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2011 Nissan AltimaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 242 owner complaints about the 2011 Nissan Altima, most often about the power train. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

2011 Nissan Altima
53
CarFlaw IndexSolid year11% below the Altima median · #19 of 32 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints24223 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage100kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 16, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2011 Nissan Altima has problems

242 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train682
Engine362
Electrical system322
Structure273
Air bags225
Suspension141
Steering131
Fuel/propulsion system101
Vehicle speed control90
15 other systems508

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2011 Nissan Altima recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Suspension

Recall 11V-371 · Jul 19, 2011 · 20,000 vehicles

Risk. IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.

Mileage at failure

When do power train problems start?

100kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 53 power train complaints. 45% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
4under 30k miles24under 100k miles29100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2011 vs. every other Altima year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Altima median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2011 Nissan Altima safety ratings

2011 Nissan Altima 2 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 5 stars (9.3% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What Altima owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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.
Complaint 11580274 · Mar 31, 2024
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 mechanical problem…
Complaint 11498614 · Dec 22, 2022
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated. The contact stated that the vehicle performed as if the gear shifter was in neutral(N). The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not…
Complaint 11484425 · Sep 14, 2022 · 100,000 miles

Own a 2011 Altima?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.