2011 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 241 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 11 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 9 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
SuspensionJul 19, 2011
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 25, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 10, 2011 AT THE CANTON, MISSISSIPPI PLANT. THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, CREATING A RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION.
IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLTS AND NUTS AND TIGHTEN THEM TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 11V371000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
40 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 12, 2025
This is the second nissan altima iv owed an the problem eatch one iv had is that were the idler tensioner pully gose and bolts to brakes so there for you cant put the idler tensioner pully back on
Other or unspecified, Feb 13, 2025
There is issue with sunroof drainage tubs causing rain to soak the floor of car. This definitely malfunction or inadequate problem with drainage tubs and sunroof parts with Nissans. I took it to the dealership and car collision repair shop and was told this is high reoccurring issue with Nissan sunroofs, but no recalls have been given, and I have to pay out pocket to get fixed. At 1st was told just get the drains cleaned out and you shouldn't have that problem again. The issue has progressed and now I have paid for drains to get unclogged 2x so far in one year and keep happening every time its alot of rain at one time. My only option I'm told is to keep getting drains cleaned and unclogged pay out of pocket or get another car without sunroof. I have gotten this done 2 years in row, that's getting too expensive to pay. That's not fair when you know it's problem with these drains and don't do nothing to fix issues. I like cars with sunroofs and have no control over when it rains. I should be able to have a car in 2025 with sunroof and not have this problem. Please help with this issue with factory sunroofs made in original cars not added. Make better drainage system for sunroofs in Nissan and all cars.
Other or unspecified, Jun 17, 2024
I have complained to Nissan that the dash in the car is literally melting. It started around 2014 when I noticed it was having a sticky texture and because of this it creates a glare in the windshield that makes it hard to see. Over the years it has only gotten worse and the dash is literally crumbling. I read online where they have had this issue before. I have tried to get help locally but I am lost no one will help me. This is a really bad safety issue!
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 31, 2024
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.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 4, 2023
It started about 2 months ago that the RPM was revving when it came to the gears shifting. I would accelerate and the car would barely move and the transmission was making a whirring sound. The Service Engine Soon light came on so I took my car to O Reilys and the code for the stepper motor came back. I had the stepper motor replaced in my transmission but I am having the same issue. My Mechanic told me that my Transmission is failing and I would need a brand new one.
Other or unspecified, Aug 15, 2023
REAR SUB FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. YES IT IS AVAILABE FOR INSPECTION. FRAME COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT .
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 1, 2023
I was on my way to work driving on the freeway and suddenly I felt a sort of shaking from the car. I then exited the freeway and approached a red light. When the light turned green, my car moved some but then was stalled so I was stuck in the middle of an intersection. Luckily, I wasn’t too far from my job and I was able to eventually ease my way the next few miles. I was later told by a mechanic that it was my transmission that needed to be replaced .
Other or unspecified, May 15, 2023
Dash is melting- it is causes an extreme shine reflecting on the windshield and extremely sticky. In the sun, full sun or a cloudy day, it causes a large glare in the direct line of sight. It is very unsafe to drive. It spans the entire dash. There is no escaping the glare during the day.
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2022
My car is a 2011 Nissan Altima 2.5 s model. In the last couple of years, my dash board has cracks all over it. My research found out that is an issue also with Lexus and Toyota. There has been a number of cases with Nissans and there were 2 separate class action law suite on this issue: https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/florida-nissan-altima-dashboard-defect-class-action-settlement/ and https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2021/nissan-melting-dashboard-lawsuit.shtml I called Nissan and spoke with a Lydia who asked me to take my car to a dealer to document the issue and they did. I called back Nissan and was told by a supervisor that they will not be helping me with this. Thus the cause of this complaint.
Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2021
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.
Other or unspecified, Feb 3, 2021
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!!
Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2020
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.
Other or unspecified, Jul 7, 2020
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.
Other or unspecified, Jul 3, 2020
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?
Structure, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Oct 1, 2019
DASHBOARD IS MELTING, MY HOOD IS PEELING LIKE CRAZY.... SPOKE TO A BODY SHOP OWNER AND HE STATED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.... I'M NOTICING CHIPS IN THE PAINT EVERY... POOR JOB ON 2011 ALTIMA'S
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 27, 2019
ENGINE LIGHT ON CAR SHAKES A LOT OR ENGINE SHAKES SOMETIMES CAR DOESENT START PROBLEM HEPENS STATIONARY IN MOTION ON THE CITY HIGHWAY AND TURNING
Other or unspecified, Aug 18, 2019
THE DASHBOARD TO MY VEHICLE HAS GOTTEN STICKY. ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES IT GETS STUCK TO IT (BUGS, PAPER, ETC.) EVEN THE WINDSHIELD COVER TO PROTECT IT FROM THE SUN GETS STUCK TO IT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING DUE TO THE GLARE/REFLECTION FROM,THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, PIECES ON THE FRONT OF THE DASHBOARD ARE COMING OFF WHEN I CLEAN IT. I AM ATTACHING PICTURES OF MY VEHICLES DASHBOARD.
Other or unspecified, Aug 17, 2019
CAR SHAKING WHEN PARKED OR STOP A A STOPLIGHT AND RATTLING WHEN DRIVING
Other or unspecified, Jun 18, 2019
TRANSMISSION JERKING WHILE IN MOTION OR IDLE. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT BESIDES THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY MODULE (MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR) REPROGRAMMED AND THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. WELL THAT DID NOT WORK AND STILL HAVE ISSUES SO RIGHT NOW I'M DRIVING ON A WING AND A PRAYER
Other or unspecified, Jun 15, 2019
CVT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN MOTION
Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2019
DASH HAS MELTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE GLARE MAKES DRIVING CHALLENGING.
Other or unspecified, Apr 25, 2019
WE MOVED FROM ILLINOIS TO FLORIDA IN 2014, AFTER LIVING IN FLORIDA FOR 2 YEARS THE DASH BOARD IN THE NISSAN BECAME SHINY AND STICKY, LIKE IT IS MELTING. AFTER CONTACTING NISSAN ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THEY MENTIONED THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE DASH BOARD. WE FEEL THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FOR A RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SHINY REFLECTION OF THE MELTED DASHBOARD IS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE REFLECTION FROM THE SUN. THIS FEELS LIKE A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THIS REFLECTION CAUSES LARGE AREAS OF BLIND SPOTS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY LIKE MAZDA, TOYOTA, AND LEXUS HAVE AND REPLACE THE DASHBOARD UNDER RECALL.
Other or unspecified, Feb 17, 2019
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CRACKING.
Other or unspecified, Oct 12, 2018
I GOT TWO LIGHTS ONE FOR AIR FROM TIRES AND THE OTHER ONE FOR CHECK ENGINE SOON. I FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE LIGHTS STILL ON
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 26, 2018
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.