NISSAN CUBE · model year

2011 NISSAN CUBE

40 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011NISSANCUBE carries 40 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 CUBE is power train with 15 filings, followed by electrical system (5) and air bags (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 2011 CUBE, and 5 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

40
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

40 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
AIR BAGS5
STEERING2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
SEAT BELTS2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
SEATS1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SUSPENSION1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20241111FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The gas tank has malfunctioned and is leaking. According to the mechanic, it is the same issue related to the recall of the gas tank regarding the 2009-2010 Nissan Cube. My safety and others are put at risk because gas is leaking and causing a fire or an explosion. My mechanic confirmed the issue. At this point, the 2 Nissan dealers have not returned my phone calls. I need to get my car fixed as soon as possible. Gas is leaking from the site of failure. There were no warning lamps to signal that the gas tank was leaking gas. The only signs were the smell of gas and then discovering a puddle of gas pooling on the ground beneath my car.

20230327POWER TRAIN

On March 24, 2023 Friday, I was picking my child up when I noticed a loss of power and acceleration at the gas pedal. This was then followed by a loud, whining sound while in traffic. Luckily, we were not hit when the car lost power. I am mechanically inclined, and was able to deduct that the car went into limp mode. After further research, it is determined that the CVT transmission failed. This could have caused serious injuries to myself, my child, or whoever it may have impacted our vehicle, because of how it lost acceleration While in transit. Vehicle currently has 141,554 miles and it is a 2011 Nissan cube why does the recall affect 2009, 2010, it skips 2011 and then proceeds to carry-on from 2012 on up? What sense does this make , since it’s the same transmission in all of these vehicles? I am contacting Nissan USA to file a complaint, I have also confirmed this with an OBD two scanner. Today’s date is March 27, 2023.

20200814POWER TRAIN

AT 110K MY CAR STALLED. MID SUMMER 2020 I STARTED MY CAR IT BEGAN TO DRIVE THEN STOPPED MOVING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON LIBERTY ST IN SPFLD, MASSACHUSETTS. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE ROAD INTO THE CUMBERLAND FARMS THAT WAS TO THE LEFT FRONT OF ME. MY CAR WOULD START UP BUT THERE WAS NO POWER WHEN YOU PRESSED GAS IN DRIVE. IT WOULD TURN ON BUT WOULDN'T DRIVE. I HAD IT SENT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED DUE TO CVT ISSUES THE BELT AND IT WOULD COST ESTIMATE OF $3500 TO REPLACE. I EMPTIED MY SAVINGS AND BOUGHT A NEW CAR. I STILL OWN MY NISSAN BECAUSE IT HAS LESS THAN 120K AND IS IN MINT CONDITION EXPECT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I PAID FOR TOES AND RENTALS WHILE MY CAR WAS SERVICED AT NISSAN AS WELL.

Mileage: 110,000

20200618STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

2011 CUBE, REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. NO DOOR HANDLE IN SIDE OF VEHICLE, NO WAY TO OPEN. THIS IS A REAL HAZARD. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, FROM OTHER CUBE OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

20200618UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2011 CUBE, REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. NO DOOR HANDLE IN SIDE OF VEHICLE, NO WAY TO OPEN. THIS IS A REAL HAZARD. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, FROM OTHER CUBE OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

20191107ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REAR BACK DOOR DOES NOT OPEN EVEN U U TRY TO LOCK & UNLOCK,JUST HAPPEND OUT OF THE BLUE .ALSO THE RIGHT DRIVER WINDOW ONE ROLL DOWN . THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE WERE BOTH MY SUN VISOR DONT GO UP WHICH MAKE THAT A HAZARD TO SEE TRAFIC

20191107VISIBILITY/WIPER

REAR BACK DOOR DOES NOT OPEN EVEN U U TRY TO LOCK & UNLOCK,JUST HAPPEND OUT OF THE BLUE .ALSO THE RIGHT DRIVER WINDOW ONE ROLL DOWN . THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE WERE BOTH MY SUN VISOR DONT GO UP WHICH MAKE THAT A HAZARD TO SEE TRAFIC

20190514SEAT BELTS

PASSENGERS SEAT BELT BECAME UNBOLTED FROM BODY OF CAR. THE BOLT THAT HELD THE BOLT TO THE CAR AT THE FLOOR BY THE DOOR WAS JUST HANGING ON THE BELT. THERE WAS ABOUT AN INCH OF THREADS ON THE BOLT. IT MUST HAVE BEEN WORKING IT'S WAY OUT FOR A LONG LONG TIME THE PASSENGER WAS PUTTING ON THE BELT WHEN IT HAPPENED

Mileage: 65,000

20190501POWER TRAIN

MY CAR STALLED OUT OF NO WHERE WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. TRANSMISSION DIED AT 120,000 MILES.

Mileage: 120,000

20190430POWER TRAIN

UNDER 59,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY CVT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $3,400. BUMMER.

Mileage: 59,000

20190331POWER TRAIN

ONLY A 103K AN ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A WHINING SOUND AND THEN JUST SLIPPING. DROVE IT THIS WAY FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEN IT WOULDN'T START REMOVE AT ALL. HAD TO SINK IN $3,000 FOR A USED TRANSMISSION. A NEW ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER $4,000! EVEN MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT.

Mileage: 103,000

20190222POWER TRAIN

CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. WILL NOT MOVE. CAR WAS RUNNING FINE I CAME TO A STOP, AND CAR WOULD NOT GO. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. NOW THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. NISSAN SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY IT IS THE FAULT OF THEIR CVT. I HAVE SEEN MANY MANY PEOPLE ON LINE WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP.

Mileage: 110,000

20190206POWER TRAIN

MY CAT TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. I ONLY HAVE 101K MILES AND A NEW TRANSMISSION ISN'T IN MY BUDGET. PLEASE GET NISSAN TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 120K LIKE ON PREVIOUS MODELS. I HAVE 5 KIDS AND NEED MY VEHICLE TO GET THEM TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THE FIRST SIGN IS A HORRENDOUS WHINING SOUND. THEN SLIPPING AND FAILURE.

Mileage: 101,000

20181121POWER TRAIN

2011 NISSAN CUBE WITH JUST UBDER 100,000 MILES WAS FINE ONE DAY AND THE NEXT BARELY ABLE TO PULL ITSELF. MADE STRANGE NOISE UPON REVVING THE ENGINE. HAD TO BE TOWED FOR SERVICE. ALMOST $4000 LATER I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS NISSAN PROPRIETARY AND CAN NOT BE REBUILT. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT NISSAN IS CONTINUING TO HAVE CVT PROBLEMS. MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HAD THE TRANSMISSON SERVICED AT 60,000. MAKES NO SENSE TO ME WHY IT WOULD GO OUT EVEN IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED TO INSURE NO DUST OR DIRT GOT INTO THE FLUID.

Mileage: 900,000

20180716CrashAIR BAGS

INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH WHERE SOMEBODY MADE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS GOING 40 STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS BUT STILL HIT THE TURNING CAR. THE WHOLE FRONT CRUMPED SO THE CAR WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TT

20180602ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SINCE NOV OF 2014 I HAVE DEALT WITH PERSISTENT START-UP ISSUE WITH MY 2011 NISSAN CUBE. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY CAN FAIL TO START AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM JACKIE COOPER & NISSAN NORTH AMERICA. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO SOLVE THE ISSUES DESPITE REPEATED VISITS TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO IGNORE THEIR OBLIGATION TO FIX MY VEHICLE AS STIPULATED BY THEIR WARRANTY.

Mileage: 78,940

20180201STRUCTURE:BODY

THE DOGBONE THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE, BROKE AND THE ENGINE WELL DOWN AND I HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED, IT AFFECTED THE BRACKET TRANSMITTION MOUNTING, THE AXLE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE MOUNTS. IT COSTS ME $1,112.41 TO REPAIR. MY CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE CHECK MOTOR MOUNT FAILED.

Mileage: 118,814

20180201STEERING

THE DOGBONE THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE, BROKE AND THE ENGINE WELL DOWN AND I HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED, IT AFFECTED THE BRACKET TRANSMITTION MOUNTING, THE AXLE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE MOUNTS. IT COSTS ME $1,112.41 TO REPAIR. MY CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE CHECK MOTOR MOUNT FAILED.

Mileage: 118,814

20180201SUSPENSION

THE DOGBONE THAT HOLDS THE ENGINE, BROKE AND THE ENGINE WELL DOWN AND I HAVE TO GET IT REPAIRED, IT AFFECTED THE BRACKET TRANSMITTION MOUNTING, THE AXLE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE MOUNTS. IT COSTS ME $1,112.41 TO REPAIR. MY CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE CHECK MOTOR MOUNT FAILED.

Mileage: 118,814

20180122AIR BAGS

IS THE CUBE ON THE RECALL LIST AUTO AIRBAG SETTLEMENT

Compare 2011NISSANCUBE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 NISSAN CUBE have?
The 2011 NISSAN CUBE has 40 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2011 NISSAN CUBE?
The 2011 NISSAN CUBE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 NISSAN CUBE?
The most-complained component for the 2011 NISSAN CUBE is POWER TRAIN with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2011 NISSAN CUBE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2011 NISSAN CUBE has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.