Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the transmission lost functionality with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact initially took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they referred her to a dealer since the vehicle was under warranty. The contact then drove to a dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated. The contact stated that the vehicle performed as if the gear shifter was in neutral(N). The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacture was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
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 …
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 !
My car was all morning in the parking lot of my apartments and it was time to go to work, then i started my car and drive it around 2 minutes of driving it engine light on (always) and the stability light turn on which it never happens. I accelerate because was taking a turn it did not rpm over 2,500 like it need it something so the only way to get up to speed was doing low rpm which can be dangerous when need to turn and cars are coming in front of you and can happen with any notice Nissan need to make it right and fixing their cvt transmission failing so early and deny to fix its problems with its customers.
Hi my Nissan has 120k miles son it and the transmission is completely wrong don't go more than 30 mph I take it to the shop to inspect and they told me that it need to be replace. It has code p1778 and code p0868 they told me that the transmission has no oil presure that it was a mechanical problem inside the transmission and that it was really common on that car becouse the cvt transmission
Going down interstate, when you press the gas, vehicle hesitates if you are going faster than 40 miles an hour, motor didn't die but you are unable to go faster for a few seconds, this is very dangerous situation on our interstates. And this is happening on every trip that I am afraid to drive this car, its not trustworthy and I can't afford a new car in today's economy.
I was driving in early n all of a sudden car started slowing down n there's other cars n I have my kids in car was very scary I started praying n calling on Jesus N car slowly started taking off again I just bought used car I'm very worried I hope someone reads this and calls me I never experienced this .
In January 2018, I took my Nissan Altima to a nearby authorized Nissan dealer explaining that the car was not accelerating after stopping. When depressing the gas pedal, the car engine would not immediately engage and would stay idle until seconds passed to which point the car would accelerate to the speed limit whil driving on interstates and local roads. The Nissan dealer (porter Nissan in newark de) indicated the despite my having brought the car in for service regularly (most recently in dec. 2017 and July 2017) they indicated previous diagnostic tests had not found that my transmission was in need of repairs. They indicated that the repair cost would exceed $5,000 which is clearly a result of a defective manufacturing process given my car has under 85,000 miles. …
Nissan 2011 CVT transmission failure. Car would not accelerate in the middle of a busy highway, narrowly escaping a crash with another car. Cost to replace $+4000. 2003-2010 Altima CVT owners complained about CVT transmissions and granted complete reimbursement coverage...5 years/60,000 miles changed to 10 years/120,000 miles. Nissan customer service denied $ support for my 2011 Altima nor would they tell me whether I had the same CVT that the 2010 model had...if it was the same CVT should I not be granted the same coverage/? The CVT I had endangered my life without any warning! A review of other drivers and law suits suggests that CVT is a danger to more than myself. Nissan has not released information to me or other drivers (one internet article stated that a Nissan ceo said there were no changes made??)
Transmission complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2011 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 68 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2011 Nissan Altima, 28% of the model year's 242 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Nissan Altima transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2011 Nissan Altima, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Nissan Altima transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.