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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

241 reports
32,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Electrical System

THE CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED OVER 20 TIMES THIS PAST YEAR FROM NOT STARTING ( I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR A YEAR). ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. IT WILL JUMP OFF AND MIGHT RUN FOR WEEKS BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL FAIL ME AGAIN. I HAVE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A COUPLE OF TIMES(WHI…

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THE CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED OVER 20 TIMES THIS PAST YEAR FROM NOT STARTING ( I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR A YEAR). ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. IT WILL JUMP OFF AND MIGHT RUN FOR WEEKS BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL FAIL ME AGAIN. I HAVE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A COUPLE OF TIMES(WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE ALSO TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE SEVERAL TIMES (AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED) TO FIND OUT THERE WASN'T A BATTERY ISSUE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE TO FIND MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT OTHERS DOING THE SAME THING WITH MOST OF THEM SAYING ITS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588786

12,000 miles · Apr 23, 2014
Air BagsCrash

I HAD NOTICED THAT REGARDLESS OF OCCUPANCY, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR NEVER LIT UP AFTER INITIAL TESTING ON START-UP. IN LATE JAN 2014, I WAS T-BONED ON PASSENGER SIDE BY MERCEDES WHOSE SPEED WAS SUCH THAT HIS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO ONE WITH ME OCCUPYING MY PASSENGER SEAT, THE SIDE CURTAIN AND SEA…

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I HAD NOTICED THAT REGARDLESS OF OCCUPANCY, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR NEVER LIT UP AFTER INITIAL TESTING ON START-UP. IN LATE JAN 2014, I WAS T-BONED ON PASSENGER SIDE BY MERCEDES WHOSE SPEED WAS SUCH THAT HIS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO ONE WITH ME OCCUPYING MY PASSENGER SEAT, THE SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT BAG DEPLOYED, ADDING MANY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584404

60,022 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Engine

WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC, THE CAR STARTED TO STALL. DRIVER PARKED THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WALKED TO WORK TO AVOID HAVING THE CAR DIE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. NONE OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE THE CAR THAT EVENING, IT COULD NOT BE STARTED AND HAD T…

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WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC, THE CAR STARTED TO STALL. DRIVER PARKED THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WALKED TO WORK TO AVOID HAVING THE CAR DIE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. NONE OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE THE CAR THAT EVENING, IT COULD NOT BE STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. DESPITE BEING ONLY 3-YEARS OLD AND HAVING GONE JUST 60,022 MILES, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR HAD A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK! THE ENGINE HAD BEEN WELL MAINTAINED INCLUDING OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566407

24,559 miles · Dec 13, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING ME TO DRIVE OVER THE PARKING CURB AND INTO A SHRUB. I WAS PULLING SLOWLY INTO THE SPACE AND THE CAR JUST LURCHED FORWARD, I QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKE. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT HURT AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555969

19,425 miles · Sep 24, 2013
Service BrakesSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE END BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHEN IT RAINED, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE END BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHEN IT RAINED, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ROTORS AND THE SHOCKS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,425. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10545104

20,000 miles · Sep 20, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE USING THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE USING THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT A SENSOR NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE SENSOR WAS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #10544597

23,000 miles · Jul 30, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior LightingCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER AND PARK THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE LATER COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF USING THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER AND PARK THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE LATER COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF USING THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO T REPROGRAMMED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ODI #10532705

38,400 miles · Jul 7, 2013
Air Bags

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S AT ABOVE 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SHOWING IT WAS OFF/ DISABLED AND STAYED OFF FOR THE WHOLE TRIP DURATION - ABOUT 45 MINUTES. AIR BAG LIGHT LOCATION IS IN THE CENTER OF DASHBOARD AND SHOULD LIGHT UP WHEN IS DISABLED OR NO PERSON IS SITTING ON PASSENGER SEAT.…

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DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S AT ABOVE 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SHOWING IT WAS OFF/ DISABLED AND STAYED OFF FOR THE WHOLE TRIP DURATION - ABOUT 45 MINUTES. AIR BAG LIGHT LOCATION IS IN THE CENTER OF DASHBOARD AND SHOULD LIGHT UP WHEN IS DISABLED OR NO PERSON IS SITTING ON PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS CLEARLY A MALFUNCTION AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO PROTECT HUMAN LIVES. AIR BAGS SAVE LIVES AND THEY SHOULD WORK ALL THE TIME NOT INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523571

15,000 miles · Jun 14, 2013
Air Bags

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ...NO MATTER THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER UP TO 240 THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS DISABLED....CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS CONSIDERING AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519882

26,000 miles · Jun 4, 2013
EngineFire

I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE STEERING BECAME DISABLED AND THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, IT IMMEDIATELY TURNED BLACK AND 60 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR LOST POWER IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515044

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