CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2013 Nissan Altima has multiple problem trends including the CVT transmission, and now that this model is out of warranty, it earns our "Avoid Like The Plague" badge.
Fix Altima AC. It's Not The Compressor - Everyone is being told that to fix this common ac issue, that the compressor needs to be replaced for over 1200$. BUT its not the compressor itself but a 40$ valve that is plugged int the compressor. I made a video on it. Now my car blows colder ac than it did 100k miles ago!!!! Save yourselves the money!
My 2013 Nissan Altima SV started to blow hot/cold throughout the day and I thought that it may be just a simple freon charge needed. Upon bringing it into the dealership they quickly identified that the compressor would need to be replaced.
Thankfully, I still had 2,000 more miles before my warranty went out but I can't believe that there are so many other 2013 Altima drivers that are having the same issue!
One of the top Google Auto-Complete results for 2013 Nissan Altima was for the AC Compressor.
The service department at the dealership was quick to replace it but had it occurred another 2,000 miles later I would have been very upset.
Vehicle is only 3 years old and I have 51k miles on it. The a/c started to just blow cool and not cold. Took it to dealer and they tell me the compressor is bad and needs to be replaced. They also tell me it is going to cost $1169.00 to replace. Extremely pissed off and not happy with Nissan! I never had a problem with them until now and it seems a lot of other people are having the same problem. SOUNDS like something NISSAN should step up and fix and admit they put garbage compressors in their cars!
Oh and I could go on about the horrible service I experienced at Jenkins Nissan in Lakeland, FL but it has no bearing on the actual problem.
I live in the heat and humidity of Houston, Texas, so A/C is a requirement just to live. On my afternoon commute home in mid-June 2016, my 2013 Nissan Altima A/C began running hot in slow traffic, but getting cool again once my speed increased.
Took it to a shop today for a quick check-up...the compressor is shot. The quote to fix: $1,300-$1,400!
Did I mention I'm barely 2,000 miles over the manufacturer's warranty? How does an A/C compressor blow out at less than 40,000 miles?!?!
I've contacted Nissan and demanded they pay for the repair. They gave me a case number, and instructed me to get yet another diagnosis from a dealership, and then call back with what they say.
Here's hoping Nissan does good by me and covers the repair. If not, this will be my one and only Nissan purchase.
A car a/c compressor should not be failing at under 60K miles! They offered me $300 towards the issue, which is ridiculous and an insult. It should be fully covered.
This is the 3rd time that this car has had issues with the A/C. I've had the car for only 2.5 years and each summer, I have had to deal with an A/C issue.
Now that the car is out of warranty it just so happens that the compressor has failed, requiring a new A/C compressor. I have had cars three times the age of this car and have never had A/C problems, ever. It is my opinion that if a compressor fails this early then it has got to be as a result of a defective part. As a result I am faced with having to pay this out of pocket. $1200 is not pocket change to me and this is the most I've ever had to pay for car repairs.
I initiated a call to Nissan and there is a case open for this. I am hopeful that Nissan does the right thing and picks up the cost. If not then this will car will have cost me more in repairs than any car I've ever had.
Update from Jun 6, 2016: Nissan came back and basically said that they would only cover 50% of the part...not labor. To add to this, the dealership is tacking on an added $169 "inspection fee."
I used to really like this car but now the mere sight of it is a constant reminder of how much I feel like Nissan really stuck it to me. I would have been a returning customer but I have to be honest when I say that I truly hate Nissan and they have forever lost me as a customer. My goal at this point is to pay this car down as soon as possible so I can dump it and buy anything else.
Ok, this is my second Altima the last had the same A/C problem and they wanted to replace the compressor, evaporator core and other stuff for about $1800, I traded it in on this one and now I am having the same issue. The Air works only part time. I am sure it will soon go out totally but at least I bought the extended warranty so I need to get it to the dealer. Who has time to go to the dealer and sit around for 4 hours or so. So now Ill find out if the warranty is worth the paper it is printed on.
THE A/C STARTED SLOWLY GOING OUT IN THE SUMMER 2014, REALLY NOT NOTICABLE TILL THE BEGINNING OF THIS SUMMER. IT WOULD BLOW COLD THEN GET HOT. HAD FREON CHECK AND WAS OK. CALLED DEALER FIRST AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE A/C MECH SAID I NEED NEW COMPRESSOR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A PILE OF S---,(COW PIE) SINCE WE GOT IT.
Took car into dealership at 36k miles and AC wasn't working. It worked off and on. Was told it was fine, couldn't duplicate the problem. Fast forward 1 year and 30k + miles later at 68k miles and AC compressor is bad and must be replaced. This is crap.
Noticed when winter started the temp would not go down when I turned it to cooler setting. Brought it to dealer who said it was locked in "default" mode and I would have to leave it for a full day to diagnose. Brought it back this morning and now they claim it is working fine and they "reset" the computer in case it was just a glitch. This was happening for 3 month and I think it will happen again. I have gone to the dealer more with this car than any other car I have owned combined in 30 years.
I've had the car for less than a year. I also live in South Florida. That being said, with the summer time average temp being about 90, I use my AC every day. (Also the way cars are designed now, the AC is meant to be used) I go to work on Friday morning, no problem. When I get in the car at 3:30pm (hottest part of the day) my AC blows nothing but HOT air. (Sorta like trying to drive with a blow dryer on its hottest setting). Saturday morning I call the local Nissan dealer and talk to the service department...Oh what fun...I'm told well it's most likely a fuse...(I'm a 48 year old woman) I tell this man that I've already checked the fuses and all are good...I'm told well that I most likely didn't check the right fuse...(wow, I've been working on cars since I was 13 years old...) condescending jerk... I inform this "gentleman" that the compressor isn't kicking in...he tells me AGAIN that it's a fuse...I finally ask to speak to his manager...
I'm taking it in to the shop (hoping that it IS covered under the warranty) on Monday.....
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My 2013 Nissan Altima SV started to blow hot/cold throughout the day and I thought that it may be just a simple freon charge needed. Upon bringing it into the dealership they quickly identified that the compressor would need to be replaced.
Thankfully, I still had 2,000 more miles before my warranty went out but I can't believe that there are so many other 2013 Altima drivers that are having the same issue!
One of the top Google Auto-Complete results for 2013 Nissan Altima was for the AC Compressor.
The service department at the dealership was quick to replace it but had it occurred another 2,000 miles later I would have been very upset.
- Josh J., Houston, TX, US