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).
I have taken the car to 3 mechanics for 4-5 incidents knowing that the mechanics were indeed certified in professionally fixing the issue. I was driving the car and made a proper left turn, yielding to oncoming traffic when suddenly the vehicle was unable to accelerate. The other car was approaching and I pushed on the gas as hard as I could to barely get it to move out of the way, luckily avoid a collision. The car died and will restart and drive another 11 miles, repeating the process. No mechanic has been able to properly identify the cause. Please understand, I could be that "lies" to individuals in order to sell the car, but do I really want to put another person's life at such a faulty incident? …
Unknown, but the issue is beneath the passenger seat where it seems a wire has shorted out and even became disconnected and i am unsure but pretty positive that it has something to do with the passenger side airbags because shortly after a diagnostic scan shows several airbag fault codes. Also since then my car's performance has changed and now i am receiving diagnostic trouble codes for different electrical components such as mas air flow sensor low voltage and its causing my car to stall at random times while driving and even on freeways. It also has caused my car to slow down while fully accelerating on the pedal. Very big safety concern as im driving on the freeway with my family in the car as well.
Sometimes when I'm driving the car starts idling as if I'm going fast that's how it sounds and I'm making a turn and it's sounds like it's accelerated but it won't go as much as I step on the gas it will not go so I got to pull over to the side wait for a little bit turn off the car and let it sit and then I'll go back tomorrow and it's every time this light turns on the dashboard with a car with the swively lines
Fuel System: Car hesitates and cut off after pumping fuel.\n' + 'Outer Tie rods torn rubber, vehicle never been realigned, but tires were worn on both front sides. \n' + 'Takata Air bag light has been on for over 2 years.\n' + 'Transmission over heats. Engine cuts back between 45 and 60 mph on the freeway. So we stop and allow it to cool off.
I was turning right to park my 2013 Nissan Altima and I pushed on the brake to slow down the car to stop and the car suddenly accelerated and jumped over the concrete curb stop. It continued to run upslope to the bushes and over three big rocks while I was trying to avoid hitting the fence in the front and braking it. I continued to press on the brake and the car continued to drive forward and I kept turning the wheel to the right to avoid a fence. The car ran over the curb stop of another parking space about five spaces on the right. The bolt in the concrete stop punctured my oil pan and the rocks ribbed off the plastic shields underneath. I was finally able to stop the car by pumping the brake and wind up in the opposite direction. I checked my foot was still on the brake. My car had approximately 43000 miles on the odometer. …
My vehicle stalled as I was going through an intersection. Would not start and I coasted to the side and had to get a tow. Check engine lite was on. No codes found. Car sat for a week and then started right up and drove fine. Check engine light turned off. Car started stalling again only when I put it into drive or reverse, and as long as I put it into neutral and gave it gas, then threw it into drive I would be able to drive it. Still no light on. Car drove semi good for a week or so, seemed to run a little rough but didn't stall out. A few days ago it started to not take gas and rev up on its own. I would start to go and the car would accelerate by itself. When I was on highway, or regular roads. Usually under 50 miles an hour. Tachometer would rev even though car didn't seem to go any faster. Then it just stopped taking gas all together. Now today it just stopped going. …
I bought my car in April 2016 I've had nothing but issues it chugs all the time on highway/city/county roads, and while turning left and right with cruze set or not. Every time I get in my car and try to shift it down from park it don't always shift or if I try shifting up it's like it sticks it has been fixed once already, when the heated seats are on low or high setting if left on longer than 5 minuets it gets burning hot. The steering wheel is also super loose my car has 82,000 miles on it I've had it for a year and a half and I've had so many issues including the air conditioning marquart motors out of chippewa falls wi refuses to return my calls (I bought the car from them they are useless and unhelpful ) I have a extended warranty as well so most repairs are covered thank god but won't be for long. …
While driving on street, the gas pedal will no longer provide power to the car and begin to slow itself down. I will push on the breaks briefly and try the gas pedal to see if it works and it will take a few times before it does. While on the freeway the vehicle again, gas pedal would no longer provide power to the car and begin to slow itself down. This has now happened 8 separate times to the car. It will work for a few days and then do it again, with out notice. No check engine light goes on. Second issue is, the steering wheel will also feel extremely loose, not during the same time but when my speed is over 70 MPH. Also, the check engine light nor any safety notices will go on. Lastly, the air bag light won't come off. The gas petal issue happened again on July 3th, 2020 and I decided to take it to get looked at. The dealer for a 5 point inspection and they found nothing wrong. …
I own a Nissan Altima 2013, and sadly I've more problems with this vehicle than any other I ever owned. The engine stalls when in notion and stationery. Sometimes it takes multiple tries to even get it started. The interior door handles on the both the driver and passenger side broke and had to be replaced. The air bag sensors had to be replaced. The hood latch had to be replaced. And the back brakes have been changed three times and it s still has a awful lengthy squeak which is very embarrassing. So say the least this is very disappointing considering I'm still paying over three hundred dollars a month for a car not and still have to come out of pocket for repairs that the extended warranty supposedly does not cover. Very disappointed with this purchase. All of these issues have happened over time and I'm still having issues to this day.
Check engine light comes on. Shop runs diagnostics and all systems, independently are working, however collective issue. I.e. Mass air flow sensor code reads as broken, but sensor is independently fine when tested. Multiple systems read out with error codes, but all are fine when tested separately to further analyze. No connection between multiple codes - random assortment. Vehicle fails emissions test due to these errors. Shop now states they have found tbs on this problem through Nissan & there is a part requiring a swap out. My vehicle has experienced this issue for 6+ months. Huge time & financial burden to bring car in & out of shop. Vehicle unable to get re-registered due to faulty computer system.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline
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.
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.
Fuel System complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2013 Nissan Altima, 2% of the model year's 2,313 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Nissan Altima fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-486 (fuel system, gasoline, Aug 4, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Nissan Altima fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 26% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries and 1 death to fuel & propulsion system 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.