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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,361 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 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #8

Jul 282014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 47,326 miles

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

My wife's vehicle was stopped on I-95 about a car length behind a minivan that had also stopped for debris in the road, a Toyota pickup truck hit the rear of her car at speeds in excess of 60mph pushing her car into the minivan in front of her at a speed of at least 30mph, the SRS airbag in her car failed to deploy and quite possibly the seatbelt as well. My wife struck her head on the vehicle's left side roof support beam and suffered a concussion, whiplash and other lesser degree injuries as a result. It is my understanding Nissan has had issues with SRS failures in 2013 Altima.

- Clayton, NC, USA

problem #7

Jun 122013

Altima 4-cyl

  • 200 miles
Passenger air bag light stays on while passenger is sitting in the seat. Problem started a couple of weeks after I leased brand new car. The problem is ongoing for over a year now. The fox Nissan dealership cannot replicate the problem so Nissan will not offer any resolution. I've been trying for a year now and the problem persists, Nissan or dealership cannot say if the airbag will work in the case of a crash. I'm paying monthly lease payments on a car that may or may not be safe. What ever happened to customer service? took the car in last Friday for the airbag recall, problem is still there after dealership updated the software problem. Both fox Nissan dealership and Nissan regional field rep said there is nothing more they can do since they can't replicate the problem. Apparently the photos of the problem they had me take we're to make me feel like they actually cared. I can't believe I'm continuing to make payments on this unsafe vehicle.

- Middleville, MI, USA

problem #6

Jun 122013

Altima

  • 3,600 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag and the seat belt warning lights were illuminated. The contact mentioned that the seat belt warning light would illuminate although the seal belt was latched. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where unknown repairs were made to the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 3,600.

- Goshen, OH, USA

problem #5

Aug 142013

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles

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

I got Nissan Altima 2013 in Sep. 2012 and since then I have been taking this car every month to dealership for airbag off indicator, which remains lit even when passenger is seated with seat belt on. This has happened multiple times and weight of the passenger ranged from 130 to 180 pounds. The most serious of these incidents was, when I drove my car for 15 miles (2 miles on city street and 13 miles on freeway). So far, I have been told by dealership that there are no error codes, they would reset some sensors but it hasn't made any difference. I was told it could have been because of the way passenger was sitting, so one time I asked passenger to jump on the seat, that 180lb passenger was jumping in the seat but the airbag off light still remained on. I noticed there are multiple complaints about this issue, and I hope these complaints will eventually get desired recall attention.

- Rose Hill , NC, USA

problem #4

Jul 202013

Altima 4-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
2013 Altima passenger seat belt indicator lamp does not come on, or later turn off, when the car is already running / still running and passenger sits in front seat or exits the vehicle. After dealership had replaced the vehicle ods (under recall). I have had to either shut the vehicle off and restart it while the passenger is already seated, or wait several minutes while driving before the light would illuminate (while passenger seat belt was not engaged (worn). I have taken the vehicle to the dealership to have them and a field technician from Nissan (U.S.) look at the issue, they were able to re-create, as well as not get it to fail. Currently they are saying it is normal for the lamp to not come on or go off for up to 7 seconds (in user manual) when the car is running and passenger enters or exits the vehicle. I have told them this was not like this before the last ods replacement (this is the third time they have made the recall "fix"). after picking the vehicle up I drove home, left car running and had my wife recreate the issue, I had video running so I could capture the event and amount of time it takes and what I have to do to get the seat to recognize it is occupied, or not. I called dealership while I was making the video and reported what was occurring again. I am supposed to bring the car back to them later this week.

- Grapevine, TX, USA

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problem #3

Feb 042013

Altima 4-cyl

  • 75 miles
After I bought the car I noticed the driver's side rear view mirror was vibrating while driving at all speeds. Then the dealer replaced the mirror several times until they fixed the vibrating problem. But now, the mirror they replaced it with seems to be a generic mirror, seems like a convex mirror and the objects and view look deformed. It isn't a flat mirror and the dealer said that is normal and all the cars have that same mirror. That is a lie because when they changed my very first mirror due to vibrating, it was flat and clear. This issue has not been solved but now they replaced 2 sensors that are on recall and waiting for a third sensor on the driver's airbag to be replaced as well due to recall. I am so tired of going back and forth to the dealer that I am finally going to file a complaint, this car is a lemon! (2013 Nissan Altima sv -pearl white).

- Pacoima, CA, USA

problem #2

Jan 022013

Altima

  • 200 miles
When starting the car the starter would keep cranking after the release of the start button, the passenger air bag light stays on sometimes even when a passenger is in the seat also the rear seat belts are very hard to lock in do to the receiver end pushes down into the seat when driving there is a few problems the low end rattles and shakes and 45 and above there is a wining noise from the engine compartment that sounds like a bad alt bearing or trans problem it gets louder the faster you go very annoying with today technology these problems and this is just a few is a big step back for Nissan not a happy customer just broke 6000 miles.

- Manahawkin, NM, USA

problem #1

Feb 092013

Altima 4-cyl

  • 200 miles
The day I purchased the vehicle (1/23/13) the seat belt light would not shut off. The passenger airbag light would also indicate that the passenger airbag was disengaged with a passenger in the vehicle. The dealership (rosenthal Nissan of tysons) took the car in back and made some adjustments. The problem apparently went away. Tonight (2/9/13) the passenger airbag sensor once again indicated no passenger when my 110 lb wife was sitting in the seat. I tried it with myself (175lb) and again it occurred. This is an unacceptable safety concern.

- Springfield, VA, USA

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