RoadVitals

2013 Nissan Armada Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Jun 12, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4

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.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

You have to press the brakes really hard and they are loose.

NHTSA ID 11631887 · filed Dec 20, 2024

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

NHTSA ID 11279329 · filed Nov 11, 2019
All 8 reports naming brakes

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 11456468 · filed Mar 13, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID 11326045 · filed May 26, 2020

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.

3
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 11636231 · filed Jan 16, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID 11102885 · filed Jun 20, 2018

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.

2
reports

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

NHTSA ID 11279329 · filed Nov 11, 2019

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

NHTSA ID 10543422 · filed Sep 13, 2013

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.

2
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 10787663 · filed Nov 2, 2015

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

NHTSA ID 10569450 · filed Mar 14, 2014

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.

2
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 11666485 · filed Jun 12, 2025

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

NHTSA ID 10496511 · filed Feb 5, 2013

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10626297 · filed Aug 19, 2014

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10626297 · filed Aug 19, 2014

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.

1
report

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.

NHTSA ID 11636231 · filed Jan 16, 2025

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 11279329 · filed Nov 11, 2019

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

Data on this page last refreshed .