The Lemon Index2011 Nissan Altima.
The 2011 Nissan Altima is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 53 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 17, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 1 recall, and it gets 21 to 33 mpg combined. The best Nissan Altima year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 245 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Nissan Altima year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 28K to 110K miles on the car (176 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 77K–123K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 8K–121K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 6K–48K miles
Recalls 1
- suspension 2011
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 25, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 10, 2011 AT THE CANTON, MISSISSIPPI PLANT.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 131 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- If continuously variable transmission (cvt) fluid temperature rises above a certain threshold, it
- Service information on the removal and installation of service parts, on certain vehicles, for
- The cvt fail-safe logic has caused a reduction with the vehicle's maximum speed
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Altima 2 DR FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ |
| Nissan Altima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Nissan Altima HEV 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1950–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
2011 Nissan Altima. Consumer states problem with starting vehicle
2011 Nissan Altima owner · NHTSA complaint 10467462
More owner reports
Passenger seat airbag sensor does not work properly ...no matter the weight of the passenger up to 240 the airbag light remains disabled....concerned with the safety of my passengers considering airbag will not deploy.
NHTSA complaint 10519882
Passenger airbag sensor indicating not on while adult sitting in seat. Took car back to dealer several time would not duplicate. 2 times they said thy fix it. Cars should be on recall. Dealer said thy could not help.
NHTSA complaint 10607599
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Nissan Altima reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 5.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 17; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Altima year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2011 Nissan Altima problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (25%), airbags (11%) and transmission & drivetrain (9%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Altima have?
1 safety recall (latest: suspension). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Nissan Altima get?
21 to 33 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2011 Nissan Altima safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2011 Nissan Altima problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 28,200 and 110,000 miles. The middle report was at 69,200 miles, from 176 complaints.
Does the 2011 Nissan Altima have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 9% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Nissan Altima cost in fuel a year?
About $1950 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Nissan Altima have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Nissan Altima year is better than the 2011?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2011 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works