Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2013 Nissan Altima — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2020 to Dec 2019
The most reported issue is exterior lighting problems (387 complaints). 63 complaints involved crashes. 9 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (12)
NHTSA Campaign: 15V681000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V911000
Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V486000
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V138000
Component: 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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V244000
Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
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.
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 service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V029000
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V565000
Component: 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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V116000
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V069000
Component: 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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V158000
Component: 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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 12V494000
Component: 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.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V315000
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
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.
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 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.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 2301)
Air Bags →3 issues
Your car was hit on the driver's side in a crash, but the airbags didn't deploy even though no warning light appeared beforehand. The driver suffered injuries including a concussion and back and neck pain. The airbag system may need inspection to determine why it failed to activate during the collision.
Parts you may need:
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Your airbag warning light turned on when you started your car and stayed on. A dealer diagnosed the problem as a faulty wire in your airbag system. Without functioning airbags, your car won't protect you properly in a crash, which is a serious safety issue. The fix will involve replacing the damaged airbag wiring harness.
Parts you may need:
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Your passenger airbag warning light has turned on unexpectedly, even though you don't drive the car frequently. This could indicate a problem with the airbag system that needs diagnosis. A mechanic will need to scan the airbag system for fault codes to identify what's triggering the warning.
Parts you may need:
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Suspension →3 issues
Your right rear lower control arm corroded and failed while driving, causing your rear wheel to lose proper alignment and making your vehicle difficult to control. This is a serious safety issue that could have caused a crash, especially at highway speeds. The repair will likely involve replacing the corroded control arm and having the rear suspension realigned.
Parts you may need:
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Both of your rear lower control arms have rusted through and cracked, making your car unsafe to drive. Although Nissan issued a service campaign (P9324) for this exact problem in salt-heavy states like New Hampshire where you live, your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in the recall. Your dealer has grounded your car until the arms are repaired. The fix will involve replacing both rear lower control arms.
Parts you may need:
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Your rear control arm broke while driving, causing your wheel to shake severely enough to trigger vertigo symptoms. The control arm appears to have eroded over time before snapping. You have a recall on the lower suspension link that should address this issue.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train →3 issues
Your 2013 Altima suddenly lost power and stalled while accelerating from a stop, even though you pressed the accelerator pedal. The engine shut down without any warning lights, and the vehicle had to be towed. Your dealer diagnosed a transmission problem that needs repair.
Parts you may need:
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Your gear shift gets stuck in Park and won't move, though it sometimes works normally. This problem happens frequently but not all the time. A mechanic will likely need to inspect the shift linkage, cable, or transmission selector mechanism to identify what's causing the sticking.
Parts you may need:
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Your CVT transmission is slipping, running hot, and producing a burning smell—multiple mechanics believe it's factory defective. You've been flushing and servicing it every 30,000 miles per dealer recommendations, but the problem persists. You're concerned Nissan is aware of the issue but hasn't issued a recall. Addressing this will likely require transmission fluid flushes, filter replacements, or potentially a transmission rebuild or replacement if the defect is severe.
Parts you may need:
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Exterior Lighting →2 issues
Your Altima's low-beam headlights have become extremely dim and don't provide enough light to safely see the road at night, making it difficult to spot lane markings, pedestrians, and obstacles. A Nissan dealership confirmed the problem but refused to repair it under a safety recall because you missed the March 2022 deadline, even though you only learned about the recall in March 2023. The headlights gradually dimmed over time with no warning lights to alert you beforehand. The fix will likely involve replacing the headlight bulbs, checking the electrical connections, or replacing the entire headlight assembly.
Parts you may need:
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Your car's exterior lights are extremely dim, making it difficult to see the road at night. You've had to pull over to confirm the lights were actually on. This could be a safety concern when driving in low-light conditions. The issue may be addressed by replacing the headlight bulbs, checking the electrical connections, or having the lighting system inspected.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,vehicle Speed Control →1 issue
While accelerating from a stop, your engine revved up and the car accelerated on its own without you pressing the gas pedal. You applied the brakes, pulled into a parking lot, and the engine shut off completely with several warning lights appearing on your dashboard. The dealer diagnosed a faulty transmission that requires replacement.
Parts you may need:
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Structure,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your hood suddenly flew open while driving on the freeway at 60 mph, completely blocking your view and forcing you to pull over. You had to manually bend the fenders back to close the hood. Even though the hood latch was previously recalled and inspected by the dealer, it failed anyway, and the dealer claims Nissan won't cover repairs to the hood and fenders.
Parts you may need:
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Structure →1 issue
Your 2013 Nissan Altima has a defective hood latch that can corrode and fail, which is covered by a safety recall. When you took your car to a Nissan dealership for the recall repair, they refused to complete it because the hood release cable (which broke due to the faulty latch binding) prevents them from opening the hood. The dealership is demanding you pay for cable repairs before they'll perform the free recall fix. Nissan's customer service has sided with the dealership and won't authorize the recall repair at no cost. The fix would involve replacing the defective hood latch assembly and hood release cable, which should be covered under the safety recall at no charge to you.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System →1 issue
Your shifter is stuck in Park and won't move when you press the brake pedal normally. You have to manually press the shift release override button to get the car into gear. This is a safety concern since you can't shift out of Park reliably at traffic lights or in emergencies.
Parts you may need:
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Unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your rear suspension links have rusted out completely. A repair shop indicated you have significant rust damage throughout your vehicle that will require substantial work to fix. This appears to be a widespread rust problem affecting many Nissan vehicles. Repairs will likely involve replacing the corroded suspension components and treating other rusted areas on the vehicle.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,suspension,wheels →1 issue
While backing up, you heard a loud popping noise from the rear of your car, and you noticed the steering felt unstable while driving. You discovered the right rear control arm is broken. Fixing this will require replacing the broken control arm to restore proper suspension alignment and steering stability.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,air Bags,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your car hesitates and stalls after refueling, and the engine cuts out when driving between 45-60 mph on the freeway, requiring you to pull over and let it cool down. Your front tires are wearing unevenly, and the outer tie rod boots are torn. The airbag warning light has been on for over 2 years. These issues suggest problems with your fuel system, steering components, transmission cooling, and safety systems that need professional diagnosis and repair.
Parts you may need:
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Suspension,engine →1 issue
Your Nissan dealership confirmed that your front suspension needs to be replaced. You're hearing a loud noise when backing up or reversing, whether you're accelerating or not, which is caused by a defective transmission mount. The dealership discovered this issue while performing a recall service on your rear suspension.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,wheels →1 issue
Your tire pressure warning light is illuminated on your dashboard, but when you check the actual air pressure in your tires, they're all at the correct levels. This typically means the tire pressure monitoring sensor itself may be faulty or needs recalibration. A technician will likely need to diagnose which sensor is malfunctioning and either recalibrate or replace it.
Parts you may need:
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Related Vehicles
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