2013 Nissan Altima: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Aug 1, 2026 · Electrical · PA

Front passenger door lock actuator fails to unlock door when driver's, passengers or key fob to unlock is activated. All other doors (3) work as they should. This creates a safety issue as the door must manually be unlocked which during a panic situation may not be easily accomplished. I am in the process of having the mechanism inspected & repaired. Part failed with no notice. It may have failed earlier, but July '26 was the 1st I noticed.

Filed Jul 16, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 100,000 miles · AL

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate over 60 MPH. The contact also stated that the engine failed to start properly. The contact stated that the engine stalled and the battery had to be jumpstarted. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact called benton nissan of hoover at (205) 938-6103 (located at 1640 montgomery hwy, hoover, al 35216) and was informed that the failure was due to a faulty key fob. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Jul 31, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 42,000 miles · SC

I tried to start my car and the onboard computer screen say no key detected, I have the key in my hand and still it will not start, I can unlock the doors, trunk etc. Fine, I even went and bought the same exact new battery for the key fog and the problem persist, I went online and look up nissan owners with similar problem with nissan altima key fog problem and it seem like a common issue, but surprise that there is no recall on the issue, everybody I know that owns a nissan told me there is time they be driving and the onboard computer state no key detected, thank god I don't live I a remote location or else I would be stranded, online everyone that had the problem had to end up paying $500 or more to fix the issue, which I feel is a defect in nissan engine control unit system, I contact the dealership that I bought my nissan altima from and they wanted to charge me over #500 total to fix the issue, I think it is a scam, I found a work around the issue but it is just not right that they know the engine control unit has a problem and the refuse to address the issue, except leave the customer with a new bill or stranded

Filed Mar 22, 2016 · Electrical · 55,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan altima. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the invalid key warning message displayed. The failure recurred sporadically. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the key fob would need to be replaced and reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Feb 12, 2016 · 80,000 miles · AZ

When driving on the highway my vehicle turned off. Turned the car back on just fine. When I put it back into drive it turned off again. Called 911 who transferred me to dps which had to shut all 5 lanes of traffic to push me off to the side. Towed car to dealership which wrongfully diagnosed with a low battery key fob. Same night after picking up my car it turned off in the middle of an intersection at night. Luckily this time it stayed on after putting it in drive. My car is still undiagnosed at the dealership almost a full week later.

Filed Dec 28, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 38,000 miles · TX · crash

Purchased car may of 2013, pre-owned certified and only 21000miles. From onset of ownership, brakes made noises, "cyclop brake light in rear window would blink constantly, dash lights would go from dim to bright all the time. The car would hesitate when leaving stop position, pushing electronic start button would not work often. Dealership always said that the situation could not be duplicated. On dec. 2nd, 2015 while driving home I was approaching a stopped car in the middle of the road and tried to slow below the 20mph I was driving and the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and all dash lights went blank and the car stalled resulting in a collision. The car would not start for over 2 hours. The dealership asked about the key fob location and battery condition and the batteries were good and key fob was on front seat where it always was. I filed a customer complaint with nissan consumer affairs on dec, 4th 2015 and constantly got run-arounds with no call backs several time. I was left without a vehicle and no help from dealership or nissan consumer affairs. While reading the many complaints of other altima's I was so concerned with my safety and health I purchased another car. I believe I had an electrical issue from the beginning and it could not be diagnosed and it ended up with a collision involving another car.

Filed May 27, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 10,600 miles · MD · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan altima. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the transmission shifted from drive into the neutral position independently and an abnormal noise emitted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate or locate the failure. The contact experienced multiple unrelated failures with the vehicle that included the exterior door failing to unlock or lock with the key fob until after several attempts. A burning odor emitted from the air vents when the air conditioner or heater was activated. There were no flames present. Also, the brakes squeaked intermittently when depressed. The contact stated there was concern regarding a potential health hazard with the push button starter causing cancer. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 10,600.

Filed Dec 26, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 6,266 miles · CA

I was trying to get into my car to get to work. The key fob was not working at all, the das was telling me that my key I'd was incorrect. It took several hours and the car finally started. I called nissan and they told me it was my battery. I have since changed my battery and still am having the problem. Tonight I was stuck outside of my car for hours b4 it would open.

Filed Dec 8, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 11,000 miles · SD

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 nissan altima. The contact stated that the air bag deactivated warning light illuminated intermittently while the seat was occupied. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the technician was unable to find a failure. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure mileage was 11,000. Updated 01/20/15*lj also, the key fob failed. It did not recognize the key id. The consumer was unable to unlock the door. On several occasions, the vehicle would not start. Updated 02/231/5.*jb updated 10/7/2015

Filed Nov 15, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 8,515 miles · MD

I have a new 2013 nissan altima sl v6 I have had several problems with this new car. Blind side warning, and traction control light stayed on one time. My car wouldn't start up several times after walking up to the car and pressing the button on the door. The key wouldn't unlock the doors, it wouldn't auto start the car. I had to wait to get in my car, I actually had to stick my key in the door to get in the car. When I did finally get in the car and try to start it nothing happened, it said no key this is dangerous I am a female god forbids somebody tries to rape or kill me and I am not able to get away in my new car that I pay all this money for every month. The dashboard says: key not detected or no key, or incorrect key id. My car has been in and out of the shop and they still doesn't know what's wrong. I've recently went to a different dealer hoping they can work on my car and get me the results I'm looking for... I completely hate this car because it has been n the shop more times than my last car. All they kept saying was more computer problems. I got my car 12/2012 and my car has been in the shop over 20 times with lots of issues. I'm still within my 36000 warranty. I also hear a clicking noise in the front tire. Dealership replaced some bolts and greased it as well. They said it needed grease.. The noise has came back about 2 weeks later!! Its time consuming to keep going back to the dealership to get repairs!! But I have to do it. I had the recall for air bags but it still didn't register an adult who sat in the front seat who weighed about 103 lbs. So his air bag wouldn't deploy if we got in an accident. That isn't safe at all.. Pls fix and change that feature for the sake of smaller adults. Nissan shouldn't restrict the weight of a front seat passenger.. All these problems.... I will be opening up a lemon law case!! This is ridiculous!!!!

Filed May 29, 2014 · Electrical · FL

I purchased a 2013 nissan from bill seidle's nissan in miami florida. When I purchased the car they told me the mileage was around 30 mpg with an average of around 26 mpg. Months after I bought the car I mentioned to the dealer that the car's computer was saying around 20 mpg and they told me that I needed it to track the mpg myself because the computer from the car is not accurate. I tracked the miles and the results were 20 mpg. I took that car in to the dealer, I was told that they checked the car and there was nothing wrong with the car and that is the mileage that I was going to get. I also have a problem with the electronic key that on multiple times "no key detected" message comes up and it takes me a while for the car to start. Eventually it turned out the battery was not good and it was changed. About a month later the same problem continued and I took the car to the dealer and they told me they could not duplicate the problem so they could not do anything about it. This problems continues to occur and sometimes when the cars turns on the message stays on for a while. This problem does not occur all the time there is no consistency. I now take pictures when the problem occurs and are taking the car back to the dealer. I'm concern about the safety of the car.

Filed Apr 26, 2014 · Electrical · 6,950 miles · MI

I have the key-less entry and many times with the key fob in my pocket I can not open the door. The door sensor does not recognize the key fob unless I take it out and press the lock unlock button. At times with the car in my garage the vehicle says no key code found and I have to either pres lock unlock on the key fob or I have to put the key next to the start button for a few seconds before it recognizes it. I've tried to see if I could think of an emi source each time it happens, and the only thing I have noted is that it only happens when close to a wall. Has not yet happened in open parking lot. Once is happened when I was parked next to an f250 and I figured maybe it has to do with being in proximity of large objects. It has happened about 15 times so far from jan to april 2014.