2013 Nissan Altima Problems and Recalls (2,306 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2013 Nissan Altima is Transmission / driveline (19% of 2,306 owner reports). There are 12 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 2,306 complaints · 12 recalls
What problems show up on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
431 of 2,306 filings named Transmission / driveline (19% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Lights (429 reports).
There are 12 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Tires and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2012 has 422 reports on file; this year has 2,306. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Transmission / driveline 431 complaints · 18.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 63
- Fires 9
- Injuries 48
- Deaths 1
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 431 | 18.7% | 7 crashes · 0 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 429 | 18.6% | 9 crashes · 0 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 387 | 16.8% | 19 crashes · 0 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 248 | 10.8% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 90 | 3.9% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Engine (ENGINE) | 88 | 3.8% | 0 crashes · 5 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 82 | 3.6% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 51 | 2.2% | 3 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 40 | 1.7% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 470 | 20.4% | 14 crashes · 3 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 14V138000 was reported 551 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 14V565000 was reported 666 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 15V116000 was reported 831 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 15V681000 was reported 1,125 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V029000 was reported 1,160 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V244000 was reported 1,314 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V911000 was reported 1,551 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V315000 was reported 2,748 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-Q3 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2012-Q4 | Owner reports | 17 | |
| 2013-Q1 | Owner reports | 62 | |
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 64 | |
| 2013-Q3 | Owner reports | 45 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 30 | |
| 2014-Q1 | Owner reports | 38 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 57 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 36 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 45 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 57 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 46 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 63 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 51 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 50 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 35 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 57 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 40 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 58 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 62 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 92 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 114 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 117 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 122 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 130 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 68 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 39 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 64 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 66 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 58 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 46 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 27 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 12V494000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V069000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V158000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V138000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V565000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V116000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V486000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 15V681000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V029000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V244000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V911000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V315000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ15001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA15004 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE18013 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA19002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 |
Safety Recalls (12)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Tires and Airbags.
-
Recall campaign 12V494000
Safety recall 12V494000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 13V069000
Safety recall 13V069000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 13V158000
Tires
- Report date
- Component:
- Tires (TIRES)
- Consequence:
- Tires that are significantly over- or under-inflated may fail without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 14V138000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 14V565000
Safety recall 14V565000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 15V116000
Safety recall 15V116000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 15V486000
Safety recall 15V486000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 15V681000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 16V029000
Safety recall 16V029000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 16V244000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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 service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
-
Recall campaign 16V911000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 20V315000
Safety recall 20V315000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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 Owners 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.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Showing 10 of 2,306 complaints · page 1 of 93
CrashFireInjuryDeath
On XXX, at approximately 5:00 a.m., my son was driving my 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL (VIN [XXX]) to work at approximately 55 mph when the hood unexpectedly flew open while the vehicle was moving. The vehicle had approximately 156,000 miles. The hood came up into his field of vision and significantly obstructed his view of the roadway, creating a serious safety hazard. Fortunately, he was able to maintain control of the vehicle. The incident caused substantial damage. The hood is bent, the frame/roof area around the windshield is bent, the sunroof is broken, and the interior overhead console containing the sunroof controls and lights is damaged and hanging down. After the incident, I learned that Nissan previously issued safety recalls involving the secondary hood latch on 2013 Nissan Altimas because the hood could open while the vehicle was being driven. My VIN currently does not show an open hood-latch recall on the NHTSA website. I am concerned that this vehicle may have been included in a previous hood-latch recall or may have previously received a recall repair. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident and the recall history for this VIN and investigate whether this hood-latch failure is related to the previously identified Nissan Altima hood-latch defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the headlights were very dim, making it difficult to see while driving at night. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with deteriorating headlight assemblies, causing the low-beam headlights to fail to properly illuminate the roadway while driving at night. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Airbag and seat belt warning lights won't turn off one each on instrument cluster RED, and one ORANGEYELLOW center of dash next to hazard lights button
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Driver side rear lower control arm broke/rusted through. Was able to get the vehicle home prior to an catastrophic incident. See pictures attached. Warning light came on the dash at the time of the brake of the control arm.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the cruise control activated, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated. During the failure, there were no warning lights illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and the local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 281,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The headlight housings metallic coatings for reflectivity are failing and reduce the efficacy of the headlights. There has been a class action lawsuit against Nissan for this but many, like myself, were not notified. The headlights are very dim and create a safety hazzard when driving in an area where high beams can't be used. NTSHA really needs to do what is right here and force a recall.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Front passenger door lock actuator fails to unlock door when driver's, passengers or key fob to unlock is activated. All other doors (3) work as they should. This creates a safety issue as the door must manually be unlocked which during a panic situation may not be easily accomplished. I am in the process of having the mechanism inspected & repaired. Part failed with no notice. It may have failed earlier, but July '26 was the 1st I noticed.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rear left wheel busted off of car while driving. Flew up into the back end of car totaling the vehicle. We were very lucky no one was hurt.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact's friend owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated for an extended period. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanic shops, where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where the check engine warning light was no longer illuminated, and the failure could not be replicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Headlights are extremely dim almost always have to drive with my high beams on at night since the lights are so dark. Have tried replacing bulbs on my own but lights are still dim. No warning or anything were ever shown
Nissan Altima Complaints and Recalls by Year
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 431 of 2,306 reports (19%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2013 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA lists 12 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Tires and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2013 Nissan Altima?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.