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2011 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

173 reports with mileage · 68 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports5 fire reports7 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
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120,000 miles · Feb 27, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact disconnected and reconnected the battery and the mass air flow sensor to correct the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however…

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The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact disconnected and reconnected the battery and the mass air flow sensor to correct the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to Emissions Recall Campaign Number: R1720 (Non-Methane Organic Gases (NMOG) Engine Control Module (ECM) Reprogram) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11509329

95,836 miles · Sep 4, 2018
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 80-85 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SAFETY MODE AND DECELERATED TO 70 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLAGSTAFF NISSAN (4960 E MARKETPLACE DR, FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86004, (928) 522-6386) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING COMPONENT NE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 80-85 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SAFETY MODE AND DECELERATED TO 70 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLAGSTAFF NISSAN (4960 E MARKETPLACE DR, FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86004, (928) 522-6386) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. IN ADDITION A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,836.

NHTSA ODI #11124389

139,640 miles · Aug 13, 2018
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN 24 (1016 BELMONT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN 24 (1016 BELMONT ST, BROCKTON, MA 02301, (508) 588-9520) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,640.

NHTSA ODI #11119705

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH STARTING VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE DOORS, A MESSAGE INDICATED THE DOOR WAS OPEN, BUT IT WAS TIGHTLY CLOSED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THE FAN WAS RUNNING. A DIAGNOSIS AT THE DEALER REVEALED A COMPUTE…

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2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH STARTING VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE DOORS, A MESSAGE INDICATED THE DOOR WAS OPEN, BUT IT WAS TIGHTLY CLOSED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THE FAN WAS RUNNING. A DIAGNOSIS AT THE DEALER REVEALED A COMPUTER GLITCH.

NHTSA ODI #10467462

19,000 miles · Apr 11, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED AN UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER'S POSSESSION WHERE H…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED AN UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER'S POSSESSION WHERE HE WAS AWAITING FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

NHTSA ODI #10454881

50 miles · Jan 25, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

VIN# - [XXX]. PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN LA. PURCHASED NEW ALTIMA FROM DEALER ON 2/1/11. BEFORE I REFILLED THE CAR WITH FUEL THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE CAR TO BE SERVICED ON 2/8/2011. I WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN THAT THE SES LIGHT WAS FROM NOT CLOSING THE GAS TANK TIGHT ENOUGH (EVE…

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VIN# - [XXX]. PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN LA. PURCHASED NEW ALTIMA FROM DEALER ON 2/1/11. BEFORE I REFILLED THE CAR WITH FUEL THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE CAR TO BE SERVICED ON 2/8/2011. I WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN THAT THE SES LIGHT WAS FROM NOT CLOSING THE GAS TANK TIGHT ENOUGH (EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAD NEVER REFUELED THE CAR SINCE I HAD PURCHASED IT). THE LIGHT INDICATOR WAS RESET BY NISSAN SERVICE AND LATER THAT DAY IT CAME BACK ON. ON 6/23/11 I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN FOR SERVICE AND INFORMED THEM OF THE RE-OCCURRING ISSUE WITH THE SES LIGHT. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FOR A FEW HOURS AND WHEN THEY BROUGHT THE CAR BACK THEY SAID THAT THY ADJUSTED A VALVE SETTING THAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE CAUSING THE ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER LEAVING THE SERVICE GARAGE THE SES LIGHT CAME BACK ON. ON 1/12/12 I RETURNED TO NISSAN SERVICE FOR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE AND INFORMED THEM AGAIN OF THE RE-OCCURRING SES LIGHT TISSUE. THIS TIME THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AGAIN. WHEN I RESPONDED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK HAD FAILED TO RESOLVE OR IDENTIFY THE ISSUE LAST TIME THEY OFFERED NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE. TO DATE THE SES LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAS ESSENTIALLY REMAINED ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR. FURTHERMORE I HAVE RENTED A NISSAN ALTIMA 2011 MODEL ON SEVERAL BUSINESS TRIPS WHERE I HAVE HAD TO REFUEL THE CAR AND I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED THE SES INDICATOR. THIS LEADS ME TO FURTHER BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE I OWN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10445148

Official recalls

1

11V371000 · Suspension

Jul 19, 2011

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 25, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 10, 2011 AT THE CANTON, MISSISSIPPI PLANT. THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, CREATING A RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLTS AND NUTS AND TIGHTEN THEM TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems