One of the most complained-about sedans of its time
The 2013 Altima drew over 2,300 complaints: CVTs that jerk and fail, passenger air bags that switch off with an adult in the seat, and low beams that dim at night. Several recalls apply. Buy only with CVT records and every recall done.
Updated November 2026 · based on 2,315 owner complaints and 12 recalls
722 3.5x the Altima average
12 free to fix at a dealer
Every Altima year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known problems on the 2013 Altima
Top problems and what they cost
Passenger air bag turning off
The seat sensor can wrongly switch off the passenger air bag, shown by the air bag light. Several recalls cover it.
Fix: Free under recall.
Air bags
CVT jerking and failure
The CVT jerks from a stop, shudders or fails, often before 100,000 miles.
Fix: CVT replacement $3,500 to $5,000.
Transmission
Dim headlights
Low beams grow dim, making night driving hard.
Fix: Headlight assemblies $300 to $800 per side.
Exterior lighting
Recalls
If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated.
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.
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.
If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated.
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.
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...
Show all 12 recalls
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...
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...
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.
Tires that are significantly over- or under-inflated may fail without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Corrosion to the secondary latch may cause it to bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Complaints by part
Before you buy a 2013 Nissan Altima
- Confirm every air bag recall shows as repaired at nhtsa.gov/recalls.A recall is a safety fix the carmaker must do for free, even for later owners. Typing the 17-character VIN (on the dashboard and driver door) into nhtsa.gov/recalls shows any that were never done. Codes like 18V332 are recall numbers.The 2013 Altima has 12 recalls on record, listed below.
- Check the passenger air bag light is off with an adult in the seat.A seat sensor decides whether the passenger air bag should fire. If the "off" light shows with an adult sitting there, the air bag may not deploy in a crash.514 of the 2,315 owner complaints about the 2013 Altima involve the air bags (22%).
- Accelerate from a stop several times and feel for jerks.A test drive of at least 20 minutes, including a cold start, traffic and highway, gives known faults time to show up.
- Check the headlights at dusk.Lights fail on some of these cars because of failing LED boards, connectors or water in the housing. Brake and tail lights matter most, so use a helper to check them.442 of the 2,315 owner complaints about the 2013 Altima involve the lights (19%).
Questions
Is the 2013 Nissan Altima reliable?
One of the most complained-about sedans of its time. The 2013 Altima drew over 2,300 complaints: CVTs that jerk and fail, passenger air bags that switch off with an adult in the seat, and low beams that dim at night. Several recalls apply. Buy only with CVT records and every recall done.
How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Altima have?
12 recalls. Recall repairs are free at any Nissan dealer, even for later owners. Enter the VIN on the free government recall lookup to see which are still open on a specific car.
What are the most common 2013 Nissan Altima problems?
Passenger air bag turning off; CVT jerking and failure; Dim headlights.
Crash rating shown for the 2013 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD. Repair costs are typical U.S. ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. How we score.