YearToAvoid

2011 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Altima years

The 2011 Nissan Altima has a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 10th worst out of 16 model years, with a "Good" verdict compared to other Altima years. It logged 241 complaints and 1 recall, well below the worst years like 2013 (index 100).

Complaints
241
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
11 / 5
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 31 hwy

Top 2011 Nissan Altima problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain68 (28%)
  2. Engine47 (20%)
  3. Other42 (17%)
  4. Electrical System31 (13%)
  5. Structure & Body30 (12%)
  6. Airbags21 (9%)
  7. Brakes19 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (8%)
  9. Steering12 (5%)
  10. Fuel System10 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbags sometimes failed to deploy in front and side collisions, even in hard impacts that totaled the vehicle.
  • Owners reported headlights shutting off unexpectedly while driving around 40 mph, in one case leading to a crash.
  • Some vehicles lost power at highway speed, with warning lights activating and steering becoming disabled before smoke and fire developed.
  • Brakes reportedly failed to stop the car in time to avoid a collision at low speed.
  • One owner described a fire starting from the engine area along with a transmission problem.
  • A fuel system fire was reported after other mechanical issues, with the hood catching fire.
2011 Nissan Altima complaints: complaints filed per quarter182011 Q12013 Q22015 Q22017 Q22019 Q22021 Q22023 Q22026 Q2
309 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2018 Q3 (18).

2011 Nissan Altima recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 11V371000Jul 19, 2011Suspension, Wheels & Tires20,000 vehicles

    Suspension

    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.

    Risk: If the bolt comes out completely, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.

    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.

2011 Nissan Altima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Altima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution73380224.5
2011Good40241126
2012Caution67426424.5
2013Avoid1002,3121226

All Nissan Altima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Nissan Altima a good year?
Yes, relative to other Altima model years. It has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th worst out of 16 years tracked, earning a "Good" verdict compared to other years like 2013 and 2014, which are rated "Avoid".
What problems does the 2011 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA complaints show Transmission & Powertrain issues as the top problem area, making up 28% of complaints, followed by Engine issues at 20% and Electrical System issues at 13%. Median mileage at failure for transmission complaints was 100,200 miles.
Does the 2011 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2011 Altima, campaign 11V371000, covering a transverse link bolt in the suspension that may not have been torqued to spec. Nissan's remedy was to replace and properly torque the bolts and nuts free of charge.
How does the 2011 Altima compare to other years?
The 2011 Altima's Complaint Index of 40 is much lower than 2013's 100, 2014's 93, and 2015's 87, all rated "Avoid." Among all 16 model years, 2011 ranks 10th worst, placing it in the better half.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Nissan Altima?
EPA rates the 2011 Altima at 26 mpg combined (23 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.