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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

Steering complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2022
Steering

While driving on the highway the steering wheel locked keeping me from maneuvering the steering wheel. Independent service center diagnostics confirmed it was the power steering pump and sensor. Let the vehicle run into the curb. Then power steering fluid is still leaking out. When taken to the dealership they said to take it …

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While driving on the highway the steering wheel locked keeping me from maneuvering the steering wheel. Independent service center diagnostics confirmed it was the power steering pump and sensor. Let the vehicle run into the curb. Then power steering fluid is still leaking out. When taken to the dealership they said to take it back to the independent service to have them find out where the leak is coming from. The dealership said it could be the copper screw or another part of the power steering.

NHTSA ODI #11497907

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2019
Steering

TAKATA RECALL , MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING, AND IT MAKES A WEIRD NOISE WHEN I START UP THE CAR

NHTSA ODI #11165527

96,000 miles · Dec 21, 2018
Steering

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE STEERING IN MY CAR HAS GOTTEN TOUGH. I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, BEING THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THE FLUID LEVEL WAS GOOD. YESTERDAY I WAS AT THE GAS STATION GETTING FUEL. AS I WAS DRIV…

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OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE STEERING IN MY CAR HAS GOTTEN TOUGH. I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, BEING THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THE FLUID LEVEL WAS GOOD. YESTERDAY I WAS AT THE GAS STATION GETTING FUEL. AS I WAS DRIVING AWAY, THERE WAS A SOUND SIMILAR TO A BALLOON POPPING AND THE STEERING JERKED TO THE RIGHT, ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE STEERING IS SO TOUGH NOW THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT REASON. MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW A RECALL, BUT IT NEEDS TO.

NHTSA ODI #11162904

158,000 miles · Aug 23, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

WENT TO START MY CAR.IN THE DASHBOARD WAS A KEY LIGHT.CAR WOULDN'T START LOOK UP THINGS THAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT STEERING LOCK.THE CAR WAS SITTING AT MY HOUSE .

NHTSA ODI #11121910

58,000 miles · Nov 30, 2016
SteeringSuspensionWheels

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON CHANGE ALL 4 TIRES BRAND NEW ONES RESET THE COMPUTER AND IT STILL COMES ON THE CAR SWERVES AND IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO CONTROL AFTER A CERTAIN SPEED I'VE LEARNED THAT A 2011 SUBARU HAD A RECALL ON THEIR SUSPENSION AND I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS…

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EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON CHANGE ALL 4 TIRES BRAND NEW ONES RESET THE COMPUTER AND IT STILL COMES ON THE CAR SWERVES AND IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO CONTROL AFTER A CERTAIN SPEED I'VE LEARNED THAT A 2011 SUBARU HAD A RECALL ON THEIR SUSPENSION AND I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR I CALLED THE POLICE ON THE 800 NUMBER PUT A COMPLAINT IN THEY TOLD ME UNDER THIS PHONE NUMBER THERE WAS REALLY NO RECALLS BUT THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AT MY OWN EXPENSE WHICH I CAN'T REALLY AFFORD LITERALLY CAN'T AFFORD HEFTY BILL FROM THE NISSAN DEALER IM DISABLED PERSON LIVING ON FIXED INCOME BASICALLY FINANCES VEHICLE TO A FRIEND ALL I'M ASKING FROM THEM IS TO HAVE THE DEALER THEY'RE CERTIFIED DEALER TO CHECK THE CAR FOR ANY SAFETY CONCERNS THIS CAR ONLY HAS 59000 WELL MAINTAINED 2011 NISSAN 19947 LAST 6 OF THE VAN THANK YOU LOCAL HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928703

77,000 miles · Nov 15, 2016
Steering

STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONING. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, BRAKE PAD LOCKS. CAR TURNS ON BUT ENGINE WILL NOT START. KEY FOB OPENS DOOR. LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHT UP.

NHTSA ODI #10926141

33,000 miles · Aug 31, 2015
SteeringSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V371000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.

NHTSA ODI #10760430

110,700 miles · Mar 25, 2015
Air BagsSteeringStructureCrash

I WAS TRAVELING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN ON A STRAIGHT WAY ON HWY AND THE FRONT TIRE BLEW IN THE SIDEWALL OF MY MICHELIN TIRE. I WAS PULLED ACROSS THE OTHER LANE INTO A DITCH STRIKING A STONE CULVERT AFTER GOING AIRBORNE. I HAD PURCHASED A SET OF MICHELIN TIRES AND THEY WERE A 70,000 MILE TIRE AND HAD 23,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN THIS…

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I WAS TRAVELING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN ON A STRAIGHT WAY ON HWY AND THE FRONT TIRE BLEW IN THE SIDEWALL OF MY MICHELIN TIRE. I WAS PULLED ACROSS THE OTHER LANE INTO A DITCH STRIKING A STONE CULVERT AFTER GOING AIRBORNE. I HAD PURCHASED A SET OF MICHELIN TIRES AND THEY WERE A 70,000 MILE TIRE AND HAD 23,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN THIS OCCURRED. AFTER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED A BLOWOUT AS THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO WHEEL INDICATION OF ROAD HAZARD THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE TO TIRE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE TIRE AND WHEEL WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION OTHER THAT THE BLOWN PART IN THE SIDEWALL AND IF I WOULD HAVE HIT SOMETHING HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE TIRE THAT TYPE OF DAMAGE, THEY SAID IT WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY AFFECTED MY WHEEL. THE TIRE HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE AS THERE IS REPORTS ARE ALL OVER INTERNET THAT THESE INCIDENTS ARE OCCURRING WITH MICHELIN TIRES. BUYER BEWARE! MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM WITHOUT WORK AND WITHOUT A CAR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10701733

83,000 miles · Jan 28, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO START AND UNABLE TO BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT HAVING TO BE TOWED. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A BATTERY ISSUE, BUT THE CAR ALMOST ACTED LIKE IT WAS ENCOUNTERING A SOFTWARE CRASH BOTH TIMES. I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE EXHAUST / CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED ON THE CAR. I'VE HAD SEVERAL MAJOR S…

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THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO START AND UNABLE TO BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT HAVING TO BE TOWED. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A BATTERY ISSUE, BUT THE CAR ALMOST ACTED LIKE IT WAS ENCOUNTERING A SOFTWARE CRASH BOTH TIMES. I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE EXHAUST / CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED ON THE CAR. I'VE HAD SEVERAL MAJOR STEERING PROBLEMS. AT ONE POINT, A TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THIS CAR. THE LATEST STEERING ISSUE JUST OCCURRED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. ON JANUARY 16, I TOOK A ROAD TRIP WITH MY FIANCE AND HER SISTER TO MEMPHIS, TN TO VISIT HER OTHER SISTER. ON THE WAY DOWN WE NOTICED THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. UPON INSPECTION, WE FOUND THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. WE REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, WE FOUND IT STRANGE GIVEN THE EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR. AS WE DROVE, THE STEERING ISSUES RECURRED. WE FIGURED OUT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE SYSTEM. WE BOUGHT A LOT OF POWER STEERING FLUID IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TO MEMPHIS (THERE WEREN'T MANY MAJOR CITIES ON OUR WAY BETWEEN WHERE WE CAME FROM AND MEMPHIS, SO WE HAD TO GET TO MEMPHIS.) SEVERAL MECHANICS CONFIRMED THE ISSUE WAS THE RACK & PINION SYSTEM ON THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP THAT ULTIMATELY REPAIRED THE CAR MENTIONED THIS BRAKE WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL, NOT DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE, AND NOT DUE TO ROAD HAZARDS. SINCE THE CAR IS NOT OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF. GIVEN THE OTHER MAJOR REPAIRS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE HAD THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE VERY DILIGENT MAINTENANCE I'VE BEEN PERFORMING ON THE CAR AND DESPITE THE MANY MILES ALREADY ON IT, I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN SOLD A LEMON. AS A RESULT OF THIS COSTLY REPAIR, I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO SELL A PORTION OF MY 401K. I ADDITIONALLY HAD ADDED EXPENSES SENDING MY FIANCE AND HER SISTER BACK HOME SO THEY COULD GO TO WORK, ROOM & BOARD, CAR RENTAL, AND LOST A DAY OF WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679608

67,000 miles · Dec 5, 2014
Steering

STEERING WHEEL IS PEELING ON THE TOP AND IS SOFT TO THE POINT WHERE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THE FOAM WILL BE IN MY HAND.THE CAR WAS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE BY NISSAN AND BOUGHT AT NISSAN. THEY REVIEWED THE DEFECT TO BE REPLACED AT "GOODWILL" BUT IT DID NOT QUALIFY AS A REASON TO A REPLACE; EVEN THOUGH IT IS A POTENTIAL DANGER …

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STEERING WHEEL IS PEELING ON THE TOP AND IS SOFT TO THE POINT WHERE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THE FOAM WILL BE IN MY HAND.THE CAR WAS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE BY NISSAN AND BOUGHT AT NISSAN. THEY REVIEWED THE DEFECT TO BE REPLACED AT "GOODWILL" BUT IT DID NOT QUALIFY AS A REASON TO A REPLACE; EVEN THOUGH IT IS A POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662396

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