2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical222.2%
- Engine222.2%
- Steering222.2%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Powertrain (other)111.1%
- Suspension111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOSES STRENGTH AND BEGINS TO DRIVE SLOW, I RAN ONE BLOCK UNTIL IT WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT TURN ON AGAIN. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR LOST POWER SUDDENLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. NISSAN ENDED UP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INVERTER ON THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOSES STRENGTH AND BEGINS TO DRIVE SLOW, I RAN ONE BLOCK UNTIL IT WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT TURN ON AGAIN. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR LOST POWER SUDDENLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. NISSAN ENDED UP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INVERTER ON THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
NEW 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID, DELIVERED, NOTICED RIGHT AWAY SEEMED TO BE WANDERING ALL OVER ROAD. HARD TO STEER A STRAIGHT LINE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT, THEY TOOK IT AND DROVE AROUND PARKING LOT, BROUGHT IT BACK 2 MINUTES LATER SAID IT WAS FINE. IT MADE FOR MISERABLE DRIVING, ALMOST WRECKED A FEW TIMES DUE TO INADVERTENT LANE WANDERING. NOTICEABLE TIRE WEAR AT 4000 MILES, HAD TIRES ROTATED. TRAVELING CROSS COUNTRY, 10,000 MILE TRIP. REAR TIRES WORE DOWN TO STEEL BELTS AND BEYOND, ONE BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH. REAR WHEELS LEANING OUTWARD AT THE BOTTOM, TIRES WORE OUT ON INSIDE EDGES OF BOTH REAR TIRES. WENT TO DEALER WHO SAID HYBRIDS EAT TIRES RAPIDLY. NO WONDER. ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED, IT WAS WAY OUT OF SPEC. I HAD AN 09 ALTIMA HYBRID WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, MAKING THE SAME TRIP OUT WEST. TIRES WORE SAME WAY, HAD TO BUY 2 NEW ONES IN OREGON. I LIVE NEAR BOSTON. THESE CARS COME FROM THE FACTORY WITH NON ALIGNED REAR SUSPENSION. DEALER ALIGNED REAR END OF CAR AND PUT ON TWO NEW TIRES, AND IT DRIVES MUCH BETTER NOW THAN IT DID WHEN IT WAS FIRST DELIVERED. PERSONALLY I THINK THE REAR END SUSPENSION DESIGN IS POOR, AND I NOTICED THAT FOR THE 2013 MODELS THEY DID A REDESIGN OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. IN THEIR ADS THEY BRAG ABOUT HOW WELL IT CORNERS NOW! NO WONDER! GOING AROUND CORNERS, IF YOU HIT A BUMP, THE REAR OF THE CAR WILL TRY TO SWING OUT, SO YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT IF YOU CORNER AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BOTH CARS WERE THE SAME WAY.THE PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED WHEN THE CAR IS LOADED TO MAX GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT, AS THE TIRES VISIBLY BOW OUT AT THE BOTTOM DUE TO SUSPENSION DESIGN USING UNEQUAL LENGTH "A" ARMS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION, WITH A SHORT UPPER " A" ARM, A LONGER LOWER "A" ARM. WHEN SUSPENSION IS LOADED, THE SHORT UPPER ARM PULLS IN MORE THAN THE BOTTOM, AND BOWS BOTTOM OUT SO TIRES WEAR ON INSIDE EDGES DANGEROUSLY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOSES STRENGTH AND BEGINS TO DRIVE SLOW, I RAN ONE BLOCK UNTIL IT WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT TURN ON AGAIN. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR LOST POWER SUDDENLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. NISSAN ENDED UP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INVERTER ON THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
NEW 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID, DELIVERED, NOTICED RIGHT AWAY SEEMED TO BE WANDERING ALL OVER ROAD. HARD TO STEER A STRAIGHT LINE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT, THEY TOOK IT AND DROVE AROUND PARKING LOT, BROUGHT IT BACK 2 MINUTES LATER SAID IT WAS FINE. IT MADE FOR MISERABLE DRIVING, ALMOST WRECKED A FEW TIMES DUE TO INADVERTENT LANE WANDERING. NOTICEABLE TIRE WEAR AT 4000 MILES, HAD TIRES ROTATED. TRAVELING CROSS COUNTRY, 10,000 MILE TRIP. REAR TIRES WORE DOWN TO STEEL BELTS AND BEYOND, ONE BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH. REAR WHEELS LEANING OUTWARD AT THE BOTTOM, TIRES WORE OUT ON INSIDE EDGES OF BOTH REAR TIRES. WENT TO DEALER WHO SAID HYBRIDS EAT TIRES RAPIDLY. NO WONDER. ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED, IT WAS WAY OUT OF SPEC. I HAD AN 09 ALTIMA HYBRID WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, MAKING THE SAME TRIP OUT WEST. TIRES WORE SAME WAY, HAD TO BUY 2 NEW ONES IN OREGON. I LIVE NEAR BOSTON. THESE CARS COME FROM THE FACTORY WITH NON ALIGNED REAR SUSPENSION. DEALER ALIGNED REAR END OF CAR AND PUT ON TWO NEW TIRES, AND IT DRIVES MUCH BETTER NOW THAN IT DID WHEN IT WAS FIRST DELIVERED. PERSONALLY I THINK THE REAR END SUSPENSION DESIGN IS POOR, AND I NOTICED THAT FOR THE 2013 MODELS THEY DID A REDESIGN OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. IN THEIR ADS THEY BRAG ABOUT HOW WELL IT CORNERS NOW! NO WONDER! GOING AROUND CORNERS, IF YOU HIT A BUMP, THE REAR OF THE CAR WILL TRY TO SWING OUT, SO YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT IF YOU CORNER AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BOTH CARS WERE THE SAME WAY.THE PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED WHEN THE CAR IS LOADED TO MAX GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT, AS THE TIRES VISIBLY BOW OUT AT THE BOTTOM DUE TO SUSPENSION DESIGN USING UNEQUAL LENGTH "A" ARMS IN THE REAR SUSPENSION, WITH A SHORT UPPER " A" ARM, A LONGER LOWER "A" ARM. WHEN SUSPENSION IS LOADED, THE SHORT UPPER ARM PULLS IN MORE THAN THE BOTTOM, AND BOWS BOTTOM OUT SO TIRES WEAR ON INSIDE EDGES DANGEROUSLY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .