2013 Nissan Armada Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Armada, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes833.3%
- Airbags312.5%
- Electrical312.5%
- Driver assistance28.3%
- Powertrain (other)28.3%
- Seat belts28.3%
- Suspension14.2%
- Body & structure14.2%
- Fuel system14.2%
- Other / unspecified14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
You have to press the brakes really hard and they are loose.
AS I WAS LEAVING WITH PASSENGERS FROM STORE WAS GETTING ON STREET HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE HIT SOMETHING FROM UNDERNETH VEHICLE. WENT AWAY AS TRAVELING WAS HEARING A SCRAPPING NOISE FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THEN GOT LOUDER LIKE SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO BUST LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING, SCRATCHING, POPPING. NOISE REAR PASSENGER
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
On March 12, 2022 the supplemental air bag warning light came on in my vehicle. Nothing new has happened. When I looked in my manual that came with the vehicle it stated it needed servicing. It is flashing intermittently. If not checked and repaired it may not function properly. I have not received any recall on this issue, however, this appears to be a manufacturer issue.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ARMADA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONTAL DRIVER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY TO FULL CAPACITY. THE CONTACT STATED HER WRIST WAS SWOLLEN, BUT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE HAD TO STOP DUE TO THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED SMOKE WAS SEEN EXITING THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHOM STATED THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE AIR BAG WAS REMOVED. THE CONTACT RECENTLY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V188000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEATING NISSAN (333 INTERSTATE 45 S, CONROE, TX 77304, (936) 230-5083) FOR RECALL REPAIRS HOWEVER THE RECALL REMEDY HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS UPSET THAT THE MANUFACTURER SEEMED NOT TO CARE THAT THE VEHICLE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The instrument cluster starts giving wrong signals which causes the car to either shutdown or not start randomly. for now a tap on the dashboard would help it start sometimes. it is a great safety hazard as if it shuts down on a dangerous road or if it wont start in dangerous areas, which happened with me multiple times while my kids were on the car, it could cause disasters. My car stayed at the dealer for 3 weeks, they were able to reproduce the problem, but they could not resolve the issue. they contacted the engineers in Nissan and no luck. the best they were able to do was guess it was the ecm. that is after they claimed it was the fuel pump and talked me into changing it, although I had a new aftermarket pump installed a month prior, and charged me over $1200 but after a search online I came across a video of an identical issue with a person who posted a video a year ago. in his case, the engineers suggested changing the instrument cluster. the care worked since then. At the time I was watching the video I was setting in my car that wont start. I tapped on the dashboard. it worked! there will be no warning signs for the issue. no pattern either. it happens randomly. it does not shut the car down as often. but the almost daily one is not letting the car start.
TAKATA RECALL THE BRAKES ON MY 2013 NISSAN ARMADA SV HAS FAILED AND FLOORED TO THE FLOOR. I ALMOST CRASHED MY CAR WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE BECAUSE I HAD NO STOPPING ABILITIES. I HAVE CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SIMILAR ISSUE ON VARIOUS WEBSITES PERTAINING THE BRAKES TO THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR. PLEASE HELP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS I WAS LEAVING WITH PASSENGERS FROM STORE WAS GETTING ON STREET HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE HIT SOMETHING FROM UNDERNETH VEHICLE. WENT AWAY AS TRAVELING WAS HEARING A SCRAPPING NOISE FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THEN GOT LOUDER LIKE SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO BUST LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING, SCRATCHING, POPPING. NOISE REAR PASSENGER
WAS TRAVELING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND TURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AS I WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN WITH VERY LIMITED BRAKING POWER. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS IN THE INTERSECTION AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WERE BOTH ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK. I PUMPED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND THE PEDAL STILL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I TOOK A PHOTO OF THE WARNING LIGHTS AND CONTACTED MY DEALER. I AM STILL WORKING THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS WITH THE DEALER. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE UNDER MILD ACCELERATION (FROM APPROX. 30MPH TO 40MPH) THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE FAILED, SPRAYING TRANSMISSION FLUID THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND CAUSING 1 OR MORE DRIVE BELTS TO SLIP FROM THE TENSION SYSTEM, AND WRAP THEMSELVES AROUND THE COOLING FAN SHAFT. THIS RESULTED IN AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN POWER TO THE VEHICLES DRIVESHAFT,, CREATING A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. THE FRICTION FROM THE BELTS BINDING BEGAN TO HEAT UP THE RUBBER, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, WHICH, WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID SPRAYED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED THE ENGINE IN FLAME. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE AS THE POINT OF FAILURE.
TWICE, WHILE I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT BEGAN TO ROLL. THE FIRST TIME I CAUGHT IT RIGHT AWAY AND IGRNORED IT. THE SECOND TIME WAS TUESDAY MARCH 11, 2014. I ARRIVED AND WORK AND PARKED. IT WAS DARK. PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND LIGHTS; WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, I COULD HEAR THE WIND RUSHING BY (I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT (VERY SLIGHT DECLINE.) ANYWAY, GOT BACK IN, SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT STILL MANAGED TO HIT THE BUSHES (SMALL TREES) IN FRONT OF ME. WHY AM I ABLE TO SHUT OF THE CAR IF IT'S NOT IN PARK LIKE IT SAYS? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's wife, who was occupying the front passenger's side seat noticed that the front passenger's side seat belt failed to retract as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that both the front driver's side and passenger's side seat belts had failed to retract as needed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a fee would be charged for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle owner's manual stated that the seat belts were covered under a lifetime warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the seat belts were not covered because the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 189,500.
I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN BUT THE LICENSE PLATE IS ILLINOIS G985474, A HERTZ RENTAL. SEAT BELT (LAP BELT) BOLT NOT ANCHORED TO ANYTHING FOUR ADULTS WERE IN THE VEHICLE, PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO A BUSY TOURIST HIGHWAY, WHEN THE PASSENGER IN THE LEFT SEAT IN THE MIDDLE ROW NOTICED THAT HIS LAP BELT WAS LOOSE, ALTHOUGH HE HAD "CLICKED" IT IN. WHEN HE TUGGED TO TIGHTEN IT, THE WHOLE THINK POPPED UP. WE STOPPED IN THE PARKING LOT AND CHECKED. WE COULD TELL PLAINLY THAT THE LARGE ANCHOR BOLT AT THE END HAD NEVER BEEN FASTENED DOWN, HAD NEVER BEEN SCREWED IN OR HAD NEVER HAD A NUT ON IT. IT WAS FREE. WE DROVE ON WITH THE PASSENGER USING THE SHOULDER STRAP. THAT SHORT DRIVE WAS THE ONLY TIME WE NEEDED SEATING FOR FOUR LARGE ADULTS DURING THIS RENTAL. I RETURNED THE ARMADA EARLY TO HERTZ AND SHOWED THEM THE PROBLEM. THE RENTAL AGENT TOOK NOTE OF IT. I TOOK GOOD PHOTOS OF THE BELT AND ITS DANGLING ANCHOR BOLT BEFORE RETURNING THE CAR. I CAN EMAIL THESE PHOTOS TO WHOEVER NEEDS THEM. I THINK THIS IS A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE WITH NISSAN, NOT ESPECIALLY HERTZ. I GOT THE IMPRESSION FROM NHTSA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THIS ISN'T A BIG DEAL, BUT I THINK IT IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS. WHY HAVE LAP BELTS IF THEY ARE NOT ANCHORED? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ARMADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE BRACKET ON THE SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,671. UPDATED 02/09/15*LJ UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ARMADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE BRACKET ON THE SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,671. UPDATED 02/09/15*LJ UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The instrument cluster starts giving wrong signals which causes the car to either shutdown or not start randomly. for now a tap on the dashboard would help it start sometimes. it is a great safety hazard as if it shuts down on a dangerous road or if it wont start in dangerous areas, which happened with me multiple times while my kids were on the car, it could cause disasters. My car stayed at the dealer for 3 weeks, they were able to reproduce the problem, but they could not resolve the issue. they contacted the engineers in Nissan and no luck. the best they were able to do was guess it was the ecm. that is after they claimed it was the fuel pump and talked me into changing it, although I had a new aftermarket pump installed a month prior, and charged me over $1200 but after a search online I came across a video of an identical issue with a person who posted a video a year ago. in his case, the engineers suggested changing the instrument cluster. the care worked since then. At the time I was watching the video I was setting in my car that wont start. I tapped on the dashboard. it worked! there will be no warning signs for the issue. no pattern either. it happens randomly. it does not shut the car down as often. but the almost daily one is not letting the car start.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS I WAS LEAVING WITH PASSENGERS FROM STORE WAS GETTING ON STREET HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE HIT SOMETHING FROM UNDERNETH VEHICLE. WENT AWAY AS TRAVELING WAS HEARING A SCRAPPING NOISE FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THEN GOT LOUDER LIKE SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO BUST LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING, SCRATCHING, POPPING. NOISE REAR PASSENGER
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .