YearToAvoid

2013 Nissan Armada Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#11 most-complained of 16 Armada years

The 2013 Nissan Armada has 17 NHTSA complaints, 2 recalls, and a complaint index of 33, ranking 11th out of 16 model years — a Good year relative to other Armada years. Brakes account for 47% of complaints.

Complaints
17
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14.5
12.5 city / 18.5 hwy

Top 2013 Nissan Armada problems

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

  1. Brakes8 (47%)
  2. Airbags3 (18%)
  3. Electrical System3 (18%)
  4. Seat Belts2 (12%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (12%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain2 (12%)
  7. Engine1 (6%)
  8. Fuel System1 (6%)
  9. Other1 (6%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal going to the floor with little or no stopping power, in one case causing a rear-end crash.
  • Some drivers describe intermittent brake failure where the pedal must be released and pressed again to get the vehicle to stop.
  • One owner reported the frontal driver's air bag failed to deploy fully during a low-speed rear-end crash, with a minor wrist injury.
  • A transmission coolant line reportedly failed during mild acceleration, spraying fluid in the engine bay and causing drive belts to slip.
  • One owner reported the vehicle began rolling after being parked, despite believing it was in park.
  • A seat belt bolt was reported loose and not properly anchored in a rental vehicle carrying four adults.
2013 Nissan Armada complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2013Dec 2013Aug 2014Jun 2018Jul 2019May 2020Dec 2024Jun 2025
24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2013 to Jun 2025; peak Sep 2013 (3).

2013 Nissan Armada recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V188000Mar 30, 2020Airbags216,678 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012-2017 NV Cargo and NV Passenger Van, 2013-2015 Titan and Armada and 2011-2012 Infiniti QX56 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the air bag inflator may not function properly or may rupture during deployment.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

  2. NHTSA 13V451000Sep 18, 2013Brakes3,247 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Titan and Armada vehicles manufactured February 22, 2013, through May 3, 2013. The affected vehicles have a brake master cylinder which may intermittently reduce the pressure supplied to the front brakes.

    Risk: If the front brake pressure is reduced there would be less braking power, requiring a longer distance to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan has notified owners, and dealers will replace the master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2013 Nissan Armada fuel economy and fuel cost

City
12.5 MPG
Highway
18.5 MPG
Combined
14.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,475
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 Armada 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
2011Caution6040114.5
2012Good2717114.5
2013Good3317214.5
2014Best712114.5
2015Good4721314.5

All Nissan Armada years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Nissan Armada reliable?
Relative to other Armada model years, the 2013 is rated Good, with 17 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 33, ranking 11th out of 16 years tracked.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Armada?
Brakes are the top complaint area, making up 47% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 50,000. Airbags, electrical system, and seat belts follow with smaller shares.
Does the 2013 Nissan Armada have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists two recalls: one for a brake master cylinder that may intermittently lose fluid, and one for a front driver air bag inflator that may not function correctly.
How does the 2013 Armada compare to other years?
The 2013 model (complaint index 33) is far better than the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Armadas, which are rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 93, 80, and 87 respectively.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Nissan Armada?
The EPA rates the 2013 Armada at 14.5 mpg combined (12.5 city / 18.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,475.

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.