2013 Nissan Altima Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Nissan Altima. Part of Generation 5 — 2013–2018.

20122014
Complaints
2,975
per 10K Sold
92.8
US Sales
320,723
Crashes
104
Fires
19
Injuries
92
Fatalities
2
Recalls
12

Worst 2013 Nissan Altima Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1512 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:34,717 mi
Crash-related:29
#2498 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:67,078 mi
Crash-related:8
Fires:1
#3417 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:85,992 mi
Crash-related:9
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Nissan Altima.

Airbags
512
complaints
Crashes
29
Fires
Avg Miles
34,717
Transmission / Drivetrain
498
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Avg Miles
67,078
Headlight/Taillight Failures
417
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
Avg Miles
85,992
Suspension Failures
277
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
109,320
Engine Problems
157
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
5
Avg Miles
64,840
Electrical Faults
154
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
4
Avg Miles
46,779
Body Structure
104
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
1
Avg Miles
55,582
Steering Defects
94
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
46,237
Brakes
54
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
58,892
Wipers & Visibility
52
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
49,309
Unintended Acceleration
47
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
55,895
Fuel System
44
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
54,093
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
36
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
63,056
Seat-Related Issues
36
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
18,362
Wheel Issues
35
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
99,243
Electronic Stability Control
31
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
64,484
Seat Belt Issues
28
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
30,381
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
90,093
Latches / Locks
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
64,527
Structure:Body:Hood
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
38,026
Structure:Body:Door
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
69,690
Structural Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
47,900
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
3,054
Suspension:Rear
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
114,060
Automatic Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,500
Gasoline Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
5,078
Visibility:Windshield
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
7,178
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Nissan Altima

12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~8,078,076 vehicles.

20V315000Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
~1,831,818 affected

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.

16V911000Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
~757 affected

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.

16V244000Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
~3,296,947 affected

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.

16V029000Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
~846,000 affected

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.

15V681000Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification · Air Bags:frontal
~919 affected

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.

15V486000Gasoline Fuel System
~46,846 affected

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.

15V116000Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
~625,400 affected

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.

14V565000Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
~220,423 affected

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.

14V138000Electrical System:software · Air Bags:frontal
~989,701 affected

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.

13V158000Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire
~123,308 affected

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.

+ 2 more recalls

Other Nissan Altima Years

2013 Nissan Altima — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Nissan Altima reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2013 Nissan Altima has 2,975 NHTSA complaints, 104 crash-related, and 12 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 512 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Nissan Altima?
Top reported problems: Airbags (512 complaints, avg 34,717 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (498 complaints, avg 67,078 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (417 complaints, avg 85,992 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 63,891 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Nissan Altima include 104 crash-related reports, 19 fire reports, 92 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes — 12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,078,076 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Nissan Altima?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2013 Nissan Altima shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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