2011 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

36Engine complaints

14.9%Of all 241 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN67 · 27.8%

Unspecified / other40 · 16.6%

ENGINE36 · 14.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31 · 12.9%

STRUCTURE:BODY25 · 10.4%

Share of the 241 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Nissan Altima overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MASS…”NHTSA complaint 11064804 — filed 01/25/2018

“SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. CODE PO101. MASS AIR FLOW. CHANGED THE AIR FILTER, AND THE MAF SENSOR BUT LIGHT REMAINS ON BULENTIN NTB12-051D REGARDING…”NHTSA complaint 11056571 — filed 12/26/2017

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS FLASHING AND THE TRACTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO…”NHTSA complaint 10984455 — filed 05/09/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Nissan Altima have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Nissan Altima: 36 of 241 complaints on file (14.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Nissan Altima have in total?

241 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 11 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.