2013 Nissan Altima problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
46% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2013 Nissan Altima are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 912 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 28%).
Does the 2013 Nissan Altima have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 640 of 1,400 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Altima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%), and the largest group is filed under power train (505). For comparison, the 2012 scores 57% and the 2014 scores 45%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Nissan Altima
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Nissan Altima said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 640 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Nissan Altima involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine manufactured March 30, 2012, to August 18, 2015…
Risk: If fuel leaks from between the fuel sending unit and the tank, it may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit. The recall began on September 28, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
11 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Nissan Altima? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2013 Nissan Altima have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 640 of 1,400 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Altima concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Nissan Altima involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 in total: 15V486000 (fuel system, gasoline). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Nissan Altima years are better?
Among the Nissan Altima years we track, the 2021 (14%), the 2018 (21%) and the 2023 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (46%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2013 Nissan Altima?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2013 Nissan Altima has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.