CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2011 Altima has a defect trend of CVT transmission failure showing up around the 100,000 mile mark.

It's an expensive repair at nearly $4,000 average repair cost. For more information see Nissan Altima CVT defect info on NissanProblems.com.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,100 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Nissan Altima steering problems

steering problem

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2011 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #12

Oct 212022

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on the highway the steering wheel locked keeping me from maneuvering the steering wheel. Independent service center diagnostics confirmed it was the power steering pump and sensor. Let the vehicle run into the curb. Then power steering fluid is still leaking out. When taken to the dealership they said to take it back to the independent service to have them find out where the leak is coming from. The dealership said it could be the copper screw or another part of the power steering.

- Gaffney, SC, USA

problem #11

Nov 012018

Altima

  • miles
Takata recall, my 2011 Nissan Altima 2.5S started having problems with the steering, and it makes a weird noise when I start up the car

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #10

Dec 202018

Altima

  • 96,000 miles
Over the past couple of months the steering in my car has gotten tough. I thought it may have been the power steering pump. I took it to the shop and they couldn't find the problem, being that the power steering pump was working properly and the fluid level was good. Yesterday I was at the gas station getting fuel. As I was driving away, there was a sound similar to a balloon popping and the steering jerked to the right, almost hitting another vehicle, and the steering is so tough now that it is impossible to drive the vehicle. I looked up the problem online and lots of people with the same vehicle have the same exact problem. And there was a recall for that reason. My VIN doesn't show a recall, but it needs to.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #9

Aug 212018

Altima

  • 158,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Went to start my car.in the dashboard was a key light.car wouldn't start look up things that could be the problem saying something about steering lock.the car was sitting at my house.

- Antioch. Ca., CA, USA

problem #8

Aug 162016

Altima 4-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
Ever since I purchased this car tire pressure sensor keeps coming on change all 4 tires brand new ones reset the computer and it still comes on the car swerves and it's sometimes hard to control after a certain speed I've learned that a 2011 Subaru had a recall on their suspension and I believe there is something wrong with this car I called the police on the 800 number put a complaint in they told me under this phone number there was really no recalls but they said to take it to a dealer have it diagnosed at my own expense which I can't really afford literally can't afford hefty bill from the Nissan dealer im disabled person living on fixed income basically finances vehicle to a friend all I'm asking from them is to have the dealer they're certified dealer to check the car for any safety concerns this car only has 59000 well maintained 2011 Nissan 19947 last 6 of the van thank you local highway.

- Elmwood Park, NJ, USA

problem #7

Nov 022016

Altima

  • 77,000 miles
Steering wheel lock mechanism malfunctioning. Steering wheel locks, brake pad locks. Car turns on but engine will not start. Key fob opens door. Lights and dash light up.

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #6

Dec 012014

Altima

  • 33,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. While driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed and there was a loud rattling noise and vibration coming from the vehicle. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V371000 (suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #5

Mar 162015

Altima 4-cyl

  • 110,700 miles
I was traveling with 2 small children on a straight way on hwy and the front tire blew in the sidewall of my Michelin tire. I was pulled across the other lane into a ditch striking a stone culvert after going airborne. I had purchased a set of Michelin tires and they were a 70,000 mile tire and had 23,000 miles on them when this occurred. After investigation it was determined a blowout as there was no damage to wheel indication of road hazard that would have caused this type of damage to tire. In other words, the tire and wheel were in perfect condition other that the blown part in the sidewall and if I would have hit something hard enough to cause the tire that type of damage, they said it would have definitely affected my wheel. The tire had to be defective as there is reports are all over internet that these incidents are occurring with Michelin tires. Buyer beware! my car was a total loss. I am without work and without a car now.

- Dresden, TN, USA

problem #4

Jan 162015

Altima 4-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
There have been several times the car was unable to start and unable to be shut off without having to be towed. They claimed it was a battery issue, but the car almost acted like it was encountering a software crash both times. I've had to have the exhaust / catalytic converter replaced on the car. I've had several major steering problems. At one point, a tie rod had to be replaced on this car. The latest steering issue just occurred in the last few weeks. On January 16, I took a road trip with my fiance and her sister to memphis, tn to visit her other sister. On the way down we noticed the car was difficult to steer. Upon inspection, we found the power steering fluid was low. We replaced it. However, we found it strange given the excellent maintenance on the car. As we drove, the steering issues recurred. We figured out there was a leak in the system. We bought a lot of power steering fluid in order to make it to memphis (there weren't many major cities on our way between where we came from and memphis, so we had to get to memphis.) several mechanics confirmed the issue was the rack & pinion system on the car. The dealership that ultimately repaired the car mentioned this brake was highly unusual, not due to poor maintenance, and not due to road hazards. Since the car is not out of warranty, I had to pay for the repair myself. Given the other major repairs that have occurred in the short time I've had this car, especially given the very diligent maintenance I've been performing on the car and despite the many miles already on it, I believe I've been sold a lemon. As a result of this costly repair, I'll probably have to sell a portion of my 401K. I additionally had added expenses sending my fiance and her sister back home so they could go to work, room & board, car rental, and lost a day of work.

- Northbrook, IL, USA

problem #3

Dec 012014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
Steering wheel is peeling on the top and is soft to the point where at any given moment the foam will be in my hand.the car was a certified pre-owned vehicle by Nissan and bought at Nissan. They reviewed the defect to be replaced at "goodwill" but it did not qualify as a reason to a replace; even though it is a potential danger to the driver of the vehicle.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #2

Dec 312012

Altima

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima hybrid. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. In addition, the tires would not respond to movements of the steering wheel. The vehicle was later taken to the dealer where they advised her that the rack and pinion failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure and current mileages were approximately 50,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Fayetteville, GA, USA

problem #1

May 022011

Altima

  • 500 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact was driving 30 mph on a grooved pavement as the vehicle began to independently move back and forth. The contact stated that the vehicle would not stay in a straight line and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose a failure with the vehicle. The failure was not reported to the manufacturer and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 500.

- San Diego, CA, USA

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