IllustrationALL 4 LOCKS SOMETIMES WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN YOU NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.
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
What owners actually said
241 reports1) 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 .
AT 93,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,700. THE ONLY REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COST MORE THAN $2,500 IS SOLD BY NISSAN AND ONLY COMES WITH A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. WHY DOES THE 120,000 MILE WARRANTY STOP WITH THE 2010 MODEL WHEN THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS IN THE MODELS AFTE…
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AT 93,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,700. THE ONLY REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION COST MORE THAN $2,500 IS SOLD BY NISSAN AND ONLY COMES WITH A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. WHY DOES THE 120,000 MILE WARRANTY STOP WITH THE 2010 MODEL WHEN THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS IN THE MODELS AFTER 2010?
AIRBAG SENSOR IN PASSENGERS SIDE IS STATING THAT AIRBAGS ARE OFF EVEN WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER RIDING IN FRONT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN FIRST NOTICED. NEVER CHANGED WHEN IN MOTION OR RESTARTING VEHICLE.
APPROXIMATELY 4-6 WEEKS AGO THE CAR STARTED TO JERK OCCASIONALLY. THEN IT BECAME MORE PREDOMINANT. WE JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD AND THAT THERE IS A HISTORY OF CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $3900. THE TRADE-IN VALUE IS $2000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS FLASHING AND THE TRACTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS FLASHING AND THE TRACTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT HESITATED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CVT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE FLOORBOARD WAS CONSTANTLY DAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED/RESET. THE VEH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT HESITATED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CVT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE FLOORBOARD WAS CONSTANTLY DAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED/RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
MULTIPLE MECHANICAL ISSUES INCLUDING THE HEAT. THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE AND I WAS STUCK DUE TO MECHANICAL ISSUES. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AFTER IT GOT TOO BAD.
MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA PRESENTED PROBLEMS OF LOUD NOISES AND VIBRATIONS. IT EVENTUALLY SOUNDED HORRIFIC. THE SOUND WAS WORSE FROM START TO STOP. UPON INSPECTION A BOLT CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE MOUNT AND MY ENGINE WAS MOVING AROUND.
LOCKS/ LATCHES ARE NON RESPONSIVE.
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.