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2011 Nissan Altima: True Cost, Problems & Verdict

241 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.

Reviewed by the MotorJury data desk · 2 sources · Last updated 2026-08-20
Nissan Altima
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · open the model page
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Owner complaints: 241 filed with NHTSA

Complaints per year on the road: 16.07

Power Train68Unknown Or Other40Engine36Electrical System31Structure27Air Bags21

What owners say

Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.

This is the second nissan altima iv owed an the problem eatch one iv had is that were the idler tensioner pully gose and bolts to brakes so there for you cant put the idler tensioner pully back on
I have complained to Nissan that the dash in the car is literally melting. It started around 2014 when I noticed it was having a sticky texture and because of this it creates a glare in the windshield that makes it hard to see. Over the years it has only gotten worse and the dash is literally crumbling. I read online where they have had this issue before. I have tried to get help locally but I am lost no one will hel…
I brought my car to Florida 2 years ago and notices my dashboard getting very shiny and sticky. Now the dash is cracking in many areas. The glare off the dash board shining on the windshield makes it a dangerous situation. I called Nissan and they said it is a common problem in years 2005-2012 and there is nothing they can do. I googled it and there are many complaints online regarding this problem. A 13 y/o car that…

Recalls: 1 campaigns

2011
CampaignComponentSummary
11V371000SuspensionNISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 25, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 10, 2011 AT THE…

True cost of ownership

EPA combined 26 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,350

Fuel (your region) $2,350
Maintenance band (your region) $0$1,362
Estimated running cost this year (age 15) $3,712

Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.

02468101214$3,712vehicle age (years)
fuel/energy + maintenance band (annual, USD, estimate)

Run your own numbers in the true-cost calculator →

FAQ

What is the most common problem with the 2011 Nissan Altima?

The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (68 complaints in our indexed sample).

Is the 2011 Nissan Altima a good used car to buy?

Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 73/100, computed from 241 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.

Does the 2011 Nissan Altima have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2011 Nissan Altima, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 19/07/2011. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.

What will a 2011 Nissan Altima really cost YOU per year?

Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.

Open the true-cost calculator

Data sources

Complaints & recalls: NHTSA · Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov · Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements. Last updated: 2026-08-20.

73RELIABILITY / 100
BUY
  • 241 NHTSA complaints on record (16.1/yr of exposure)
  • 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems

How this score is computed →

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