Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
21–33 mpgcombined; city 18–33, highway 27–33; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$9,840–$15,470U.S. average; Ohio $8,790–$13,820 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2011 Altima, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 245 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Altima. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power train
69
1
0
2
Unknown or other
40
0
2
0
Engine
38
1
1
0
Electrical system
33
2
0
0
Structure
27
2
1
0
Air bags
21
5
0
2
Suspension
15
1
0
2
Steering
14
2
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
10
0
1
1
Vehicle speed control
10
0
0
0
Service brakes
8
1
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
6
0
0
0
13 more parts
Engine and engine cooling
6
0
0
0
Seat belts
4
0
1
1
Service brakes, hydraulic
4
2
0
2
Tires
4
1
0
0
Visibility/wiper
4
0
0
0
Seats
3
0
0
0
Wheels
3
0
1
1
Exterior lighting
2
1
0
0
Visibility
2
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Firerelated
1
0
1
0
Fuel system, gasoline
1
0
0
0
Traction control system
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2011 Altima over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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. THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, CREATING A RATTLING NOISE AND VIBRATION.
Risk: IF THE BOLT COMES OUT COMPLETELY, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLTS AND NUTS AND TIGHTEN THEM TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 134 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2011 Altima, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (28), electrical system (26), engine and engine cooling (17), power train (13), service brakes (12).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Defect petition DP22005 Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2011 Altima.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: subcompact cars. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Altima Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 31 / 26
Altima Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AV-S6)
Regular Gasoline
23 / 31 / 26
Altima Front-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (AV-S6)
Regular Gasoline
20 / 27 / 23
Altima Front-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cyl
Automatic (AV-S6)
Regular Gasoline
20 / 27 / 22
Altima Front-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
18 / 27 / 21
Altima Hybrid Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
33 / 33 / 33
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data