RecallMyCar

2013 Nissan Altima Recalls, Complaints & Specs

12 safety recalls list the 2013 Nissan Altima, and owners have filed 2,312 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

12
safety recalls
2,312
owner complaints to NHTSA
63 / 9
complaints citing a crash / fire
25–31
MPG combined (EPA)

12 safety recalls for the 2013 Nissan Altima

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 20V315000 Reported 1,831,818 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a stronger release spring in the hood release lever, a warning label near the secondary hood latch, and an Owner’s Manual addendum card with instructions on how to…

  2. Occupant classification (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V911000 Reported 757 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. An incorrect Occupant Classification System…

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

  3. Occupant classification (air bags)

    NHTSA 16V244000 Reported 3,296,947 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express,…

    Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano,…

  4. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 16V029000 Reported 846,000 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

    Remedy: These vehicles were previously included in recalls 14V-565 and 15V-116, however the previous remedy plan may not have been performed consistently to remove the safety risk. To correct this issue, Nissan will re-notify…

  5. Occupant classification (air bags) and air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 15V681000 Reported 919 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control…

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

  6. Fuel system, gasoline

    NHTSA 15V486000 Reported 46,846 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified the agency on July 31, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 18, 2015. On October 14, 2015, Nissan expanded the recall to cover an additional 41,388 vehicles, including certain model year 2013-2015 Altima 3.5…

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit. The recall began on September 28, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

  7. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 15V116000 Reported 625,400 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel. In addition, dealers will clean and…

  8. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 14V565000 Reported 220,423 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to February 28, 2013. In the affected vehicles, interference between the hood inner panel and the secondary latch lever, in combination with debris and corrosion, may cause the secondary hood latch to bind and…

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will be instructed to modify the bend angle of the hood actuation lever to eliminate potential interference with the hood inner panel. In addition, dealers will clean and…

  9. Air bags: frontal and software (electrical system)

    NHTSA 14V138000 Reported 989,701 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat…

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

  10. Temporary/emergency spare tire (tires)

    NHTSA 13V158000 Reported 123,308 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan North America is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima vehicles manufactured March 21, 2012, through March 26, 2013. The spare tires may have been significantly over- or under-inflated.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and adjust the spare tire pressure, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 29, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

  11. Air bags

    NHTSA 13V069000 Reported 82,038 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

  12. Steering and suspension

    NHTSA 12V494000 Reported 13,919 vehicles potentially affected Nissan North America, Inc.

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Altima vehicles manufactured from May 10, 2012, through July 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper specification.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at…

2,312 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2013 Nissan Altima have filed 2,312 complaints with NHTSA; 63 describe a crash and 9 describe a fire. Reports cite 48 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 63,419 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 484 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“On XXX, at approximately 5:00 a.m., my son was driving my 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL (VIN [XXX]) to work at approximately 55 mph when the hood unexpectedly flew open while the vehicle was moving. The v”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 21, 2026 · Structure

“The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the headlights were very dim, making it difficult to see while driving at night. Th”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 18, 2026 · Exterior lighting

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2013 Nissan Altima (Altima Coupe). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined25–31 mpg
City / Highway22–27 / 30–38
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars, Subcompact Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.5/3.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6)

Compare Nissan Altima model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Altima model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1993 Nissan Altima1122
1994 Nissan Altima2106
1995 Nissan Altima3180
1996 Nissan Altima092
1997 Nissan Altima1108
1998 Nissan Altima0123
1999 Nissan Altima087
2000 Nissan Altima1160
2001 Nissan Altima1159
2002 Nissan Altima51,047
2003 Nissan Altima4883
2004 Nissan Altima1276
2005 Nissan Altima11,091
2006 Nissan Altima3824
2007 Nissan Altima3471
2008 Nissan Altima41,030
2009 Nissan Altima41,547
2010 Nissan Altima3381
2011 Nissan Altima1241
2012 Nissan Altima4426
2013 Nissan Altima122,312
2014 Nissan Altima81,114
2015 Nissan Altima10954
2016 Nissan Altima4553
2017 Nissan Altima3391
2018 Nissan Altima2226
2019 Nissan Altima7232
2020 Nissan Altima6158
2021 Nissan Altima270
2022 Nissan Altima030
2023 Nissan Altima029
2024 Nissan Altima141
2025 Nissan Altima27
2026 Nissan Altima01

Checking a specific 2013 Nissan Altima

How do I know if my 2013 Nissan Altima has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 12 campaigns currently list the 2013 Nissan Altima; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 12V494000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Nissan models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.