What 241 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Altima

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH CONTINENTAL SPORT CONTACT TIRES SIZE 215 /60 R16. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND THE TIRE FAILED AT 4,000 MILES. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS INSTALLED FOUR MONTHS AGO. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP BEFORE REACHING A DEAD-END INTERSECTION. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED UNTIL CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,088.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A KEYLESS IGNITION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND FORGETTING TO ENGAGE THE PUSH TO START BUTTON, THERE WAS NO WARNING TO INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE DESIGN POSED A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALTER THE VEHICLE'S DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 05/15/12 * BF

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED AN UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER'S POSSESSION WHERE HE WAS AWAITING FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, COMING TO A STOP THE CONTACT APPLIED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH EXTREME PRESSURE WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED GOING OVER A SMALL MEDIAN IN A PARKING LOT AND HITTING A FENCE. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND NO INJURIES TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE , THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,900.CV

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BRAKE LIGHT(S) ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. BRAKE LIGHT(S) WENT OFF BY THEMSELVES ONLY TO RE-ILLUMINATE. A FEW HOURS LATER A CAR ON I-285 IN METRO ATLANTA "CUT ME OFF" WHICH REQUIRED ME TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND THE BRAKES FAILED, THE CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL I ROLLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SEEMED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN LOW GEAR. THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE TO CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AND THEN DISTINGUISH. *TR

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CAR WOULD NOT CUT OFF KEPT RUNNING UNTIL ALL THE GAS WAS OUT OF THE TANK,ON-OFF BUTTON DID NOT WORK ,THE CAR COULD NOT BE CUT OFF,IT TOOK ALMOST 6 HOURS BEFORE THE TANK WAS EMPTY. *JS

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VIN# - [XXX]. PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN LA. PURCHASED NEW ALTIMA FROM DEALER ON 2/1/11. BEFORE I REFILLED THE CAR WITH FUEL THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE CAR TO BE SERVICED ON 2/8/2011. I WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN THAT THE SES LIGHT WAS FROM NOT CLOSING THE GAS TANK TIGHT ENOUGH (EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAD NEVER REFUELED THE CAR SINCE I HAD PURCHASED IT). THE LIGHT INDICATOR WAS RESET BY NISSAN SERVICE AND LATER THAT DAY IT CAME BACK ON. ON 6/23/11 I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN FOR SERVICE AND INFORMED THEM OF THE RE-OCCURRING ISSUE WITH THE SES LIGHT. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FOR A FEW HOURS AND WHEN THEY BROUGHT THE CAR BACK THEY SAID THAT THY ADJUSTED A VALVE SETTING THAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE CAUSING THE ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER LEAVING THE SERVICE GARAGE THE SES LIGHT CAME BACK ON. ON 1/12/12 I RETURNED TO NISSAN SERVICE FOR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE AND INFORMED THEM AGAIN OF THE RE-OCCURRING SES LIGHT TISSUE. THIS TIME THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AGAIN. WHEN I RESPONDED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK HAD FAILED TO RESOLVE OR IDENTIFY THE ISSUE LAST TIME THEY OFFERED NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE. TO DATE THE SES LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAS ESSENTIALLY REMAINED ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR. FURTHERMORE I HAVE RENTED A NISSAN ALTIMA 2011 MODEL ON SEVERAL BUSINESS TRIPS WHERE I HAVE HAD TO REFUEL THE CAR AND I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED THE SES INDICATOR. THIS LEADS ME TO FURTHER BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE I OWN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR DID NOT EXTEND OUT FAR ENOUGH TO PROVIDE HIM WITH PROPER VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE MIRROR WAS DESIGNED TO STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 02/27/12*LJ UPDATED 02/28/12

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AFTER NOTICING "DIMPLES" ON THE SIDEWALLS OF OUR CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO TIRES, ON A NEW 2011 ALTIMA, WE CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND DOZENS OF PROBLEMS WITH TREAD SEPARATION AND SIDEWALL FAILURES THAT LED TO BLOWOUTS. WE ARE GETTING RID OF THE CONTINENTALS WITH JUST 2,000 MILES ON THEM. IT'S WORTH $600 FOR NEW MICHELINS TO KNOW OUR 2,000-MILE DRIVE TOMORROW WILL BE ON SAFE TIRES. IT'S JUST UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THESE TIRES COME ON NISSANS, FORDS AND MERCEDES, AND THAT CONSUMERS AREN'T AT LEAST GIVEN A CHOICE TO OPT OUT. I CAN'T TAKE A FAMILY TRIP ON THESE TIRES. *TR

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VEHICLE WAS BACKED INTO AT APPROXIMATELY 0-5MPH AT 2,100 MILES WHILE LEGALLY PARKED. SINCE THEN, NEITHER SOUTH POINT NISSAN OF AUSTIN TX OR TOWN NORTH NISSAN OF AUSTIN TX HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY MY SRS AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. 12+ REPAIR ATTEMPTS, ALMOST 3 MONTHS IN SERVICE (TWO DAYS FROM NOW IT'LL HAVE BEEN IN FOR A WHOLE MONTH THIS TIME ALONE) INSURANCE CARRIER BLAMES NISSAN FOR VEH. DEFECT, NISSAN BLAMES COLLISION. I HAVE FULL COVERAGE AND EXTENDED WARRANTY YOU'D THINK SOMEBODY HERE WOULD MAKE ME WHOLE. NISSAN TECH'S ARE LITERALLY "THROWING PARTS" AT THE CAR (MODULE, SENSOR, ETC) WITH NO CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSIS IN 6 MONTHS AND NOW THEY'VE TORN MY DASHBOARD AND CAR APART TO REPLACE ALL OF THE SRS WIRING -- BUT SAID WIRING HARNESS IS ON "BACK ORDER" WITH NO ETA. LEMON LAW APPARENTLY DOESN'T COVER ME AND ATTORNEYS WONT TOUCH IT BECAUSE OF STUPID INCONSEQUENTLY PARKING LOT COLLISION WHICH DOES NOT EXPLAIN SUSPECTED MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURE OR SUSPECTED WIRING ISSUES SAFELY DEEP INSIDE THE CAR/DASHBOARD. PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW GETTING BACKED INTO DESTROYED WIRING INSIDE THE CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL/SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT CLEAR THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SIZE OF THE WIPERS WERE STANDARD FOR HER PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH ON A GROOVED PAVEMENT AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACK AND FORTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE OWNER'S MANUAL DISPLAYED A MESSAGE INFORMING HIM OF A CHIME ALERT THAT WOULD SOUND WHENEVER THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS NOT SECURELY FASTENED. WITH THE SEAT BELT UNFASTENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHIME ALERT DID NOT SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A CHIME SYSTEM, CONTRARY TO WHAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 700. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE OWNERS MANUAL STATED A CHIME WOULD SOUND FOR ABOUT 6 SECONDS IF THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT IS NOT FASTENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A CHIME ALERT. THE CONSUMER STATED IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. UPDATED 07/08/11

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I SET THE CLIMATE CONTROL TIMER FOR MY NISSAN LEAF TO TURN ON VIA THE COMPUTER THROUGH NISSAN'S CARWINGS APPLICATION. THIS IS TO PRE-COOL THE CAR BEFORE DRIVING. WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR, THE CAR WAS NOT COOL BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE CAR WAS DISABLED AND UNABLE TO BE STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION OF WHEN AND WHERE THIS CAN OCCUR, IT CAN RESULT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MORE INFO CAN ALSO BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.MYNISSANLEAF.COM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=30&T=3139. *TR

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I HAVE A NEW 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SL WHICH I PARKED IN MY CHURCH PARKING LOT AND WENT INTO CHURCH. AT THE END OF MASS, AS I WAS LEAVING THE CHURCH AND WALKING TOWARD THE PARKING LOT, I USED MY AUTOMATIC START...THE CAR STARTED AND WAS WARMING UP. AS I APPROACHED MY RUNNING CAR, I WALKED IN FRONT OF THE CAR TO GET AROUND TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF MOVING FORWARD WITH NOBODY IN IT. I WAS HOLDING ONTO THE DOOR CHASING AFTER MY CAR TRYING TO JUMP IN AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AS THE CAR RAN INTO ANOTHER CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. MY CAR WAS DAMAGED AND STILL RUNNING. THE PARKED CAR THAT IT HIT WAS DAMAGED. UPON IMPACT, I WAS THROWN AGAINST THE OPEN DOOR AND THEN ONTO THE PAVEMENT ON MY BACK/RIGHT SIDE. MANY PEOPLE WERE EXITING CHURCH AND GATHERED AROUND...IT IS FORTUNATE THAT NOBODY WAS HIT/RUN OVER BY THIS "RUN-AWAY" CAR. SOMEONE IN THE CROWD CALLED THE POLICE AND THE AMBULANCE...I WAS ON THE GROUND UNTIL BOTH ARRIVED. I WAS TREATED FOR MUSCLE AND SOFT TISSUE STRAIN/TRAUMA/ SPASMS. I MISSED A DAY OF WORK. MY INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT BUT WAS UNABLE TO ACCURATELY PIN BLAME ON THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY...THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO. THE MANUFACTURER, NISSAN, HAD A COMPANY CALLED AUTO EXPRESS INSTALL AN AUTOMATIC START MECHANISM IN THE NEW CAR BEFORE DELIVERING THE CAR TO ME. RIGHT NOW, NISSAN IS BLAMING AUTO EXPRESS FOR A FAULTY "AUTOSTART MECHANISM" OR FAULTY INSTALLATION. AUTO EXPRESS IS BLAMING NISSAN FOR A FAULTY "PARK-NEUTRAL SWITCH." BOTTOM LINE: SOMETHING WAS DEFECTIVE...AND NOBODY WANTS TO ACCEPT BLAME. THE PARK-NEUTRAL SWITCH HAS BEEN CLEARED BY NISSAN. THE AUTOSTART HAS BEEN REMOVED BY AUTO EXPRESS. AUTO EXPRESS PAID FOR MY CAR REPAIRS AND RENTAL CAR. BOTH COMPANIES ARE AVOIDING ME... *TR

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