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)

68 of 241 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 1 of 3

Feb 25, 2026Transmission & drivetrain

Drive axle suddenly not functioning properly, caused dangerous conditions to stop the car while driving on highway.

NHTSA ODI 11720577

Mar 31, 2024Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Unknown. My car is making a whining noise & no matter how much i push the gas pedal it won’t accelerate. Sometimes it works but mostly it won’t.

NHTSA ODI 11580274

Dec 22, 2022Transmission & drivetrain

Hi my Nissan has 120k miles son it and the transmission is completely wrong don’t go more than 30 mph I take it to the shop to inspect and they told me that it need to be replace. It has code p1778 and code p0868 they told me that the transmission has no oil presure that it was a mechanical problem inside the transmission and that it was really common on that car becouse the cvt transmission

NHTSA ODI 11498614

Sep 14, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngine

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated. The contact stated that the vehicle performed as if the gear shifter was in neutral(N). The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacture was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11484425

Jun 11, 2022Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 11468763

Dec 23, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

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

Nov 8, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

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

Aug 17, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

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

Aug 9, 2021SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

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

Aug 5, 2021SuspensionTransmission & drivetrain

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

May 30, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

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

Feb 25, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

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

Mar 24, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE IN MOTION EXITING A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR, THE ENTIRE CAR SHOOK, AND STARTED TO LOCK UP THE WHEELS UNTIL THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION RELEASED AND HAD NO FURTHER RESPONSE. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR WAS DISABLED AS I HAD NO FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS DESPITE THE ENGINE RUNNING PERFECTLY. CAR WAS FREE WHEELING AS IT WOULD NOT REMAIN STATIONARY ON AN INCLINE ROAD (HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BREAK TO RESTRAIN THE CAR AS WHEELS WERE FREE WHEELING IN PARK. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND HAD OTHER CARS BEEN AROUND OR NEXT TO ME I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR WHILE THE SHAKING WAS OCCURRING UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION RELEASED AND STEERING WAS REGAINED WHILE COASTING.

NHTSA ODI 11319141

Mar 22, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

AT 97,000 MILES THE NISSAN DEALER RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION OIL FLUSH. AFTER THE FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. I CHECK ON LINE AN IT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NISSAN CVT (TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER TOLD US THEY WILL CHECK THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY, SO WE MUST PAY FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICE ON 24 FEB 2020, BEGINS SLIPPING NOTICEABLE TWO WEEKS LATER. THE LACK OF POWER CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, WHILE PULLING FROM INTERSECTIONS, OR DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11318975

Feb 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

NISSAN SAYS MY CVT TRANSMISSION ISNT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY CAR HAS ONLY 72,000 MILES AND IS STARTING TO SHOW PROBLEMS. I FEEL IF IT DOESN'T BREAK NOW IT WILL SOON AND FEEL THEY SHOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY THAT A LAW SUIT WAS FILED. THE RPMS ARENT CLIMBING WHEN I ACCELERATE AND THERE IS A NOISE WHEN ITS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MILES AN HR.

NHTSA ODI 11307867

Nov 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I PURCHASED THIS CAR JUST FIVE YEARS AGO FROM A NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN CA. I DON'T DRIVE IT MUCH BECAUSE I USE A WORK VEHICLE DURING THE WEEK. OVER THE LAST YEAR, I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH RATTLING, TRANSMISSION DELAYS AND SUDDEN SURGES IN POWER. A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE CAR LOST ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHILE HEADING OVER THE GRAPEVINE TO SOCAL. THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED TO 35 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY! I HAD TO QUICKLY SWITCH LANES IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION. ONCE IN THE SLOW LANE, THE CAR HELD UP TRAFFIC AND NUMEROUS ANGRY DRIVERS SPED AROUND ME. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!!! THE CAR ONLY HAS 96,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN! TODAY, I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR A 90K SERVICE. AN ADVISOR CALLED ME SEVERAL HOURS LATER TO INFORM ME I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF MORE THAN $3,700. HE ALSO SAID THE CAR HAS SEVERAL HOSE LEAKS, ETC. THESE ARE SUSPICIOUSLY SIMILAR PROBLEMS OTHER DRIVERS REPORTED HAVING WITH THEIR 2013-2016 ALTIMAS AS WELL AS 2006-2010 ALTIMAS. WHY WAS THE 2011 LEFT OUT OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT? I COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY ANOTHER CAR WHEN MY ALTIMA SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY! IT COULD HAVE IMPACTED THE LIVES OF OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME! NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX ITS TRANSMISSION ISSUES. IT'S BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE! THE COMPANY ALSO NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF IT'S CUSTOMERS - IF IT DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE THEM FOREVER! I CAN NOT BELIEVE MY CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT HAS UNDER 96,000 MILES! I HAD A TOYOTA CAMRY LAST TIL 365,000 MILES! I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMEND BUYING A NISSAN!!! YOU JUST MAY PUT LIVES AT RISK!

NHTSA ODI 11279458

Sep 29, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR STARTED WITH A BAD JERKING MOTION WHEN DRIVING IT. THEN IT STARTED NOT WANTING TO PICK UP SPEED, BUT THE RPM WOULD GO UP. THE FIRST TIME IT MALFUNCTIONED ON ME I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I DID NOT GET INJURED BECAUSE THE CARS BEHIND ME STOPPED IN TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11258811

Sep 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THIS SEEM LIKE A BIG ISSUE WITH NISSAN VEHICLES WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. WHEN OUR CAR GOT TO 90,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTER OVERHEAT CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE SPEED WHILE I'M ON THE HIGHWAY NOT GOOD WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11257583

Sep 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND MAKING A WHINING NOISE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS UNDER 110K MILES ON IT AND IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT NISSAN HAS OFFERED TO THE 2010 ALTIMAS. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED IN 2011 AND AS A RESULT, MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11255312

Sep 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. CARRIAGE NISSAN (2400 BROWNS BRIDGE RD, GAINESVILLE, GA 30504, (678) 944-8663) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11255040

Sep 7, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AFTER DRIVING AN HOUR AND A HALF. TRANSMISSION GOES IN TO FAIL/SAFE MODE AND LEAVES ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER SOLD IT TO ME WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11253797

Aug 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION FAIL AT 115000 MILES CAR WONT ACCELERATE

NHTSA ODI 11242985

Jul 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I BOUGHT A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA AND AT 127,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WHEN IT WARMS UP THE CAR WILL NOT GO OVER 50 MPH. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE TRANSMISSION FROM EVERYTHING I'M FINDING OUT ABOUT THEM NOW. AT THIS POINT WITH WHAT THIS IS COSTING I WON'T BY ANOTHER NISSAN WHEN THEY DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11234661

Jun 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 129K MILES. WINDING NOISE AND SLIPPING. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THIS IS A CVT TRANSMISSION THAT NISSAN HAS AN ISSUE WITH AND REFUSES TO OWN UP TO IT. NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVING IN CITY OR OPEN HIGHWAYS. NISSAN WANT ME TO PAY 3-4 GRAND TO FIX. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE WAKE THESE PEOPLE UP

NHTSA ODI 11219133

Apr 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED. DOESN'T GO FORWARD OR REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI 11203757

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Working with the data? Download all 241 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

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 →