YearToAvoid

2011 Nissan Altima Airbags Problems

Airbags account for 21 complaints on the 2011 Nissan Altima, 9% of its 241 total complaints for the year. NHTSA lists no related recalls for this issue on the 2011 model. Median mileage at failure is 38,400, and the complaints include 5 crashes and 2 injuries.

Airbags complaints
21
9% of 241
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
38,400 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the passenger-side airbag warning indicator flashing or showing 'off' even when the seat is occupied, sometimes intermittently at highway speed.
  • Several drivers describe frontal or side collisions where the airbags failed to deploy despite significant impact damage.
  • Some owners say dealers could not duplicate or diagnose the passenger airbag sensor fault after repeated visits.
  • At least one complaint links the issue to a Takata recall letter, though the warning light problem itself was not tied to any recall on this model year.
  • One owner reports the airbag warning light coming on at startup, with a dealer diagnosis that the airbags needed replacement.
  • A few complaints note the airbag fault appearing alongside other dashboard warnings, such as a traction control light or unexpected stalling.

When 2011 Nissan Altima airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 27, 2011, latest Jan 18, 2024.

2011 Nissan Altima airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2011Apr 2014Mar 2015Nov 2015May 2017Jun 2018Aug 2022
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2011 to Jan 2024; peak May 2016 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2011 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Airbags complaints by Altima model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200547 (4%)
  2. 200643 (5%)
  3. 200763 (13%)
  4. 2008142 (14%)
  5. 200991 (6%)
  6. 201061 (16%)
  7. 201121 (9%)
  8. 201257 (13%)
  9. 2013514 (22%)
  10. 2014208 (19%)
  11. 2015177 (19%)
  12. 201670 (13%)
  13. 201773 (19%)
  14. 201836 (16%)
  15. 201911 (5%)
  16. 20208 (5%)
  17. 20212 (3%)
  18. 20223 (10%)
  19. 20230 (0%)
  20. 20242 (5%)
  21. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA lists 21 airbag complaints for the 2011 Altima, which is 9% of the 241 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for airbag problems on the 2011 Nissan Altima?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for airbags on the 2011 Altima, even though some owners referenced Takata recalls affecting other model years.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2011 Altima?
The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2011 Altima is 38,400 miles.
Did the 2011 Altima's airbag issues lead to any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA complaint data links 5 crashes and 2 injuries to airbag-related complaints on the 2011 Altima.
Is the 2011 Altima worse than other years for airbag complaints?
The 2011 Altima's 9% share of complaints tied to airbags is lower than several other years, including 2013 at 22% and 2014 and 2015 at 19% each.

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.