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.
Bought the vehicle new in 2013 and the vehicle to date has 36,233 miles on it. My wife started the car to leave home and the shifter was locked in the Park position and would not shift so she called me and I returned home and read in the auto manual how to unlock the shifter, so she took it to the Nissan dealership and they told her it would be almost $1100.00 to fix the problem. The problem is the two little cheap made micro-switches which you can purchase on-line for less than $50.00. Even though the miles were within the warranty range at the time, the warranty was over the warranty date by a couple of months and they would not fix it.
She called me and told me what they said and I told her not to let them make the repair because it had to be some simple something since you can activate the shift switch by pushing a button. I took the console out of the vehicle and adjusted the pressure on the two little cheap made micro-switches on the shifter assembly and that worked for a couple of months but the problem has started again. I have read several reviews on this make and model of vehicle and this seems to be a serious problem for a lot of owners. I believe Nissan should have put a recall on this problem but they say they don't have a problem, that this is from wear and tear. I have owned three Nissan's over the years but never again. I promise you my vehicle has never been abused and it still looks new inside and out.
I will never purchase another Nissan. Buy USA made vehicles, GO TRUMP?
I went to get help with car was constantly getting stuck in park. The diagnostic is separate from parts& labors . I did research, the part was only 800 but they advised a higher price.
I didn’t get fix at dealership. There’s other auto shop that willing to help.
I bought my 2013 Altima brand new. I'm the only driver. I shift in and out of park maybe 4 times per day on average. Around 130,000 miles, the shifter started getting stuck in park. I researched online and found that there is an emergency shifter release button. I have had to use that to shift out of park most times since then. Sometimes, it actually works on its own. Nissan wants $800+ to (replace the whole shifter). I'm sure there is a less expensive fix, but Nissan wants the money. Nissan sure doesn't stand behind their vehicles. My first and my LAST Nissan.
Shift stuck in park. I brought it to the mechanic and it will cost $1000.00 to fix - I can only get part from Nissan which is stupid and the whole shift assembly needs to be replaced just for the shift solenoid. Horrible customer service on Nissan's part since this is an ongoing problem. I am just using a mini screwdriver to shift out of park for now until Nissan decides to do something for their cheap part.
- Tracie G.,
Breaux Bridge, US
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I am beyond upset. I have had this car for only 3 years and just barely made it over 100K and now the gear keeps getting stuck in park. Called the dealership and they acting as if this is the first they have heard of this issue. Clearly I am not the only person that has been having this issue.
I am very disappointed that Nissan didn’t issue a recall on this issue. I am still making payments and I have to use a screwdriver to put my car in drive... real classy, Nissan.
All of a sudden the autoshift stick got stuck in parking. I have to press emergency release switch next to the stick to release the lock. This happens every time I put it into a parking position.
Worst car ever! Stay stay stay clear away from Nissan. After 65k my shifter module unit needed to be replaced. Shifter was stuck in park and had to use a pen to shift into other gears. I also couldn’t use my heated seats.
Dealership stated it wasn’t under warranty because I had spilled soda and it was considered negligence on my part. Contacted Nissan Motors and they refused to help me at all. Finally took it to another dealership and they replaced the part for free.
The gearshift suddenly failed to move from "park" into "reverse" this week... without prior issues of any kind. I was able to release the locked gear shift by pushing the shift unlock button and drive the car to the repair shop. The locked gearshift also sent faulty messages to the truck release button, as it failed to open as well.
The replacement part (gearshift assembly) was over $600 dollars and is available ONLY from Nissan, there is no aftermarket part available. Nissan is aware of this issue, yet has not issued a recall. The repair shop has had to replace this part on numerous Nissans.
My 2013 Nissan Altima SL 2.5L had only 26,380 miles on it when this part failed.
With the number of complaints with this specific issue, you'd think Nissan would step up, address the issue and make the corrections without charge.
So many people with this problem yet Nissan does nothing to help its customers. Never ever again will I purchase a Nissan or recommend one. Awful awful car.
I feel that this should be a recall & should not have to be paid for out of pocket & if it's 1 of the issues the dealership told me, it's about $800. I'm VERY DISAPPOINTED & on top of that my windshield is leaking every time it rains under the carpet & it was NOT in any kind of accident or anything... I thought after they replaced the motor after I got it, that it was going to be fine, little issues @ different times...
So when I purchased my car 2 years ago it was well under 60k miles. I am not just over 65k miles. Suddenly I put my car in park in a drive thru and couldn't get it out. Found the manual way and parked it at home. I bought a warranty with my car that was bumper to bumper which we were told included electronics now I am being told its going to cost me 346.00 to fix it because its not covered!! WTF Not to mention I have seen this car with this problem online EVERYWHERE and mostly under or around 60-70k miles..why are we paying for this and why is a recall not been issued to fix it...I'm livid!!
My 2013 nissan altima has given me NOTHING.... NOTHING but trouble. I've already had the transmission replaced at 66,000 miles. my clutch is stuck in park so now they tell me my shift assembly needs to be replaced $750 and theirs more......
SINCE EXPERIENCING BEING STRANDED OUT IN THE RAIN WITH MY NISSAN RUNNING BUT STUCK IN PARK, I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY NISSAN ORIGINALLY INSTALLING A CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE. NISSAN HAS PAID FOR THIS REPAIR IN THE PAST FOR SOME OWNERS, BUT NOT FOR ALL. THERE SHOULD BE A NISSAN RECALL FOR THIS COMMON ISSUE WITHOUT REPAIR EXPENSE TO OWNER..
I have had several problem with this car. Purchased new in April 2013. Have kept it serviced thru dealership since purchase. I am currently having to use a screwdriver to get it to shift out of park. Very inconvenient every day. Dealer says at least $500 + to fix it. You cannot find the part thru a parts store or in a salvage yard. This is an ongoing problem with this model and make. So many complaints that it should be a recall as I've spent a fortune on this car in the last 5 years. Why can't Nissan just step up to the plate ant admit it has it's faults and take care of them.
This was my first and last Nissan. I actually love the car but I hate it as well. I've read all the complaints listed here and I've experienced all of them with a couple of exceptions only I can add more complaints that I've had since I first purchased it new. Under warranty it was in and out of the service department and I will say this. . . Almost everything it was put in for was never fixed and even to this day I still experience the same issues. If I could have gotten a decent trade in I would have done so. I paid $31,000 for this car. It came with all the bells and buttons most the SL models don't have. It came with all the problems as well. I'm stuck with it because it's not worth trading. Looks can be deceiving. It's a beautiful car. I wish I could list all of my complaints on this one part as I just don't have the patience or the time to go into detail nor does this website have the space for me to list them all.
My car started having issues after 50K. My car gear shift was stuck in park due to faulty Nissan part. Dealer was asking $900 to fix the issue. Nissan also did not help with this as vehicle was out of warranty. Lot of customers are having same issue but Nissan has not recalled for this part. Will never buy Nissan again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought the vehicle new in 2013 and the vehicle to date has 36,233 miles on it. My wife started the car to leave home and the shifter was locked in the Park position and would not shift so she called me and I returned home and read in the auto manual how to unlock the shifter, so she took it to the Nissan dealership and they told her it would be almost $1100.00 to fix the problem. The problem is the two little cheap made micro-switches which you can purchase on-line for less than $50.00. Even though the miles were within the warranty range at the time, the warranty was over the warranty date by a couple of months and they would not fix it.
She called me and told me what they said and I told her not to let them make the repair because it had to be some simple something since you can activate the shift switch by pushing a button. I took the console out of the vehicle and adjusted the pressure on the two little cheap made micro-switches on the shifter assembly and that worked for a couple of months but the problem has started again. I have read several reviews on this make and model of vehicle and this seems to be a serious problem for a lot of owners. I believe Nissan should have put a recall on this problem but they say they don't have a problem, that this is from wear and tear. I have owned three Nissan's over the years but never again. I promise you my vehicle has never been abused and it still looks new inside and out.
I will never purchase another Nissan. Buy USA made vehicles, GO TRUMP?
- rbwhite, Douglas, US