Nissan Altima 2013–2018
5th generation (L33)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20267,204 complaints, 4,516 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 22,000 and 87,899 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 27 complaints (0.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,600
- 25%
- 22,000
- Median
- 58,947
- 75%
- 87,899
- 90%
- 118,150
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 624 | 13.8% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 159 | 3.5% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 145 | 3.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 139 | 3.1% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 118 | 2.6% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 144 | 3.2% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 163 | 3.6% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 147 | 3.3% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 161 | 3.6% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 167 | 3.7% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 169 | 3.7% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 147 | 3.3% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 212 | 4.7% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 202 | 4.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 212 | 4.7% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 161 | 3.6% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 219 | 4.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 166 | 3.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 149 | 3.3% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 124 | 2.7% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 132 | 2.9% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 89 | 2.0% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 62 | 1.4% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 67 | 1.5% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 82 | 1.8% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 56 | 1.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 68 | 1.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 24 | 0.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 39 | 0.9% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 26 | 0.6% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 38 | 0.8% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 11 | 0.2% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 11 | 0.2% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 9 | 0.2% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 12 | 0.3% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 5 | 0.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 7 | 0.2% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 6 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 14 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 27 | 0.6% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 7,204 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2018 Nissan Altima, and 4,516 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 22,000 and 87,899 miles. The median is 58,947 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (17.6% of complaints, typically around 67,000 miles), the exterior lighting (15.0% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), the airbag system (14.9% of complaints, typically around 22,000 miles).
16 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline67,000median 67,000 miles, middle half 39,000 to 88,000
- Exterior lighting80,000median 80,000 miles, middle half 51,000 to 103,000
- Airbag system22,000median 22,000 miles, middle half 3,500 to 57,000
- Problems owners could not categorise60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 34,000 to 83,000
- Suspension100,000median 99,950 miles, middle half 76,000 to 124,000
- Engine58,000median 57,893 miles, middle half 28,000 to 81,000
- Electrical system35,000median 35,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 64,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 1,266 | 17.6% | 67,000 | 39,000–88,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 1,081 | 15.0% | 80,000 | 51,000–103,000 |
| Airbag system | 1,073 | 14.9% | 22,000 | 3,500–57,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 616 | 8.6% | 60,000 | 34,000–83,000 |
| Suspension | 513 | 7.1% | 100,000 | 76,000–124,000 |
| Engine | 439 | 6.1% | 58,000 | 28,000–81,000 |
| Electrical system | 389 | 5.4% | 35,000 | 10,000–64,000 |
| Body structure | 303 | 4.2% | 50,000 | 23,000–78,000 |
| Steering | 246 | 3.4% | 21,000 | 1,000–73,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 229 | 3.2% | 55,000 | 27,000–80,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 58,947 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 17.6% of complaints (1,266 reports, 934 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,400 and 87,649 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 15.0% of complaints (1,081 reports, 546 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,144 and 103,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 14.9% of complaints (1,073 reports, 655 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 22,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,600 and 57,072 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 8.6% of complaints (616 reports, 331 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 34,500 and 83,000 miles.
The suspension accounts for 7.1% of complaints (513 reports, 348 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 99,950 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 76,000 and 124,100 miles.
The engine accounts for 6.1% of complaints (439 reports, 288 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,893 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 81,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2013 model year drew the most — 2,980 complaints — while 2018 drew the fewest at 321. The median year sits at 994.
That makes 2013 an outlier: roughly 3.0 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 16 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around latches and locks (5), the airbag system (4), the reversing camera and sensors (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 7,204 complaints filed against this generation, 332 reported a crash; 53 reported a fire; 307 reported an injury; 5 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 22,000 and 87,899 miles, with a median of 58,947. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the exterior lighting are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 67,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission (cvt) 2013–2018
CVT8 shuddering, hesitation, surging and premature failure — overheated fluid lets the steel belt slip on the pulleys and shed metal debris. Class action settled for MY2013-2016 Altimas with warranty extension to 84 months / 84,000 miles plus repair reimbursement; Nissan set aside $590.5M to extend CVT warranties from 5 to 7 years across ~3M vehicles.
Hood Latch 2013–2015
Secondary hood latch corrosion could allow the hood to fly open while driving; recalled on 2013-2015 cars.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2,980 | 2,153 |
| 2014 | 1,396 | 892 |
| 2015 | 1,201 | 674 |
| 2016 | 788 | 411 |
| 2017 | 518 | 218 |
| 2018 | 321 | 168 |
Recalls (16)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V315000 | 2021-06-30 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch |
| 19V654000 | 2019-11-11 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 18V915000 | 2019-02-05 | Structure:emergency:escape/Egress/Exit |
| 17V040000 | 2017-02-16 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch |
| 16V911000 | 2017-02-13 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification |
| 16V244000 | 2016-06-10 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification |
| 16V029000 | 2016-02-17 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch |
| 15V733000 | 2015-12-14 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper |
| 15V681000 | 2015-11-30 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification |
| 15V486000 | 2015-09-28 | Fuel System, Gasoline |
| 15V116000 | 2015-03-31 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch |
| 14V565000 | 2014-10-20 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch |
| 14V138000 | 2014-04-14 | Electrical System:software |
| 13V069000 | 2013-05-06 | Air Bags |
| 13V158000 | 2013-04-29 | Tires:temporary/Emergency Spare Tire |
| 12V494000 | 2012-11-12 | Suspension |
What owners reported
My car was driving perfectly fine in the morning. Car started fine later in the afternoon. It started jerking and not accelerating smoothly as i pulled out to the street. Then it stalled at the street. Restarted the car and everything seemed normal until i put it in gear. After only a few feet it stalled again. It…
2013 · Transmission and driveline
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…
2013 · 5 miles · Visibility/wiper
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. While parked, the contact noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing five times. The technician recalibrated the air bag sensor and replaced…
2013 · 5 miles · Airbag system
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning lamp was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician explained that the passenger's weight was not enough to activate the sensor. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle…
2013 · 5 miles · Airbag system
Built from 4,516 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page