Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
241
Complaints
11
Crashes
5
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths
Owners of the 2011 Nissan Altima have filed 241
safety complaints with NHTSA
between March 2011 and June 2026.
The most complained-about system is the power train,
named in 68 of them
(28%). The typical failure was reported at 72,000 miles, the median
across the 173 complaints that gave an
odometer reading.
NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this
vehicle.
Recalls (1)
SUSPENSION
11V371000 · July 19, 2011
The defect
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.
The risk
IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy
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.
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · up to 20,000 vehicles across all model years covered
What owners report
Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add
up to more than 241.
POWER TRAIN 68 28%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 40 17%
ENGINE 36 15%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31 13%
STRUCTURE 27 11%
AIR BAGS 21 9%
SUSPENSION 14 6%
STEERING 12 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 8 3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 6 2%
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2018 at 38.
2011 to 2026, the last of them a part year
In owners' own words
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
SUSPENSION
2 injured · crash · towed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER GRANDSON WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. FIRST THE REAR END MADE CONTACT AND THEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BANGED INTO THE WALL. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INTERNAL BLEEDING, PART OF HIS INTESTINE REMOVED, CHIPPED BONE ON HIS RIGHT KNEE. AND MULTIPLE GLASS FRACTURE REMOVED FROM HIS BODY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SLIGHT CONCUSSION AND RIGHT ANKLE WAS FRACTURE NEEDING SURGERY. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE. THE …
NHTSA complaint 11326493, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2 injured · crash · 20,088 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP BEFORE REACHING A DEAD-END INTERSECTION. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED UNTIL CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,088.
NHTSA complaint 10457882. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 injured · fire · 78,000 miles
MULTIPLE MECHANICAL ISSUES INCLUDING THE HEAT. THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE AND I WAS STUCK DUE TO MECHANICAL ISSUES. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AFTER IT GOT TOO BAD.
NHTSA complaint 10960171. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed
Vehicle hydroplaned from heavy rain and wet road into a ditch alongside of the main highway & the airbags did NOT deploy. This IS a safety malfunction in the airbag system on a 2011 Nissan Altima.
NHTSA complaint 11479161. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Engine Control Module (ECM) is malfunctioning, triggering persistent P0101 codes related to the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. This specific issue is addressed in Nissan Technical Service Bulletin DE97AA, which recommends an ECM reprogramming. The component is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection. ⸻ • How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the vehicle is at a complete stop and I attempt to accelerate, it becomes jumpy and unresponsive, refusing to accelerate properly. This creates a serious safety hazard, especially when trying to merge into …
NHTSA complaint 11741855, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
Drive axle suddenly not functioning properly, caused dangerous conditions to stop the car while driving on highway.
NHTSA complaint 11720577. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
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
NHTSA complaint 11673091. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Engine Control Module (ECM) is malfunctioning, triggering persistent P0101 codes related to the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. This specific issue is addressed in Nissan Technical Service Bulletin DE97AA, which recommends an ECM reprogramming. The component is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection. ⸻ • How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the vehicle is at a complete stop and I attempt to accelerate, it becomes jumpy and unresponsive, refusing to accelerate properly. This creates a serious safety hazard, especially when trying to merge into …
NHTSA complaint 11671150, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 …
NHTSA complaint 11642486, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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!
NHTSA complaint 11594805. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon
law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back.
What each state asks for
, read from the statutes.
Where these numbers come from
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file
, published August 20, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API
, most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file
, published 2026-08-19.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst