Most common 2011 Nissan Armada problems
Share of the 40 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Armada complaints by model year
Best Armada years: 2014, 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2025, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2004. Compare all years →
2011 Nissan Armada recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
What 2011 Nissan Armada owners say
Engine & cooling
The Electrical components went out in the steering wheel. 1st the radio and controls went out and then the horn eventually stopped working, had to pay $300 for the part itself and even the dealership didnt have it I had to order from a specialty shop. Took all day to repair. The airbag light is constantly on but there is nothing wrong with the air bag and has been reset but it stays on. The driver side window wont roll up half the time the electrical component has went out. Sometimes it rolls down by itself. Headlights have water in them and hard to keep out after replacing them. After only having it a few months had to replace the engine bc it kept smoking. Thank goodness for warranties and at 1st they wasnt going to replace it.
Cracked exhaust manifolds, as a safety issue, Exhaust gasses can enter the drivers compartment. Nissan has know about this issue for years, it is a defect, it is a very big issue with a very large percent of vehicles with this issue. Please issue a recall, so the manufacture pays for it and not the owner.
Brakes
On a short drive back home on a sunny warm day and was going relatively slow (~20 MPH) and tried to slow down to make a turn. The pedal went to the ground and braking was ineffective (slowed down 2 or 3 mph every time I hit the brakes). Seems like the ABS was kicking in, even though we were not sliding. I was just trying to slow down. I was finally able to slow down and stop the vehicle and I pulled off the side of the road to inspect. The "BRAKE" light was illuminated even though the parking brake was off, so I thought there must be a trouble code. I had my code reader with me. I read the code reported from the vehicle. Which was C1179, a malfunction with the delta sensor. I looked over the vehicle and brake fluid looked good. Brakes were not hot, no signs of any brake problems. I did not clear any codes or reset anything but the car drove normally the rest of the way home. …
My 2011 Nissan Armada started shaking very badly 8 months ago. Around that same time I had all 4 tires replaced. I took the car back to the place that put my new tires on (National Tire and Battery) and was told that the rack and pinion assembly needed to be replaced. They wanted $800-900 for the repair and to leave my car for 3 days which I could not do due to having only one vehicle. I took my car to a mechanic that dealt with electrical issues as well (Motions Automotive). They did what I felt like was a quick fix because the owner told the mechanic what he needed to do but the mechanic did a ride along with me, vocally stated what he wanted to do and reassured me he would do his best but the owner took precedence. …
Wheels & tires
The rear crossmember subframe on my vehicle is completely rusted out which caused serious suspension issue and cause the control arm to be in contact with the fuel tank. It didnt go through the tank because i found the issue on time and stopped driving the vehicle but it caused damage to the tank. If I didnt stop driving the car it was just a matter of time before the control arm perforated the tank, which could have been a lot worse with a risk of fire. This looks to be a common issue with Nissan cars so I'm not sure how there is no recall for it. I keep the vehicle maintained properly and bring it to the dealer for repairs. The dealer also performed a lot of work on the rear suspension of my car a couple of years ago but never mentioned anything to me about this major rust on the crossmember subframe.
While driving at 45-50 miles per hour, skid and brake lights came on. Immediatly all tires looked and the vehicle skid of the road. I was unable to brake or stop the vehicle, it slid and over turned until it came to a stop on it's own. Before this my heat(A/C unit) went out on it's own as well as the wipers.
2011 Nissan Armada engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD | 12 / 18 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Nissan Armada a good car?
Based on 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Armada rates average: 37% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Armada at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Nissan Armada?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (7) and wheels & tires (6).
How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Armada have?
There is 1 recall for the 2011 Nissan Armada, the most recent from February 10, 2023 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Armada?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2004. See the full Nissan Armada years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Nissan Armada problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 44% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.