2011 Nissan Altima Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Altima years
- About as many complaints as other years 16th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 241 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Altima. That ranks 16th out of 32 Altima model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (68 complaints, 28%), typically at around 100,200 miles. Complaints mention 11 crashes, 5 fires, 9 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 241owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 11complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2011 Nissan Altima problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 68 | 28% | 100,200 | “cvt transmission” (24%) | $4,900 |
| Unknown or Other | 40 | 17% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 36 | 15% | 86,069 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 31 | 13% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 27 | 11% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 21 | 9% | 38,400 | — | — |
| Suspension | 14 | 6% | 51,087 | — | — |
| Steering | 12 | 5% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 4% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 4% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 3% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 2% | 83,700 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 2% | 95,836 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 2% | 75,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 2% | 19,531 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 2% | 55,850 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 2% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 1% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 16,720 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 520 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 700 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 0% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0% | 51,087 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 170,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2011 Nissan Altima recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the bolt comes out completely, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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 Service Bulletin…
Drive axle suddenly not functioning properly, caused dangerous conditions to stop the car while driving on highway.
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
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 Service Bulletin…
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 high reoccurring issue with Nissan…
Other Nissan Altima years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Altima | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 Altima | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 Altima | 41 | 1 |
| 2023 Altima | 30 | 0 |
| 2022 Altima | 31 | 0 |
| 2021 Altima | 70 | 2 |
| 2020 Altima | 158 | 6 |
| 2019 Altima | 233 | 7 |
| 2018 Altima | 226 | 2 |
| 2017 Altima | 391 | 3 |
| 2016 Altima | 554 | 4 |
| 2015 Altima | 955 | 10 |
| 2014 Altima | 1,114 | 8 |
| 2013 Altima | 2,313 | 12 |
| 2012 Altima | 426 | 4 |
| 2011 | 241 | 1 |
| 2010 Altima | 381 | 3 |
| 2009 Altima | 1,547 | 4 |
| 2008 Altima | 1,030 | 4 |
| 2007 Altima | 471 | 3 |
| 2006 Altima | 824 | 3 |
| 2005 Altima | 1,091 | 1 |
| 2004 Altima | 276 | 1 |
| 2003 Altima | 883 | 4 |
| 2002 Altima | 1,047 | 5 |
| 2001 Altima | 159 | 1 |
| 2000 Altima | 160 | 1 |
| 1999 Altima | 87 | 0 |
| 1998 Altima | 123 | 0 |
| 1997 Altima | 108 | 1 |
| 1996 Altima | 92 | 0 |
| 1995 Altima | 180 | 3 |
See all Nissan Altima problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Altima?
Owners most often report power train, unknown or other, engine problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 68 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Nissan Altima?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2011 Nissan Altima a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Altima model years, the 2011 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.