Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Nissan Cube problems

Owners filed 31 complaints about the 2011 Nissan Cube with NHTSA between Aug 2012 and Nov 2024. The most-cited component is power train (15).

Complaints
31
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train15
  2. Electrical system5
  3. Air bags5
  4. Structure3
  5. Seat belts2
  6. Steering2
  7. Fuel/propulsion system1
  8. Visibility/wiper1
  9. Suspension1
  10. Vehicle speed control1
  11. Seats1
  12. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  13. Other / unknown2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20121
20132
20142
20154
20162
20174
20185
20197
20202
20210
20220
20231
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

15 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 27, 2023Power trainODI 11514002

Electrical system

5 reports
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 7, 2019Electrical system, Visibility/wiperODI 11278585

Air bags

5 reports2 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11111630

Structure

3 reports1 fire
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 18, 2020Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11329636

Seat belts

2 reports
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2019Seat beltsODI 11207561

Steering

2 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2018Steering, Suspension, StructureODI 11066516
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.