2013 Nissan Altima Body & structure Problems

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. This is a safety recall, and I believe Nissan is failing to provide the required no-cost remedy and is refusing to perform the recall due to a condition caused by the recalled part.

NHTSA ID

11711595

Incident

Jan 3, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11678592

Incident

Apr 10, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11605048

Incident

Jul 27, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11593532

Incident

Jun 5, 2024

Mileage

124,000 mi

The paint bubbles and chips off. Bad paint job on this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11593260

Incident

Jun 8, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11590974

Incident

May 25, 2024

Hello, I took my Nissan Altima into my local Nissan dealer for a hood latch recall on 11/13/2023. On 11/21/2023 at about 6:40 pm I was driving my car at a speed of maybe 45-50mph and my hood flew open hitting my windshield causing damage to my car, and scaring my son and I. I called the dealer the next morning and spoke to Anthony from the service department regarding this situation, and he stated a faulty latch could have been put on my car, causing this to happen. I sent pictures to him via email, and he advised that he would contact the director and call me back with an update. I received a callback within hours advising Nissan would cover the damages but I would need to contact consumer affairs to see which location could do the repairs as they were behind by 8 month at that location in particular and could not provide me with a loaner car. After a week of waiting for an update from a dealer to confirm repairs, I had the car towed to the Thomas Nissan of Joliet on 12/4/2023 as the car would not accelerate anymore due to the hard brake. As of today 12/18/2023 I have spoken to the service manager there and he advised parts came in but they do not have a date for repairs or approval on the acceleration issue and for now will only repair the body. I advised that I am extremely saddened by the way I am being handled after such a traumatic ordeal that could have been deadly or life altering. This recall was supposed to prevent this issue, and it only caused it. This recall hasn't done anything to fix the cars, and neither have three other hood latch recalls for Altima cars. Altima drivers are in danger from hoods that suddenly fly open while driving, and this situation just proves a problem. Nissan doesn't know how to properly repair it, and my car and I are proof.

NHTSA ID

11560640

Incident

Nov 21, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11548076

Incident

Sep 29, 2023

Mileage

125,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11518541

Incident

Apr 22, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11517956

Incident

Jan 3, 2023

While driving at 35mph on a city road the car hood flew up open & smashed into the windshield despite their supposed fix of hood latch spring being replaced & assembly lubricated by the Nissan dealership in Aug 2021 due to a Nissan hood latch recall (NHTSA recall 16V-029) in response to a class action lawsuit. At highway speeds, this would have seriously compromised human lives. In this case, neither the primary hood latch lever or fuel door release lever had been pulled open by the driver just prior to the incident; yet the hood flew open without warning. (Hoods have primary latches located inside the vehicles, then secondary latches located under the hoods. Primary hood latches in the cars are located too close to the fuel door latches that might cause drivers to accidentally unlatch the hoods instead of the fuel doors. Then once the primary hood latch is pulled in the Altima, the secondary latch under the hood fails to hold the hood down, allowing the Altima hood to open while driving.) No warning lights or messages came on. The car was not drivable & was towed to the Nissan dealership where it is currently pending repairs estimate $5234.58. At this time, Nissan Motors accepts no liability for this incident; clearly shifting the blame again. Nissan Motors has issued multiple (2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2022interim) hood latch recalls in response to this problem in various Nissan models 2013-2018, the most recent in 2022 (still in progress). Design and manufacturing defects allegedly cause the hoods to open while driving at any speed. According to the Altima class action lawsuit, Nissan blames the problems on multiple sources but still can’t properly repair the cars. The Altima hood latch systems are allegedly not strong enough to perform in real-world conditions and aren’t up to industry standards used for more than 100 years. The return springs are also allegedly too weak, as are the locking systems which prevent the hoods from securely latching.

NHTSA ID

11483502

Incident

Aug 28, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11436973

Incident

Oct 15, 2021

2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NHSTA SAFETY RECALL 20V-315. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS NECESSARY FOR THE RECALL WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11434661

Incident

Sep 28, 2021

On Sunday August 29th 2021 my hood came up while I was driving and broke the front window glass and damaged both sides of the side hood due to the latch not being secured and lose and not being applied the right way.

NHTSA ID

11432657

Incident

Aug 29, 2021

my 2013 Nissan Altima 4 door sedan hood is flapping on my car. If I go a certain speed limit the windshield will come up and hit my front window. Very unsafe and very dangerous for me and my 1 year old daughter. Thanks.

NHTSA ID

11419040

Incident

Apr 22, 2021

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE HOOD FLEW UP AND BUSTED THE WINDSHELD.

NHTSA ID

11398789

Incident

Mar 2, 2021

Mileage

100,298 mi

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY NEW YORK RTE 104 WEST IN WEBSTER NY AT 60MPH. THE HOOD LIFTED AND SLAMMED THE ROOF OF THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO SEE BETWEEN THE DASH AND JUST UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO RE-LATCH THE HOOD AND RETURN HOME. THE IMAGE ATTACHED IS THE FRAME FROM MY DASHCAM. YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE VIDEO HERE. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/C7ZUW9ZE-Z0

NHTSA ID

11397461

Incident

Feb 22, 2021

Mileage

158,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WOODHOUSE NISSAN (7801 NEBRASKA DR, BELLEVUE, NE 68005) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE AND THAT THE TURBULENCE WAS PROBABLY FROM ICE ON THE ROAD. TWO DAYS LATER HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. HER DAUGHTER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER SISTER'S HOUSE AND UPON INSPECTION, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE WAS TURNED INWARDS TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HAD A FRIEND INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHO DISCOVERED MAJOR CORROSION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHO THEN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE REAR CONTROL ARM AND ECCENTRIC BOLTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11387589

Incident

Dec 30, 2020

Mileage

77,000 mi

UNABLE TO SECURELY CLOSE THE HOOD AS PRIMARY LATCH WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED. FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURE ON THE RECALL NOTICE, BUT WHENEVER DRIVING ON A ROAD IMPERFECTION HOOD POPS UP TO SECONDARY POSITION. WE DO NOT TRUST THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

11384822

Incident

Dec 23, 2020

THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HOOD LATCHES OF THESE VEHICLES THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED BUT I HAD AN INCIDENT OCCUR WHERE MY HOOD DID FLY OPEN ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WHICH I HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO PAY FOR. I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE A NEW HOOD LATCH AND SECURE THE HOOD BUT THE DAMAGE IS STILL PRESENT, THE HOOD DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, THE FENDERS WERE PUSHED BACK AND DAMAGED....I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I COULD HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED AND POSSIBLY REPAIRED WITH NO COST TO ME DUE TO THIS RECALL? I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH ON A SECONDARY HIGHWAY WITH A GOOD DEAL OF TRAFFIC WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I STILL HAVE TRAUMA TO THIS DAY FROM THAT INCIDENT AND MY HOOD STILL DOES NOT LOOK PROPERLY SEALED AND WHEN I DRIVE OVER 60MPH I CAN SEE VIBRATIONS IN THE HOOD WHICH MAKE ME FEEL WITHOUT THE PROPER FIX, IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11384358

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

1)EXTREMELY DIM HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. DANGEROUSLY DIM AND HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE OVER 2 YEARS EVEN AFTER LIGHT BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE ISSUE. 2)HOOD WILL NOT CLOSE AND LATCH PROPERLY AS OF TODAY 12-14-2020 FOLLOWING STATIONARY ROUTINE OPENING OF HOOD. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. RECALL REPLACEMENT FOR LATCH HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED BY MAKER AS OF THIS DATE. RECALL WAS IN MAY 2020.

NHTSA ID

11383463

Incident

Dec 14, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2020 I WAS DRIVING AND THE HOOD OPENED UP, SLAMMED ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD. I LUCKILY WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THAT POINT AND PULLED OVER. THE HOOD IS DENTED, CHIPPED PAINT, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT UPPER FENDERS ARE BENT, AND HINGES ARE NO LONGER RELIABLE. THE RUBBER ON THE SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD LIFTED AND SEPARATION OF THE UPPER FENDERS ON BOTH SIDES ALONG RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. I WAS LUCKILY DRIVING STRAIGHT IN THE SUBURBS OF NY, NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

11383266

Incident

Dec 12, 2020

Mileage

55,000 mi

THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE SECOND LATCH OF THE HOOD ON MY NISSAN ALTIMA FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS NOW AND THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL ABLE TO BE USED HOWEVER, IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS IF THE LATCH ACCIDENTALLY GETS PULED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11376185

Incident

Nov 24, 2020

HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 6 MONTHS FOR RESOLUTION REPAIR TO THE HOOD LATCH, I AM LOOSING INCOME WAITING ON RECALL REPAIR

NHTSA ID

11373179

Incident

May 15, 2020

THE FLOORBOARD IS FULL OF WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THE CAR SMELLS AND MOLD IS STARTING TO FORM. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR FLOORBOARDS. IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11361129

Incident

Sep 23, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi