What 241 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Altima

Car all of a sudden started shuttering, hesitation in accelerator and then sudden acceleration. It could have killed us,

NHTSA ODI 11468763

Hood latch is not working appropriately. Loose, rattling and lifting over 35 mph.

NHTSA ODI 11457909

The dashboard airbag icon has flashed continuously while the car was being driven on two different days, first with the driver as the occupant and again with the driver and a passenger. Both times, a mechanic's diagnostic device found that the passenger airbag sensor malfunctioned. Both times, he did a reset. Nissan recalled 2012 Altimas for airbag problems in vehicles manufactured in June 2011.The car with VIN [XXX] that I write about is a 2011 used Altima that had to be manufactured near that date and was bought on 10/14/12. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11446415

Going down interstate, when you press the gas, vehicle hesitates if you are going faster than 40 miles an hour, motor didn't die but you are unable to go faster for a few seconds, this is very dangerous situation on our interstates. And this is happening on every trip that I am afraid to drive this car, its not trustworthy and I can't afford a new car in today's economy.

NHTSA ODI 11444843

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the dashboard was sticky to the touch, causing a glare in the windshield. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the dashboard replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and suggested that the vehicle be taken to an authorized dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 11443611

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

NHTSA ODI 11397875

MY CAR IS HAVING STICKY DASH BOARD AND ITS MELTING. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND PRONE TO ACCIDENTS IN A DAY TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11395010

MY VEHICLE HAS A VERY SHINY, STICKY AND MELTING DASHBOARD. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AND HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY SAID IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY (3 YEARS, 36000 MILES) AND I'M ON MY OWN AND THEY CANNOT HELP ME. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE SHINE PRODUCES A GLARE ALL OVER MY WINDSHIELD AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE DRIVING IN THE SUNLIGHT. PLEASE HELP!!

NHTSA ODI 11394456

TRANSMISSION KEEPS GOING BAD

NHTSA ODI 11385510

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,918.

NHTSA ODI 11376285

THE DASHBOARD FOR MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA IS EXTREMELY STICKY AND MELTING. IT CREATE A MAJOR GLARE AND COVERS A MAJOR PORTION ON MY WINDSHIELD. THIS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES MY ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD, PEDESTRIAN OR CYCLISTS. ITS EVEN WORSE WHEN I HAVE TO TAKE TURNS. I STARTED BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR BUT WASN'T SUCH A BIG ISSUE. BUT, IT PROGRESSED WITH TIME AND HAVE BECOME A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. I AM BIT SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11361694

I'VE NOTICED THAT THE HOOD OF MY CAR IS MOVING A LOT ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM ON THE HIGHWAY. IT SEEMS AS IF IT IS GOING TO FLIP UP OR COME OFF THE HINGES.

NHTSA ODI 11341356

OUR 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A BLACK DASH BOARD THAT STARTED FEELING STICKY. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE DASH BOARD IS MELTING. WE ALSO CONFIRMED THIS WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC. WE HAVE SEEN OLDER MODEL'S HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. IT HAS MELTED TO THE POINT THAT YOU CAN'T TOUCH THE DASH MUCH LESS LAY ANYTHING ON THE DASH BOARD.

NHTSA ODI 11337963

I WENT TO GO AND HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED TODAY APPROXIMATELY AT 850 AM.. THE LOCATION KA-PA TIRE &AUTO SERVICE 4011 3RD ST. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94124.. SO ANY WAY AFTER THE SHOP FINISHED WIT MY VEHICLE THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF CODE THAT CASE UP. SO I ASKED THE MECHANIC WHAT'S WAS THE ISSUE HE SAID HE COULDN'T EXPLAIN.. SO HE ADVISED ME TO CONTACT YOU GUYS ABOUT THE SITUATION.. SO I'M LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON HOW DO I GO ABOUT THE RECALL?

NHTSA ODI 11337327

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER GRANDSON WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. FIRST THE REAR END MADE CONTACT AND THEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BANGED INTO THE WALL. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INTERNAL BLEEDING, PART OF HIS INTESTINE REMOVED, CHIPPED BONE ON HIS RIGHT KNEE. AND MULTIPLE GLASS FRACTURE REMOVED FROM HIS BODY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SLIGHT CONCUSSION AND RIGHT ANKLE WAS FRACTURE NEEDING SURGERY. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF A FAILURE CAUSE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V371000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *DT*JB*DT*JB *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI 11326493