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 8 of 10

Dec 4, 2015Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RATTLING SOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V371000 (SUSPENSION), HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,253.

NHTSA ODI 10808490

Nov 27, 2015Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE PUSH TO START BUTTON FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 10807158

Nov 19, 2015Airbags

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN FRONT RIGHT SEAT "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF " LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN OPERATING WITH NO PASSENGERS LIGHT IS OFF INDICATING THE AIRBAG IS WORKING. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO SCANNED SYSTEM AND COULD OT FIND ANY CODES. AFTER READING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA REGARDING THIS ISSUE I FEEL NISSAN NEEDS TOIMPLEMENT A SERVICE RECALL. AS I AND I AM SURE OTHERS DO NOT FEEL SAFE OPERATING VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN. WE WERE OPERATING SAID VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS UNDER 30 MPH WHEN FIRST NOTICED HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT ON HIGHWAYS AT HIGHER SPEEDS AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 10794814

Nov 1, 2015Body & structure

AFTER A HEAVY RAIN THE REAR FLOORBOARD AND CARPET IS WET PASSENGER SIDE. CAN ALSO HEAR SLOSHING NOISES FROM EITHER THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL OR UNDER THE REAR CARPET. WINDOWS UP TIGHT, DOOR SEALS LOOK GOOD. SEATS ARE NOT WET. JUST FLOOR. NO SUNROOF.

NHTSA ODI 10787491

Oct 3, 2015

KEYLESS START- I LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROX. 2 MILES AWAY WITHOUT THE KEY. WHEN THE PERSON DRIVING REALIZED THIS, THEY DIDN'T TURN THE CAR OFF AND CAME BACK. THE CAR NEVER SHUT DOWN, BUT DID START TO SHUTTER A BIT.

NHTSA ODI 10779472

Sep 12, 2015Airbags

WHEN PASSENGER (APPROX 150 LBS) SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT, AIR BAG LIGHT OFF. THIS OCCURRED JANUARY 2012, NOTICED AGAIN 5/2012, BOTH TIMES TOOK TO DEALER. CONTACTED NISSAN DIRECTLY 8/2013. WANT THIS ISSUE DOCUMENTED AS IT'S NOT CONSISTENT; THEREFORE, WHEN YOU TAKE TO DEALER THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THIS AND DO NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI 10763276

Aug 31, 2015Electrical systemEngine

I HAVE A NISSAN ALTIMA (2011) AND MY SISTER HAS A NISSAN MURANO (2013?). BOTH CARS REMAIN RUNNING WHEN THE "SMART KEY" IS REMOVED. MY CAR BEEPS 3 TIMES IF I GET OUT WITH THE KEY WHEN IT IS RUNNING, BUT NOT MUCH NOTIFICATION. I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM YET, BUT MY SISTER, IN HER 80'S, HAS LEFT HER CAR RUNNING FOR HOURS FREQUENTLY SINCE SHE BOUGHT THE MURANO (AT LEAST 5 TIMES). WE BOTH KEEP OUR CARS IN A CLOSED IN BASEMENT AND IF LEFT RUNNING COULD BE DEADLY. OUR BEDROOMS ARE DIRECTLY OVER THE GARAGE. IT SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE TIMER COULD BE USED TO TURN THE CAR OFF IF THE KEY IS REMOVED FOR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. AN OVER RIDE COULD BE PUT ON THE OPTION IF THE OWNER WANTS IT TO RUN LONGER FOR WINTER WARM-UPS OR WHATEVER. THE SOONER THE AUTO COMPLEX FIXES THIS THE FEWER RECALLS IN THE FUTURE. I REALLY WORRY ABOUT MY SISTER AND OTHERS NOT AS TECH SAVVY OR MAYBE WITH MEMORY/ATTENTION ISSUES. THE INCIDENT DATE ABOVE IS CLOSE TO THE DATE THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, SINCE THIS ISSUE EXISTED THE DAY THAT I BOUGHT IT. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DANGER UNTIL MY SISTER REPEATEDLY LEFT HERS RUNNING UNKNOWINGLY. I'M SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY NOT BE NISSAN SPECIFIC AND ALL COMPANIES WILL NEED TO FIX IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10760353

Aug 31, 2015SteeringSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V371000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 10760430

Aug 20, 2015Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10749987

Apr 6, 2015AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A 2014 DODGE RAM AND IT WAS A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION. MY CAR WAS TOTALLED ( THE IMPACT EVEN CRUMBLED THE REAR QUARTER PANEL) BUT THE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REPAIR COMPANY WAS CONFUSED WITH THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. II SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY NECK, BACK AND LEFT SIDE. I STILL HAVE BACK PAIN BUT I'M GETTING BETTER. CONFUSED AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10703828

Mar 25, 2015SteeringAirbagsBody & structureTiresCrash

I WAS TRAVELING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN ON A STRAIGHT WAY ON HWY AND THE FRONT TIRE BLEW IN THE SIDEWALL OF MY MICHELIN TIRE. I WAS PULLED ACROSS THE OTHER LANE INTO A DITCH STRIKING A STONE CULVERT AFTER GOING AIRBORNE. I HAD PURCHASED A SET OF MICHELIN TIRES AND THEY WERE A 70,000 MILE TIRE AND HAD 23,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN THIS OCCURRED. AFTER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED A BLOWOUT AS THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO WHEEL INDICATION OF ROAD HAZARD THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE TO TIRE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE TIRE AND WHEEL WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION OTHER THAT THE BLOWN PART IN THE SIDEWALL AND IF I WOULD HAVE HIT SOMETHING HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE TIRE THAT TYPE OF DAMAGE, THEY SAID IT WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY AFFECTED MY WHEEL. THE TIRE HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE AS THERE IS REPORTS ARE ALL OVER INTERNET THAT THESE INCIDENTS ARE OCCURRING WITH MICHELIN TIRES. BUYER BEWARE! MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM WITHOUT WORK AND WITHOUT A CAR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10701733

Mar 18, 2015EngineFuel system

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ASSOCIATED ENGINE CODE WAS P2A00 AND BOTH THE UPSTREAM (AIR/FUEL RATIO) AND DOWNSTREAM (OXYGEN) AIR SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST CLOSE TO $1,000 PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS AFTER MANY OTHER COSTLY REPAIRS, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY ANOTHER FILING WITH THE NHTSA REGARDING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WHERE THE RACK & PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHILE THE CAR HAS A LOT OF MILES, THEY'RE MAINLY HIGHWAY MILES AND THE CAR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED. ADDITIONALLY PLEASE NOTE: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED ~33K MILES AGO. DURING THIS REPLACEMENT, SUPPOSEDLY, THE AFOREMENTIONED SENSORS SHOULD'VE BEEN CHECKED AND POSSIBLY REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10695205

Feb 23, 2015Electrical system

THIS IS AN INCIDENT THAT HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, MOST RECENTLY ON 2/23/15. CAR WOULD NOT START IN COLDER WEATHER. REPLACED BATTERY IN JANUARY OF 2014 FINE FOR AWHILE. HAPPENED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2014. GOT JUMP START AND TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. STARTED FINE FOR SHOP. JANUARY 2015, INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHERE CAR WOULD NOT START. BROUGHT BACK TO REPAIR SHOP, SAID I HAD A FAULTY BATTERY. BATTERY REPLACED. FEBRUARY 2015, LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AFTER NEW BATTERY PUT IN, CAR STARTS FINE. STOPPED FOR GAS NOT EVEN 2 MINUTES LATER. TRYING TO START CAR AFTER FILLING UP, CAR WILL NOT START. STEERING WHEEL IS IN LOCKED POSITION, BRAKES ARE LOCKED UP, RED LIGHT FLASHING AS ON DASH AS IF THERE IS NO KEY IN THE CAR. LOCKS WERE NOT RESPONSIVE TO EITHER MANUAL BUTTON ON DOOR NOR WITH KEY FOB. IGNITION WOULD NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO TURNING OVER. NO LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. CAR WAS JUST DEAD. HAD TO TOW TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE MECHANIC SAID BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. IT WAS BRAND NEW 3 WEEKS AGO!!!! STILL DON'T KNOW THE REAL ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH IT. HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER POSTS WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS AND IT SEEMS THAT NISSAN FIXING THE BCM IS THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO WORK IN THE LONG RUN. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD BE MANDATED TO DO!!!! CAR IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. RIDICULOUS! NISSAN NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THEIR FAULTY "NO KEY" IGNITION SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10690143

Feb 21, 2015Electrical system

AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING DURING NORMAL USE. THE COIL TO THE COMPRESSOR IS FRIED AND WILL NOT TURN ON THE A/C EVEN THOUGH IT HAS WORKING AMOUNTS OF FREON AND ALL OTHER EQUIPMENT IN A/C SYSTEM IS GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10689746

Feb 5, 2015Electrical system

I AM CURRENTLY IN THE ARMY. I AM CONDUCTING TRAINING AT FORT SILL, OK AND MY WIFE IS IN NORTH CAROLINA WHERE I ACTUALLY WORK. MY WIFE DROPPED THE KIDS OFF AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND WENT TO THE STORE WHERE THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND WAS HAVING NO ISSUES. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE CAR TO START IT, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, BRAKES WERE LOCKED, DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ONE, HAD THE RED BLINKING CAR WITH KEY SYMBOL AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS SAYING LOCKED, SHE WAS STUCK IN TOWN, NO WAY TO PICK UP OUR KIDS, AND NO WAY TO GET BACK HOME. ENDED UP PAYING TOW TRUCK TO TAKE CAR TO THE HOUSE, CHANGED BATTERIES IN KEY FOB. CHECKED THE BATTERY, AND NOTHING HAS FIXED IT. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW, I WOULD BE A LOT MORE FURIOUS IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY WIFE ALONG WITH BOTH OF MY SONS THAT ARE 4 AND 2. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK THERE IN THE COLD WITH NO WAY HOME AT THAT TIME. NISSAN NEEDS TO GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR CAR DEFECTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND POTENTIALLY BE A HAZARD IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PUSH TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT. DO A SEARCH ON 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND NOT STARTING YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT ALL THESE COMPLAINTS.NOW MY WIFE HAS TO WAIT UNTIL I GET BACK FROM TRAINING TO GET THE CAR FIXED. GETTING IT FIXED HERSELF IS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO MY 4 YEAR OLD BE AUTISTIC. I AM BEGGING FOR YOUR HELP AND TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10681644

Jan 28, 2015SteeringElectrical system

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO START AND UNABLE TO BE SHUT OFF WITHOUT HAVING TO BE TOWED. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A BATTERY ISSUE, BUT THE CAR ALMOST ACTED LIKE IT WAS ENCOUNTERING A SOFTWARE CRASH BOTH TIMES. I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE EXHAUST / CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED ON THE CAR. I'VE HAD SEVERAL MAJOR STEERING PROBLEMS. AT ONE POINT, A TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THIS CAR. THE LATEST STEERING ISSUE JUST OCCURRED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. ON JANUARY 16, I TOOK A ROAD TRIP WITH MY FIANCE AND HER SISTER TO MEMPHIS, TN TO VISIT HER OTHER SISTER. ON THE WAY DOWN WE NOTICED THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. UPON INSPECTION, WE FOUND THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. WE REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, WE FOUND IT STRANGE GIVEN THE EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR. AS WE DROVE, THE STEERING ISSUES RECURRED. WE FIGURED OUT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE SYSTEM. WE BOUGHT A LOT OF POWER STEERING FLUID IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TO MEMPHIS (THERE WEREN'T MANY MAJOR CITIES ON OUR WAY BETWEEN WHERE WE CAME FROM AND MEMPHIS, SO WE HAD TO GET TO MEMPHIS.) SEVERAL MECHANICS CONFIRMED THE ISSUE WAS THE RACK & PINION SYSTEM ON THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP THAT ULTIMATELY REPAIRED THE CAR MENTIONED THIS BRAKE WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL, NOT DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE, AND NOT DUE TO ROAD HAZARDS. SINCE THE CAR IS NOT OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF. GIVEN THE OTHER MAJOR REPAIRS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE HAD THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE VERY DILIGENT MAINTENANCE I'VE BEEN PERFORMING ON THE CAR AND DESPITE THE MANY MILES ALREADY ON IT, I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN SOLD A LEMON. AS A RESULT OF THIS COSTLY REPAIR, I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO SELL A PORTION OF MY 401K. I ADDITIONALLY HAD ADDED EXPENSES SENDING MY FIANCE AND HER SISTER BACK HOME SO THEY COULD GO TO WORK, ROOM & BOARD, CAR RENTAL, AND LOST A DAY OF WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10679608

Dec 5, 2014Steering

STEERING WHEEL IS PEELING ON THE TOP AND IS SOFT TO THE POINT WHERE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THE FOAM WILL BE IN MY HAND.THE CAR WAS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE BY NISSAN AND BOUGHT AT NISSAN. THEY REVIEWED THE DEFECT TO BE REPLACED AT "GOODWILL" BUT IT DID NOT QUALIFY AS A REASON TO A REPLACE; EVEN THOUGH IT IS A POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10662396

Nov 23, 2014Electrical system

MY ALTIMA FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE START BUTTON AND EXHIBITED ALL ALARMS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD (INCLUDING ERRONEOUS INDICATIONS OF OPEN DOORS.) AAA SERVICE WAS FORBIDDEN BY AAA TO PROVIDE ANY SERVICE BEYOND BATTERY AND TOWING. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A TIRE SHOP, I BEGGED THE MECHANICS TO DETACH THE GROUND WIRE IN ORDER TO REBOOT THE COMPUTER. THIS WORKED! AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS CONDITION AND FIX WAS IDENTICAL TO ONES DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NTB12-041. MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP (NISSAN BRIDGEWATER NJ) WHO FAILED TO APPLY THIS SOFTWARE PATCH WHEN IT FIRST APPEARED IN APRIL 2012 DESPITE MANY RETURNS I MADE TO THEM FOR ROUTINE WARRANTY SERVICE. THE OCCURRENCE OF THIS FAILURE AND CITATION OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL USERS IN NISSAN USER FORUMS. THIS IMPLIES THAT OTHER DEALERS ARE SIMILARLY NEGLIGENT IN KEEPING CARS CURRENT WITH SERVICE BULLETINS APPLICABLE TO THEIR VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10660318

Nov 12, 2014AirbagsBody & structureEngineCrash

I WAS IN A BUMPER TO BUMPER ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS SMOOCHED IN. MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL (MY SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED) KNOCKING THE AIR OUT OF ME, BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR. EVERY TIME WE GET IT BACK WE GET THE SAME ANSWER "WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SENSOR". WE RECENTLY TOOK OUR CAR IN 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND WE ASKED THEM IF OUR CAR WAS ON THE AIR BAG RECALL LIST THAT WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS. THEY TOLD US NOT TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING BECAUSE OUR CAR WAS NOT ON THAT LIST. I ENDED UP IN URGENT CARE AFTER THE ACCIDENT WITH MUSCLES SPASMS AND A BRUISED CHEST. WHY DIDN'T MY AIRBAGS GO OFF?! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10654579

Oct 25, 2014Body & structureVisibility & wipers

DASHBOARD IS MELTING IN FLORIDA SUN DESPITE USING REFLECTOR SHADE. DASHBOARD NOW STICKY TO TOUCH ESPECIALLY NEAR WINDSCREEN FRONT AND REAR. SHINES ONTO WINDSCREEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10649888

Oct 23, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE 60W IN MORENO VALLEY. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 90, IT WAS PRETTY DRY AND HOT. I WAS CRUISING ALONG AT 70 MPH WITH MY BROTHER, INFANT NIECE AND 10 YEAR OLD SON. WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE SPEED JUST DROPPED TO ABOUT 35 MPH, DUE TO THERE NOT BEING ANY WARNING AT ALL (NO ERROR LIGHTS OR BRAKE LIGHTS), THE CAR BEHIND US NEARLY REAR ENDED US. THEY HAD TO SWERVE SO SUDDENLY IT ALMOST CAUSED THEM TO CRASH INTO THE CAR NEXT TO US. I ENDED UP PULLING OVER FOR A FEW MINUTES, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE, SO WE CONTINUED THE DRIVE HOME. ABOUT 8 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THE CAR'S SPEED DROPPED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS ALREADY IN THE SLOW LANE AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID ANY NEAR CRASHES. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO NISSAN IN CORONA CA. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS, THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BEING THE CVT. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF A RECALL ON THE ALTIMA CVT. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED REDUCING WHILE THE CVT GOES INTO SAFE MODE WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD. NISSAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BUT THEY DO NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMER'S SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10649499

Jul 7, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

ON JUNE 26, 2014 AROUND 8PM, THE CAR BEGAN TO ABRUPTLY LOSE ACCELERATION. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE PAST 25MPH. I FORTUNATELY MADE IT HOME THAT EVENING, BUT FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014; THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT REV IN ANY GEAR AND I WAS ALMOST STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF I95S DURING LUNCHTIME RUSH HOUR. I UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO CHAPMAN NISSAN, WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD ATTEMPT TO LOOK AT MY CAR ON MONDAY, JUNE 30. I CALLED ON MONDAY, JUNE 30 AND DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE UNTIL 230PM, WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I IMMEDIATELY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN THE MANUFACTURER AS THIS WAS EXTREMELY UNEXPECTED ON A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A VOICE MESSAGE FROM A REGIONAL COMPLAINT MANAGER ON JULY 1 WHO STATED THAT SHE WOULD CALL BACK ON JULY 2. I HAVE CALLED EVERY BUSINESS DAY SINCE JULY 2 WITH NO ADEQUATE RESPONSE FROM NISSAN. IN DOING MY RESEARCH FOR NISSAN ALTIMA TRANSMISSION ISSUES, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS "WAS" A COMMON ISSUE FROM 2006-2010, WHERE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO 120K MILES. IN 2011, THEY REDUCED THE WARRANTY TO 60K MILES. HOWEVER, WHAT NISSAN FAILED TO DO WAS ALERT OWNERS, THAT THEY HAD ISSUED "SERVICE BULLETINS" TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS DOCUMENTING THE EXACT PROBLEM I HAD EXPERIENCED ON JUNE 27. THE SERVICE BULLETIN NOTICES ARE: 336174, 361957, NTB10121, NTB1012057. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10608791

Jul 2, 2014Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FABRIC TYPE MATERIAL FROM THE REAR WHEEL FENDER WELL WOULD MAKE CONTACT WITH BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL FENDER LINERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 10607859

Jul 1, 2014Airbags

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR INDICATING NOT ON WHILE ADULT SITTING IN SEAT. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIME WOULD NOT DUPLICATE. 2 TIMES THEY SAID THY FIX IT. CARS SHOULD BE ON RECALL. DEALER SAID THY COULD NOT HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10607599

Jun 23, 2014Brakes

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKING SYSTEM SERVICE BULLETIN. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE RECEIVED THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND SERVICE BULLETIN, IN THE MAIL HE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, IN NOVEMBER 2013, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DISPLAY SOME OF THE IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AND OCCASIONALLY MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND VALIDATED HIS COMPLAINT AND THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SERVICE BULLETIN. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALER, THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO SQUEAK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, FOR ITS 45,000 RECOMMENDED SERVICE. HE ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES, AS THEY WERE STILL GRINDING AND SQUEAKING. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN TO A LEVEL OF 2MM, WHICH EXPLAINED THE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING. THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE, THE PREVIOUS DEALER INSPECTED THE BRAKES OR FALSIFIED THE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION RECORD. *JB UPDATED 07/29/14 UPDATED 07/30/14

NHTSA ODI 10604246

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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 →