Home · 2011 Nissan Altima · Complaints

What 241 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Altima

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (241)Crash / fire / injury (17)Transmission & drivetrain (68)Engine (36)Electrical system (31)Body & structure (27)Airbags (21)Suspension (14)Brakes (12)Steering (12)Fuel system (10)Speed control (9)

Newest first · 241 complaints · page 5 of 10

Sep 11, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

NISSAN CVT (TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WHEN IN MOTION SEEMS TO BE STUCK " IN GEAR" WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR IT FEELS RESTRAINED AND LABORED WITH A NOISY ALMOST WHINING SOUND. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO "UP-SHIFT" ALTHOUGH THE CVTS ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO NOT MAKE THE BUMPING TRANSITIONS, IT SEEMS TO BE RESTRAINING THE CAR FROM PICKING UP SPEED WITH LABORING WHINE.

NHTSA ODI 11128661

Sep 4, 2018Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 80-85 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SAFETY MODE AND DECELERATED TO 70 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLAGSTAFF NISSAN (4960 E MARKETPLACE DR, FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86004, (928) 522-6386) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. IN ADDITION A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,836.

NHTSA ODI 11124389

Aug 23, 2018SteeringElectrical systemEngine

WENT TO START MY CAR.IN THE DASHBOARD WAS A KEY LIGHT.CAR WOULDN'T START LOOK UP THINGS THAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT STEERING LOCK.THE CAR WAS SITTING AT MY HOUSE .

NHTSA ODI 11121910

Aug 13, 2018Engine & cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN 24 (1016 BELMONT ST, BROCKTON, MA 02301, (508) 588-9520) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,640.

NHTSA ODI 11119705

Aug 12, 2018Fuel system

VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE, APPEARS TO SLOW DOWN, CAUSING ISSUES ON HIGHWAY. PRESSING THE FUEL PEDAL DOES NOT APPEAR TO WORK; FUEL PEDAL TOUCHING FLOORBOARD AND VEHICLE STILL WILL NOT ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI 11119484

Aug 7, 2018Speed control

THE CVT(TRANSMISSION) OF THIS MODEL HAS A HISTORY OF THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING AND A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THE MANUFACTURER "FIX" TO THIS IS TO PUT IN A COOLING FAN FOR THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1300. IF THE MANUFACTURERS TRANSMISSION IS KNOWN TO OVERHEAT WHY DOESN'T NISSAN PAY FOR THE COOLING FAN OR FIX AND REPLACE THE CVT TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11118368

Jul 26, 2018Engine

WHEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MIN OR MORE AND MAYBE A LITTLE HOTTER THAN USUAL, AND YOU ARE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY, THE SPEED WILL LOCK AT 65 OR UNDER, IT WILL NOT LET YOU GO ANY HIGHER, WHEN IT LOCKS IT SLOWS DOWN FAST LIKE IF HITTING THE BREAKS, THIS IS SO DANGEROUS WHEN ON FREEWAY WE HAVE BEEN SO CLOSE TO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS, WE TRAVEL ON THE CAR, AND IT HAS DONE IT A LOT LATELY, WE KNOW NOTHING OF WHY IT'S THIS WAY.

NHTSA ODI 11113715

Jul 21, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLES SPEED GOES DOWN TO 40MPH TO ALMOST STOPPING. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE, DRIVING LONG DISTANCES AND DRIVING AT A SPEED ABOVE 70MPH. IT ALSO MAKES A WHINING NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA ODI 11112822

Jul 15, 2018Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A WHINING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION AND THEN LOSS POWER ON THE INTERSTATE AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 40MPH EVEN WITH THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY MAKING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION FOR MY FAMILY. I'VE DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE AND RECEIVING NO ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN ON THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11111459

Jul 10, 2018

I REPLACED ALL FOUR ORIGINAL TIRES ON CAR IN 1/2015. VEHICLE HAD 43K MILES ON; TIRES HAD ALWAYS BEEN ROTATED AND PROPERLY INFLATED TO 32 PSI. DURING THE NEXT MONTHS, I NOTICED INCREASING NOISE AS THE CAR ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED. I TRIED TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE RYTHMIC THUMPING NOISE BUT WAS UNABLE. I HAD TIRES INSPECTED AND NO PROBLEMS COULD BE FOUND WITH APPROXIMATELY 9,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. I NOTICED INCREASING RHYTHMIC NOISE BUT COULD NOT LOCATE WHICH TIRE WAS THE SOURCE. WE HAD A FLAT TIRE FROM A ROOFING NAIL IN THE RR WHICH REQUIRED THE TIRE TO BE REPLACED. REPLACED TIRE WITH ANOTHER GOODYEAR ASSURANCE. WITH THIS NEW TIRE ON THE RR, I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE ROAD RUMBLE TO THE RIGHT FRONT, SO I HAD THAT TIRE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER GOODYEAR ASSURANCE. NOISE SEEMED TO GO AWAY. AS MY WIFE IS THE PRINCIPLE DRIVER OF THIS CAR, I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN SOLVED WITH THE TWO NEW TIRES (AS ONE HAD BEEN FAILING). ON A 500 MILE TRIP, I NOTICED THAT THE ROAD NOISE (LOW RUMBLE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH TIRE SPEED, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS). I NOW REALIZE THAT THE ROAD NOISE MUST BE COMING FROM ONE/OR BOTH OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES THAT WERE PLACED ON THE CAR IN 2017. ON CLOSE INSPECTION OF THESE TWO TIRES, I HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE AREAS OF A FINE SPLITTING APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH DOWN THE SIDE OF THE SIDE WALL ON BOTH OF THESE TIRES WHICH MAY BE INDICATIVE OF TREAD SEPARATION. I AM TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE TAKING THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE ASKED THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS ABOUT THIS AND I GET MANY ASSORTED ANSWERS, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THESE TIRES MAKE A RUMBLING NOISE DIRECTLY RELATED TO TIRE SPEED AND SHOW SIGNS OF SIDEWALL CRACKING. I DON'T WANT TO GET TO THE POINT OF AN ENDANGERING BLOWOUT AND AM CONSIDERING REPLACING ALL 4 TIRES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN MOSTLY ON LOCAL CITY STREET AND VERY INFREQUENTLY ON HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ODI 11110645

Jul 9, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

AFTER AN HOUR OF HIGHWAY DRIVING, IN WARM WEATHER, TRANSMISSION GOES INTO SAFE MODE, LOSES POWER, TRANSMISSION SHUTS DOWN. PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR AND ZIPPO, NOTHING, NO POWER, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ON HIGHWAY. NISSAN WAS OF NO HELP. THEIR CVT TRANNY IS HE PROBLEM. SOME MODELS WERE RECALLED ALREADY AND SOME WARRANTIES WERE EXTENDED, BUR NOT MINE. THEY WANT OVER 5 GRAND TO REPLACE TRANS.

NHTSA ODI 11110192

Jul 3, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND VIBRATED MODERATELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CROSSROADS NISSAN WAKE FOREST, 1120 CAPITAL BLVD, WAKE FOREST, NC), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FROM THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY THREE OTHER TIMES. AFTER ONE OF THE FAILURES, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THEY RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THEN IT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,858.

NHTSA ODI 11105390

Jun 21, 2018AirbagsSeat beltsBrakes

TAKATA RECALLS. I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY SEALS AROUND MY WINDOWS. WHEN IT RAINS MY CAR GETS WATER IN THE DOORS.STATIONARY

NHTSA ODI 11102967

Jun 14, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (LYNCHBURG NISSAN, 18588 FOREST RD, LYNCHBURG, VA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11101821

Jun 13, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. MCDONOUGH NISSAN (1775 AVALON PKWY, MCDONOUGH, GA) DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI 11101567

Jun 13, 2018Engine

I WAS DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT AND OUT OF NO WHERE, MY CAR STARTS JERKING AND SPUTTERING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TO THE DROP OFF TERMINALS. I LOST ALL ACCELERATION CONTROL AND COULDN'T EVEN MOVE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED. TURNS OUT 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS VERY COMMON CVT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT IS UNABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT JERKING, SPUTTERING, OR EVEN MOVING. I CALL THE 1-800 NUMBER FOR NISSAN AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT DOWN AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THEY CAN REVIEW IT WITH NO GUARANTEE OR PROMISE OF A POSITIVE OUTCOME. TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE REPLACED ARE AROUND $4000.

NHTSA ODI 11101625

Jun 8, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A WHIRRING SOUND AND LOST POWER ON FREEWAY ONLY ALLOWING MY CHILDREN AND I TO ONLY GO 20 MPH WHILE CARS WERE MERGING ON IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA. THE CAR DID THIS A FEW TIMES DURING LONGER TRIPS (45 MILES OR MORE) ON THE SIDE OF A REGULAR ROAD. AFTER A COUPLE MECHANICS THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOUND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR OVERHEATS BECAUSE THE COOLING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. WE HAD TO PUT A NEW COOLER IN IT.

NHTSA ODI 11100639

May 28, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY ALTIMA STARTED MAKING THIS WHINING NOISE WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL UP HILL AND COASTED DOWN HILL AND THIS WAS DURING THE DAY IN THE HEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11098289

May 22, 2018

WAS TOLD MY CAR HAD A RECAL JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO GO TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP OR WHERE I PURCHASED CAR TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11097176

May 2, 2018Body & structure

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR MONTHS. THE MELTING AREAS BECOME SOFT, STICKY, CRACKED AND SHINY. IF THE DASHBOARD IS NOT REPLACED THE GLARE CREATED BY THE SHINY AREAS WILL MAKE THE CAR HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE AND THE MELTING WILL ULTIMATELY DAMAGE THE EQUIPMENT COVERED BY THE DASHBOARD - EQUIPMENT THE CAR NEEDS TO OPERATE SAFELY AND EQUIPMENT THE DASHBOARD IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 2008 AND 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS IN WHICH THEIR MELTING DASHBOARDS WERE REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN INTERNET POSTS/COMPLAINTS BY OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE INVOLVING OTHER YEARS. I HAVE LIVED IN FLORIDA ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A DASHBOARD REACT THIS WAY; NEITHER HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS. I HAVE TALKED WITH THE DEALER AND ALSO REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN (I HAVE THE COMPLAINT NUMBER AND THE DEALER SENT PICTURES) BUT NEITHER ARE WILLING TO HELP. THE COST OF REPLACING THE DASHBOARD IS OVER $2000. ANOTHER MORE ENCOMPASSING RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED REQUIRING NISSAN TO REPLACE ALL MELTING DASHBOARDS REGARDLESS OF YEAR. DOING SO WILL ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND THE PROTECTION OF THE CAR AND ITS EQUIPMENT - PROTECTIONS RIGHTFULLY EXPECTED BY THE DRIVER AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. SINCE THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM I HAVE NOTED BELOW THE APPROXIMATE DATE THAT I ACTUALLY REALIZED THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING.

NHTSA ODI 11091379

Apr 14, 2018

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND I HAVE TROUBLE SEEING THE ROAD AND OTHER CARS.

NHTSA ODI 11085037

Apr 14, 2018Electrical systemBrakesCrash

THERE IS AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE 4 YEARS. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AND THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. IN ORDER TO START THE CAR THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED FIRST AND THEN PLUG BACK IN AND THEN IT WILL START BACK UP.IN THE PAST I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NEVER FOUND ANY ISSUES ON THE DIAGNOSTICS.

NHTSA ODI 11085060

Apr 11, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION THAT ARE MOST LIKELY LEADING TO IT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH IT SEEMS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND A LOT WITH THE SAME YEAR OR ONLY A FEW YEARS DIFFERENCE THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. WITH THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES I THINK NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11084547

Apr 4, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS LESS THAN 53,000 MILES, FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS I KEEP GETTING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT COMES ON AND THEN GOES AWAY AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. WHEN CHECKED THE CODE IT IS GIVING IS P0826 WHICH INDICATES "A PROBLEM IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OF THE UPSHIFT/DOWNSHIFT SWITCH TO THE TRANSMISSION RANGE CORRELATION CIRCUIT. THIS CIRCUIT INCLUDES THE SWITCH, WIRING, CONNECTORS, AND MODE ACTUATOR, AND IS USED ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE MANUALLY SHIFTABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THIS LIGHT COMES ON AT ALL TIMES AND WILL GO OUT AFTER A WEEK OR SO.

NHTSA ODI 11083190

Apr 2, 2018

APPARENTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY WARRANTY HAS PASSED & DON'T LIVE IN FL (LA & TX ARE JUST AS HOT) & I'M NOT A REPEAT CUSTOMER (EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT MINE ON MY PARENTS RECOMMENDATION WHO OWNED ONE), THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD NISSAN EXPERIMENTED WITH ON 09-12 ALTIMAS THAT IS STICKY, MELTING, DISINTEGRATING, & CAUSING A DANGEROUS SHINY GLARE ON MY GLASS THAT IS CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS IS NOT SOMETHING NISSAN IS WORRIED ABOUT. I GUESS I'D HAVE TO DIE IN A HORRIBLE CAR CRASH & MY FAMILY SUE BEFORE NISSAN WOULD LIKE TO RECALL THEIR DEFECTIVE CARS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I'VE DONE TO MY CAR. NOT BECAUSE OF WEAR & TEAR I'VE PUT ON MY VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT WARRANTIES ARE ALL ABOUT. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL NISSAN USED & WHAT IF ANY FUTURE VEHICLE I PURCHASE FROM NISSAN HAS SOMETHING WRONG & NISSAN CHOOSES NOT TO FIX IT? DOES THAT MAKE ME WANT TO BE A REPEAT CUSTOMER???? TO THIS POINT I LOVED MY NISSAN & FULLY INTENDED TO UPGRADE TO A BIGGER VEHICLE FOR ALL THE CHURCH KIDDOS WE HAUL AROUND. NISSAN HAS TREATED US LIKE INSIGNIFICANT DIRT WHEN THIS IS FACTORY DEFECTED PRODUCT. I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE IN FLORIDA HAD TO COME TOGETHER FOR A GROUP LAWSUIT BEFORE NISSAN TOOK ACTION. THIS IS NOT JUST A SMALL UNIMPORTANT ISSUE. THE GLARE IS UNSAFE AND AS MY HUSBAND WORKS IN CONSTRUCTION WHERE 'SAFETY FIRST' IS THE COMPANY'S MOTTO, WE ARE SPEECHLESS THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. IF THIS COMPANY DOES NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND MAKE THIS RIGHT, WE WILL BE TAKING OUR BUYER PURCHASING ELSEWHERE. THIS IS NOT WORTH SOMEONE LOSING THEIR LIFE OVER. NISSAN CAN BITE THE BULLET & LOSE $2,000 TO A NEW DASH WHEREAS MOST OF US CAN'T DO THAT OURSELVES. A COMPANY OF THIS SIZE & SUPPOSED REPUTATION COULD & SHOULD TAKE THIS HIT. I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT AFFECTING MY PASSENGER AIRBAG NOW AS WELL! PICKED A DATE BC PROB IS ONGOING AND NO WRECK HAS OCCURRED YET THANKFULLY.

NHTSA ODI 11082548

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Nissan Altima verdict →