YearToAvoid

2013 Nissan Cube Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#5 most-complained of 5 Cube years

The 2013 Nissan Cube has a complaint index of 0, the lowest among the 5 model years with data, and ranks 5th (best) among them. It has 3 complaints, 1 recall, and no do-not-drive recalls on file.

Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27.5
25.5 city / 29.5 hwy

Top 2013 Nissan Cube problems

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

  1. Airbags1 (33%)
  2. Engine1 (33%)
  3. Other1 (33%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the steering wheel seizing up while driving on ice, with traction and ABS warning lights coming on before a crash.
  • In one case airbags failed to deploy during a guardrail collision, despite the vehicle being destroyed.
  • A vehicle dynamic control (VDC) warning light and service engine soon light came on twice within a month, with the issue recurring around 8,000 and 9,500 miles.
  • Owners describe the engine losing power and the vehicle being unable to go beyond 30 mph when the warning lights appeared.
  • A dealer inspection was unable to identify the cause of the recurring engine power loss.
2013 Nissan Cube complaints: complaints filed per month1Oct 2014Feb 2015Sep 2015
3 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2014 to Sep 2015; peak Oct 2014 (1).

2013 Nissan Cube recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V418000Jul 1, 2015Electrical System14,595 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition:switch

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Sedan vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013, to January 29, 2014, 2013-2014 Cube vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 21, 2013, and 2013-2014 Juke vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 22, 2013. When exposed to hot temperatures, the affected vehicles have an engine start/stop button that may stick inside the button housing.

    Risk: If the engine start/stop button gets stuck in the housing, road vibrations may cause the engine to shut off unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the start/stop switch housing, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

2013 Nissan Cube fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25.5 MPG
Highway
29.5 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,350
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 Cube years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid7531027.5
2012Good2519027.5
2013No verdict03127.5
2014Caution507127.5

All Nissan Cube years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Nissan Cube reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2013 Cube has a complaint index of 0, the lowest of the 5 model years tracked, with only 3 complaints and 1 recall filed.
What problems does the 2013 Nissan Cube have?
The top reported problem area is airbags, followed by engine issues, each accounting for 33% of complaints. One complaint involved a crash where the airbags failed to deploy.
Does the 2013 Nissan Cube have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 15V418000) covers the electrical system, addressing the start/stop switch housing on vehicles manufactured between July 3, 2013 and October 21, 2013. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2013 Cube compare to other Cube years?
The 2013 Cube ranks 5th (best) among the 5 years with data, with a complaint index of 0 compared to 100 for the worst-ranked 2010 model.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Nissan Cube?
The 2013 Cube gets 27.5 mpg combined (25.5 city / 29.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,350.

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.