2011 Nissan ALTIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Nissan ALTIMA has 320 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: i have a new 2011 nissan altima sl which i parked in my church parking lot and went into church. at the end of mass, as i was leaving the church and walking toward the parking lot, i used my automatic start...the car started and was warming up. as i approached my running car, i walked in front of . ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 15 crash reports 8 injuries

320

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

69 complaints

22%

• I HAVE A NEW 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SL WHICH I PARKED IN MY CHURCH PARKING LOT AND WENT INTO CHURCH. AT THE END OF MASS, AS I WAS LEAVING THE CHURCH AND WALKING TOWARD THE PARKING LOT, I USED MY AUTOMATIC START...THE CAR STARTED AND WAS WARMING UP. AS I APPROACHED MY RUNNING CAR, I WALKED IN FRONT OF
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING HIS VEHICLE IT CONTINUED GOING FORWARD. THE CONTACT HASTILY JUMPED BACK INTO THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT AND BROKE HIS WRIST IN THE PROCESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT NEEDING A KEY TO START OR STOP IT CA
• 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 O

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE A NEW 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SL WHICH I PARKED IN MY CHURCH PARKING LOT AND WENT INTO CHURCH. AT THE END OF MASS, AS I WAS LEAVING THE CHURCH AND WALKING TOWARD THE PARKING LOT, I USED MY AUTOMATIC START...THE CAR STARTED AND WAS WARMING UP. AS I APPROACHED MY RUNNING CAR, I WALKED IN FRONT OF ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

43 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE OWNER'S MANUAL DISPLAYED A MESSAGE INFORMING HIM OF A CHIME ALERT THAT WOULD SOUND WHENEVER THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS NOT SECURELY FASTENED. WITH THE SEAT BELT UNFASTENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHIME ALERT DID NOT SOUND. THE VEH
• CAR WOULD NOT CUT OFF KEPT RUNNING UNTIL ALL THE GAS WAS OUT OF THE TANK,ON-OFF BUTTON DID NOT WORK ,THE CAR COULD NOT BE CUT OFF,IT TOOK ALMOST 6 HOURS BEFORE THE TANK WAS EMPTY. *JS
• MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. SHE PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT THE CAR. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. *JS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE OWNER'S MANUAL DISPLAYED A MESSAGE INFORMING HIM OF A CHIME ALERT THAT WOULD SOUND WHENEVER THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS NOT SECURELY FASTENED. WITH THE SEAT BELT UNFASTENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHIME ALERT DID NOT SOUND. THE VEH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

42 complaints

13%

• VIN# - [XXX]. PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN LA. PURCHASED NEW ALTIMA FROM DEALER ON 2/1/11. BEFORE I REFILLED THE CAR WITH FUEL THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE CAR TO BE SERVICED ON 2/8/2011. I WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN THAT THE SES LIGHT WAS FROM NOT CLOSING
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED AN UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN T
• 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH STARTING VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE DOORS, A MESSAGE INDICATED THE DOOR WAS OPEN, BUT IT WAS TIGHTLY CLOSED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THE FAN WAS RUNNING. A DIAGNOSIS AT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“VIN# - [XXX]. PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN LA. PURCHASED NEW ALTIMA FROM DEALER ON 2/1/11. BEFORE I REFILLED THE CAR WITH FUEL THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE CAR TO BE SERVICED ON 2/8/2011. I WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN THAT THE SES LIGHT WAS FROM NOT CLOSING ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

31 complaints

10%

• I SET THE CLIMATE CONTROL TIMER FOR MY NISSAN LEAF TO TURN ON VIA THE COMPUTER THROUGH NISSAN'S CARWINGS APPLICATION. THIS IS TO PRE-COOL THE CAR BEFORE DRIVING. WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR, THE CAR WAS NOT COOL BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE CAR WAS DISABLED AND UNABLE TO BE STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A KEYLESS IGNITION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND FORGETTING TO ENGAGE THE PUSH TO START BUTTON, THERE WAS NO WARNING TO INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE C
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE START BUTTON FAILED. THE START BUTTON WAS VERY LOOSE AND HAD TO BE CONTINUALLY PRESSED FOR TWO TO FIFTEEN MINUTES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I SET THE CLIMATE CONTROL TIMER FOR MY NISSAN LEAF TO TURN ON VIA THE COMPUTER THROUGH NISSAN'S CARWINGS APPLICATION. THIS IS TO PRE-COOL THE CAR BEFORE DRIVING. WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR, THE CAR WAS NOT COOL BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE CAR WAS DISABLED AND UNABLE TO BE STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

27 complaints

• DRIVER DOOR HANDLE SQUEAKED WHEN PULLED. SERVICE ADVISOR STATED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. UPON INSPECTION TECHNICIAN FOUND CABLE BINDING IN DOOR. CABLE WAS ADJUSTED AND DOOR WAS LUBED. DOOR HANDLE WAS REPAIRED. *TR
• INTERIOR DASH RATTLE IN A PILLAR. ROAD TESTED WITH TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED RATTLE. DEALER REPLACED A PILLAR COVER AND SPEAKER COVER -- REPAIR WAS MADE. RATTLE REPAIRED - DEALER WILL NEED TO STRIP DASHBOARD. - REPAIR WILL BE MADE AT LATER DATE. *TR
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“DRIVER DOOR HANDLE SQUEAKED WHEN PULLED. SERVICE ADVISOR STATED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. UPON INSPECTION TECHNICIAN FOUND CABLE BINDING IN DOOR. CABLE WAS ADJUSTED AND DOOR WAS LUBED. DOOR HANDLE WAS REPAIRED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 320 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: I HAVE A NEW 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA SL WHICH I PARKED IN MY CHURCH PARKING LOT AND WENT INTO CHURCH. AT THE END OF MASS, AS I WAS LEAVING THE CHURCH AND WALKING TOWARD THE PARKING LOT, I USED MY AUTOMATIC START...THE CAR STARTED AND WAS WARMING UP. AS I APPROACHED MY RUNNING CAR, I WALKED IN FRONT OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE OWNER'S MANUAL DISPLAYED A MESSAGE INFORMING HIM OF A CHIME ALERT THAT WOULD SOUND WHENEVER THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS NOT SECURELY FASTENED. WITH THE SEAT BELT UNFASTENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHIME ALERT DID NOT SOUND. THE VEH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: VIN# - [XXX]. PURCHASED FROM NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN LA. PURCHASED NEW ALTIMA FROM DEALER ON 2/1/11. BEFORE I REFILLED THE CAR WITH FUEL THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE CAR TO BE SERVICED ON 2/8/2011. I WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN THAT THE SES LIGHT WAS FROM NOT CLOSING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I SET THE CLIMATE CONTROL TIMER FOR MY NISSAN LEAF TO TURN ON VIA THE COMPUTER THROUGH NISSAN'S CARWINGS APPLICATION. THIS IS TO PRE-COOL THE CAR BEFORE DRIVING. WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR, THE CAR WAS NOT COOL BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE CAR WAS DISABLED AND UNABLE TO BE STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)