2013 Nissan Altima Steering Problems
Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2013 Nissan Altima, 4% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 23,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “control arm” (20% of reports).
- 94steering complaints
- 23,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 49%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Control arm: mentioned in 19 of 94 complaints (20%)
- Steering suspension: mentioned in 6 of 94 complaints (6%)
- Rear lower: mentioned in 6 of 94 complaints (6%)
- Whining noise: mentioned in 6 of 94 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 73 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 94 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Nissan Altima steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Altima | 5 | 12% | — |
| 2023 Altima | 1 | 3% | 5,300 |
| 2021 Altima | 7 | 10% | — |
| 2020 Altima | 13 | 8% | 2,500 |
| 2019 Altima | 3 | 1% | 9,750 |
| 2018 Altima | 12 | 5% | 36,700 |
| 2017 Altima | 16 | 4% | 20,525 |
| 2016 Altima | 16 | 3% | 45,500 |
| 2015 Altima | 48 | 5% | 14,500 |
| 2014 Altima | 58 | 5% | 16,304 |
| 2013 Altima | 94 | 4% | 23,000 |
| 2012 Altima | 17 | 4% | 26,358 |
| 2011 Altima | 12 | 5% | 72,000 |
| 2010 Altima | 20 | 5% | 64,000 |
| 2009 Altima | 859 | 56% | 80,000 |
| 2008 Altima | 37 | 4% | 72,000 |
| 2007 Altima | 17 | 4% | 70,000 |
| 2006 Altima | 15 | 2% | 69,000 |
| 2005 Altima | 31 | 3% | 85,000 |
| 2004 Altima | 11 | 4% | 63,000 |
| 2003 Altima | 13 | 1% | 110,000 |
| 2002 Altima | 15 | 1% | 35,000 |
| 2001 Altima | 5 | 3% | 119,971 |
| 2000 Altima | 3 | 2% | 84,000 |
| 1999 Altima | 2 | 2% | — |
| 1998 Altima | 3 | 2% | — |
| 1997 Altima | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1996 Altima | 3 | 3% | — |
| 1995 Altima | 1 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension; steering
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Altima vehicles manufactured from May 10, 2012, through July 26, 2012. These vehicles may have been equipped with transverse link bolts and power steering rack bolts that were not torqued to proper specification.
Risk: The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the bolts to the proper torque specifications. The safety recall is expected to begin during November 2012. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Heard a loud pop noise from the rear of the car while backing up, steering was unstable while driving. Looked under the car and discover the right rear control arm is broken.
Fuel System: Car hesitates and cut off after pumping fuel.\n' + 'Outer Tie rods torn rubber, vehicle never been realigned, but tires were worn on both front sides. \n' + 'Takata Air bag light has been on for over 2 years.\n' + 'Transmission over heats. Engine cuts back between 45 and 60 mph on the…
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the dealer had previously repaired the vehicle under Voluntary Service Campaign: P9324 (Rear Lower Link); however, the failure recurred after the repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Nissan Altimas have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 94 owner complaints about steering for the 2013 Nissan Altima (4% of the 2,313 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Nissan Altima steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 23,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2013 Nissan Altima?
The most frequent phrase is “control arm”, in 19 of 94 complaints, followed by “steering suspension” (6).
Other 2013 Nissan Altima problems
- Air Bags problems (514)
- Power Train problems (505)
- Exterior Lighting problems (442)
- Suspension problems (289)
- Electrical System problems (159)
- Engine problems (158)
- Structure problems (134)
- Latches/locks/linkages problems (60)
See all 2013 Nissan Altima problems or steering problems across all Altima years.