Nissan Altima 2013–2018

5th generation (L33) · L33 · 7,204 complaints, 4,516 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 58,947 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 17.6% of complaints (1,266 reports, 934 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,400 and 87,649 miles.

The exterior lighting accounts for 15.0% of complaints (1,081 reports, 546 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,144 and 103,000 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 14.9% of complaints (1,073 reports, 655 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 22,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,600 and 57,072 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 8.6% of complaints (616 reports, 331 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 34,500 and 83,000 miles.

The suspension accounts for 7.1% of complaints (513 reports, 348 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 99,950 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 76,000 and 124,100 miles.

The engine accounts for 6.1% of complaints (439 reports, 288 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,893 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 81,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2013 model year drew the most — 2,980 complaints — while 2018 drew the fewest at 321. The median year sits at 994.

That makes 2013 an outlier: roughly 3.0 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 16 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around latches and locks (5), the airbag system (4), the reversing camera and sensors (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 7,204 complaints filed against this generation, 332 reported a crash; 53 reported a fire; 307 reported an injury; 5 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.6% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 22,000 and 87,899 miles, with a median of 58,947. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the exterior lighting are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 67,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (16)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Nissan Altima 1993–1997
• Nissan Altima 1998–2001
• Nissan Altima 2002–2006
• Nissan Altima 2007–2012
• Nissan Altima 2019–2025