YearToAvoid

2013 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 16 Altima years

The 2013 Nissan Altima has a Complaint Index of 100, the worst of all 16 model years tracked, and ranks #1 for reported problems. It carries 12 recalls, 2,312 complaints, and a top problem area of Electrical System (590 complaints, 26% share).

Complaints
2,312
Recalls
12
Crashes / fires
63 / 9
Injuries / deaths
48 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 31 hwy

Top 2013 Nissan Altima problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System590 (26%)
  2. Airbags514 (22%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain505 (22%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires305 (13%)
  5. Other248 (11%)
  6. Structure & Body229 (10%)
  7. Engine206 (9%)
  8. Steering94 (4%)
  9. Brakes87 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers60 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy in low-speed crashes, sometimes with the occupant classification system (OCS) warning light staying on before impact.
  • Headlights and other electrical components dim or fail, with one owner reporting low-beam illumination so weak that fog lights worked better.
  • Engine compartments emit white smoke, burning odor, or catch fire, in some cases right after routine maintenance like an oil change.
  • Steering can seize suddenly at low speed, causing the vehicle to drift and lose control.
  • Transmission issues include reports of vehicles rolling backward while parked after the transmission was flagged as needing repair.
  • Brake pedal has been reported to go to the floor in a parking lot, resulting in a later collision with a parked car.
2013 Nissan Altima complaints: complaints filed per quarter1552012 Q32014 Q32016 Q32018 Q32020 Q32022 Q32024 Q32026 Q3
2922 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q4 (155).

2013 Nissan Altima recalls

12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V315000May 28, 2020Structure & Body1,831,818 vehicles

    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.

    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 Owner’s 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.

  2. NHTSA 16V911000Dec 19, 2016Airbags757 vehicles

    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.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 16V244000Apr 26, 2016Airbags3,296,947 vehicles

    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.

    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.

See all 12 recalls for the 2013 Nissan Altima →

2013 Nissan Altima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Altima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Good40241126
2012Caution67426424.5
2013Avoid1002,3121226
2014Avoid931,114828
2015Avoid879531028.5

All Nissan Altima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Nissan Altima reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2013 Altima has a Complaint Index of 100, the highest of all 16 model years tracked, and it ranks #1 (worst) in reported problems, so it is rated Avoid relative to other Altima years.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Altima?
Electrical System complaints are the largest category at 590 (26% share), followed by Airbags at 514 (22%) and Transmission & Powertrain at 505 (22%).
Does the 2013 Nissan Altima have airbag recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag-related recalls covering the 2013 Altima, including campaigns 16V911000, 16V244000, and 15V681000, tied to OCS/ECU software and sensor issues.
How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2013 Nissan Altima, covering areas including Structure & Body (hood latch), Airbags, and Fuel System.
What is the median mileage for reported failures on the 2013 Altima?
Across all complaints, the median mileage at failure is 65,000 miles, though this varies by system, with Suspension issues reported around 100,000 miles and Airbag issues around 14,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.