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#BS-2013-NISALT-73F42013 Nissan AltimaProblems, Recalls & Reliability
Based on reports from 2,987 owners and 12 recalls for this exact model.
Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 2,987 complaints, 104 crashes, 19 fires, and 12 recalls. Complaint rate is 8.3x the class average. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.
Top reported problems
cvt shuttering vibration hesitation running roughly
180 complaints • Severity 8.4/10
dim low beams
93 complaints • Severity 9.1/10
transmission stopped working
73 complaints • Severity 9.3/10
windshield cracked
56 complaints • Severity 6.6/10
gear shift stuck in park
36 complaints • Severity 7.7/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
513 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 63K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (642 reports) • Median: 63K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Airbags (513 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2013 Nissan Altima: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Airbags Issues
Airbags complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 2013 Nissan Altima, with 513 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 63,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 63K-mile mark.
Drivetrain Issues
Drivetrain complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 2013 Nissan Altima, with 499 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Lights Issues
Lights complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2013 Nissan Altima, with 419 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Suspension Issues
Suspension complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2013 Nissan Altima, with 278 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2013 Nissan Altima. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (12 recalls)
STEERING
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.
AIR BAGS
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.
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
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.
+ 7 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
2013 Nissan Altima NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall
★★★★★5 of 5 stars
Frontal crash
★★★★★5 of 5 stars
Side crash
★★★★★5 of 5 stars
Rollover
★★★★★4 of 5 stars
From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.
NHTSA Defect Investigations (5)
1 investigation still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.
Occupant Classification System Failure
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
SUSPENSION:REAR
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Rear Suspension Control Arm Failure
SUSPENSION:REAR
Occupant Classification System Failure
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
This is the worst model year for the Nissan Altima according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is engine.
2013 Nissan Altima vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)
This vehicle
2,987
Class avg
358
8.3x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 2,987 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 12 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.
Other Nissan Altima Model Years
2013 Nissan Altima: Frequently Asked Questions
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 2,987 owner reports. Know before you buy.