Severe Issues

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Altima. This model year has 240 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.

240
Complaints
11
Crashes
5
Fires
9
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
1
Recalls

Before you buy β€” check the actual VIN

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2011 Nissan Altima Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
68
complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Crash-related:1
Injuries:2
#2
41
complaints

Engine Problems

Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#3
40
complaints

Uncategorized Issues

Fires:2

Considering a 2011 Nissan Altima?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Nissan Altima. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Transmission / Drivetrain681β€”β€”
Engine Problems4111β€”
Uncategorized Issues40β€”2β€”
Electrical Faults302β€”β€”
Structural Problems2721β€”
Airbag Malfunctions215β€”β€”
Suspension Failures141β€”β€”
Steering Defects121β€”β€”
Brake System123β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System10β€”1β€”
Unintended Acceleration8β€”β€”β€”
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)6β€”β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper4β€”β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues4β€”1β€”
Tire Issues41β€”β€”
Hydraulic42β€”β€”
Seat-Related Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Wheel Issues3β€”1β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures21β€”β€”
Visibility2β€”β€”β€”
Firerelated1β€”1β€”
Traction Control System1β€”β€”β€”
Fuel System1β€”β€”β€”
Gasoline1β€”β€”β€”
Equipment1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

πŸ”

Showing 240 most recent complaints

Transmission / DrivetrainFeb 25, 2026

Drive axle suddenly not functioning properly, caused dangerous conditions to stop the car while driving on highway.

Uncategorized IssuesJul 12, 2025

This is the second nissan altima iv owed an the problem eatch one iv had is that were the idler tensioner pully gose and bolts to brakes so there for you cant put the idler tensioner pully back on

Electrical FaultsJul 3, 2025

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Engine Control Module (ECM) is malfunctioning, triggering persistent P0101 codes related to the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. This specific issue is addressed in Nissan Technical …

Uncategorized IssuesFeb 13, 2025

There is issue with sunroof drainage tubs causing rain to soak the floor of car. This definitely malfunction or inadequate problem with drainage tubs and sunroof parts with Nissans. I took it to the dealership and car collision repair shop and was told this is hig…

Uncategorized IssuesJun 17, 2024

I have complained to Nissan that the dash in the car is literally melting. It started around 2014 when I noticed it was having a sticky texture and because of this it creates a glare in the windshield that makes it hard to see. Over the years it has only gotten worse and the dash…

Visibility/WiperApr 29, 2024

I brought my car to Florida 2 years ago and notices my dashboard getting very shiny and sticky. Now the dash is cracking in many areas. The glare off the dash board shining on the windshield makes it a dangerous situation. I called Nissan and they said it is a common problem in y…

Unintended AccelerationApr 19, 2024

While driving it's difficult for the car to shift gears, also a burning smell comes from the engine after driving long distance.

Transmission / DrivetrainMar 31, 2024

Unknown. My car is making a whining noise & no matter how much i push the gas pedal it won’t accelerate. Sometimes it works but mostly it won’t.

Airbag MalfunctionsJan 18, 2024

Airbag sensor flashing. Seems to be a very common issue and no recall. Found tons of articles and YouTube videos.

Uncategorized IssuesOct 4, 2023

It started about 2 months ago that the RPM was revving when it came to the gears shifting. I would accelerate and the car would barely move and the transmission was making a whirring sound. The Service Engine Soon light came on so I took my car to O Reilys and the code for the st…

Uncategorized IssuesAug 15, 2023

REAR SUB FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. YES IT IS AVAILABE FOR INSPECTION. FRAME COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT .

Uncategorized IssuesAug 1, 2023

I was on my way to work driving on the freeway and suddenly I felt a sort of shaking from the car. I then exited the freeway and approached a red light. When the light turned green, my car moved some but then was stalled so I was stuck in the middle of an intersection. Luckily, I…

Seat Belt IssuesJun 12, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that water was leaking from the bottom of the front driver’s and passenger side doors. Additionally, the seat belt warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not notified …

Uncategorized IssuesMay 15, 2023

Dash is melting- it is causes an extreme shine reflecting on the windshield and extremely sticky. In the sun, full sun or a cloudy day, it causes a large glare in the direct line of sight. It is very unsafe to drive. It spans the entire dash. There is no escaping the glare during…

Engine ProblemsFeb 27, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact disconnected and reconnected the battery and the mass air flow sensor to correct the failure.…

Suspension FailuresFeb 22, 2023

Loud noise from driver-side rear while driving. I discovered the rear crossmember (aka subframe) is badly corroded and there is a complete break/failure of the unit. This is unsafe. I have worked on cars for over 40 years and I have never seen such an inexcusable failure.

Transmission / DrivetrainDec 22, 2022

Hi my Nissan has 120k miles son it and the transmission is completely wrong don’t go more than 30 mph I take it to the shop to inspect and they told me that it need to be replace. It has code p1778 and code p0868 they told me that the transmission has no oil presure that it was a…

Steering DefectsDec 18, 2022

While driving on the highway the steering wheel locked keeping me from maneuvering the steering wheel. Independent service center diagnostics confirmed it was the power steering pump and sensor. Let the vehicle run into the curb. Then power steering fluid is still leaking out. …

Electrical FaultsNov 21, 2022

I am sending this email concerning a recall that is affecting my vehicle. I dropped the car off as scheduled on 10-10-22. The initial adviser I spoke with in scheduling the appointment at the Darcars Nissan dealership on Indianola drive in Rockville confirmed the recall repair wo…

FirerelatedπŸ”₯ FireOct 19, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at normal speed, he noticed that smoke started to spread throughout the vehicle when the vehicle inadvertently caught fire. The check engine warning light illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. No i…

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Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2011 Nissan Altima.

Recalls for 2011 Nissan Altima

1 campaign

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 Nissan Altima. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

11V371000Invalid Date
SUSPENSION

2011 Nissan Altima β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Nissan Altima reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. The 2011 Nissan Altima has 240 NHTSA owner complaints, 11 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (68 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Altima?β–Ύ

#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (68 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (41 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (40 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Nissan Altima?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2011 Nissan Altima?β–Ύ

The 2011 Nissan Altima has 11 crash-related complaints and 5 fire reports out of 240 total NHTSA complaints. 9 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2011 Nissan Altima have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 1 NHTSA recall campaign affect the 2011 Nissan Altima. The largest issue: SUSPENSION. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2011 Nissan Altima?β–Ύ

The 2011 Nissan Altima has severe issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Check Your Specific 2011 Nissan Altima

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.