If you're shopping for a used Nissan Altima from 2013 to 2018, there's one thing you need to know before anything else: the continuously variable transmission (CVT) in these cars fails at an unusually high rate, often before 100,000 miles, and it's expensive to fix.
This isn't a minor inconvenience. It's the single biggest reason to be cautious about this generation of Altima — and it's the kind of information that should change whether you buy one at all, or at minimum, what you pay for it.
Nissan's CVT — built by a subsidiary called JATCO — uses a belt-and-pulley system instead of traditional gears. In theory, it's smoother and more fuel-efficient. In practice, the units used in the 2013–2018 Altima developed a pattern of failures including:
The NHTSA received thousands of complaints on this issue. Nissan extended the CVT warranty on some vehicles to 84 months or 84,000 miles after owner pressure — but that coverage has long expired on most of these cars now. If you're buying used, that protection is almost certainly gone.
A CVT replacement on a Nissan Altima runs $3,500 to $5,000 at most independent shops and $4,000 to $7,000 at a Nissan dealer. A repair or rebuild, if the damage is caught early, is typically $1,500 to $3,000. Either way, it's a significant hit on a car you likely paid $8,000 to $14,000 for used.
Marginally. The 2013 and 2014 models had the highest complaint volumes. The 2017 and 2018 models saw some improvement after Nissan revised the CVT fluid specification and software — but the underlying design was never fundamentally changed. None of these years are "safe." The 2019 Altima introduced a redesigned CVT that so far shows a better complaint record, but it's a different car entirely.
Outside the CVT, the 2013–2018 Altima is a decent car. The 2.5L four-cylinder engine itself is reasonably reliable. The interior, while not premium, is functional. Fuel economy is good. But none of that matters if you're stranded on the highway with a failed transmission at 85,000 miles.
Only if the price reflects the risk. If you buy one, get a pre-purchase inspection specifically focused on the CVT, check if any extended warranty coverage remains, ask for all maintenance records showing CVT fluid changes, and price it as if a transmission replacement is coming — because it might be.
Better alternatives at the same price point: a 2013–2017 Honda Accord, a 2014–2018 Toyota Camry, or a 2013–2018 Mazda6 — all more reliable transmissions, similar price range.