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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
241Owner complaints

Model-year median: 231

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2011 Nissan Altima

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 241 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Power Train: 68 reports
  • Unknown Or Other: 40 reports
  • Engine: 36 reports
  • Electrical System: 31 reports
  • Structure: 27 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1,028
20081,547
2009380
2010241
2011425
20122,309
20131,114
2014
Compare all Altima years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
68Unknown Or Other
40Engine
36Electrical System
31Structure
27
All reported categories
Air Bags
21Suspension
14Steering
12Fuel/propulsion System
10Vehicle Speed Control
9Service Brakes
8Electronic Stability Control (esc)
6Engine And Engine Cooling
6Seat Belts
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Tires
4Visibility/wiper
4Seats
3Wheels
3Exterior Lighting
2Visibility
2Equipment
1Firerelated
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Traction Control System
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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
Clear category filter
50,000 miles · Jan 2, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE TIRES WOULD NOT RESPOND TO MOVEMENTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE RACK AND PINION F…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE TIRES WOULD NOT RESPOND TO MOVEMENTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10490767

500 miles · May 3, 2011
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH ON A GROOVED PAVEMENT AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACK AND FORTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILUR…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH ON A GROOVED PAVEMENT AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACK AND FORTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ODI #10398807

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems

Nissan Altima electrical problems →Nissan Altima transmission problems →