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:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,769 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 suspension problems

suspension problem

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2011 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #14

Dec 012022

Altima

  • miles

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

Loud noise from driver-side rear while driving. I discovered the rear crossmember (aka subframe) is badly corroded and there is a complete break/failure of the unit. This is unsafe. I have worked on cars for over 40 years and I have never seen such an inexcusable failure.

- Harrison City, PA, USA

problem #13

Nov 152012

Altima

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while her grandmother was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to shake forcefully. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to drive to an independent mechanic however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact stated she also experienced the failure on 2013. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing unknown bolts to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V371000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Forest Hill, TX, USA

problem #12

Feb 042021

Altima

  • miles
No incident, but I am prevent one from happening. My C.V.T. Transmission is winning in 1st gear, CVT stands for {continuously variable transmission}. I need to let up on the gas pedal each time it's supposed to shift.. Even if you don't know much about how a transmission works, you have probably heard of the manual and the automatic. The CVT is the newest type of a transmission. It is sometimes referred to as the shiftless transmission and is a type of automatic, a steady RPM constant even if the vehicle is accelerating rapidly in a passing scenario, for example, the CVT knows the optimal engine speed is pretty high (typically around 5,000 RPM or less on the tachometer), so it shifts you up there as soon as you put the gas petal down...In a passing scenario, for example, the CVT knows the optimal engine speed is pretty high (typically around 5,000 or less RPM's on the tachometer), so it shifts you up there as soon as it is ready ! Shifting this car is like its going to exploded !! I had it serviced at Nissan as soon I perchance it.. The cost was $250 for the transmission flush with new oil, no change and I am sick of riding like this thinking my investment can be left on a high way...

- Revere, MA, USA

problem #11

Aug 052021

Altima

  • miles

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

I bought this car 2011 Nissan Altima 2.5s Feb -2021....Now the transmission I had serviced at Colonial Nissan Altima in Medford Mass. in March 2021..which is a C.V.T. Transmission and 1st gear is acting wrong... Driving it I need to let up on the gas pedal to shift gears, I did call 30 days after my service...They told me to drop it off and leave your car here and we will get to it, we are backed up with C.V.T. Transmissions !!! I NEED DIRECTION TO HANDLE THIS...PLUS A RECALL.. Transverse Link Bolt MAY NOT Have Been Torqued TO THE Proper Specification....AND I did snap a strut 1 month owning this car, , Thank you !

- Revere , MA, USA

problem #10

Jul 072021

Altima

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the brakes serviced and was informed that the rear suspension subframe cross member was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

- Marlborough, MA, USA

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problem #9

Apr 292020

Altima 6-cyl

  • 0 miles
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 vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired as of yet. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of a failure cause. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 11V371000 (suspension), however the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #8

May 012020

Altima 4-cyl

  • 125,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. Consumer stated only after the mechanic worked on the car that the rattling noise and vibration occurred. An unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to shelby Nissan located at 631 S post rd, shelby, nc 28152, where it was stated that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

- Gaffney, SC, USA

problem #7

Dec 052018

Altima

  • miles
Vehicle needed front bearings at 62K and rear bearings at 156K. Did they get these bearings from china? never have put bearings on any other vehicle I have owned.

- Damascus, MD, USA

problem #6

Feb 272017

Altima

  • miles
My 2011 Nissan Altima presented problems of loud noises and vibrations. It eventually sounded horrific. The sound was worse from start to stop. Upon inspection a bolt came out of the engine mount and my engine was moving around.

- Covington, KY, USA

problem #5

Dec 122016

Altima 4-cyl

  • 51,087 miles
My trouble began as I sat and fueled my car with the same type of gas that I have been using for years. I filled my tank, started my car and it started huffing and puffing as if it was about to shut off. After a few minutes it stopped. A few days later while I was driving down the road one day I heard this loud rattling noise as if a chain or something was dragging the ground or being rattled. I approached a red light and lowered my radio to listen and as I sat idle in drive I could hear this rattling noise coming from the front end of my car. As I drove down the road further it continued then stopped. I then parked my car and as I was in reverse the sound came back. I went on about my day and returned to my car to start it up and as I started it I heard the rattling loud noise again. I backed out of my parking spot and it continued. As I driving around at a speed of about 30-40 I could hear the noise come and go. I took my car to Nissan and they told me they couldn't find anything wrong. They told me everything under the hood of my car was fine. A few days later I brought my car back to Nissan informing them the noise is continuing and my car shakes and jerks. I left my car and they called and said my alternator needed to be replaced. Just a couple days prior they said everything was fine so now I'm confused. I took my car to 3 separate auto shops and had them test my alternator and all 3 said my alternator, battery and starter were working perfectly. I began to research online to see if anyone had the same issues I have and there it was. A recall for the transverse link bolt. I'm pissed that Nissan would try to rip of a customer like that.

- Marrero, LA, USA

problem #4

Aug 162016

Altima 4-cyl

  • 58,000 miles

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

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 #3

Oct 012015

Altima

  • 44,253 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 mph, the vehicle began to shake and there was an abnormal rattling sound. The failure recurred on several occasions while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but the failure was unable to be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 11V371000 (suspension), however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,253.

- Clarksville, VA, USA

problem #2

Dec 012014

Altima

  • 33,000 miles
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 #1

Mar 012011

Altima

  • 19,425 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the brakes are depressed and the front passenger's side end began to shake abnormally. The contact also mentioned that when it rained, the vehicle would exhibit a loud grinding noise from the passenger's side front end. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician stated that the rotors and the shocks had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 20. The current mileage was 19,425. The VIN was unavailable.

- Irvington, NJ, USA

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