Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that the wheels were misaligned and had detached. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a detached passenger's side rear lower control arm due to corrosion. The contact was informed that the passenger's side rear lower control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact was advised that due to the corrosion, the driver's side rear lower control arm would soon need to be replaced as well. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 124,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side rear control arm fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic confirmed that the control arm had fractured. The contact was informed that the control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000. The VIN was unavailable.
On [redacted], at approximately 5:00 a.m., my son was driving my 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL (VIN [redacted]) to work at approximately 55 mph when the hood unexpectedly flew open while the vehicle was moving. The vehicle had approximately 156,000 miles. The hood came up into his field of vision and significantly obstructed his view of the roadway, creating a serious safety hazard. Fortunately, he was able to maintain control of the vehicle. The incident caused substantial damage. The hood is bent, the frame/roof area around the windshield is bent, the sunroof is broken, and the interior overhead console containing the sunroof controls and lights is damaged and hanging down. After the incident, I learned that Nissan previously issued safety recalls involving the secondary hood latch on 2013 Nissan Altimas because the hood could open while the vehicle was being driven. …
My 2013 Nissan Altima SV is subject to NHTSA safety recall 16V-244 for a defective hood latch that can corrode, bind, or fail. I brought my vehicle to a Nissan dealership to have the recall performed. The dealership refused to complete the recall repair and attempted to charge me, stating they could not access the hood because the hood release cable is broken. The hood release cable failed as a result of the defective hood latch binding, which is the subject of the recall. Because the recall defect prevents normal hood operation, the dealer claims the recall cannot be performed unless I pay for repairs. Nissan Consumer Affairs and a regional specialist are relying solely on the dealership's statement and have declined to authorize recall-related repair, effectively leaving the safety recall unremedied. …
The hood flew open upon entering the freeway. Could not see anymore going 60 mph. Had to pull over and bend the fenders back to close the hood. Afraid this will happen again. The latch was recalled before this happened and the dealer sprayed it and said it was safe to drive which it was not. They said nissan would not cover any repairs that are now needed to the hood and fenders.
While driving on a highway at 65 mph, the hood of the car completely opened. When attempting to close it, The latch that holds the hood wouldn't hold it at all. There were no warning lights, when I called the dealership they said that because there were no recalls on it currently, they couldn't do anything. The hood completely blinded us and dented the roof and sides of our car.
My power steering somehow had a slow leak which caused steering wheel to lock on while driving. Also, when I turn it sounds like a clucking sound like something is wrong with my power train. When I drive my accelerator seems like it be taking its time to catch up to speed. I've done did so much mechanical work to this car and it seems like nothing is working.
While driving on a highway at approximately 65 mph the car seemed to lose traction and the slip indicator light appeared. Once able to safely look at the vehicle it was noticed the rear wheels were not aligned and the lower rear control arm had snapped.
I received a recall notice in the mail today for a defective hood latch. I called Bill Robertson Nissan in Pasco, Wa to set up an appointment to get the latch replaced. I was told that they are out of the parts that are needed to fix the problem.
I have contacted 2 dealerships about fixing the recall and nobody will call me back to schedule to fix. All they say is they will talk to the shop manager, and I never hear back. Now the hood is constantly stuck or not opening.
Body complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 134 complaints about the body & structure of the 2013 Nissan Altima, 6% of the model year's 2,313 complaints. The component named most often is body (105 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Nissan Altima body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2013 Nissan Altima, though it has 12 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Nissan Altima body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 2 fires and 7 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.