YearToAvoid

2011 Nissan Cube Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 Cube years

The 2011 Nissan Cube has 31 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 75, ranking it 2nd worst among 5 model years. It carries an "Avoid" verdict, driven mainly by transmission problems reported at a median 100,500 miles.

Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27.5
25.5 city / 29.5 hwy

Top 2011 Nissan Cube problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain15 (48%)
  2. Airbags5 (16%)
  3. Electrical System5 (16%)
  4. Structure & Body4 (13%)
  5. Other2 (6%)
  6. Seat Belts2 (6%)
  7. Steering2 (6%)
  8. Brakes1 (3%)
  9. Engine1 (3%)
  10. Fuel System1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the CVT transmission whining loudly before slipping or losing power, sometimes triggering limp mode in traffic.
  • Some drivers describe complete transmission failure requiring replacement, with one case occurring at 120,000 miles.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in frontal crashes, including a low-speed collision with a guard rail that resulted in injuries.
  • The passenger airbag off indicator reportedly triggered repeatedly for a normal-weight occupant, raising doubts about the airbag sensor.
  • Owners describe the rear door handle breaking off, leaving no way to open the rear door from outside.
  • One owner reported a muffler detaching and igniting, burning a hole through the rear bumper.
2011 Nissan Cube complaints: complaints filed per month4Aug 2012Nov 2014Dec 2015Nov 2017Jul 2018Apr 2019Aug 2020
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2012 to Nov 2024; peak Nov 2017 (4).

2011 Nissan Cube recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 Nissan Cube fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25.5 MPG
Highway
29.5 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,350
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 Cube years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10056228
2011Avoid7531027.5
2012Good2519027.5
2013No verdict03127.5

All Nissan Cube years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Nissan Cube reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2011 Cube with a complaint index of 75, the second worst of the 5 model years tracked, earning it an "Avoid" rating relative to other Cube years.
What is the main problem with the 2011 Nissan Cube?
Transmission and powertrain issues account for 48% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 100,500 miles, mostly involving CVT whining, slipping, or total failure.
Does the 2011 Nissan Cube have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2011 Nissan Cube.
How does the 2011 Cube compare to other years?
The 2011 model has 31 complaints and a complaint index of 75, worse than 2012 (19 complaints, index 25, "Good") but better than 2010 (56 complaints, index 100, "Avoid").
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Nissan Cube?
The 2011 Cube gets 27.5 mpg combined (25.5 city / 29.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,350.

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.