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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

What owners actually said

241 reports
140,000 miles · Nov 8, 2021
Power Train

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the transmission lost functionality with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact initially took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they referred her to a dealer since the vehicle was under warranty. The contact then drove to…

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The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the transmission lost functionality with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact initially took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they referred her to a dealer since the vehicle was under warranty. The contact then drove to a dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI #11439784

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2021
Suspension

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while her grandmother was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to shake forcefully. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to drive to an independent mechanic however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact stated she a…

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The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while her grandmother was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to shake forcefully. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to drive to an independent mechanic however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact stated she also experienced the failure on 2013. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing unknown bolts to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V371000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11439456

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2021
Power Train

My car was all morning in the parking lot of my apartments and it was time to go to work, then i started my car and drive it around 2 minutes of driving it engine light on (always) and the stability light turn on which it never happens. I accelerate because was taking a turn it did not rpm over 2,500 like it need it something so…

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My car was all morning in the parking lot of my apartments and it was time to go to work, then i started my car and drive it around 2 minutes of driving it engine light on (always) and the stability light turn on which it never happens. I accelerate because was taking a turn it did not rpm over 2,500 like it need it something so the only way to get up to speed was doing low rpm which can be dangerous when need to turn and cars are coming in front of you and can happen with any notice Nissan need to make it right and fixing their cvt transmission failing so early and deny to fix its problems with its customers.

NHTSA ODI #11429381

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2021
Electrical SystemPower TrainSuspension

No incident, but I am prevent one from happening. My C.V.T. Transmission is winning in 1st gear, CVT stands for {continuously variable transmission}. I need to let up on the gas pedal each time it's supposed to shift.. Even if you don't know much about how a transmission works, you have probably heard of the manual and the auto…

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No incident, but I am prevent one from happening. My C.V.T. Transmission is winning in 1st gear, CVT stands for {continuously variable transmission}. I need to let up on the gas pedal each time it's supposed to shift.. Even if you don't know much about how a transmission works, you have probably heard of the manual and the automatic. The CVT is the newest type of a transmission. It is sometimes referred to as the shiftless transmission and is a type of automatic, a steady RPM constant even if the vehicle is accelerating rapidly in a passing scenario, for example, the CVT knows the optimal engine speed is pretty high (typically around 5,000 RPM or less on the tachometer), so it shifts you up there as soon as you put the gas petal down...In a passing scenario, for example, the CVT knows the optimal engine speed is pretty high (typically around 5,000 or less RPM's on the tachometer), so it shifts you up there as soon as it is ready ! Shifting this car is like its going to exploded !! I had it serviced at Nissan as soon I perchance it.. The cost was $250.00 for the transmission flush with new oil, no change and I am sick of riding like this thinking my investment can be left on a high way ...

NHTSA ODI #11428444

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2021
Power TrainSuspension

I bought this car 2011 Nissan Altima 2.5s Feb -2021 ....Now the transmission I had serviced at Colonial Nissan Altima in Medford Mass. in March 2021..which is a C.V.T. Transmission and 1st gear is acting wrong... Driving it I need to let up on the gas pedal to shift gears, I did call 30 days after my service...They told me to …

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I bought this car 2011 Nissan Altima 2.5s Feb -2021 ....Now the transmission I had serviced at Colonial Nissan Altima in Medford Mass. in March 2021..which is a C.V.T. Transmission and 1st gear is acting wrong... Driving it I need to let up on the gas pedal to shift gears, I did call 30 days after my service...They told me to drop it off and leave your car here and we will get to it, we are backed up with C.V.T. Transmissions !!! I NEED DIRECTION TO HANDLE THIS...PLUS A RECALL.. Transverse Link Bolt MAY NOT Have Been Torqued TO THE Proper Specification....AND I did snap a strut 1 month owning this car,, Thank you !

NHTSA ODI #11427821

31,000 miles · Jul 14, 2021
Air Bags

The contact's father owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her father was starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.…

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The contact's father owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her father was starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the air bags needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

NHTSA ODI #11424858

170,000 miles · Jul 7, 2021
Suspension

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the brakes serviced and was informed that the rear suspension subframe cross member was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagno…

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The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the brakes serviced and was informed that the rear suspension subframe cross member was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #11423821

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2021
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I was driving in early n all of a sudden car started slowing down n there’s other cars n I have my kids in car was very scary I started praying n calling on Jesus N car slowly started taking off again I just bought used car I’m very worried I hope someone reads this and calls me I never experienced this .

NHTSA ODI #11419034

65,000 miles · May 7, 2021
Vehicle Speed Control

I GET THE P0101 CODE THAT INDICATES A MASS AIR FLOW ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR CUTS OFF, STALLS, SPUTTERS. OFTEN THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED, BUT IT CONTINES TO STUTTER, OR SHUT OFF. THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON NYC STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS, USUALLY WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT ROADS. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A TU…

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I GET THE P0101 CODE THAT INDICATES A MASS AIR FLOW ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR CUTS OFF, STALLS, SPUTTERS. OFTEN THE CAR CAN BE RESTARTED, BUT IT CONTINES TO STUTTER, OR SHUT OFF. THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON NYC STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS, USUALLY WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT ROADS. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE MASS FLOW SENSOR AND THE VEHICLE WAS FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS. THEN THE ISSUE STARTED AGAIN. THIS REPEATEDLY HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CHANGING THE MASS AIR FLOW PART DOES NOT HELP IT. THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SINCE 2014, OF COURSE USUALLY IN MAY WHEN IT'S TIME TO GET THE INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI #11415531

120,000 miles · Mar 9, 2021
Structure

CLEAR COAT THEN PAINT COMING OFF. ESPECIALLY ON HOOD, TOP OF CAR, AND TRUNK. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER BLACK NISSAN ALTIMA'S DOING THE SAME.

NHTSA ODI #11399948

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