2013 Nissan Altima: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2013 Nissan Altima? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 2,302 complaints, with Airbag Malfunctions as the top reported area.
2013 Nissan Altima Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 3 2013 Nissan Altima trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 3 trims analysed.
2013 Nissan Altima Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Program2 variants tested — showing 2013 Nissan Altima 4 DR FWDOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
10.3% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
10.3% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2013 Nissan Altima has 2,302 owner complaints, 63 crash-related complaints, and 12 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Airbag Malfunctions. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Altima
- Model year
- 2013
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 2,302
- Crash-related complaints
- 63
- Safety recall campaigns
- 12
- Top reported component
- Airbag Malfunctions
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 26
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 23 / 31
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2013 Nissan Altima Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Airbag Malfunctions
Transmission / Drivetrain
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Complaint patterns center on Airbag Malfunctions, Transmission / Drivetrain, Headlight/Taillight Failures. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2013 Nissan Altima?
The 2013 Nissan Altima shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2013 Nissan Altima
Inspection Focus
- Check for open recalls related to airbag malfunctions at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission and drivetrain repairs.
- Inspect headlight and taillight functionality before purchase.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle's suspension and electrical systems.
Before You Close the Deal
- Check for open recalls related to airbag malfunctions at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission and drivetrain repairs.
- Inspect headlight and taillight functionality before purchase.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle's suspension and electrical systems.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2013 Nissan Altima, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Based on NHTSA data for the 2013 Nissan Altima, complaints are concentrated in airbag malfunctions, transmission/drivetrain issues, and headlight/taillight failures. Crash-related complaints are relatively few compared to total complaints. The confidence level is low, so these patterns should be interpreted cautiously.
- Airbag malfunctions are the most reported component with 513 complaints.
- Transmission/drivetrain issues are nearly as frequent with 505 complaints.
- Headlight/taillight failures account for 439 complaints.
- Airbag Malfunctions
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Headlight/Taillight Failures
All 2013 Nissan Altima Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Nissan Altima. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 513 | 29 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 505 | 8 | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 439 | 9 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 288 | 2 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 240 | 7 | 2 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 165 | 3 | 5 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 158 | 8 | 4 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 133 | 10 | 2 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 94 | 4 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 60 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 58 | 5 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 52 | 2 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 47 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 44 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 37 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 35 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 31 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 29 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 7 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
The car feels unbalanced and shifting is bad
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop sign, the vehicle accelerated to approximately 15 MPH and then unexpectedly decelerated. The contact attempted to depress the accelerator; however, the vehicle lost automotiv…
The vehicle is a Nissan Altima experiencing a low-beam headlight failure. The headlights have become extremely dim and no longer provide adequate illumination of the roadway at night. Visibility is severely reduced, making it difficult to see lane markings, pedestrians, and obsta…
The contact's brother owned a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her brother was driving at an undisclosed speed from a stop sign, another vehicle in the left lane crashed into the contact's brother's front driver's side. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lig…
Right side rear lower control arm failed while driving due to excessive corrosion. I nearly lost control of the vehicle as the right rear wheel is no longer properly aligned. If this had happened on the highway it could have killed us. Dealer service dept, Nissan service campaig…
Passenger airbag light on. I don’t even drive the car much. Out of no where it turned in.
My 2013 Nissan Altima SV is subject to NHTSA safety recall 16V-244 for a defective hood latch that can corrode, bind, or fail. I brought my vehicle to a Nissan dealership to have the recall performed. The dealership refused to complete the recall repair and attempted to charge m…
Tire Pressure light is on but no issues with air pressure.
Shifter Lock does not release when brake is pressed. Unable to shift out of Park. Need to manually press the shift relesae override to shift.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the RPM became elevated, and the vehicle started accelerating unintendedly. The contact immediately depressed the brake pedal and entered a parking lot where the vehicle los…
Rear suspension links rusted out. Repair place says there is a lot of rust issues that will take a lot of work to fix. Excessive rust seems to be issues with Nissan.
The exterior lighting is extremely dim. It is an issue driving at night. I’ve had to pull over to make sure the lights were actually on. Please, please issue a recall to help prevent possible fatal crashes. I see that there are numerous complaints regarding this issue and it s…
Heard a loud pop noise from the rear of the car while backing up, steering was unstable while driving. Looked under the car and discover the right rear control arm is broken.
Fuel System: Car hesitates and cut off after pumping fuel.\n' + 'Outer Tie rods torn rubber, vehicle never been realigned, but tires were worn on both front sides. \n' + 'Takata Air bag light has been on for over 2 years.\n' + 'Transmission over heats. Engine cu…
Both of my rear lower control arms on my 2013 Nissan ALTIMA sedan have rusted thru and cracked. It has been reported on Nissan Service Campaign P9324, dated October 25, 2019. Unfortunately, I have been told my VIN is not included in the P9324 campaign. But both of my lower contro…
The hood flew open upon entering the freeway. Could not see anymore going 60 mph. Had to pull over and bend the fenders back to close the hood. Afraid this will happen again. The latch was recalled before this happened and the dealer sprayed it and said it was safe to drive which…
Front end suspension need replacing confirmed by Nissan Dealership when rear suspension recall was done. Loud noise when in reverse or backing out with or without acceleration, transmission mount defect.
Shift sticks in Park position. Intermittent problem happening often.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with an air bag wiring failure. The contact was informed that the air b…
When I was driving on the road my rear control arm broke. I didn’t realize at first what was actually broken until I looked under the car later on and it looked like my control arm eroded over time and just snapped my wheel was shaking so bad my vertigo started. I do have a recal…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2013 Nissan Altima.
2013 Nissan Altima Recalls
12 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2013 Nissan Altima. 12 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2013 Nissan Altima Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2013 Nissan Altima reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 2,302 owner complaints, 63 crash-related complaints, and 12 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2013 Nissan Altima shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Altima?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (513 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (505 complaints). #3: Headlight/Taillight Failures (439 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Nissan Altima?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2013 Nissan Altima?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2013 Nissan Altima, NHTSA complaints include 63 crash-related reports and 9 fire reports out of 2,302 total complaints. 48 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2013 Nissan Altima have any recalls?▾
Yes. 12 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2013 Nissan Altima. A major recall area is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. 12 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2013 Nissan Altima?▾
The 2013 Nissan Altima shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Airbag Malfunctions during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2013 Nissan Altima based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.