IllustrationSUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AFTER DRIVING AN HOUR AND A HALF. TRANSMISSION GOES IN TO FAIL/SAFE MODE AND LEAVES ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER SOLD IT TO ME WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
2325–50K
2750–75K
2775–100K
43100–150K
12150K+
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
Power Train complaints
68 reportsTRANSMISSION FAIL AT 115000 MILES CAR WONT ACCELERATE
I BOUGHT A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA AND AT 127,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WHEN IT WARMS UP THE CAR WILL NOT GO OVER 50 MPH. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE TRANSMISSION FROM EVERYTHING I'M FINDING OUT ABOUT THEM NOW. AT THIS POINT WITH WHAT THIS IS COSTING I WON'T BY ANOTHER NISSAN WHEN …
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I BOUGHT A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA AND AT 127,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WHEN IT WARMS UP THE CAR WILL NOT GO OVER 50 MPH. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE TRANSMISSION FROM EVERYTHING I'M FINDING OUT ABOUT THEM NOW. AT THIS POINT WITH WHAT THIS IS COSTING I WON'T BY ANOTHER NISSAN WHEN THEY DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSION.
CAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 129K MILES. WINDING NOISE AND SLIPPING. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THIS IS A CVT TRANSMISSION THAT NISSAN HAS AN ISSUE WITH AND REFUSES TO OWN UP TO IT. NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVING IN CITY OR OPEN HIGHWAYS. NISSAN WANT ME TO PAY 3-4 GRAND TO FIX. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE WAKE THESE PEO…
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CAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 129K MILES. WINDING NOISE AND SLIPPING. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THIS IS A CVT TRANSMISSION THAT NISSAN HAS AN ISSUE WITH AND REFUSES TO OWN UP TO IT. NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVING IN CITY OR OPEN HIGHWAYS. NISSAN WANT ME TO PAY 3-4 GRAND TO FIX. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE WAKE THESE PEOPLE UP
CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED. DOESN'T GO FORWARD OR REVERSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, DECELERATE, AND POWER DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, DECELERATE, AND POWER DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,782.
OUR 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA JUST WENT OVER 80,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. MY SON WAS DRIVING ALONG SOME BACK ROADS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GAVE OUT, THE ENGINE WIL LREV BUT NO POWER. HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK ON THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND HE SAID IT …
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OUR 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA JUST WENT OVER 80,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. MY SON WAS DRIVING ALONG SOME BACK ROADS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GAVE OUT, THE ENGINE WIL LREV BUT NO POWER. HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK ON THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND HE SAID IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. QUOTED ME $3500 FOR A BRAND NEW NISSAN FACTORY TRANSMISSION AND SAID HE RECOMMENDED GETTING THE NEW ONE RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIX THE OLD ONE BECAUSE HE HAS TON A LOT OF WORK ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I DO NO UNDERSTAND WHY NISSAN STOPPED THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE CVT TRANSMISSION AT THE 2010 MODEL YEAR.
FAILING TO ACCELERATE, SLIPPING, JERKING, STALLING
I HAVE A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. CAR WAS "ACTING UP" AND SO I TOOK IT TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER. SO, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. WHICH THEY DID FOR $153. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE D…
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I HAVE A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. CAR WAS "ACTING UP" AND SO I TOOK IT TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER. SO, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. WHICH THEY DID FOR $153. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING FROM OHIO TO TENNESSEE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND I HAD IT TOWED. THE COST FOR REPAIR WILL BE $4800.00
WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THE CVT TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE A WHINING NOISE. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. BECAUSE OF THIS STRANGE NOISE, I EXITED. WHEN I WAS GOING 30 MPH+ AND ACCELERATING THE WHINING CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WOULD CAUSE…
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WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THE CVT TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE A WHINING NOISE. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. BECAUSE OF THIS STRANGE NOISE, I EXITED. WHEN I WAS GOING 30 MPH+ AND ACCELERATING THE WHINING CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A BELT INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT NOW STUTTERS AT TIMES WHEN GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. WHEN "SHIFTING" DOWN FROM 20 MPH IT WILL JERK.
Official recalls
111V371000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.