2013 Mazda Mazda6 vs 2013 Nissan Altima
Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.
2013 Mazda Mazda6
2013 Nissan Altima
Stories from the shop
These come from different vehicle segments, which means we're not declaring a winner here. The 2013 Mazda Mazda6 scores 4.1; the 2013 Nissan Altima scores 2.8. Different testing populations, different driving patterns, different categories of failure. Use the data below to understand what each one is good at and what each one breaks.
Going with the 2013 Nissan Altima? Watch the powertrain and airbags. The 2013 Mazda Mazda6 has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.
On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 6.5x higher on the 2013 Nissan Altima. That's the number to keep in mind when you're pricing the deal — a $2,000 difference in purchase price disappears the first time you're staring at a transmission rebuild.
Bottom line: these are different categories of vehicle. Pick based on what you actually need it for. We're showing the reliability data so you can factor in long-term ownership cost, not pick a winner.
Side-by-side by problem area
Common questions
Which is more reliable, the 2013 Mazda Mazda6 or the 2013 Nissan Altima?
Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2013 Mazda Mazda6 comes out ahead with a reliability score of 4.1 versus 2.8. The margin is clear, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.
What goes wrong more often on the 2013 Mazda Mazda6?
On the categories we tracked, the 2013 Mazda Mazda6 doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2013 Nissan Altima. Both have similar issue patterns.
What goes wrong more often on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
Compared to the 2013 Mazda Mazda6, the 2013 Nissan Altima has more complaints in powertrain and airbags. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.
Which has more recalls?
The 2013 Nissan Altima has more active recalls (4 vs 2). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.
Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?
Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $14,550 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.