2013 Nissan Altima: Cvt shuttering vibration hesitation running roughly
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2013 Altima report: cvt shuttering vibration hesitation running roughly. CarComplaints.com lists 180 owner complaints, average mileage 56,350 miles.
NHTSA has 505 owner complaints for the 2013 Altima in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11729811 (filed 04/07/2026): “The car feels unbalanced and shifting is bad…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11727165 (filed 03/26/2026): “The contact owns a 2013 nissan altima. the contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop sign, the vehicle accelerated to approximately 15 mph and then unexpectedly decelerated. the contact attempted to depress the accelerator; however, the ve…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: new transmission (60 reports) nothing fixed (24 reports) replace transmission (22 reports) cvt transmission failed; need replacement (11 reports) complete cvt replacement (8 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $3,120 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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