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.

Owners complain about vibration and transmission failure related to the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), a whining noise from the power steering pump, and constant windshield problems that appear to be the result of poor design.

Be warned: the 2014 & 2015 Nissan Altima appears to share these same problems.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
28 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
34 / 0
Average Mileage:
23,833 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Nissan Altima seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2013 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 6 of 26)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #406

Sep 202019

Altima

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have had the following issues with the Nissan Altima: Air bag sensor issues sometimes sensor malfunctions (looked at 3 X, not fixed), rear view camera sometimes does not work (looked at 3 X, not fixed), transmission cvt issues sometimes jumps into gear (looked at 3 X, not fixed), seat belt sometimes locks up (looked at 1 X, not fixed). Issues happen while in motion or starting.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #405

May 062019

Altima

  • miles
Purchased in may of 2019 by owner. Want to make sure if if it has been any recalls. Fixed breaks, still having problems with rotors making sound every time I break, shocks and struts from rear side are no longer functional. Air bag system says it is off

- Madera, CA, USA

problem #404

Jul 202019

Altima

  • 54,235 miles
Airbag light stays on. Does not register that driver or passenger are seating in the seats to engage the airbags. No matter how heavy the occupants are the air bag light does not go off.

- Cheyenne, WY, USA

problem #403

Jul 312019

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall (for one problem) airbag light came on - took in and they said the switch under passenger seat had become disconnected - fixed by Nissan dealership within two days, airbag light back on - took in and they were getting codes for driver seat airbag - Nissan recommended replacing air bag diagnostic unit. Within another two days of this repair, the air bag diagnostic unit giving same code. Now, recommending replacing driver seat airbag. Dealership indicates that while these error codes are firing, the airbag system would not go off in an accident.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #402

Apr 232013

Altima

  • miles
This is an ongoing issue. Purchased a brand new 2013 Nissan Altima in April. The passenger air bag light turns on when passengers sit in the seat. This has been happening since the first few days of the purchase meaning the light signals and notifies the driver that the air bag is not active or engaged. This denotes that an airbag will not deploy with a passenger in the seat if an accident were to occur. Each time this light has come on I have set up an apptment with mydealer to have the issue fixed. The diagnostics check does not show an error and is unable to determine the cause of the problem. The sensors have been reset each time, but does not fix the issue. Multiple appointments were made to correct the issue, but none have rectified the situation. I have asked for the car to be replaced numerous times, or correct the issue. None of which has been fulfilled. The request for a replacement has been side tracked by bringing the car in for another look to find the problem. At this point my window of time for a replacement has passed due to trying to find a diagnostics error code. A claim was filed with Nissan corporate Consumer Affairs, but no update or progress has been made in over two weeks. As of today the 11th day since my last reported issue, the claim associate is just now starting to look into this. The claim was closed without my knowledge stating I could not be reached, but no phone call or message was missed or left from Nissan corporate. I have called the dealership multiple tomes each day looking for an update or resolution and certainly would have promptly called Consumer Affairs back due to the severity of this safety issue. At this point no one is able to give me any indication of next steps.[xxx]. thanks. [xxx] parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- New Castle, DE, USA

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problem #401

Jan 012019

Altima

  • miles
Airbag indicator never goes off on dashboard. Airbag malfunction

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #400

Jul 182019

Altima

  • 56,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag light came on and passenger airbag was disabled with an adult sitting in the seat. 2 airbag sensors and the control unit need to be replaced to make the car safe to drive with a passenger. Airbag sensors are not covered under the Nissan extended warranty despite being a critical safety issue. I have been charged $930 for parts and labors for the repair although my car is still under the extended warranty that I purchased. My car was purchased used, but has no outstanding recalls, but it is possible that this is the same sensor that should have been replaced in a prior recall.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #399

Jun 012018

Altima

  • 50,000 miles
One takata airbag was recalled and repaired. The second takata airbag has developed the same faulty readout on the dashboard and should be part of the recall. Dealer (rip-off) quoted nearly $5K to repair which is electrical, is not faulty through misuse, and should be Nissan responsibility. Please help this veteran's widow.

- Fort Walton Beach, FL, USA

problem #398

Jun 242019

Altima

  • 56,000 miles
Airbag light has been coming on for almost a year. Reported to dealership 3 times. First visit to dealership it was a code issue. Second time serviced it was unplugged under the seat, cost $142. A week later it came on again and dealership reports the entire driver's seat airbag needs to be replace at the tune of $1900. Extended warranty doesn't cover

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #397

May 222019

Altima

  • 150,327 miles
No accident or any work, driver side airbag light remained on. Reset not working. Ac compressor also gives up. 150K.

- Jonesboro, AR, USA

problem #396

Sep 012017

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall the airbag warning light of my 2013 Nissan Altima has been on for almost two years. I have been gone to Nissan dealership two times, after their maintenance, every time the airbag light goes out for a few days, then it lights up again. The airbag must be failed, but the Nissan dealer did not replace it.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #395

May 032019

Altima

  • 32,800 miles
My supplemental air bag light came on 7 - 10 days ago and has remained on. Visited Nissan service on 05/17 and was told diagnostic tests revealed 3 codes indicated further work was needed. The first was to replace the diagnostic unit. Second replace OCS modules 7 both sensors. I have an extended warranty which supposedly does not include air bags. My concern is tis actually is or should be a recall. My quoted price to fix airbags/codes is greater than $1500.

- Berkeley, CA, USA

problem #394

May 142019

Altima

  • miles
I took my car to the dealer to have them see why the airbag lights stay on. The seat belts were on and they just stayed on. The driver side would sometimes go off but the passenger side stayed on even when driving the vehicle. I was told that they cleared an error code but no guarantee that it will not reoccur and that this has nothing to do with the recall on the vehicle and if it happens again I will have to come out of my pocket for $1000 or so dollars even though I a extended warranty on it that somehow doesn't cover. I feel as though the issue was not fixed the first time and they did the bare minimum and passed the rest on to the customer. I am horrified at all the stories I am reading on the internet with others having the same issues, I have around 40000 miles on my car now so you see I don't do alot of hard traveling but want to know my vehicle is safe to drive.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #393

May 132019

Altima

  • 85,184 miles
Driver air bag indicator light is on.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #392

Feb 202019

Altima

  • 6,000 miles
The airbag light stays on all the time

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #391

Mar 292019

Altima

  • 130,000 miles
Vehicle air bag system fault light is illuminated and the dealer determined the driver side air bag module to be shorted out and therefore requires replacement. The dealer advised that the air bag system is now deactivated due to the fault. Module was not currently in stock and unable to be replaced at time of service.

- Cocoa, FL, USA

problem #390

Mar 292019

Altima

  • 98,000 miles
Their has been many complains on this cvt transmission breaking down between 62,000 miles and 99000 miles it is defective Nissan will do nothing and will not acknowledge defective transmission or powertrain and will not pay to replace any it's a major problem and safety, I am a disabled veteran and was stranded many other consumers have experienced the same and also problems with airbags modules

- Roanoke, TX, USA

problem #389

Mar 292019

Altima

  • 98,000 miles
Air bag lite keeps going off was rekey by Nissan dealer want me to pay for airbag module $3700 Nissan states they would pay half month ago, this is a defective part this is not acceptable, I am a disabled veteran now power as of 3/29/19 is going out after 98,000 cvt trans many consumer complains filed for defective transmissions

- Roanoke, TX, USA

problem #388

Mar 272019

Altima

  • 69,000 miles
The airbag light for the passenger side remains off regardless of the weight of the passenger in the seat, this has been an ongoing issue for 3 years.. multiple trips to the dealer (at at $155 per diagonstic) without a resolution. The prior the dealer stated was due to a low battery. A new battery was installed with the same results. Research on the internet shows multiple complaints with this issue. The car will not pass Virginia inspection and should be deemed unsafe until there is a resolution.

- Purcellville, VA, USA

problem #387

Dec 182018

Altima

  • 103,000 miles
When some one sits in the passenger seat the seat belt notification ding does not come on and it also says the air bag is turned off. Just recently purchased no accidents reported to my knowledge.

- Wichita, KS, USA

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