ABS/VDC CAN DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Nissan Altima brakes problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Nissan Altima have filed 25 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 37,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Altima | 18 |
| 2010 Altima | 10 |
| 2011 Altima | 8 |
| 2012 Altima | 10 |
| 2013 Altima (this page) | 25 |
| 2014 Altima | 13 |
| 2015 Altima | 17 |
| 2017 Altima | 7 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 25 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES and CLAIMS INFORMATION sections have been revised. No other changes have been made. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013-2017 ALTIMA AND 2014-2017 ROGUE; MIL ON WITH DTC P2004 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM MIL is ON with P2004 (INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER CONTROL VALVE POSITION SENSOR) stored. And There are no drivability issues. ACTION 1. Remove the intake manifold. 2. Replace the intake manifold runner control valve position sensor. 3. Re-install intake manifold.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has compiled Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) and Low Tire Pressure Warning System (LTPWS) information for: - Basic diagnosing of TPMS/LTPWS systems - Radio frequency interference causing a "No Data" (C1708, C1709, C1710, C1711) condition - Sensor leaks - Moving TPMS/LTPWS wheel assemblies from one vehicle to another and TPMS/LTPWS sensor registration - Air pressure changes with altitude and ambient temperatures - Aftermarket tire sealers - Aftermarket wheels - Inflating/deflating tires with TPMS/LTPWS sensors See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN: 2013-2015 ALTIMA, MURANO, ROGUE(T32). CONFIGURATION MUST BE PERFORMED ON THE SELECTED VEHICLES WHEN AN ABS CONTROL UNIT IS BEING REPLACED. UPDATED 9/10/15.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Altima brake system shows a consistent pattern of failure across 25 complaints. Squealing and grinding occur within weeks of purchase—even brand-new cars—and continue after multiple rotor resurfacing and pad replacements. Dealers variously blame normal operation, dirt accumulation, or recommend premium pad upgrades (Pro Stop), yet the noise persists. Several owners report taking vehicles back three to five times within weeks or months with no lasting fix.
The brake warning lamp illuminates randomly while driving and remains on until the car is restarted; dealership computers detect the event but cannot determine the cause. Owners report low brake fluid and at least two cases of brake pedal failure during low-speed maneuvers—one traveling through a parking lot, another at 25 mph—where the pedal bottomed out and braking failed until the emergency brake was applied.
Hardware failures appear in the reports: one owner found a broken caliper bolt during routine brake service; another experienced a caliper coming loose and grinding the wheel during highway braking. Early brake wear is documented at 1,300 miles, 27,000 miles, and 34,000 miles on new vehicles. One used-car owner experienced five separate brake service visits across 40,000 miles, with repeated squealing after each intervention.
Same Nissan Altima brakes reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Brake squealing and grinding
Persistent squealing and grinding sounds during braking or reversing, often starting within weeks of purchase and continuing despite multiple pad and rotor replacements. Dealers have variously attributed it to normal operation, dirt accumulation, or pad type, with no consistent resolution.
When: Early ownership (within 2 weeks to 3 months for new cars; early after purchase for used cars); occurs at any speed
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitched squealing described as 'nails on chalkboard'; Grinding noise during braking or reversing; Squealing triggered by applying brakes or backing up; Noise worsens when brakes are hot
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors resurfaced multiple times; brake pads replaced repeatedly with different materials (OEM, aftermarket, Pro Stop premium pads); dealers advised owners dirt caked under pads or normal operation; problem persists after upgrades
Brake warning lamp illumination
Red brake warning lamp illuminates while driving at normal speeds, sometimes intermittently. Dealers report computer detects the incident but cannot diagnose root cause. Fluid level may be slightly low but not critically. Lamp sometimes extinguishes after engine restart or vehicle sits.
When: Typically within first 3–6 months of ownership; occurs randomly while driving at 45 mph or any speed
Symptoms owners cite: Red brake warning lamp illuminates during driving; Lamp remains on after engine restart; Lamp extinguishes after vehicle sits several hours; Occurs in various driving conditions (highway, city, uphill, downhill)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership confirmed parking brake fully released; brake master cylinder fluid level checked and found slightly below maximum; rear brake lamps functioning normally; no repairs performed
Brake pedal loss of pressure and low fluid level
Brake pedal goes to floorboard when depressed, causing delayed or failed stopping. Occurs at very low speeds (5–25 mph) or during parking maneuvers. One incident involved rear brake and caliper failure; another brake warning lamp correlated with low fluid. Multiple repairs attempted with limited documented success.
When: One incident at ~200 miles; another at 25 mph during routine driving at 153,242 miles; early in ownership for multiple vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels to floorboard with minimal resistance; Vehicle fails to stop in timely manner; Loss of braking power on low-speed maneuvers; Brake fluid slightly below reservoir maximum
Repairs/costs cited: Rear brakes and calipers replaced in at least one case; one vehicle coasted to stop using emergency brake; new owner required tow to dealership; rear brake failure required component replacement
Brake caliper bolt failure and loose hardware
Brake caliper bolts fracturing or coming loose, with one incident involving a bolt broken off on the caliper bracket during routine inspection. One complaint describes brake caliper detaching and grinding into wheel during highway driving.
When: Detected during brake pad replacement inspection; grinding incident occurred after applying brakes on expressway
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise after applying brakes in traffic; Brake caliper separated from mounting bracket; Caliper bolt broken off during inspection; Difficulty engaging transmission after caliper issue
Repairs/costs cited: Broken caliper bolt found during brake pad replacement; caliper came off wheel and required inspection; dealership service located issue; no documented OEM warranty repair noted
Premature brake wear and failure at low mileage
Multiple accounts of brake system failure or required complete brake jobs at very low mileage. New cars required front and rear brake replacement at 1,300 miles; another needed pads/rotors replaced multiple times between 65,600 and 105,139 miles in less than one year.
When: As early as 1,300 miles on new car; 27,000 miles; 34,000 miles; 37,000 miles; 47,000 miles; 153,242 miles on used vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Brake system requires full replacement very early in vehicle life; Repeated brake pad and rotor replacement within short intervals; Brake thumping and squealing returning after repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Full front and rear brake job at 1,300 miles on new vehicle; rotors resurfaced multiple times; brake pads upgraded across different materials; one used vehicle required three rotor resurfacing events and five separate mechanic visits in 40,000 miles
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2013 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 25 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 12,872 and 62,000 miles, with the median around 37,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,872; a quarter make it past 62,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.