Transmission shudders during acceleration, generally between 1st and 2nd gear thus hesitation occurs when entering higher speed lanes.(I.e. a momentary hesitation in power during acceleration)

- Charlotte, NC, USA

When I started the car in the morning the car would not get out of parking tried several times to turn of car and start car to see if it get out of park and it would not. Had to insert another object in manual shift release to get car into gear and drive. Called dealer they said it is unknown if covered. Took it to the dealer they looked at it and said it is not covered and the part is over a month away. I have seen several other cars have the same issue.

- El Centro , CA, USA

When I test drove and purchased my vehicle, everything seemed great. It was a very short test drive though. Not even 1month after buying the car, I have problems with it. I noticed the suspension and steering to be not as tight or responsive (diminished) and also notice a lot of wander in the font end and understeer/oversteer. Along with the suspension and steering problems came the transmission shutter. At lower speed acceleration (approx. 25-40mph), there is a shutter or jumpy feeling. Took the car to Nissan multiple times to fix the problem and has yet to be done. My service tech has been able to duplicate all the problems, but Nissan tech line refuses to fix anything because "it is up to Nissan standards". in order for them to even begin to replace or work on anything, it has to meet certain circumstances (basically jump through hoops), even though it is a known problem with the car and has been duplicated by one of their own techs. I have contacted the BBB and have started arbitration to get this matter resolved. This entire ordeal has cost me time off work and about a total of 4weeks without my car.

- Commerce City, CO, USA

Was driving down the road and the car just went dead. The steering was difficult as I am 18 and not very strong. I was unable to get from the highway which was very dangerous. After research many people are having the same problem which I feel is a safety hazard. This has been going on since 2003 and Nissan has not remedied the issue.

- Cantonment, FL, USA

Vehicle has a shudder when decelerating from 65 to 60. Has progressively been happening more often. In addition to the shudder at higher speeds, it now has started to shudder and lack response at lower speeds at random. The gas mileage has dropped at least 5 mpg since all of these issues started. I have taken to Nissan service twice for the same issue. Both times the problem "couldn't be duplicated" and there isn't a code that shows anything wrong on computer diagnostics. All searches for these issues in relation to a 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 sl, return numerous complaints about the same problems and no resolution. Current mileage IS15,000. I have been told to keep all reports from service so if there is a problem later I have documentation that it has been an ongoing issue. It appears Nissan should get in front of this problem quickly as it is not leaving a good mark on their name to have such new vehicles with this drastic of a problem.

- Necedah, WI, USA

Vehicle has a shudder when decelerating from 65 to 60. Has progressively been happening more often. In addition to the shudder at higher speeds, it now has started to shudder and lack response at lower speeds at random. The gas mileage has dropped at least 5 mpg since all of these issues started. I have taken to Nissan service twice for the same issue. Both times the problem "couldn't be duplicated" and there isn't a code that shows anything wrong on computer diagnostics. All searches for these issues in relation to a 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 sl, return numerous complaints about the same problems and no resolution. Current mileage IS15,000. I have been told to keep all reports from service so if there is a problem later I have documentation that it has been an ongoing issue. It appears Nissan should get in front of this problem quickly as it is not leaving a good mark on their name to have such new vehicles with this drastic of a problem.

- Necedah, WI, USA

I was driving on the expressway doing about 40mph and then all of a sudden the care seemed as though it had problems shifting out. Then when I stop the car hesitated to take off and then when it did take off it jerk and the took off. When I got home I turned off the car and started it back up it drove fine, but later that day when I drove it started to do it again and then the check engine light came on.

- Chicago, IL, USA

I purchased a 2013 Nissan Altima in July 2014 with 36,000 miles. About 3 weeks after purchasing this vehicle, the check engine light came on. I took it into the local Nissan dealer to determine the cause. I was told that they couldn't find the source and it would require further diagnostic testing for $80. I disagreed and left. Two days later, my daughter and I were traveling along interstate 10 when suddenly the car wouldn't accelerate. As I merged over to the left lane, every light on the dash came on and the engine went dead just as I made it to the shoulder. I put the car in park and waited 10 minutes before I attempted to start it up again. The following day, I took the car back to my local Nissan dealer. At that point, they told me there was an electrical malfunction that was covered under warranty but they would need to order a replacement part. I was without a vehicle for 3 days when I received a call that the car was ready. I sent my mother to pick up the car because I was at work. They didn't provide any repair summary to show what repairs were made. Fast forward three weeks...my family was traveling to mobile, Alabama to depart for our annual walt disney world trip, when you guessed it...the car wouldn't accelerate although my foot was literally on the ground. I pulled over once again and didn't try to start the engine again for about 20 minutes. The service engine light has been on every since. I have constantly fought with the seller (bob tyler Toyota) about returning this vehicle. I sold a 2006 Honda Accord ex-L with 176,000 miles to purchase this lemon. It is an absolute clunker. Will someone please suggest other options for me"?"

- Gulfport, MS, USA

2013 Nissan Altima. Consumer writes in regards to defective transmissions. The consumer stated for at least two years, Nissan has been selling cars in the us with defective transmission. These defects caused the vehicle to hesitate, shudder or even stall when accelerating from low speeds, when entering or merging into traffic.

- Hampstead, MD, USA

Occurrence has happened 8 times while driving. The vehicle shudders which leaves about 4 seconds of no throttle response. A loud noise is heard from the transmission area, the vehicle jerks hard and the rpms drop as well. Usually occurs when driving 25-35 mph while slowing down and/or turning.

- Bremerton , WA, USA

I have had major issues with this vehicle since the third day after purchase. The brakes have malfunctioned. The brake light would intermittently come on and I had it in several times, but the dealership could never "duplicate" anything. Then the car started to misfire and emit a thick black smoke from exhaust. I contacted the dealership and at first they said it was normal because the car has a cvt transmission. Then they said bring it in for assessment. A service technician test drove with me and experienced this first hand. I was told they could not service it that day, but to bring it back in. When I took it back a week later, they "could not duplicate" the problem. There has been much back and forth. I asked them to buy the car back because the problems were life threatening. The car actually shut off on me, twice, in traffic. When I last contacted the dealership, on July 24th, 2014, about the major issues I've been experiencing; the earliest they said they could see me would be on August 11th, 2014. On yesterday, it finally shut off for good, in the middle of the interstate. As I was on a trip, I had to have the vehicle towed 125 miles to my hometown dealership at the cost of $230, out of pocket. The only reason I got it home that cheaply was because I have four roadside assistance coverage packages and luckily one of them covered towing up to 100 miles. The car is now sitting on the dealership's parking lot.

- Greenville, MS, USA

I bought a new 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 S in August 2013 and the next month I noticed a shudder in the cvt transmission at approximately 20 mph. Since then it has occurred numerous times but at all speeds, ie 20 mph, 35 mph, 45 mph, it will happen at any speed. I've mentioned it to Nissan and they say its normal. Even the wife states that something is wrong with the transmission.

- Troutdale, OR, USA

While slowing down for an intersection all electronics on car stopped with no warning and motor shut down. No indicator lights on dash. Car became completely malfunctioning in an instant. No power breaks or steering, dash lights, console display or ignition on indicator. Got car to a stop. Put the car in park and restarted with no errors or indications that the car mechanically and electronically just died. Clock was set to the correct time but trip odometer and many other customized settings were reset. Acted as if the ECM did a reset while driving.

- Hudson Falls , NY, USA

I was driving my car on the highway when it started to shutter. It was first happening on inclines then all the time. It eventually just slowed down and I had to quickly exit to avoid getting stuck in the middle of the highway. I have brought the shuttering/jerking issue to the dealer previously and was told that no issue was found. Now I am told that I have to replace the transmission which is $3,500. After doing some internet searches I learned that several other drivers are having issues with the transmission on their "new" Nissan Altima (2013).

- Mahopac, NY, USA

My cvt transmission problem was at 900-miles took to dealer wilkes Nissan in wilkesboro, nc like 8-times and 2-times to another.cvt would shudder at highway speeds.wilkes Nissan said that was normal in one sentence, then in the next say they could not get it to duplicate.after several attempts to get it fixed the service manager [xxx] was walking out in the service bay and was telling me as my girlfriend was hearing this that "Nissan knows that this is a problem, but doesn't have a fix for this and that they should have never let that out of the factory like that" while he was saying this a employee had walked by and overheard this.and he was shortly fired afterwards?they took my car in and had it for like 2-days and put a 124-miles on my car, I had explained that he didn't need to do that just take off get up to highway speeds and slow down then take off, it will start to shudder.I came down and got the service manager [xxx] and the tech rode with me and I got it to shudder inside of 15-minutes with them with me.we got back to the dealership and within 15-minutes [xxx] service manger said "we just got a technical service bulletin in October 2013 in which was a lie.I found out a technical service bulletin was issued on June 13th 2013 for a "cvt clutch engagement shudder" & [xxx] looked mad when we got back from the test drive.they decided to replace the torque converter and had my car for 16-days, when I returned to pick up the car, the wilkes Nissan dealership said that everything was fine and within 11-miles they car started shuddering again at slow speeds as well as highway speeds.I was got so sick from all the arguing that I went into the hospital in December 2013 for 5-days.I had the problem and was sick for months so when I started to feel better.I took the car down to wilkes and they said Nissan refused to work on my car even though under warranty. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Boone, NC, USA

Cvt transmission failure. This is an event in which the automobile transmission and throttle simply stops working while the car is being driven. I experienced this event this past Saturday on a trip into boston. It is quite terrifying to be driving along in the middle of traffic and have your car stop functioning with respect to having no power or gears such that you have no control or ability to make the car respond.

- Portsmouth, NH, USA

While leaving a stop, the vehicle was moving at about 5 mph and when I pressed down on the accelerator to move forward the engine RPM went to 5000rpm but the vehicle failed to accelerate. It maintained the constant speed of approximately 5 mph. After backing off on the accelerator and then pressing down on the accelerator again the car accelerated. This event has occurred three times in the past month. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership to determine the problem but they could not duplicate the problem. This is not an isolated incident and I consider the fact that the vehicle may fail to respond to a need for increased speed a safety issue.

- La Vernia , TX, USA

11 month old car. 22,000 miles. Transmission failure. Car would start - but stalls out when placed in gear.

- Hammonton, NJ, USA

Altima 2.5L eng. Engine vibrations/cvt shuttering started approx. 3600 miles but has continually gotten worse with more miles (7000 mi 12/31/13). Vibrations felt at 1500-2000 RPM (enough to shake the dash components), then vibration goes away. Slight acceleration under load at 1500-2000 RPM and at any speed (20-30, 40-55, 72 mph) will result in vibrations (everytime). Had Nissan service writer ride with me, then he drove the vehicle and confirmed the vibrations. Said to return next week Jan 2014 to further document. Guess what, he said they haven't had this problem"?" however, this problem has been reported to Nissan many times over this past year. I now believe this vibration is coming from the eng not from the cvt since I can feel the vibrations when the vehicle is stopped (in park or in neutral). Nissan has an engineering design problem they have been unable to resolve and fail to admit.

- Lebanon, OH, USA

Noticed car shaking violently while coasting at about 17 mph and then accelerating. Contacted dealership. Was told that it is a defect with the torque converter that causes it to shift between gears at about 28 mph. I told them that mine was happening at about 17 or 18 mph. Was told they were looking into it. Called again about a week later, was told that it was a design flaw and Nissan was not going to do anything about it.

- St. Augustine, FL, USA