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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Nissan Altima powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Nissan Altima have filed 490 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 70,800 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
490
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Altima | 81 |
| 2010 Altima | 67 |
| 2011 Altima | 64 |
| 2012 Altima | 144 |
| 2013 Altima (this page) | 490 |
| 2014 Altima | 195 |
| 2015 Altima | 157 |
| 2016 Altima | 229 |
| 2017 Altima | 129 |
7crashes
1fire
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 490 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 18 model years of Nissan Altima we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 490.
Owners have filed 490 powertrain 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 powertrain 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.
DTC P17F0 OR P17F1 STORED IN THE TCM This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CVT JUDDER AND DTC P17F0 OR P17F1 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CVT JUDDER AND DTC P17F0 OR P17F1 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA âWRITEâ PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a transmission that fails catastrophically and without warning. The CVT either stops moving entirely, slips so badly the engine races without the car accelerating, or refuses to shift into gear. Failures happen on highways, at stop lights, and in parking lots—places where a disabled vehicle becomes a traffic hazard. Many report zero warning signs: no check engine light, no diagnostic codes, nothing until the transmission simply quits.
The shuddering and jerking start early—sometimes within days of purchase—but dealers dismiss it as normal CVT behavior. Over weeks or months, it escalates into violent shaking and grinding noises. Some owners describe the dealer service manager's private admission that Nissan knew about the problem and had no fix. After torque converter or transmission replacement, the exact same symptoms return within weeks or a few thousand miles.
Nissan issued a software reprogramming recall in December 2016 (PC490), but many owners never received notice. Those who did get the recall performed report transmission failure the very next day or shortly after. One owner's transmission pan was full of metal shavings—a sign of internal destruction—even though the fluid should have been sealed.
The worst part: there is no recovery. A 2013 Altima out of the 60,000-mile warranty gets no help from Nissan, even if you followed every maintenance schedule. Dealers hide behind "unable to duplicate" excuses while refusing to provide diagnostic records. Nissan extended the warranty to 120,000 miles on 2003–2010 models after a class action suit but explicitly refuses the same coverage for 2013 models.
Same Nissan Altima powertrain reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
CVT Transmission Failure - Complete Loss of Power
The CVT transmission fails suddenly, rendering the vehicle unable to move or maintain speed. Owners report the car stalls in traffic, loses power on highways, or refuses to engage gears despite engine running. Failures occur without warning and without diagnostic codes, making the defect difficult for dealers to diagnose and leaving owners stranded.
When: Typically between 39,000–90,000 miles; many occur after 60,000-mile warranty expiration, though some failures happen well within warranty period
Symptoms owners cite: Complete transmission failure with loss of drive capability; Car stalls at stop lights or while accelerating; Loss of power on highway; unable to maintain speed; Vehicle will not move forward or in reverse despite engine running; No warning lights or diagnostic codes present; Car dies suddenly, sometimes requiring multiple restart attempts before moving; Jerking and hesitation when shifting or accelerating
Codes mentioned: P2813, P0776, P0965, P0841
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required; not repairable. Replacement costs typically $3,200–$5,000 depending on dealer. Some owners report transmission pan filled with metal shavings, indicating internal failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan extended warranty on 2003–2010 CVT models to 10 years/120,000 miles. 2013 models not covered. Nissan issued TSB/recall (PC490) for CVT software reprogramming in December 2016, but recall did not prevent subsequent failures. Nissan refuses coverage for vehicles out of warranty or purchased used, cites warranty expiration and settlement of class action lawsuits limiting coverage to 7 years/85,000 miles.
CVT Transmission Shuddering and Jerking
Owners report violent shuddering, jerking, and vibration from the CVT transmission, particularly during acceleration, gear changes, or at idle. The shudder worsens over time and is often accompanied by a whining or grinding noise. Dealers initially claim this is normal for CVT transmissions, then later diagnose torque converter failure or internal transmission damage.
When: Symptoms begin as early as 400–900 miles after purchase and persist throughout vehicle ownership; often intermittent early on, becoming constant with mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shuddering and jerking from park when accelerating; Shaking felt through steering wheel and gas pedal; Vibration when coming to a stop or during speed changes; Shuddering at highway speeds, especially during acceleration; Whining or grinding noise from transmission; Transmission cannot smoothly shift into lower gears or engage gears at idle; Rough idle and hesitation during acceleration
Codes mentioned: P2813, P0776, P0965
Repairs/costs cited: Service includes TSB reprogramming, torque converter replacement (part of transmission overhaul estimated $4,000), or full transmission rebuild. Multiple owners report shuddering persists or recurs after initial repairs and dealer attempts to reprogram.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers initially deny problem, claiming shuddering is normal CVT behavior. TSB issued June 13, 2013 for CVT clutch engagement shudder; some dealers withheld this information from customers. Multiple torque converter and transmission replacements performed under warranty, but failures often recur after brief operation.
CVT Transmission Slipping and Loss of Acceleration
Owners report the transmission slips during driving, causing the engine to rev without the vehicle accelerating accordingly. The car struggles to reach highway speed, loses power mid-drive, and becomes unsafe on busy roads. RPM needle jumps while car fails to respond to throttle input.
When: Occurs at various mileages; commonly reported between 50,000–80,000 miles, often during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slips; RPMs spike without acceleration; Engine revs to high RPM while vehicle slows or maintains low speed; Loss of acceleration response; pressing gas pedal has no effect or delayed effect; Vehicle cannot maintain or reach highway speed (60–75 mph); Extreme lag when trying to merge or pass; Whining sound during slipping; Vehicle slows unexpectedly from highway speed to 10–40 mph
Codes mentioned: P2813, P0776, P0965
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required. Replacement costs $3,200–$5,000. One owner reported transmission pan full of metal shavings.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response or warranty coverage for vehicles beyond 60,000 miles or 7 years (based on settled class action). Nissan refuses to cover this as defect despite acknowledged CVT issues in earlier models.
CVT Transmission Failure to Engage or Refusal to Shift into Drive/Reverse
Owners report the transmission will not shift from Park into Drive or Reverse, or will only do so after repeated attempts, restarts, or use of the manual shifter override. This creates safety hazards when the vehicle needs to move quickly (e.g., in traffic, during emergencies).
When: Failures reported between 39,000–80,000 miles; often recurring issue
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission will not shift out of Park; Requires multiple attempts, restarts, or shifter override to engage Drive or Reverse; Delayed engagement when shifting into gear (1–2 second lag); Shifter locks and will not move; Must use emergency override screw driver release in center console; Intermittent failure; sometimes works, sometimes does not; Warning message 'key pad invalid' appears on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Shift solenoid or shift lock mechanism replacement may be attempted, but some owners report the issue recurs or persists even after dealer attempts to diagnose. Dealers often claim inability to reproduce the problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers unable to reproduce issue and refuse warranty repair or diagnosis. One dealer suggested spilled liquid in shifter mechanism would not be covered. No manufacturer guidance provided.
Hood Latch Failure – Flew Open During Driving
Following hood latch recall service, owners report the hood flew open while driving, striking the windshield and potentially causing injury. A dealer service manager stated a faulty replacement latch was installed during the recall service.
When: Occurred shortly after hood latch recall service (within days)
Symptoms owners cite: Hood flew open at 45–50 mph while driving; Hood struck and damaged windshield; No warning before hood release; Terrifying experience for driver and passengers
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield damage sustained; Nissan agreed to cover repair costs but delayed in scheduling repairs. Dealer noted faulty latch may have been installed during recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall service (hood latch) intended to prevent this issue but instead caused it. Dealer service manager confirmed faulty latch installed. Nissan authorized damage coverage but was delayed and overwhelmed with repair backlog (8 months behind at one location). Multiple hood latch recalls on 2013 Altima have not resolved the issue.
Intermittent Warning Lights and Electrical Faults Without Diagnosis
Multiple warning lights (check engine, airbag, brake, tire pressure) illuminate intermittently and then disappear on their own, with no diagnostic codes or fault found by dealers. Later, transmission failure occurs, suggesting an underlying electrical or computer control issue.
When: Warning light episodes occur over weeks to months; eventual transmission failure follows
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light comes on and stays for days, then clears without repair; Multiple warning lights activate simultaneously (engine, airbag, brake, tire pressure); Lights disappear without any service performed; No diagnostic codes stored in computer memory; Later, transmission fails with no prior warning; Car may shut off during light episodes; Dealers cannot explain the issue
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; dealers state computer is malfunctioning but cannot isolate the cause. Eventually transmission replacement becomes necessary.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan Corporate unable to provide explanation. Dealers state inability to diagnose without stored fault codes. No proactive manufacturer communication regarding known electrical issues.
Synthesized from 490 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The vehicle will stutter and sometimes stall when stopped and in drive. It is also often sluggish when accelerating. I have had it in for service a number of times, the most recent indicating it is likely a transmission issue and the CVT will need to be replaced. The issue started in spring, 2017, but has gotten worse recently. I have noticed there is a technical service bulletin associated…
Purchased car may of 2013, pre-owned certified and only 21000miles. From onset of ownership, brakes made noises, "cyclop brake light in rear window would blink constantly, dash lights would go from dim to bright all the time. The car would hesitate when leaving stop position, pushing electronic start button would not work often. Dealership always said that the situation could not be duplicated.…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 490 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 396 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 47,215 and 90,000 miles, with the median around 70,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,215; a quarter make it past 90,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.