Is the 2011 Nissan Altima a bad year?
242 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 68, 6.8× a quiet Altima year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 83k–125k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 Altima owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 101,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 68 (28%) | 83k–125k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 41 (17%) | 60k–121k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Suspension | 14 (6%) | 34k–118k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Fuel system | 10 (4%) | 61k–117k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 9 (4%) | 46k–121k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 32 (13%) | 21k–76k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 27 (11%) | 34k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 22 (9%) | 22k–95k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 13 (5%) | 31k–88k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 12 (5%) | 21k–62k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 6 (2%) | 24k–74k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 101,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 242 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 7 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Few weeks ago I noticed a whining noise from my car, and then the check engine light came on. I had my brother look at my car because he works on cars and is a mechanic and he said it is my transmission.
Our 2011 Nissan Altima just went over 80,000 miles and the transmission stopped working. My son was driving along some back roads at a low rate of speed and all of a sudden it gave out, the engine wil lrev but no power.
When it is hot outside and the car has been driven for a long period of time the CVT transmission will make a whining noise.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 101,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Nissan Altima: 1
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. If the bolt comes out completely, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 84
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Nissan Altima. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Clicking noise from front or rear axle during take-off/acceleration
DTC P0456 caused by EVAP leak at vent control valve o-ring
MIL on with DTC P2423 note
MIL on with DTC P0101
Neighbouring years
2010 Altima: 381 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2012 Altima: 426 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Nissan Altima year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Altima years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2011 Nissan Altima a bad year?
242 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 68, 6.8× a quiet Altima year. At 101,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 83k–125k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Altima?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (68), engine (41), suspension (14), fuel system (10), speed control (9). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 83k–125k miles.
How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Altima have?
1 recall campaign list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 11V-371). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.