2013 Nissan Altima Electrical Problems

Front passenger door lock actuator fails to unlock door when driver's, passengers or key fob to unlock is activated. All other doors (3) work as they should. This creates a safety issue as the door must manually be unlocked which during a panic situation may not be easily accomplished. I am in the process of having the mechanism inspected & repaired. Part failed with no notice. It may have failed earlier, but July '26 was the 1st I noticed.

NHTSA ID

11754114

Incident

Jul 5, 2026

Tire Pressure light is on but no issues with air pressure.

NHTSA ID

11697285

Incident

Sep 11, 2025

Shifter Lock does not release when brake is pressed. Unable to shift out of Park. Need to manually press the shift relesae override to shift.

NHTSA ID

11696486

Incident

Oct 26, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11605990

Incident

Jun 5, 2024

OCS System for Passenger Airbag is not working properly. Went to two dealerships and they said it was not covered under the recall 16V-244. I spoke with Nissan Consumer Affairs and they said that the recall was addressed in the past but was not able to provide when and where. The dealerships I go to for servicing do not have any history of the OCS ever being repaired which means that it was probably repaired sometime with the original owner. Assuming it was actually replaced in the past, with replacement, the part is still failing and not having reached the 15 year mark for the car or the actual recall itself is alarming.

NHTSA ID

11589325

Incident

May 17, 2024

Headlights

NHTSA ID

11571198

Incident

Feb 10, 2024

The headlights on low beam do not put out enough light to see what is in front of the car and I still have them. It is unsafe to drive a care with inadequate low beam lighting. Yes, dealer confirmed it but said 4/25/2022 was the last date to report the problem to have it replaced as part of the settlement. The dealerships are well aware of this problem. No warning, the lights just gradually got dimmer over time.

NHTSA ID

11513268

Incident

Jan 28, 2022

THE CAR STARTS GOOD ENGINE SOUNDS GOOD BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE THE CAR TURNS OFF

NHTSA ID

11456333

Incident

Mar 9, 2022

The airbag light came on the dash and stays on without the vehicle being involved in a crash. I took it to a shop to have it repaired and they stated it was a faulty airbag sensor.

NHTSA ID

11449671

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11449494

Incident

Dec 10, 2021

My 2013 Nissan Altima has serious electrical problems and continues to drain my battery, leaving me seeking alternative transportation to and from home, work, etc. The headlight low and high beams are dangerously dim! I have replaced the bulbs several times and the problems continues to get worse. I have seen litigation online with numerous people involved. I thought NTSB would have acted by now? I have also had numerous problems with the AC not working? I am getting estimates currently looking at a $2,000 problem. This car seems very unsafe and any action form your agency would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11441789

Incident

Nov 23, 2021

When a passenger sits in the front seat the airbag light on the dashboard indicates the airbag isn't armed. I have had a Nissan dealer "fix" it three times and it starts again in a few weeks. First time dealer said a connection came loose when the seat was adjusted. Same thing the second time and the third time they said they secured the connection. the light came on in a matter of weeks again . I will take the car back for a fourth time soon. I asked the dealer service rep if there were any service bulletins regarding this problem, he said there weren't any, I feel that I can't have the only car with this problem. Whenever there is a passenger in the front seat I worry about being involved in an accident and their airbag not deploying.

NHTSA ID

11435583

Incident

Dec 29, 2020

UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN ENGAGING FOOT BRAKE WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. SHIFT IS STUCK IN PARK. HAVE TO USE TOOL IN SHIFT LOCK RELEASE TO MOVE BETWEEN GEARS TO DRIVE CAR. I WAS DRIVING AND WAS STOPPED AT A RAILWAY CROSSING. PUT CAR IN PARK. ONCE TRAIN HAD PASSED I TRIED TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE POSITION AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. AFTER READING MANUAL I DISCOVERED THAT IF A FAULT OCCURS YOU MUST USE A TOOL ON THE SHIFT LOCK BUTTON RELEASE TO MOVE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11405963

Incident

Mar 13, 2021

Mileage

84,000 mi

REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES DUE TO DETERIORATION OF REFLECTORS. COMMON FAILURE ON THIS MODEL. NO NISSAN RECALL. SAFETY ISSUE WITH FAULTY LIGHTS. SINCE REPLACING BOTH ASSEMBLIES, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A BULB TWICE. GOING TO THE DEALER AGAIN BECAUSE OF LIGHT FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11397126

Incident

Dec 15, 2020

Mileage

65,000 mi

TRANSMISSION ON NISSAN ARE EASILY DAMAGED MY CAR START BUT DONT DRIVE I JUST PAID MY CAR OFF IN STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID

11396121

Incident

Feb 13, 2021

Mileage

10,000 mi

MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK.(SPEEDOMETER, GAS LEVEL, MILAGE, HOT/COLD LEVEL, ETC.) MY STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS DO NOT WORK (VOLUME BUTTON, MENU BUTTON, SOURCE BUTTON,CRUISE CONTROL, ETC.) MY AIR CONDITION/HEAT TEMPERATURE DISPLAY DOES NOT LIGHT UP. ALL THE FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND THEY ARE ALL GOOD. THE CONNECTION TO THE BATTERY HAD BEEN CHECKED AND THEY ARE GOOD.

NHTSA ID

11389623

Incident

Jan 18, 2021

Mileage

46,000 mi

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS. I FOUND OUT TODAY

NHTSA ID

11389475

Incident

Jan 22, 2021

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO USE DURING THE DARK AND TRIPLE THE CONCERN WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND IT'S RAINING. THIS USED TO NOT BE THE CASE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD!!! THIS HAPPENS WHETHER STREET DRIVING OR HIGHWAY DRIVING AND ESSENTIALLY MAKES ME HAVE TO USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WHEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER NATURAL LIGHTING TO HELP

NHTSA ID

11384750

Incident

Dec 15, 2020

Mileage

134,000 mi

THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARDS IS SOLID LIT WITHOUT A ADULT PASSENGER ON PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN THERE IS A ADULT PASSENGER ON THE PASSENGER SEAT

NHTSA ID

11384582

Incident

Dec 17, 2020

Mileage

89,000 mi

A/C WAS BLOWING HOT AIR WHILE DRIVING AND HOT AIR WHEN I CAME TO STOPS AND IDLED. IT'S ONLY FOR SOME CARS THAT HAVE AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL APPARENTLY. THE ISSUE IS THE AC COMPRESSOR CONTROL VALVE FAILING. PLEASE SEE THE YOUTUBE LINK FOR A BETTER EXPLANATION OF THE ISSUE/RESOLUTION: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/IDWEDXJENKO

NHTSA ID

11375426

Incident

Sep 14, 2020

WHEN IN THE PARKED POSITION AND IDLE, THE PRESSING OF THE SHIFT TRIGGER ON THE SHIFTER WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO SHIFT FROM PARKED TO ANY OTHER POSITION (IT IS STUCK) DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A SELENOID SENSOR NOT ACTIVATING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE SHIFTING TO TAKE PLACE. PLEASE SEE THE LINK OF THE YOUTUBE VIDEO TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUE/RESOLUTION: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=EU7VM2Y-7LY

NHTSA ID

11375417

Incident

Oct 1, 2020

CAR STALLING AT IDLE OR STOPPING. CAR STARTS THEN CUTS OUT, WON'T RUN. CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 3 DAYS NOW PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND CAN'T SEEM TO PIN POINT EVEN WITH FIXD OR OTHER DEVICES.

NHTSA ID

11338288

Incident

Jul 5, 2020

Mileage

45,000 mi

WARNING LIGHT SHOWS FAULTY AIRBAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE, VERIFIED BY DEALER. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. DRIVER'S SIDE CODE APPEARED RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR WAS MADE BUT WAS ADVISED THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER FIRST RECALL. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 2 YEARS AGO, AND I'M NOT PAYING UPWARDS OF $5,000 FOR YOUR ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327359

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

Mileage

50,000 mi

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATES FAULTY ELECTRONICS. BEGAN ABOUT 50,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT DUE TO MISUSE. IT'S COMPANION TO EARLIER RECALL FOR A FAULTY AIRBAG, WHICH WAS CORRECTED. REPORTED TO DEALER. COST ESTIMATE TO REPAIR FROM $800 TO $5,000 DEPENDING THE LEVEL OF DEFECT. OWNER BELIEVES THIS SHOULD BE NISSAN'S RESPONSIBILITY, AS IT'S NOT DUE TO NEGLIGENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327212

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THE PARK (P) POSITION WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN SHIFT LOCK ISSUE BASED ON SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AS WELL AS NISSAN OWNER TESTIMONIES. THE FAULT AS IT WAS EXPLAINED BY A NISSAN TECHNICIAN WAS THE SHIFTER SHORTS-OUT THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID WHICH ENGAGES THE UNLOCK FOR THE SHIFTER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. COST TO REPAIR THE ISSUE IS ROUGHLY $800 BY REPLACING THE SHIFT HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND THIS "REPAIR" IS DUE TO A FAILURE OF A LOW COST SOLENOID SWITCH. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE ACCOUNTABLE OF FAULTY DESIGN. ACCORDING TO NISSAN, THIS IS NOT A SAFETY OR DESIGN ISSUE, BUT WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE. HOPEFULLY NHTSA WILL REVIEW THE FACTS OF THESE COMMON OCCURRENCES AND DETERMINE IF IT IS INDEED WORTHY OF RECALL REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11322382

Incident

Apr 17, 2020

Mileage

111,800 mi