Used 2013 Nissan Altima Consumer Reviews
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Java Is Just Great For Me!
Ed Friedewald, 07/19/2018
updated 08/01/2022
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 11/12 (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Java Mettallic is the color of my Nissan Altima SL and I love this car! Driven Toyota, Chevy, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Cadillac and this Altima is top of the heap! Came with Michellin Defender tires that were terrific for a quiet ride! Handles easily, easy to drive, convenient for most stuff in the trunk. Great mileage on long trips too as we get 30-38 mpg depending on terrain and speed. Bose sound system with 6 speakers has dynamite sound. Currently 93k miles and still no problems. Simply do required maintenance, including changing the tranny fluid. Yes, the CVT transmission is a bit grumbling, but it doesn't affect the performance of the car. Mine will accelerate as quickly as most cars I've owned. Only downfall that I've noticed is that it's low profile makes it a little bit harder for this senior to get in and out of. Otherwise, a simply great car and I have no plans for trading it anytime soon! Now it's July, 2019 and this car is still running great! Haven't had to change the serpintine belt, or any other major components of the engine yet! Air is cold, heat is hot, power, heated seats and power windows intact..Leather seats look hardly sat in for 100k+ miles! Getting around 36 mpg on the highway..All things considered, I couldn't expect more from ANY CAR ON THE ROAD! July 2020-- This Altima still runs like a top! 115,000 miles and continued with routine maintenance, changing oil and transmission fluid, completing a recall on the rear springs recently...Haven't even had to change spark plugs or the serpentine belt yet! Leather is wearing better than 90% of cars on the road and haven't replaced any sensors or had any computer problems either..Doesn't burn any oil and has only very minor door dings..Looks and runs exceptionally well !! NEW UPDATE: January 2021 on my 2013 Nissan Altima SL This car is still performing and looking great with 121K miles! Consumer Reports expected this year model of the Altima to be average. At least that was my perception of their report, that I read AFTER buying this car... Turns out this car is surprising the crap out of me! I've kept accurate maintenance records for it and have the original sticker in pristine condition. I've replaced ball bearings in front. There was a recall for the rear axle springs, completed. I've changed plugs on it... I've also replaced front rotors.and done regular maintenance including changing tranny oil at EACH 60K mile interval....That's ALL that's needed to be done in over 120K miles... The leather has barely noticeable wear and the floors remain pristine, covered for protection. Secondary motor for power seats, working normally...Trunk is spotless and roomy. Transmission is a CVT type and it accelerates cleanly and gets up to speed quickly. Passing vehicles or joining a highway at traffic speed is easily done. The Bose sound system rocks the ride! Sirius XM makes it even better... Folks- All you have to do to take care of your car is perform routine maintenance and treat the car with respect and it will last forever! January 29, 2022 UPDATE! My java metallic colored Nissan Altima SL now has 139,000+ miles on it and still runs like a top! The ONLY maintenance I've had to perform on this car is routine like oil changes, tire rotations,, windshield wipers, transmission flush and refill, new tires, and a new windshield..Outside of that I've had wheel bearing assembly replacement on front end, new front rotors, cabin filters and that's it ! I've always been sure to change what needs changing within the time frame and mileage necessary. Still love this car and it looks great inside and out ! Why Consumer Reports gave it a low rating, I'll never know. It still gets 36 mpg on the highway, and rides with ultra comfort and style.....The ONLY thing this car lacks is navigation and since we don't travel near as much in our advanced age, we don't need it... Final word is that we still love this car as much as when we first took it home and have no plans on trading it anytime soon! Latest update July 31st, 2022 I am saddened to report that in a driving thunderstorm I drove my 2013 Altima SL into a light pole on a parking lot and totaled it… Now I’ve driven a Cadillac Eldorado, A Toyota Supra, a Ford Gran Torino, a Hyundai, Kia and others and THIS car is the ONLY car I’ve ever missed out of the bunch! Several publications warned me that this particular model would give me problems with the CVT transmission. I read an overwhelming number of negative testimonials about it. But MY Nissan Altima SL ran like a top from the first day I brought it home new off the lot! I replaced ball bearings and rotors and brake pads, but other than that, I simply kept up with regular routine maintenance and it performed outstandingly well !!! When I wrecked it, the car had 142,000 miles on it and I’m almost certain it would have gone another 100,000+ miles…. I have since purchased a 2022 Nissan Rogue SL and have most bells and whistles on it with navigation, moon roof and front wheel drive… Happy travels!
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Love the POWER!!!
cvtfan, 10/11/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I simply love driving this car! The POWER in the 3.5 Altima is great, and CVT makes it even better. After test driving the new Camry SE V6, which in my opinion is very ugly on the outside, and was more money for less equipment, I decided to go with the new Altima. Remote start, push start, Navigation, and the seats are also extremely comfortable.
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Great Car
husker14, 08/31/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 11/12 (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Purchased the 2013 Altima 2.5.SL a week ago. So far the car exceeded all my expectations. Traded in a 2007 Camry Hybrid and very pleased with over all MPG (33.8), only 1 MPG less than the hybrid. Altima also drives much better than the Camry with a very solid feel and tighter steering response. I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone in the market for a midsize sedan. My only complaint is there is no compartment to store loose change.
Tranny, brakes, bearings...what's next?
Mike Alumbaugh, 01/01/2016
updated 01/03/2020
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 S 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
Congratulations Nissan you built a car with the reliability of a Fiat. In less than three years and just over 36,000 miles we have serviced the transmission 3-4 times (I've lost count), had it brought in for brake noise (screeching) at least 4 times, and just this week the bearings in both rear wheels had to be replaced. The brakes still squeal but they won't do anything about it because it isn't "that bad." They reconditioned the surface of the rotors, re-shimmed the pads and replaced the pads 9 months ago. I warned them then that I knew this was only a temporary fix and that I was concerned that they would get noisy again once the warranty expires and that is exactly what has happened. A few months before that they shimmed the pads which made it better temporarily. The disk brakes on every other car I've owned have not been anywhere close to this noisy! Unless I change the pads and turn the rotors to sell it it will easily affect the value of the car and then I am only passing this problem along to the next owner. The tranny has the shakes. It has been reprogrammed, the alternator was replaced because supposedly the voltage was affecting the timing of the tranny, and most recently a vale body was replaced. The oscillation problem is better for now but my wife had it buck again last week just not as bad. Now we have a vibration at about 72-73 MPH that is reportedly "engine harmonics" that resonates through the body of the vehicle. None of my other cars (including the Fiat) have ever had "engine harmonics" ring throughout the car. Their claim that this is acceptable is ridiculous. Their competitors do not have this problem. I am highly concerned that I have more bearing issues in the future. Being the Director of Operations for a manufacturer I know what a rogue lot is. We bought this car because of it and Nissan's reputation as being a good product and company which may be true, but that hasn't been our experience. IF YOU DO HAVE PROBLEMS expect nothing but pushback from Nissan. Update: 7/3/16 sold the Nissan Altman, bought a Honda Accord, problem solved. A year later and we have no such problems and no "engine harmonics" with the Honda and it also has a CVT. Update 1.3.2020 still driving our Honda and still love it. Just routine maintenance to this point.
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I love my Altima!
Sandra Hoecker, 03/22/2016
updated 09/25/2017
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
After 21 years of Hondas (which I loved), I bought an Altima because it had attractive exterior style (Accords & Camrys are pretty dull) & the CVT had been in use long enough for the bugs to be worked out. I'm retired so am no longer a high- mileage driver but I tool around town daily. I have never had a single problem, even a minor one. I'm not overly pleased with the mileage (which I calculate & is below what the dash calculator computes) but that may be due to my short city trips. Everyone who has driven my car comments on what a pleasure it is to drive. I just want a nice car that ALWAYS runs since I'm a 1-car household. The Altima has exceeded my expectations. UPDATE: The brake fluid leaked completely leaked out at around 20,000 miles. I've never had that happen before, in spite of over 50 years of car ownership. Repaired at dealer but was surprised it was not very expensive. ($200+/-) No other problems since.
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Vibration
sum2, 04/21/2014
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Whole car vibrates/shakes at 1900RPM. I have replaced alternator & belt in regard to this issue but nothing has happened. Car still vibrates. Nissan technician told me it is normal because of CVT. well you didnot tell me that when I was purchasing the car. This is a major issue and NIssan is not even considering it as a problem. They do not have a solution fir it yet. I strongly advise all the potential customers to stay away from this car until they resolve the issue.
Handles like a Go-Cart!
David Oliver, 09/10/2016
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
At 41 mpg I got on a 700+ mile trip you get about 700 miles to a tank of gas. I almost did the whole round trip without buying gas! The car I rented had pretty loud road noise, but I attribute that to the tires and the fact that the rental agency had pumped them all up to 42 pounds. The doggone thing cornered like a rabbit and was very fun to drive. Most of the time I felt I was creeping along, but was doing at least the speed limit. It was so comfortable to me that I drove the entire trip and never shuffled around in the seat. I hope to purchase a 2013 or 2014 soon as the newer models come out.
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Very impressed-SMOOTH
jasonbum, 08/16/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I am very impressed. This is my first Nissan and have owned many cars including BMW, Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Lexus and most recently Mini. I would most closely relate this 2013 Altima with Lexus. It is the 2.5 s but if I didn't know it was a 4 cylinder, I would sweat that it was a 6. The transmission (CVT) acts seemlessly with the engine and feels like one unit. After hearing many negative reports about Nissan's first CVTs, I was a little worried. This is an improved version of the CVT . Power is available at any speed without the typical transmission that needs to hunt for the right gear. Bluetooth is standard. What I can really say about this car is that it is incredibly SMOOTH.
2013 Altima 3.5SV
oxman3, 01/08/2014
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I cannot understand all the criticism of the CVT tranny. I just purchased it on Jan 1, 2014 & it is as near perfect as you can get. I have driven it in a hard acceleration mode as well as normal driving & I cannot even tell when it shifts, & boy when I get on it, it really goes. No hesitations or quirky little hiccups. The paddle shift is neat, but I don't use it. We live in the mountains & the driving is up, down & all around & we are already getting 27 MPG on it. For a large V6, this is excellent mileage. I fully expect to get over 30 mpg on a trip. I do not know anything about the 2.5, but if you purchase this vehicle, I highly recommend the 3.5. This is a great car.
My worst purchase
sandypines1, 01/19/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Purchased my Altima August 2012, thought that I had purchased a great car. I had owned two cars with CVT transmissions and have had a good history on how they work. This car has a serious problems, it shudders and vibrates and according to Nissan, this is a normal function.I think that they know that there is a problem and say this is normal. I would suggest that any future buyers of a Altima forgo the purchase.
Do not buy a Nissan without researching the CVT tr
Dan, 03/31/2016
updated 04/02/2018
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
My 2013 Altima left me stranded in traffic on the highway because of the CVT that Nissan knows is a problem. Wish I had known before I bought one. Never again. Update as of march 2018. My opinion of Nissan remains the same. No admidtion there is a problem. Its a disshonest company i will not do business with.
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Unreliable car and customer service
lilen, 11/29/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I purchased a brand new 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV The "red" break light came on within 125 miles, I took to Nissan service station where they said a minor problem " one of the electrical plug was loosely fitted but no mechanical defects - safe to drive". Trusting him I took the vehicle and started driving where the break light came on intermittently, repeated in 500 miles, on top of that the phone error window totally blocked the GPS. Luckily, I was driving in a known street where GPS was not necessary but imagine if driving would be in a busy unknown place. I brought the car to the service station where the senior mechanic told me that it was a software problem, which needs to be upgraded.
Love it But, Not Dependable
txgreg61, 03/10/2014
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
13 of 16 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2.5 SV in October 2012 and issues began within a few days of purchase. The car is comfortable and responsive for a 4 cylinder. The first 2 issues were a vibration when the engine was under a load and the other was some electrical issues. The driver side door lock would actuate repeatedly without my doing anything and the window would go half way down or up then return any time I pressed the button. The passenger side air bag warning light stayed on much of the time. After 18 months and 27,000 miles, the electrical issues persisted, the alternator went out and so did the transmission. I replaced it with a 2013 3.5 SL and within a week the transmission started acting up.
Wonderful so far
mtpete, 09/06/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
Replaced a 2012 Maxima, which had seats that caused physical pain like I've never experienced. Thankfully the new seats in the Altima are terrific. The car seems solid and well thought out, overall. Excellent ride quality, acceleration, and handling - although it feels a bit soft compared to the Maxima. Fit and finish are excellent for the price point. Engine is very powerful, and the CVT is flat out amazing. Fuel economy is exceptional. Bose stereo is good. Backup camera is a great feature. Best air conditioning I've ever experienced - you could store meat in the car on 100 degree days. The leather is soft (surprising at this price point!) and the zebra wood grain trim is nice.
Noisy Tranny
radar22, 01/03/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Just returned from a 2500 mile trip to Fl and while mileage was not as good as my 10 Camry and not as good as expected, I still averaged 37 interstate driving. Fell in love with the seats and was able to get out of the car after 2 or more hours of driving feeling relaxed. Can't believe they can make that much difference. Have read all comments about this vehicle and agree with most, positive and negative. Noise issue with power steer whistle was finally resolved after complaining numerous times. Unfortunately not the transmission noise which is annoying. Service tech says its due to trying to get max gas mileage. If that's the case they missed their mark. Have buyers remorse due to this!
DO NOT BUY
pmz3, 11/09/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
25 of 33 people found this review helpful
I'll keep this simple.... 1. Replaced transmission with less than 4000 miles 2. Replaced entire sunroof assembly immediately after multiple attempts to fix 3. whistling wind sound addressed twice now 4. multiple attempts to fix an "axle cap" which was not seated properly at the factory Got up to my 30 days in the shop under the lemon law in three months. Not too good. Either poorly designed or poorly put together. You wanna take a chance at finding out?
Great Vehicle but need some Updates
pprince, 05/22/2014
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I've a 2013 Nissan SV which is a great vehicle and i love it. I wasn't a fan of Nissan vehicle but the new design gave me a push in buying it and also giving it a surprise gift to my lovely mom. The vehicle is fun to drive, with its great interior features and liability. Everything is top of class for its own level compared to other vehicle such as Honda, Toyota. Despite that, i think a few things needs to be made such as the Brake Light System & Air Bag System. The Air Bag System is finally fixed & i'm glad the dealership saw that i wasn't creating stuff up. Next fixing should be the Brake Light System because I've changed my Nissan 3 times. Other than that, vehicle is Awesome.
34K and still great!
svalent2, 12/09/2014
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Overall its a really great car, I've only needed regular maintenance. The pep is there when I need it especially when merging onto highways or zooming around idiots in the city that don't use their signals. I average about 29.5 with all city and about 33 mixed. Very comfortable and lots of storage space. I have experienced the "shutter/vibration" of the transmission, about 3 times since I've had the car (34k miles btw) at about 40 mph coasting for about a minute long. Its very distracting and doesn't feel too good during that minute but its so rare that it even happens that it doesn't bother me too much. If it happened all the time I could see why some would trade it.
Buyers Remorse
cltking, 03/15/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This car is pretty amazing! I fell in love with it when I first saw it. When it was time to buy, I narrowed my two choices down to the new Accord and this Altima. I ultimately chose the altima.I regret buying a this car. The CVT engine is the main problem. It shakes and shudders when you accelerate off the line. I did my research and from my understanding., CVTs are suppose to be smooth sailing. They are suppose to hold their RPM steady until you apply a diffrent amount of pressure on to the pedal. When I accelerate, the rpm goes up to about 2000 then it drops down to the 1000's and i feel a shock/shutter. Until nissan fixes this car's engine, DONT BUY THIS CAR! The value of the car willdrop
Great car
Christian Lopez, 05/31/2017
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 2dr Coupe (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought this model 2 years ago, used, 2013 with 35,000 miles on it. I took it down to Florida twice from the north Midwest and so far I haven't had any issues with the car. I just do normal maintenance at my local Nissan dealer and they make sure the car gets done everything that needs. So far I just have changed my brakes and flush my fluid brake system. No problems with the engine, transmission or electronic system. So far I love my car, I only wish that I could get the 3.5 instead of the 2.5, also the 3.5s come with the sunroof, which I love but besides that I love my car.
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DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR CVT TRANSMISSIONS
Lee Ann Rankin, 03/22/2016
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought my Altima with 32,000 miles on it and it wasn't 6 months later it died while in drive! I had it towed and after being sent to 2 dealerships, they concluded nothing was wrong with the car. Through the 2 years I've had it, my Altima has done this several times until finally one day it completely died in drive again. Luckily, I was at a gas station. I had to have a complete transmission, sensor, and programmer put in plus towing bills, which totaled to $4,400.00....Nissan needs to own up to there [non-permissible content removed] transmission problems and recall them all with reimbursements!
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3rd Altima and the Best
flightnurse, 12/09/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
As the title says, this is our 3rd Altima and by far the best. We have 3400 miles on the car and have taken a trip in the car and are still amazed on the overall design, and comfort this car has. The MPG has been stealer, combined we are averaging 33, and on our trip to California we got 38 on the highway. No trips to the dealer and no mechanical problems.
CVT reliability issues are real, but over-blown
Greg, 06/04/2019
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
There is no doubt that Nissan (Jatco) CVT transmissions are less reliable than top-tier conventional transmissions, but when you look at the industry wide statistics, they are actually fairly average in reliability. The thing that first takes NIssan CVT owners by surprise is the way that the the car automatically downshifts when going down hills. It is a little disconcerting at first, but it provides automatic engine braking which is a good thing. It automatically downshifts immediately when going uphill. The transmission gear ratios seem to be controlled by accelerometers which are quite sensitive to changes in the pitch of the vehicle. One major issue that keeps getting blamed over and over for transmission vibration and shake in many 2013's is an alternator which lacks a one-way clutch. The root of the issue is a long serpentine accessory belt which is susceptible to resonating at around 1300 - 1500 RPM's. I replaced the alternator on mine from a 2014 Altima (with the freewheeling clutch) and the vibration problem was greatly reduced. Some others have also reported a resonance in the forward part of the exhaust system which can be fixed very easily. Overall my Altima has been a joy to own and drive. It is easily one of the best cars I've ever owned. It has 110,000 miles on it and still feels tight and rides great. The only real maintenance I've done on it is to replace brake pads and rotors plus regular oil and filter changes. I recently bought a 2017 Camry SE and quite frankly it feels like a step backwards in ride quality and interior comfort. The Nissan zero-gravity seats absolutely blow the Camry seats out of the water. The Camry transmits much more harshness from potholes and highway expansion joints into the cabin than the Altima does. Part of that difference could be due to the tires, but overall the Altima seems to have less harsh suspension. They Atima is a better balance between handling and comfort and I slightly prefer the steering feel on the Altima. A minor annoyance on the Altima is the electrically boosted power steering which does make a noticeable whine that is constantly changing in pitch. It is really only noticeable when sitting in traffic and driving very slowly. Once up to normal driving speeds, you can no longer hear it. I have also experienced the occasional blue-tooth drops outs. but it only seems to affect media playback and not phone calls. Fuel economy is a huge selling point for the Altimas. I easily get over 40 mpg on long trips and also get 36-38 mpg of mixed (by mostly highway) driving back and forth to work. That is a mileage figure than the Camry lags far behind on. Unfortunately the resale value of Altimas drops much faster than Toyota or Honda, and for sellers that hurts, but for potential buyers it is fantastic. The only other issue that pops up occasionally is that the Nissan intelligent key seems to lose its programming. Once you discover the procedure for reprogramming it yourself, it is a 30 second fix. Even when the intelligent key loses its programming it never leaves you stranded. If you simply press the start button with the keyfob itself it is guaranteed to start every time.
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A solid average car
Mike Smith, 08/27/2018
updated 09/13/2021
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The Altima does what you'd expect it to do, it gets from point A to point B. It does this without any extra special anything, except gas mileage, that I would say is it's most redeeming quality...which is a big one and the main reason I bought the car. I have 136K on it, so I've spent a lot of time behind the wheel. I have replaced the rear brakes and I'm about to replace the front...yes the rear wore through first. I have also replaced, the door handle, yes the door handle broke from the inside...it's plastic in there I'm told. The largest replacement cost was the A/C compressor...over $1000, so that's offsetting all those fuel gains. So if you are looking for a car that just gets the job done, you've got a good candidate here. 193K on the clock now, still a good average car
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Wish I would'nt have purchased until Nissan worked all of the bugs out.
barrylewisl, 02/04/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car nearly a month after it was first released. I have been a loyal Nissan customer for the past 3 years when i purchased my first altima a 2010 model.I loved the new luxurious redesign and had to get behind the wheel of one. I like to call it now My "Beautiful Nightmare" Because it has been one thing going wrong after the next since week 2. By week 2 the brakes were squealing terrible and after 5 trips and 5 months later its still present. Also i began to notice a jingling noise, it was a screw that came loose and rattled on the engine cover. That noise has came back, not as loud. Also the starter hangs up and recently started then shut off on me twice this week. Lemon!
CVT Transmission Failed
Sydney Leigh, 09/26/2018
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
My 2013 Nissan Altima SV 2.5L at 100K out of no where stalled at a red light. There were no warning signs, and no problems prior. Went to the dealership and was told that the CVT Transmissions are junk, and that the torque converter is seizing up. Don't worry though, Nissan makes sure that neither the dealer or consumer can replace this part, without replacing the entire transmission. Their design does not allow for the converter to be replaced, which means a brand new transmission must be put it. I cannot believe Nissan only put the extended 120K warranty up to 2010, now I am out thousands of dollars with a car that does not run.
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PROBLEM CAR
jagger2, 05/23/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
Please do your research before you purchase this vehicle. I have been a loyal Nissan customer for nearly 20 years and have owned several Nissan vehicles. Didn't think twice about what could possibly go wrong with a brand new Altima. Basically relied on my experience which was my huge mistake. The vehicle just had too many defects. First the whining noise and shortly after, brakes made a loud slapping noise, the fuel slosh, screen goes blank and not to mention the rubber burning smell. Addressed all of these with Nissan and even filed a complaint with BBB and MD General Attorney. Nissan did absolutely nothing other than write a response stating everything was normal. Do your research first
Defect defect defect!
1unhappycus, 02/11/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
Disappointed from day 1! Got car & had more miles than expected! Paint defects. Who lets a brand new car get to a customer with stickers Under Yes under the paint? Brake light comes on, shutter from transmission getting worse every day, mileage on gas upon fill up changes, sensor in seat never always shows no one is in the seat, heated seats do not work properly, annoying noise from electronic steering getting louder, paint peeling off front bumper= been painted 4 times! Yes & the paint is peeling AGAIN! Went to dealer to get out of this car & they want me to lose 4,000.00. Ha Nissan are you kidding! Wouldn't the news love to see the defects in all these reviews! Shame!
Real Clunker
JasonE, 12/09/2015
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Nothing but constant repairs with no support from Nissan. I bought this car three years ago and my entire dashboard just went out. I took it into the dealership and they told me I was three months out of warranty and stuck me with a $1000 repair bill. Nissan won't claim responsibility for the defect even though having your speedometer go out in the middle of driving is clearly a safety issue.
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Very unhappy and frustrated
nothappynissan, 08/07/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SV 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I bought my new 2013 Altima about 3 months ago and it's been in the service dept 3 times. My car vibrates terribly. They first said it just needed a computer upgrade or something and that should fix it. It didnt. I took it back and they determined it needed a new Torque Converter and that would stop the vibration. It didnt. I took it back a 3rd time and they said my back right rim was oval and replaced it with a round one and that wouldfix it. It didnt. Each time they hooked it up to their computer, contacted "Tech line" and stayed in touch with Nissans regional office for further instructions. It's still not fixed. Now nissan is telling me it's normal and that's it!? I'm not sure what to do
Read the reviews before buying or leasing
rboas1, 04/02/2013
updated 04/02/2016
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
The 2013 Altima is a science project from Nissan that the consumer is leasing or buying unknowingly being stuck with a car that has major flaws, one being the CVT chattering issue that Nissan claims is normal. It is like having a manual transmission and attempting to start off in 3rd gear, doors that rub against the lower side panels during cold weather (dealer repaired after 2 days in the body shop), whining noise coming from power steering, blind side warning lights that come on within the cabin at random during rainy days. These issues are reported on any site that reviews the 2013 Altima, but the Nissan rep claims it is the first time she has heard of them.
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2nd review after more miles. Still Junk and getting worse...
bradhenson, 02/06/2014
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 S 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
The 2013 will probably go down in history books of how NOT to build and market a car. The transmission still isn't working right (2 dealer trips as of today, and still won't admit to hearing a clattering noise coming from transmission billed as being unusually smooth), but lets make some impressive titanium paddle shifters that don't turn with the wheel (stupid). That will take their minds off all of the clattering and squeeling under the hood. I honestly hope someone steals this car for (crappy) parts. It's pretty on the inside and outside, but it has the character of worn out old truck. Pathetic. Really
Please. Everyone goes to NSTHA to complain
zxpatric, 04/20/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 13 people found this review helpful
Good and Bad. Good exterior, good seat, ok price. Bad driving train, but wasn't it the most important part of a car? It vibrates violently at RPM 1200~1800, pain to drive since it is mostly used RPM range. It doesn't happen to 2012 Altima rented, so a regression for 2013. I am disappointed also at Nissan's slow reaction to this well-known issue. Two new cars test-drived later at dealership had the same problems. So came on, Nissan, do it back to 2012, ok? 2013 Altima owners, please do ourselves a favor to file complaint at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/index.xhtml
2013 Altima
acoustic58, 11/09/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 11/12 (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 19 people found this review helpful
I bought this car based on its high marks for overall quality of past Altima's. the new design is what sold me. I bought the 4 cylinder SL with all the bells and whistles. This car is right on the door step of going back to nissan. It has already had 2 recalls. The next recall will be related to a belt that was put on the first group of Altimas that did not fit which is causing extra noise on acceleration. There is now a high pitch squeal that Nissan knows about coming from the power steering motor that Nissan is calling normal. For $30,000, it is not normal. Anyone that has one of the first 2013's have them check that belt because mine needed to be replaced.
Constant Transmission problems from day 1
Bill N, 09/25/2015
2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl CVT)
11 of 15 people found this review helpful
I own a 200- Nissan Altima that I had pretty good luck with that my kids drive so when the time came I bought a brand new 2013 Nissan Altima again with the 3.5 liter engine. Almost from the beginning I would get a shudder in the car around 2000 RPM's when the car downshifted. When you press on the gas it goes away. If you come around a corner at 10-15 miles/hour and step on the gas the car downshifts and will shake all the way down the street until you step on the gas. The dealer replaced the transmission and it was fine for about 2 months. One day I turned a corner and went up a slight incline and it started again. I took it back to the dealer and they reprogrammed it which did nothing. Each time I bring it in they cannot get it to do it and say there is nothing wrong. After a long day of driving it will do it repeatedly and violently. The car only has 20,000 miles on it at this point and I don't have time to run 45 minutes away to a dealer every time it is shaking. It is very frustrating that Nissan acts like this is not a systemic issue when on line the complaints are consistent and frequent. I have filled out 3 surveys from Nissan asking to be contacted and never heard back. I like everything else about this car but if the transmission does not work correctly, the car is junk. After 2 Nissans I will never buy another one. Not sure what the issue is with this company, but making quality cars is no longer a priority.
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Lemon
jsara, 08/01/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
First off this is my first AND last Nissan. I've had my 2013 Altima in for three sets of brakes, the Aux has never worked, the speakers rattle at a volume of 12 and the CVT transmission is a piece of junk and now needs replacing as there was metal found in the fluid by the dealer, nice. I paid $24k for this thing and have not been happy with it at all. The 38 mpg is complete b.s. I drive literally all highway miles and this thing hasn't even come close. An utter failure for Nissan.
Check Consumer Reports before Buying!
Disappointed, 08/03/2016
updated 02/05/2018
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
I purchase a "certified used" 2013 Altima ten months ago, without a warranty. Being a little old school teacher, I've only driven it 6,000 miles in that time. It has been in the shop five separate times for repairs: Alternator replacement, serpentine belt replacement, radiator replaced, A/C condensor just went out, and two vehicle recalls. Being the former owner of a 2008 Altima, which did not have a single problem, I placed my faith in the reliability of the product without checking Consumer Reports for the 2013 version. Check the report; the 2013-newer Altima's consumer rating are inferior to older versions. I absolutely love the style and comfort of this car, but it looks like Nissan has lost me as a customer with its poor dependability and expensive repairs. Update 10 months later: Car was totaled after being hit by a drunk driver. Though disappointed with the mechanical liability of the car, I can attest that the safety features on the car saved our lives when impacted at a high speed with a DUI driver head-on. Though I am not sorry about the loss of the car, nor the constant repairs, I was impressed with it protecting me and my passenger at the time of collision.
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Bad transmission
Wanda, 03/14/2016
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
2013 Nissan altima transmission is no good they need to do a recall on the transmission. I brought my car last year it had about 54,000 miles on it now i have to replace a transmission on it.
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DON'T BUY!!!!
markv25, 02/08/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought my new Altima 4 weeks ago and have had problems with the car ever since. First, I ve had to go to the dealer 3x for a faulty seat sensor light that they can't seem to fix. Second, don't believe the gas mileage on the car. I can't seem to average 29 mpg. The car seems to be fun to drive at first but then it gets boring. Plus, the noise the engine makes when you accelerate gets annoying. The speakers are supposedly Bose, but they sound like crap. I really wish I had bought another car.
pleased with purchase...
Rod Moniz, 12/16/2018
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
2013 Altima - 293,000 miles tomorrow (12/17/18)….can't complain too much....
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Superb car
bkups, 09/30/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 11/12 (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I own 2013 Altima SL model. I purchased it a month ago, and I have 1200 miles in it. Loved every mile driven on it. Ride is so comfortable and handling is very easy. I feel steering wheel steady even at freeway speeds. I never had Altima in my mind when I was looking to purchase a car. I was going back and forth between Camry for roominess and Civic for gas mileage. I happen to notice Altima since the Nissan dealer was right next door to Toyota. I noticed the rich exterior/interior look that was lacking in Camry. I also noticed that Altima had a nice MPG ratings and is comparable to Civic on this. These factors tipped me in favor of Altima. I average around 32.5 MPG so far.
Excellent Car
altiman33, 09/12/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
With the exception of the boring interior design, this car is excellent, and even the interior is what you would expect from a mid-range sedan. The features that come standard on the SV model blew me away. I'm very pleased with leather-wrapped steering wheel, display screen and back-up camera! Looks great, drives smooth, comfortable to drive and good fuel-economy!
to small for the big guy
pappyd314, 09/08/2012
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan w/Prod. End 11/12 (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Deceptive mileage rating. While traveling back home from Florida - 1,100 mile trip - I set the cruise at 70 and the MPG rating showed 40+MPG. When I pumped gas and used my calculator, I actually got about 35MPG. My Ford Taurus does this also but the actual mileage is usually only about 1 mile less than that shown on the car readout. The Altima, while getting good mileage, is not as great as everyone thinks. Don't be fooled by the car readout, check the mileage yourself. Make sure to fully top off the tank as this may make a big difference.
It's ok but keep looking.....
tmw1207, 03/06/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I leased a 2013 Altima after returning a 2010 Camry...the noisy engine is driving me nuts! It doesn't last the entire time but upon acceration it is noisy and shaky like an old car. I didn't notice as much during the test drive but I really hate this car... I hate it. I now wish I bought out my lease with the quiet, reliable Camry. The acceration on the car is good and the value is good- the design is great, it's a nice machine to look at. The lighting is poor. The driver seat is comfortable after you manuever every which way to make it so... Passenger seat cant be adjusted as much and is horrible. If you can handle the noise go for it...it's not SO BAD but it's a deal breaker for me.
A very bad choice.
terryboots, 10/08/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
We purchased a 2013 Altima the month they were released. The good: Great ride, great seats, excellent climate control, fuel economy, generally good controls. The bad: Transmission failed at 13k. For months we were told the jerking and shuddering was normal, then the trans failed completely. Wind noise. Paint easily scratched/marked. Engine is noisy esp under light acceleration. CVT transmission is annoying, acts like the old 2-speed "Powerglide" in Grandma's Impala. It's either revving like crazy or so low the engine lugs. Nissan was good about replacing the transmission (this time), next time who knows? Accord, Impala, Fusion, Camry are all better options.
2013 Altima after 5 years then after 7 years
david shank, 01/09/2018
updated 07/11/2022
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Newer models now come with back-up cameras, USB ports, and other amenities. Sound of CVT tends to bother some people but I have no problem with it, it runs great. Factory equipped with synthetic oil, keep using it. "Zero-gravity" seats are among the most comfortable seats I've found. Hands-free phone is via Bluetooth from your cellphone thru speaker system. I hear the connected party just fine, but occasionally find I am not as clear to them, the commands occasionally require repeating, there must be a placement issue with the microphone inside the car. I would buy this one again. Update: At almost exactly 6 years, I was driving on a long trip when I pulled up to a traffic light and stopped. When the light changed and I started, the engine died. It would restart easily, but every time I put it into gear, it would stall. Towed to a service facility, they could not find any error codes anywhere. They started it and shifted to reverse, it went "clunk", then ran normally. I drove it home (400 miles) without issue, put it in the shop, and couldn't find a problem. Over the next 9 months, it had 5 or 6 instances of running rough and coming close to stalling, but still ran. Each time, no codes, the dealer found no problem. Finally, just before turning 7, it was running rough again when I delivered it to the dealer, they decided it needed a transmission fix, which they did. A month later, it started acting up again, so I traded it in for a 2020 Altima. I'll find out over the next 7 years if that was a mistake. Update: It's 3 years later and there is nothing more to report on the 2013 Altima, that one's gone and will never be seen again. It's replacement, a 2020 Altima SL, has been performing flawlessly thus far, although it only has 40k miles on it. Any further reviews will be on the 2020.
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Kudos to Edmunds
new_style, 03/17/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Using the pricing information and buying advice on Edmunds.com I purchased a 2013 Altima SV with the convenience package/wheel locks/lojack/floor mats for the crazy low price of $23,967 out the door (included taxes and all fees). True Value Price was $24,251 before taxes, Dealer fees, and DMV fees. If there was a photo option I would post it because I couldn't believe it either. I did have to walk out on one of the dealerships that said they could match the price but they dinked around for an hour offering me less equipped cars...so I left. Don't hesitate to leave...stick to your guns. If I had given in on that they would have back peddled on everything else.
2.5SL
milestoaspen, 01/17/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I traded my 2011 Altima SL for the 2013. I fell in love with the comfort and the drive. Big difference from 2011. Now that I have had the car 5 weeks and 1800 miles there are a few things Ive noticed. The heated seats(which Im having looked at 1st oil change) dont work correctly. When on high only the butt heats(hot) and when you hit low switch only the back heats. They dont work in tandem, nor do they regulate heat high to low. Ive noticed the CVT rumble which was not present in my 2011. I also notice you hear the gas rolling around in the gas tank sounds like a thump when you stop and the tanks half to full. Not sure if the used any baffles.
MPG not as Advertised
mpgreview, 11/20/2013
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
The major issue is that we are getting 23 to 25 MPG in the City and no better than 30 to 32 on the Highway. This falls far short of the rated 27/38 that is heavily promoted by Nissan. I did a lot of research on this before buying to make sure there werenÂt any issues with stated MPG. I donÂt believe anyone is getting over 27 in the city unless they are doing a lot of coasting. Nissan has looked at the vehicle 3 times and as of the last visit said they also got 23 MPG but found no mechanical issues with the vehicle. The dealer recommended that I contact Nissan Consumer Affairs. They said that temperature and using the A/C will reduce MPG. Car should be rated for 25/30 at best.
CVT Transmissions absolute junk.. Failed @60K
Chip C, 05/26/2018
updated 06/03/2024
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
My 2013 Nissan Altima was a dream to drive for 4 years, then suddenly at 68,000 miles the transmission started shuddering and needed replacement. I take impeccable care of my vehicles and paid attention to all recall and TSB’s to follow manufacturer recommendations. The CVT software update succeeded in getting the transmission past Nissan’s 60,000 mile warranty period but did not fix the problem. Despite contacting consumer affairs and pointing out that nearly every model year of this transmision had been recalled except this particular model (simply becuase they haven't been sued enough, yet), they refused to acknowledge the problem or cover any portion of the repairs. Now a $4,500 repair is all on me. More than 10 years of producing these transmissions and they still don’t have it right. They know they are junk but refuse to do anything to address it. Absolutely unethical fraud. I will never buy another Nissan.
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