2013 Nissan Altima Engine Replacement Cost

A 2013 Nissan Altima engine replacement usually means a used 2.5L QR25DE or a remanufactured unit — used units run about $500–$600 and a remanufactured unit runs about $4,700 for the part itself. Diagnose the CVT first: on this car, transmission trouble is far more common than engine failure.

Oil consumption at high mileage The QR25DE can consume oil as it ages. Check the level regularly; consumption that keeps climbing, especially with fouled plugs, points to internal wear.

CVT judder, slip, or failure Shuddering, slipping, or a loss of drive on a 2013 Altima is usually the CVT, not the engine. This is the most common major failure on this car by a wide margin. A transmission diagnosis comes before any engine decision — replacing an engine will not fix a CVT.

Catalytic converter and sensor issues A check-engine light with catalyst or oxygen-sensor codes is a common Altima complaint. Diagnose the exhaust and sensors before considering an engine — a converter problem is not an engine failure.

A used engine is the lower-cost path and a first-class option here: a pull from a donor vehicle, inspected and documented with mileage, that gets a solid vehicle running again without a large outlay. It carries up to 5 years or 50,000 miles of parts-only coverage. A remanufactured engine is fully disassembled, inspected, and rebuilt to specification with new wear components and tested before it ships. It costs more, but it arrives with the stronger warranty — up to 5 years with unlimited miles, parts and labor — and it is the smarter long-term choice if you plan to keep the vehicle for years. Either way, confirm the VIN, the engine code, and 2WD versus 4WD before you order, and have a licensed shop do the install.

We back every engine we sell, and the two warranties are different in a way that matters when you choose. A remanufactured engine carries up to 5 years of coverage with unlimited miles (gasoline, non-commercial, 2001 and newer), parts and labor included, with labor reimbursed at $50 per hour per the Mitchell labor guide after an approved claim. A used engine carries up to 5 years or 50,000 miles, parts only, with no labor reimbursement. Both require installation by a Licensed Automotive Repair Facility, and used units must be installed within 14 business days of delivery with the heat tabs intact. Remanufactured units also carry a refundable core charge, returned when your old engine comes back to us.

Replacement is the right move when the failure is isolated to the engine and the rest of the vehicle is worth saving — solid body and frame, good tires, no major suspension or electrical issues. A quality used or remanufactured engine can extend the life of an otherwise good vehicle by years at a fraction of the cost of a replacement vehicle. Get an honest assessment first: if the vehicle also needs major work elsewhere, or the repair cost approaches the vehicle's value, the math changes. Proper diagnosis from a trusted mechanic is the essential first step — don't replace what doesn't need replacing, but don't pour repair money into an engine that is already mechanically compromised.

• Warranty policy and Expedia Protection: /warranty
• Check engine light after engine swap: /blog/check-engine-light-after-engine-swap
• Transmission slip and shudder after replacement: /blog/transmission-slip-and-shudder-after-replacement
• Used and reman engines: /used-engines
• Core return process: /core-return
• Shipping and freight delivery: /help-center/he-05130-what-are-the-different-shipping-options-costs-and-transit-times