ISSUE. IT DID ARRIVE NEW WITH DEFECTIVE TIRES. NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED, PROBLEM CAUSED BY TIRES WAS KNOW GONE. HOWEVER, THE CAR STILL HANDLED VERY POORLY AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH. THE HANDLING IS SO BAD THAT I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. HANDLI
• THIS VEHICLE WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING IN BREEZY CONDITIONS, EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO WIND AT ALL. THE EFFECT IS AMPLIFIED ON CONCRETE HIGHWAYS WITH LIGHT DRAINAGE GROOVES. WHEN THE ROAD IS WET, IT FEELS VERY UNSTABLE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“ON AUG. 10TH WE RECD AN EMAIL FROM THE EMPIRE NISSAN FLEET MNGR [XXX]. HE STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR BACK AND WOULD PAY OUR FIRST MTH PYMT AND GIVE US A REPLACEMENT CAR OF LIKE KIND AND QUALITY. THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHY THE VEH NEEDED TO BE RETURNED. WE NOTIFIED CORP NISSAN CONSUMER A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

250 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING ON I-5 HEADING NORTH FROM OCEANSIDE, CA WHEN THE MOON ROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECT WHATSOEVER. THERE WAS FIRST A LOUD BANG, LIKE THE SOUND OF A GUN BEING FIRED AT CLOSE RANGE AND THEN THE GLASS OF THE MOON ROOF FELL ON ME AND INTO THE AUOTMOBILE CAB
• MALFUNCTION AGAIN BSW/ LDW AND SLIPP INDICATOR. *TR
• 2.5SL DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WENT OUT BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER CHECK IT OUT TELLS ME THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE RADIO I SAID FINE CAME IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE LESS THEN A WEEK AND THEY CHANGED THEY MIND IT NEEDS REPROGRAMMING HOW MANY THINGS MUST GO WRONG BEFORE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 8 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING ON I-5 HEADING NORTH FROM OCEANSIDE, CA WHEN THE MOON ROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECT WHATSOEVER. THERE WAS FIRST A LOUD BANG, LIKE THE SOUND OF A GUN BEING FIRED AT CLOSE RANGE AND THEN THE GLASS OF THE MOON ROOF FELL ON ME AND INTO THE AUOTMOBILE CAB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2976 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: INTERMITTENTLY, "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER (130 LBS) IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER (CLOTH) SEAT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP OR SHUDDERING GOING DOWN HILL, THROWING THE VEHICLE AND ME FORWARD. EVER BEEN ON A GOLF CART GOING DOWN A HILL WHERE THE GOVERNOR THROWS YOU FORWARD? MULTIPLY THAT BY ABOUT 5 AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GET. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE, TO THE POI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON RIGHT AFTER TAKING IT OUT OF THE SERVICE CENTER OF NISSAN DEALER BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO FLOOR. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: ON AUG. 10TH WE RECD AN EMAIL FROM THE EMPIRE NISSAN FLEET MNGR [XXX]. HE STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR BACK AND WOULD PAY OUR FIRST MTH PYMT AND GIVE US A REPLACEMENT CAR OF LIKE KIND AND QUALITY. THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHY THE VEH NEEDED TO BE RETURNED. WE NOTIFIED CORP NISSAN CONSUMER A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)