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 WI…
2013 nissan Altima powertrain problems
moderate 490 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
490
Recalls
0
Crashes
7
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
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. …
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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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