2013 Nissan Altima Power Train Problems
- 387
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 387 stored complaint records:
- 7 indicate a crash
- 3 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- lost power · 10 records
- independent mechanic · 8 records
- shift park · 8 records
- coming stop · 7 records
- without warning · 7 records
- needed replaced · 7 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 167 |
| 1–30k mi | 85 |
| 30–60k mi | 74 |
| 100–150k mi | 27 |
| 150–400k mi | 4 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine · Exterior Lighting · Power Train
I have a bad rattle coming from the right side of my car along with a whine noise coming from the same area. Also have a very bad vibration/rattle in the car that seems to be from the transmission at acceleration from a start and acceleration while switching lanes on a city street. You can coast and press the gas again and then the whole car rattles. It has been in to a nissan dealership and they said they can feel…
ODI 10820841
Power Train
The cvt transmission is vibrating violently from 1200~1800 rpm which could potentially cause premature transmission failure during driving. Such vibration also compromises the mileages that nissan has declared therefore more green house gas emission for same miles. Many 2013 altima owners complained about the same thing in forums such as edmunds, cars.com and etc. It is a mechanical design flaw the could severely…
ODI 10508912
Power Train
Vehicle stutters and vibrates at lower speeds. Also their is a knocking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. Brought back to dealership 3 times since march. All 3 times i was told it is perfectly normal for the car. I read online that other people have experienced similar issues. *tr
ODI 10512323
Power Train
I have a 2013 nissan altima sv with 10800 miles on it. About 5000 miles ago began to hear and feel vibration with acceleration. Noise continued to get worse. Took it to a local nissan dealer and they said the issue was coming from the cvt transmission. They had to replace the serpentine belt and the tensioner. Vibration is currently better but concerned this is just a short term solution. I think nissan needs to put…
ODI 10504730
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle abnormally swayed back and forth. The vehicle was easier to control once the speed decelerated to 50 mph and below. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The technician stated that it was a manufacturing defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…
ODI 10555039
Power Train
Rpm drops suddenly from 1200rpm to 800rpm in 20-30mph speed level and vehicle bounces with bang sounds at transmission area. When i feel car loosening the power at low speed driving by dropping rpm gauge, i have to press brake or accelerator to keep vehicle's rpm safe level to run the car. This is very nervous thing. This problem have happened since middle of march and went to car dealer to check this point. But…
ODI 10514328
Engine · Power Train
I purchased this car on 3/8/2013 as brand new with 24 miles on it. 7 days later when starting up the motor the engine struggled to catch or start running. This has happened 3 times now. Will be contacting nissan. This is unacceptable for having a week old "new" car. Still waiting for response from dealership. *tr
ODI 10503307
Power Train
The cvt transmission causes the vehicle to shutter and vibrate at light acceleration between 1200-2000 rpms. I have contacted nissan consumer affairs division [redacted] ext457206 several times and have case #'s [xxx] and [xxx] on two separate vehicles with the same issue. I have been told repeatedly that nissan engineers are aware of the problem and are working on a solution. There are many, many complaints of this…
ODI 10515448
Engine · Power Train
Cvt transmission shutter, while driving from stop to go, car felt it was going to stall, like when turning left in traffic. *tr
ODI 10500714
Power Train
Started to drive from a park position i was going already around 15-20 mph before transmission kicked into gear. *tr
ODI 10498498
Power Train
Transmission slipped i was at a red light turned green started to move when i felt a pull back on the car and then car shot forward. *tr
ODI 10498497
Fuel System, Gasoline · Power Train
Well i have noticed that i have a bad vibration and grinding noise between 1,200 and 1,800 rpm's worst at 1,500. This happens no matter what speed. I have brought it in to the dealership 2 different times for this and they tell me this is normal. I am sorry but when a transmission is vibrating or making bad noises like this it has something wrong with it. I believe this is contributing to my very poor gas mileage.…
ODI 10514481
Engine · Fuel System, Gasoline · Power Train
Well the main selling point on this vehicle is that the dealer told me they were top in mpg's with 27 city and 38 highway. After a week or so i noticed that my mpg average is no more than 23.1. And that was with more than 50% travel on highways with no traffic(never went under the speed limit). I figured it had something to do with it being new and it would average out better later. So after 5,000 miles on the car i…
ODI 10514473
Air Bags · Power Train
After the first car with 2000miles air bags did not go off in the accident so went bought another new one the airbag light was on in 70 miles so put a new seat from another car nissan did not have a new seat no the air bag light does not work properly and the car has a viberation that nissan cant fix need to stop selling lemons. *tr
ODI 10505120
Air Bags · Power Train
I have owned this car for all of a week. There are at least 2 major safety concerns. The first is the passenger air bag. The light on the dash indicates that the air bag is "off" when my wife sits in the passenger seats. She is an adult, height about 5' 2" and weighs approx. 120 lbs. Apparently i am not the only one with this issue. Calls to nissan are a waste of time at this point as i'm told nothing about how this…
ODI 10495070
Engine · Power Train
Purchased brand new with 2 miles. At 4500 miles, heat gauge indicated an increase in engine temperature. Drove 2 miles to a service station, and upon opening the hood, anti-freeze was sprayed everywhere. Car was towed to dealer. Dealer inspected, and said the radiator had leaked, so the dealer replaced the radiator. After replacement, the dealer performed a test drive, when the check engine light came on. Dealer…
ODI 10495167
Power Train
Noticed problem back in jan. Car would make a banging noise & jolt forward when coasting to a stop. Same problem also occurs when stopping and going to accelerate after stop. Have take car to dealer i purchased it at 5 times & was told there was nothing wrong , they could not duplicate the issue i was having. On july 11, 2013 the technician took the car home & they finally and was able to document the issue was real…
ODI 10524615
Power Train
Abnormal transmission grinding / lugging noise of the transmission at low rpm (1200-1600). Nissan claims noise is as designed. How is grinding noise in the transmission with a car that has 3000 miles normal? Again nissan claims that this is normal. [redacted] ext. [xxx] case # [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
ODI 10503077
Air Bags · Engine · Power Train · Seat Belts
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…
ODI 10501020
Power Train
When accelerating gently or decelerating you can heard a rumbling and vibration noise. *tr
ODI 10492417
Power Train
Brought car in to dealer for a recall that the transmission needed to be reprogrammed. Several weeks later noticed that the engine sounded louder and rattled on acceleration. Proceeded to get worse by the day. Brought to dealer on wednesday and was told the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle has approximately 2000 miles on it. *tr
ODI 10491480
Power Train
Vehicle has been in the service department five times for different things in less than 2 months. Main problem reported each time in service is my transmission. Between 20-50 mph and 1000-2500 rpm the car will violently shake and lose power. I have to press the gas pedal harder to get the car to stop shuddering and pick up acceleration. I have almost been involved in tow rear end collisions b/c of the lose of power…
ODI 10494370
Power Train
Purchased a new 2013 altima sedan 3.5sl in november 2012. At approximately 500 miles, upon acceleration from a stop, the car jerked violently for 2-3 seconds before kicking in and accelerating (as if driving a manual transmission and attempted to start in 4th gear). This has happened 2 more times since. Additionally, often while accelerating the rpms will drop significantly and the car will shudders before kicking…
ODI 10500657
Power Train · Steering
There is a shuttering vibration in drive train when engine is at 1500 rpm and going up an incline. Eventually it is going to cause loosing of bolts and cause crash. *tr
ODI 10509854
Engine · Power Train
Noticed car shaking violently while coasting at about 17 mph and then accelerating. Contacted dealership. Was told that it is a defect with the torque converter that causes it to shift between gears at about 28 mph. I told them that mine was happening at about 17 or 18 mph. Was told they were looking into it. Called again about a week later, was told that it was a design flaw and nissan was not going to do anything…
ODI 10566067