Page 47 of 47 · complaints 2,301–2,314 of 2,314

2013 Nissan Altima complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2013 record →

Air Bags
Filed Nov 26, 2012300 milesNC

INTERMITTENTLY, "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER (130 LBS) IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER, IT OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, HAD TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE CAR TO CLEAR THE LIGHT. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 18, 20121,500 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING ON I-5 HEADING NORTH FROM OCEANSIDE, CA WHEN THE MOON ROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECT WHATSOEVER. THERE WAS FIRST A LOUD BANG, LIKE THE SOUND OF A GUN BEING FIRED AT CLOSE RANGE AND THEN THE GLASS OF THE MOON ROOF FELL ON ME AND INTO THE AUOTMOBILE CABIN..

Power Train
Filed Oct 31, 2012500 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IDLING AND WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IMMEDIATELLY AFTER THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 700.

Suspension
Filed Oct 23, 20121,569 milesCA

ON AUG. 10TH WE RECD AN EMAIL FROM THE EMPIRE NISSAN FLEET MNGR [XXX]. HE STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR BACK AND WOULD PAY OUR FIRST MTH PYMT AND GIVE US A REPLACEMENT CAR OF LIKE KIND AND QUALITY. THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHY THE VEH NEEDED TO BE RETURNED. WE NOTIFIED CORP NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT AND THEY CONTACTED EMPIRE NISSAN. THEY FINALLY ADVISE THAT THE REASON THEY NEED THE VEH BACK WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OPEN CAMPAIGN ON IT WITH A SINGLE RECALL. WE AGREED TO RETURN IT FOR THE REPAIR. WE TOOK THE VEH BACK TO NISSAN AND LATER ON THAT DAY, WE WERE NOTIFIED THERE WERE 10 RECALLS FOUND ON THE VEH! AT THIS POINT WE REALIZED THAT WAS WHY THEY WANTED TO SWAP THE VEH. THEY AGREED TO GIVE US A RENTAL CAR DURING REPAIRS. WE PICKED UP THE VEH & AS SOON AS WE LEFT, THERE WAS A CONSTANT BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM THE CAR, THERE WAS A LOT OF ROAD NOISE AND WHISTLING FROM THE WINDOWS, THE ENGINE WAS LOUD. WE CALLED THE GM [XXX] & ASK THEM TO BUY THE VEH BACK & THEY TOLD US THAT WE WERE ASKING TOO MUCH AND THAT WE ARE ACTING LIKE WE ARE THE VICTIM. WE ALSO CALLED THE SVS MGR, [XXX] TO MAKE HAVE THE VEH SERVICED AGAIN. HE WAS RUDE AND SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WITH THE MANUFACTURE & TO NOT BRING THE VEH IN TO THEM FOR SVS & THEY WILL NOT BE PROVIDING A LOANER NOR A RENTAL FOR US. HE STATED HE WOULD HAVE AN ENGINEER COME OUT TO LOOK AT THE VEH TO DETERMINE THE COND. WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING. NISSAN HAS BEEN EVASIVE AND HAS NOT BEEN HONEST WITH US. KNOWIN

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 17, 20125 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR REFLECTED A GLARE FROM THE VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVING BEHIND HIM. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS A SWIVEL CONNECTED TO SO IF THERE WAS A GLARE THE DRIVER WOULD BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE MIRROR AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ADJUSTING THE MIRROR IT DID NOT MOVE BACK INTO THE APPROPRIATE POSITION BUT SWIVELS ALL THE WAY AROUND AS IF IT WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ALTER THE VEHICLES DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO FILED A COMPLAINT AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD ESCALATE THE CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 15, 2012OH

PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM - ONGOING SINCE NEW. *TR

Power Train
Filed Oct 12, 2012100 milesVA

THE VEHICLE SURGES AT AROUND 25MPH. IT CUTS OUT, SLOWS DOWN FOR A COUPLE SECONDS, THEN JERKS FORWARD. WHEN IT JERKS FORWARD, IT SLAM HARD LIKE IT IS DOING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Oct 8, 2012500 milesAL

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT THAT WAS OVER 100 POUNDS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THERE WAS NO ERROR CODE IN THE SYSTEM. I HAD TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ONE OTHER TIME. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Sep 20, 201250 milesCA

INTERMITTENTLY, "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER (130 LBS) IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER (CLOTH) SEAT. *TR

Power Train
Filed Sep 20, 2012800 milesAL

THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP OR SHUDDERING GOING DOWN HILL, THROWING THE VEHICLE AND ME FORWARD. EVER BEEN ON A GOLF CART GOING DOWN A HILL WHERE THE GOVERNOR THROWS YOU FORWARD? MULTIPLY THAT BY ABOUT 5 AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GET. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE, TO THE POINT WHERE IT ACTUALLY CAUSES THE WHEELS TO STOP AND "CHIRP" ON THE PAVEMENT. NOW, IT EVEN HAPPENS ON RELATIVELY FLAT AREAS AND, GOING UP SOME HILLS, THE TRANSMISSION JUST ABOUT GIVES OUT. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE FOR SEVERAL REASONS: (1) LOCKING UP GOING DOWN A HILL IS UNSAFE IF SOMEONE IS BEHIND YOU, (2) THE SEVERITY OF IT COULD CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR, (3) LOSING POWER GOING UP A HILL COULD CAUSE YOU TO BE REAR-ENDED. NISSAN HAS BEEN SLOW TO RESPOND EVEN THOUGH OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY DEALER SAYS THAT THEY SEARCHED NISSAN'S "TECH TALK" ACROSS DEALERS AND FOUND NOTHING. DO A GOOGLE SEARCH ON "NISSAN DECELERATION SHUDDER OR LOCKUP" AND YOU'LL FIND LOTS OF FOLKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY UNFORTUNATE FOR AN OTHERWISE GREAT CAR. THEY NEED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND RECALL SOME OR ALL OF THE 2013S. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 8, 2012400 milesNH

DURING COASTING/DECELERATION FROM 35 DOWN TO 20 MPH, THE CAR WILL PROVIDE A SUDDEN JERK AT 25 MPH WHILE THE A/C IS ON MAX. THIS DEVOLVED INTO TIRE SKIDDING AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS WHILE THE DEALERSHIP WAS TEST DRIVING IT FOR REPLICATION DURING THE WEEK OF 8/20/12. THE REPLACEMENT CAR THAT I RECEIVED ON 8/28/12 STARTED SHOWING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AT 800 MILES ON 9/7/12. CURRENT DIAGNOSIS OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE ORIGINAL CAR INDICATED THE CAR REQUIRED A NEW CVT. AT THE TIME, THE ETA FOR REPLACING THE CVT (ON THE ORIGINAL CAR) WAS AT LEAST 3 WEEKS. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 7, 20127 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC AND SERVICE MANAGER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FELT THE SURGE HOWEVER STATED THAT WHEN INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500.

Steering
Filed Aug 30, 2012400 milesNH

ON INTERSTATES CAR WANDERS ALL OVER ROAD REQUIRING BOTH HANDS ON WHEEL MAKING CONSTANT CORRECTIONS TO STAY IN LANE AND IS SEVERELY BUFFETED BY PASSING TRUCKS AND BUSSES. AT LOWER SPEEDS CONSTANT CORRECTIONS ARE STILL REQUIRED TO AVOID RUNNING OFF ROAD. *TR

Engine
Filed Aug 22, 2012207 milesMS

I BOUGHT A NEW 2013 ALTIMA 2.5 SL ON 7/26/12, WITH 104 MILES ON IT SINCE IT WAS DELIVERED FROM ANOTHER DEALER. ON 7/29/12 A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID THAT POSSIBLY THE GAS CAP WAS NOT TIGHT. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. MANUAL SAID THAT IF THE LIGHT WAS NOT FLASHING, THEN IT WOULD CLEAR AFTER A FEW TRIPS. IT DID NOT CLEAR, SO I DROVE 25 MILES TO DEALER 8/3/12 FOR THEM TO TEST. THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND WOULD BE REPLACED THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED AND SAID THAT WHEN THEY REMOVED THE CONVERTER THAT ITS CONTENTS SPILLED ON THE SHOP FLOOR; AND THAT THEIR CONTACTS WITH NISSAN WAS THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED ON OTHERS AND THUS THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUINED AND THAT NISSAN WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE. I STATED THAT I DID NOT WANT A REPLACED ENGINE BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE REQUIRED DISASSEMBLY AND REASSEMBLY INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY WITH A CAR ONLY A FEW DAYS OLD AND HAVING DRIVEN ONLY APPROXIMATELY 160 MILES. I HAD PAID FOR A NEW CAR AND WANTED A COMPLETELY NEW CAR AS A REPLACEMENT. I HAVE FILED A CASE WITH NISSAN, BUT SO FAR THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT SAY THAT THEY ARE REVIEWING THE SITUATION. THE SELLING DEALER HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE, SAID THAT THEY AGREE WITH ME AND HAVE STATED THAT THEY HAVE ALSO CONTACTED NISSAN ON MY BEHALF AND REQUESTED THAT A NEW REPLACEMENT BE PROVIDED. SINCE NISSAN HAS SEEN THIS SITUATION ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, THEY WERE AWARE THAT THEY HAD FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND THAT CATASTROPHIC FAILUR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2013 Nissan Altima → · Every Altima year → · How the figures are calculated →