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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

Structure complaints

27 reports
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73,000 miles · Jun 13, 2019
Electrical SystemStructure

THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING PAST 2ND GEAR BEING TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL MISFIRE AND CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK UNTIL IT WAS ABLE TO HIT 2ND. THAT WAS REPAIRED BY OUR LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY MELTING AWAY AND HAS BECOME SLIMY AND STICKY. IT IS WORKING IT'S …

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THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING PAST 2ND GEAR BEING TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL MISFIRE AND CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK UNTIL IT WAS ABLE TO HIT 2ND. THAT WAS REPAIRED BY OUR LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY MELTING AWAY AND HAS BECOME SLIMY AND STICKY. IT IS WORKING IT'S WAY DOWN TO THE STEERING WHEEL AREA AND AIR VENTS. I'M SURE THAT IS SOME SORT OF HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #11219803

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2019
Structure

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING, CAUSING A GLARE. ALSO, PAINT IS PEELING ON THE HOOD AND ROOF.

NHTSA ODI #11204737

40,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Structure

THE DASHBOURD HAS BEEN MELTING AND HAS BECOME STICKY FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS

NHTSA ODI #11192890

20,000 miles · May 2, 2018
Structure

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR MONTHS. THE MELTING AREAS BECOME SOFT, STICKY, CRACKED AND SHINY. IF THE DASHBOARD IS NOT REPLACED THE GLARE CREATED BY THE SHINY AREAS WILL MAKE THE CAR HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE AND THE MELTING WILL ULTIMATELY DAMAGE THE EQUIPMENT COVERED BY THE D…

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THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR MONTHS. THE MELTING AREAS BECOME SOFT, STICKY, CRACKED AND SHINY. IF THE DASHBOARD IS NOT REPLACED THE GLARE CREATED BY THE SHINY AREAS WILL MAKE THE CAR HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE AND THE MELTING WILL ULTIMATELY DAMAGE THE EQUIPMENT COVERED BY THE DASHBOARD - EQUIPMENT THE CAR NEEDS TO OPERATE SAFELY AND EQUIPMENT THE DASHBOARD IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 2008 AND 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS IN WHICH THEIR MELTING DASHBOARDS WERE REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN INTERNET POSTS/COMPLAINTS BY OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE INVOLVING OTHER YEARS. I HAVE LIVED IN FLORIDA ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A DASHBOARD REACT THIS WAY; NEITHER HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS. I HAVE TALKED WITH THE DEALER AND ALSO REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN (I HAVE THE COMPLAINT NUMBER AND THE DEALER SENT PICTURES) BUT NEITHER ARE WILLING TO HELP. THE COST OF REPLACING THE DASHBOARD IS OVER $2000. ANOTHER MORE ENCOMPASSING RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED REQUIRING NISSAN TO REPLACE ALL MELTING DASHBOARDS REGARDLESS OF YEAR. DOING SO WILL ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND THE PROTECTION OF THE CAR AND ITS EQUIPMENT - PROTECTIONS RIGHTFULLY EXPECTED BY THE DRIVER AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. SINCE THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM I HAVE NOTED BELOW THE APPROXIMATE DATE THAT I ACTUALLY REALIZED THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING.

NHTSA ODI #11091379

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2017
StructureUnknown Or OtherFire

HELLO, MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE STARTING FROM THE ENGINE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE

NHTSA ODI #11033355

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2017
Electrical SystemStructure

ALL 4 LOCKS SOMETIMES WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN YOU NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.

NHTSA ODI #11005427

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2017
Power TrainStructureUnknown Or Other

1) WHEN ACCELERATING FROM S STOP, MY CAR WILL JERK (LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING). IT WILL OFTEN JERK WHILE MY CAR IS IN MOTION AS WELL. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS & FREEWAYS/HIGHWAYS. 2) THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE "HOOD LATCH" NOT LOCKING COMPLETELY. IT SOMETIMES LOOKS LIKE THE HOOD IS GOING …

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1) WHEN ACCELERATING FROM S STOP, MY CAR WILL JERK (LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING). IT WILL OFTEN JERK WHILE MY CAR IS IN MOTION AS WELL. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS & FREEWAYS/HIGHWAYS. 2) THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE "HOOD LATCH" NOT LOCKING COMPLETELY. IT SOMETIMES LOOKS LIKE THE HOOD IS GOING TO POP OPEN WHEN DRIVING .

NHTSA ODI #11004788

67,660 miles · Nov 7, 2016
Structure

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT A RATE OF 50 MPH AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI #10924701

61,550 miles · Oct 19, 2016
Structure

I HAVE A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WITH 61K MILES AND THE DASH IS MELTING AND THEIRS A GLAIR ON MY WINDSHIELD AND I'VE ALMOST GOTTEN IN TO A WRECK SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE SUN IN FLORIDA AND THE GLAIR NISSAN WON'T HELP WITH THE 2K BILL TO REPLACE THE DASH

NHTSA ODI #10917275

83,000 miles · Feb 27, 2016
Structure

I WAS DRIVING ON THE TOLLWAY AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS IF SOMEONE HAD PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE AND SAW THAT MY HOOD WAS FLUTTERING UP AND DOWN. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP, MY HOOD HAD IN FACT POPPED OPEN AND I HAD TO SLAM THE HOOD BACK SHUT. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT POP OPEN FULLY TO WHERE IT WAS AGAINST MY WINDSHIELD AND BLOCKING MY …

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE TOLLWAY AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS IF SOMEONE HAD PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE AND SAW THAT MY HOOD WAS FLUTTERING UP AND DOWN. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP, MY HOOD HAD IN FACT POPPED OPEN AND I HAD TO SLAM THE HOOD BACK SHUT. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT POP OPEN FULLY TO WHERE IT WAS AGAINST MY WINDSHIELD AND BLOCKING MY VIEW. I THINK THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HOOD LATCH.

NHTSA ODI #10838760

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