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
241 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2019
DASH HAS MELTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE GLARE MAKES DRIVING CHALLENGING.
Power train, Jun 10, 2019
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
Engine, Jun 10, 2019
POSSIBLE CVT TRANSMISSION OVER-HEATING/FAIL-SAFE ISSUE? I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS AND MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A 'WHIRRING' NOISE AND I HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING. THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 70 BUT AS MUCH AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, IT WOULD BARELY GET PASSED 50MPH. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH A SEMI-TRUCK AS WE APPROACHED A HILL BECAUSE I COULD BARELY GET UP IT. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE CAR REST FOR A WHILE. I HAD TO DRIVE ANOTHER 2 HOURS TO GET HOME AND AFTER ANOTHER HOUR, IT DID THE SAME THING. SOON AFTER, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ONLY THING THEY COULD SUGGEST WAS TO GIVE ME A NEW TRANSMISSION! I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT POSSIBLY ADDING A SECONDARY COOLING SYSTEM WOULD HELP BUT THEY COULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT WOULD FIX THE ISSUE. FROM MY RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT A REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING IS THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION PRODUCES TOO MUCH HEAT FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM TO HANDLE AND EVENTUALLY GOES INTO A FAIL-SAFE MODE THAT CAPS THE ACCELERATION POWER OF THE CAR, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING DAMAGED. I COULD UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE FAIL-SAFE TO KICK IN IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES BUT NOT AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS AT REGULAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND EXTREMELY AGGRAVATING. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WHICH AFFECTS BOTH NEW AND OLDER CARS AND NISSAN CHOOSES TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR MORE THAN AN HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT STARTS TO MAKE THAT 'WHIRRING' NOISE AND I KNOW IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THE FAIL-SAFE KICKS IN. THIS HAS BEEN BEYOND DISAPPOINTING AND EVEN MORE SO THAT NISSAN WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPROVE THEIR CVT ISSUES AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. I OWN MY CAR OUTRIGHT BUT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. NO OPTION FOR THAT ROUTE. VERY INCONVENIENT.
Engine, May 2, 2019
DEFECT IN IN THE ECM. WENT TO WORK CAR STARTED FINE AND WHEN I WENT OUT FOR LUNCH PUSH THE START BUTTON ALL LIGHTS CAME IN IN THE DASH BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED ON FRANKFORD AVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19135 ON 5/1/2019.
Structure, Apr 30, 2019
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING, CAUSING A GLARE. ALSO, PAINT IS PEELING ON THE HOOD AND ROOF.
Power train, Apr 25, 2019
CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED. DOESN'T GO FORWARD OR REVERSE.
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.
Power train, Apr 1, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, DECELERATE, AND POWER DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,782.
Structure, Apr 1, 2019
THE DASHBOURD HAS BEEN MELTING AND HAS BECOME STICKY FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS
Power train, Mar 28, 2019
OUR 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA JUST WENT OVER 80,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. MY SON WAS DRIVING ALONG SOME BACK ROADS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GAVE OUT, THE ENGINE WIL LREV BUT NO POWER. HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK ON THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND HE SAID IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. QUOTED ME $3500 FOR A BRAND NEW NISSAN FACTORY TRANSMISSION AND SAID HE RECOMMENDED GETTING THE NEW ONE RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIX THE OLD ONE BECAUSE HE HAS TON A LOT OF WORK ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I DO NO UNDERSTAND WHY NISSAN STOPPED THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE CVT TRANSMISSION AT THE 2010 MODEL YEAR.
Power train, Mar 21, 2019
FAILING TO ACCELERATE, SLIPPING, JERKING, STALLING
Other or unspecified, Feb 17, 2019
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CRACKING.
Power train, Feb 9, 2019
I HAVE A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. CAR WAS "ACTING UP" AND SO I TOOK IT TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER. SO, I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. WHICH THEY DID FOR $153. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING FROM OHIO TO TENNESSEE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND I HAD IT TOWED. THE COST FOR REPAIR WILL BE $4800.00
Electrical system, Seats, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 19, 2019
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED, THE LIGHTS OF THE PANEL LOWER THE DENSITY. NOW STARTS THE LIGHT OF THE AIR BAG OF THE PASSENGER, RIGHT SIDE.
Power train, Jan 17, 2019
WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THE CVT TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE A WHINING NOISE. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. BECAUSE OF THIS STRANGE NOISE, I EXITED. WHEN I WAS GOING 30 MPH+ AND ACCELERATING THE WHINING CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A BELT INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT NOW STUTTERS AT TIMES WHEN GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. WHEN "SHIFTING" DOWN FROM 20 MPH IT WILL JERK.
Steering, Jan 6, 2019
TAKATA RECALL , MY 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING, AND IT MAKES A WEIRD NOISE WHEN I START UP THE CAR
Steering, Dec 21, 2018
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE STEERING IN MY CAR HAS GOTTEN TOUGH. I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, BEING THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THE FLUID LEVEL WAS GOOD. YESTERDAY I WAS AT THE GAS STATION GETTING FUEL. AS I WAS DRIVING AWAY, THERE WAS A SOUND SIMILAR TO A BALLOON POPPING AND THE STEERING JERKED TO THE RIGHT, ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE STEERING IS SO TOUGH NOW THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT REASON. MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW A RECALL, BUT IT NEEDS TO.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 17, 2018
THE STABILITY CONTROLS COME ON AND THEN THEY DON'T GO AWAY AND THE CAR DON'T RUN ANYMORE, IT TURNS ON AND CAR IS USELESS. THE STABILITY CONTROLS TURN ON AND DOESN'T TURN OFF AGAIN, I HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE ENTIRE CAR FOR MORE THAN 3 MINUTES AND WHEN I START IT BACK ON IT TURNS OFF. NOT EVEN THE SWITCH THAT SAY TURN OFF DOESN'T WORK. SUDDENLY IT TURNS ON AGAIN AND SAME CYCLE BACK AGAIN AND THE CAR JUST DOESN'T RUN.
Suspension, Dec 7, 2018
VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT BEARINGS AT 62K AND REAR BEARINGS AT 156K. DID THEY GET THESE BEARINGS FROM CHINA? NEVER HAVE PUT BEARINGS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED.
Engine, Nov 27, 2018
CAR STALLS OR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING
Service brakes, Nov 21, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE NOISE WAS MOST PREVALENT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Power train, Nov 3, 2018
THE TRANSMISSION JUST WENT OUT AT 100,000 MILES. I'M TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS A CVT TRANSMISSION AND THIS IS PRETTY MUCH NORMAL. I'M LOOKING AT A $4000 COST JUST TO PUT ANOTHER CVT TRANSMISSION INTO IT
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
Power train, Oct 7, 2018
MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN THE GAS PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE AND AVOID COLLISION AND GAS PEDAL BEGAN WORKING AFTER PUMPING AND A FEW MOMENTS. HAD THREE KIDS IN THE CAR AND ONLY DUMB LUCK PREVENTED ACCIDENT. BROUGHT TO DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE
Power train, Sep 27, 2018
THE 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION AND THIS CONTINUES TO GO OUT AND WILL EVERY 12,000 MILES. NO SERVICE PROVIDER WANTS TO FIX THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE UNRELIABLE PART AND NOT ONLY IS THIS IS A COSTLY FIX BUT IT ONLY GUARANTEE THE MOST A YEAR OR LESS (CLOSE TO $3000.00 TO FIX). I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE OTHER MODELS WITH NISSAN WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED. I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLE WITH A CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED.