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.
I have never had any problems with the Altima until the gear shift lock started to act weird. I am just unable to move the shift gear from Park. For now, I use a screwdriver in order to press down the Shift Lock button to bypass the lock so I could change the gears. It sucks to do that every time it happens.
What makes the problem worst is it happens sporadically, like 6 out of 10 times so when I go to a mechanic, it may not act up and thus it is very unpredictable. It usually works fine when I don't use car for a day or two. But then, it starts acting up again. The brakes light and dome light work without out any issue.
The Nissan dealer wants $168 just to diagnose it and another $800 to replace the entire shift lock assembly if that is the problem.
Shifter would not shift from Park despite brake being depressed at around 60,000 miles. Took vehicle in to the dealer and was told that the only way to fix it was to replace the entire assembly. Out the door, cost around $750 dollars after parts and labor. Fortunately I was able to continue driving the vehicle while the gear shifter stopped working by using the emergency release, this must be done every time the vehicle is started and to shift.
Called corporate in Massachusetts, I think, and they said our dealer would charge $100 to diagnose the problem. Well we've already called them and over the phone they diagnosed it as a $750 fix. They have magical powers, I guess, or a crystal ball that can diagnose this problem without looking at it. I'm betting it's a fuse, a cheap fix, but I know nothing about fuses other than what I've read online about this Nissan fix.
RECALL!! We've already been to the dealership three times on various recalls for this car. Why not another?
Bought my Altima brand new. Not even paid off and the gear shift has "worn out". I have NEVER heard of a gear shift wearing out! It just goes from Park to Reverse to Drive to Park a couple times a day, how does it wear out after just a couple years? The dealership I bought it from would not comp the part for me and I refuse to pay for it as it appears Nissan has used a cheap part. This is my family's 3rd Nissan and LAST! I have to use a bobby pin every time I use my car to get it in gear with the emergency brake release. What a great car, NOT. Would never recommend a Nissan
this should be a recall asap! The dealership wants to diagnose the problem but it cost $120 just for that. I told them the problem the gear gets stuck in park.
- Terry B.,
Charlotte, NC, US
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The shifter won't shift out of park unless the emergency shift release button is pressed. This is to say the least, a pain in the ass. Makes me wonder how long I can do this before its no longer an option. Called Nissan and was told that it would be $800 to replace the WHOLE SHIFTER. This is ridiculous! I buy a car planning on being able to actually own it outright someday, Well, that day will never come with this POS. Such a disappointing waste of hard earned money on this car. Why isn't there a recall?
I had this car for 2 months and the gear shift got stuck in park. Much like everyone else, I had to use something to push down the shift lock button. I have a 2nd car that I have been driving for the past several months and noticed that if I don't drive my Altima for awhile the gear shift works fine for a few days. I watched a video on Youtube from Leek Auto Repair out of Philadelphia someone had this issue and they took the console apart and said it could possibly have been electrical problems. Any thoughts?
Was told by dealer it would be 115 bucks to diagnose the problem. When dealer called back was told not sure why but likely spilled something down console. Of course I say 'but you have no way of knowing that's the issue.' He states," Would have to take it apart and fix it.: I contacted warranty dept although I'm no not covered and started a case on yesterday because this is way too many problems. I can't believe of all the complaints regarding this issue, no bulletin over the last year. Nissan called yesterday but I missed the call due to work although I gave them my office number. My message says she will call me back NEXT WEDNESDAY. Right now it's not doing it, tonight it will stick again and the only solution right now I can afford is to put a pin cap down the shift lock to release and change gear. Will see what happens.
Update from May 18, 2017: Received call back Tuesday from dealer to inform me that they would fix my gear shift at no charge. I went this morning and it took an hour to fix. Shifting with ease!
My car will not shift out of park. The dealership said that it cost about $800 to fix the problem. They also said that it was usually caused by someone spilling something on the console ! I have to manually poke the shift lock button in order to shift my car each time I start it up. This is a pain!
I do not understand why there isn't a recall on this problem. Otherwise my car is very comfortable. But now I am thinking about trading it because later it may have some costly transmission problems and my car is only 4 years old.
I only have 44k miles on it and I take very good care of this car, but it will let me down in the future. That's what I get for thinking that I was buying a BRAND NEW 2013 RELIABLE AUTOMOBILE. FULLY LOADED.
BOY was I WRONG !
Waste of my money- I have paid over 20k already on this car and i will NEVER OWN it !! MONEY down the DRAIN !!
A few times I would have a difficult time moving the shift from Park into another gear. It was early November and I would just keep trying till it would finally go into Reverse. But One day it just wouldn't go into gear at all and I called my mechanic in a panic because I had to pick the kids up from school! He looked online I believe and found a temporary solution right away which was to press the 'shiftlock' button which I had not really noticed was there until I had to use it. From then on I had to use this shiftlock button to get the car into gear when first starting the car. Once out of park I was able to move between R N D with no problem but once in Park I had to get a gadget to help me press the shiftlock button then simultaneously move the gear from Park... It was very annoying to have to do so and of course the dealership wanted to charge me an arm and a leg to fix that problem which I think should have been a covered problem. But what do I know right? I have been mostly pleased with my Altima. It was a smooth ride, I loved my V6 engine -its only 4 years old but now causing several problems so I am not sure I will continue with another Altima.
I hate that it stays in park. I have to use a screw driver to move to drive or reverse. I only had this car 2 years and already problems but of course after my warranty is done.
I have a 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5S that has started having issues not shifting into gear when depressing the brake. I did have one time where I was sitting in traffic and all of my lights came on the dash and the car shut off. I was able to get it restarted and shift into gear, but since then I have had a really hard time getting it to shift out of park. I have found that if I allow the car to sit for about 5-10 minutes it will shift into gear, otherwise you have to sit there and play with the Shift Lock and that doesn't always work. I did a little research on the issue and apparently this is prevalent on the 2013 Altimas, another one to add to the ever growing list. There were a couple of sites that said it is an issue with the sensor not connecting that the driver is not depressing the brake. There are a few Youtube videos that show you how to fix the issue, the link is below if allowed. I am not mechanically inclined by any means, but I am freaking out as my car inches closer to 60000 miles. Time to go trade it in and not buy another Nissan, which really sucks because I used to love these cars.
Practically new Nissan Altima has a problem with a shifter not being able to get out of park. I thought Nissans were dependable. I know things happen but not being able to shift out of park, really? Its not a low battery or a bad fuse,
I had to pop out the little lock release button and insert a screw driver or pen or # 2 pencil narrow wood dowel, a long machine screw ( don't drop that in the hole or transmission will blow up) but I digress. Cant wait to get the estimate for this.
I have had several issues with my 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5SL since the warranty expired at the end of March 2016 and I only have 30K miles on the car. The issue of not being able to shift out of park has to be one of the worst. When I brought it up to the dealer they couldn't repeat the issue and told me to ensure I had my tires straight when trying to take it out of park. When the issue got worse of course the vehicle was no longer under warranty. I have yet to get it fixed because the dealer charges a fortune just for regular maintenance so I have put it off. I plan to buy a new car because this one has been nothing but a lemon since I got it and I will never purchase another Nissan.
Twice I had the issue of the gear shift being stuck. The first time I asked someone that was at the gas station to help me and after several tries, it finally went into reverse. When it happened a second time I had two other gentlemen at the gas station try to help me and neither one could figure it out. I had to call my daughter for a ride, thank god she picked up her phone and she googled the issue. When she arrived we took the shift lock little button out and pushed down the latch with a key and it went into gear. Thank god for google! I noticed online that a few people were experiencing this issue. I looked to see if I could find a recall but no luck. My warranty just ran out and I googled the cost of fixing it. The quote I found was $600.00! I certainly hope it's less than that or I'll just keep sticking a screwdriver in the hole to shift.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have never had any problems with the Altima until the gear shift lock started to act weird. I am just unable to move the shift gear from Park. For now, I use a screwdriver in order to press down the Shift Lock button to bypass the lock so I could change the gears. It sucks to do that every time it happens.
What makes the problem worst is it happens sporadically, like 6 out of 10 times so when I go to a mechanic, it may not act up and thus it is very unpredictable. It usually works fine when I don't use car for a day or two. But then, it starts acting up again. The brakes light and dome light work without out any issue.
The Nissan dealer wants $168 just to diagnose it and another $800 to replace the entire shift lock assembly if that is the problem.
- Polks M., San Francisco, US