FaultScore

2011 Nissan Altima brake problems

13 of the 320 complaints about the 2011 Nissan Altima are about the braking system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 19,809 miles.

F

13

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes 8 61.5%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 4 30.8%
Master Cylinder 1 7.7%

Brakes across every Nissan Altima year

1995 10 1.4%
1998 14 1.9%
1999 19 2.6%
2000 12 1.7%
2002 34 4.7%
2003 12 1.7%
2004 13 1.8%
2005 45 6.2%
2006 26 3.6%
2007 71 9.8%
2008 93 12.9%
2009 49 6.8%
2010 32 4.4%
2011 13 1.8%
2012 20 2.8%
2013 58 8.0%
2014 28 3.9%
2015 25 3.5%
2016 11 1.5%
2017 19 2.6%
2018 49 6.8%
2019 30 4.2%
2020 18 2.5%
2021 20 2.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Memphis, TN

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE NOISE WAS MOST PREVALENT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11153027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,000 miles Gastonia, NC

SERVICE BRAKES

TAKATA RECALLS. I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY SEALS AROUND MY WINDOWS. WHEN IT RAINS MY CAR GETS WATER IN THE DOORS.STATIONARY

NHTSA complaint #11102967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glen Burnie, MD Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

THERE IS AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE 4 YEARS. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AND THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. IN ORDER TO START THE CAR THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED FIRST AND THEN PLUG BACK IN AND THEN IT WILL START BACK UP.IN THE PAST I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NEVER FOUND ANY ISSUES ON THE DIAGNOSTICS.

NHTSA complaint #11085060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jennings, LA

SERVICE BRAKES

MY VDC CONTINUE TO POP ON AND SLOW DOWN MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10883704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles North Lauderdale, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA complaint #10822007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Cloud, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKING SYSTEM SERVICE BULLETIN. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE RECEIVED THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND SERVICE BULLETIN, IN THE MAIL HE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, IN NOVEMBER 2013, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DISPLAY SOME OF THE IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AND OCCASIONALLY MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND VALIDATED HIS COMPLAINT AND THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SERVICE BULLETIN. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALER, THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO SQUEAK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, FOR ITS 45,000 RECOMMENDED SERVICE. HE ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES, AS THEY WERE STILL GRINDING AND SQUEAKING. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN TO A LEVEL OF 2MM, WHICH EXPLAINED THE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING. THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE, THE PREVIOUS DEALER INSPECTED THE BRAKES OR FALSIFIED THE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION RECORD. *JB UPDATED 07/29/14 UPDATED 07/30/14

NHTSA complaint #10604246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Cloud, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKING SYSTEM SERVICE BULLETIN. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE RECEIVED THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND SERVICE BULLETIN, IN THE MAIL HE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, IN NOVEMBER 2013, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DISPLAY SOME OF THE IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AND OCCASIONALLY MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND VALIDATED HIS COMPLAINT AND THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SERVICE BULLETIN. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALER, THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO SQUEAK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, FOR ITS 45,000 RECOMMENDED SERVICE. HE ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES, AS THEY WERE STILL GRINDING AND SQUEAKING. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN TO A LEVEL OF 2MM, WHICH EXPLAINED THE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING. THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE, THE PREVIOUS DEALER INSPECTED THE BRAKES OR FALSIFIED THE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION RECORD. *JB UPDATED 07/29/14 UPDATED 07/30/14

NHTSA complaint #10604246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,425 miles Irvington, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE END BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHEN IT RAINED, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ROTORS AND THE SHOCKS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,425. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10545104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,000 miles Baldwin Park, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE PEDAL SQUEAK UPON DECOMPRESSION. FOUND RING OF BRAKE FLUID ON MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR CAP. DEALERSHIP STATED OVERFILLED AND WIPED BRAKE FLUID INSPECTED MC FOR RECALL -- NO LEAK. RING CAME BACK AFTER TWO DAYS. DEALERSHIP STATED MASTER CYLINDER KICKING FLUID BACK UP -- NO LEAK -- MC REPLACED NOT DUE TO RECALL. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED DUE TO FLUID BEING KICKED BACK UP. BRAKE PEDAL SQUEAK WENT AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10504182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,527 miles Wynne, AR

SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN DRIVING SPEEDS AS LOW AS 25 MILES PER HOUR, THE BRAKES STARTED TO GRAB. I FIRST NOTICED THAT WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, WHEN RELEASED, THE PEDAL SEEMED TO STICK, AS IF THERE WERE GUM ON THE BOTTOM OF MY SHOE, PERHAPS STICKING TO THE PEDAL. I CHECKED THE PEDAL AND IT WAS CLEAR. THEN I NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT SLOWER RATES OF SPEED, AS I EASED ON THE BRAKE, IT SEEMED TO DEPRESS AGAIN, THEN THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB HARDER. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER--$700 ESTIMATE TO FIX. I DID NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, SO I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO EVALUATED THE ISSUE, AND CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION--BRAKE BOOSTER. HE SHOWED ME THAT IT WAS BUSTED. HE WAS CONSIDERABLY CHEAPER, SO I HAD HIM TO FIX THE BRAKE BOOSTER. IT FIXED THE ISSUE THAT I WAS FEELING IN THE PEDAL WHEN STOPPING, HOWEVER, THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO GRAB, EVEN AT SLOWER RATES OF SPEED (<25MPH). AT SLOWER SPEEDS, THE BRAKES GRABBED HARD ENOUGH TO THROW PASSENGERS FORWARD IN THE VEHICLE. HE CONTACTED NISSAN AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY MASTER CYLINDER, BUT ONLY IF IT WAS LEAKING. MY MASTER CYLINDER DID NOT APPEAR TO BE LEAKING, BUT IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT IT HAS TO BE A FAULTY CYLINDER. I READ SEVERAL REPORTS OF NISSAN'S MASTER CYLINDERS LEAKING CAUSING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO FAIL. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN JONESBORO SAID THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT THE RECALL IS FOR LEAKING MASTER CYLINDERS ONLY. MY MC IS NOT LEAKING, AND THEREFORE, AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10470871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,088 miles Newbrockton, AL Crash 2 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP BEFORE REACHING A DEAD-END INTERSECTION. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED UNTIL CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISING FROM THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,088.

NHTSA complaint #10457882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,900 miles Corpus Christi, TX Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, COMING TO A STOP THE CONTACT APPLIED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH EXTREME PRESSURE WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED GOING OVER A SMALL MEDIAN IN A PARKING LOT AND HITTING A FENCE. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND NO INJURIES TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE , THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,900.CV

NHTSA complaint #10454045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,531 miles Hampton, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE LIGHT(S) ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. BRAKE LIGHT(S) WENT OFF BY THEMSELVES ONLY TO RE-ILLUMINATE. A FEW HOURS LATER A CAR ON I-285 IN METRO ATLANTA "CUT ME OFF" WHICH REQUIRED ME TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND THE BRAKES FAILED, THE CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL I ROLLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SEEMED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN LOW GEAR. THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE TO CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AND THEN DISTINGUISH.

NHTSA complaint #10453960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2011 Nissan Altima problems

← Full 2011 Nissan Altima report