CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO STEERING LOCK ON VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED X 4. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC ONLY TO BE TOLD REPAIR IS 900.00. CONTACTED NISSAN WHO IS GOING BACK ON THEIR WORD TO PAY FOR REPAIR. CAR ALSO HAS AIRBAG LIGHTS THAT COME ON WHILE DRIVING. CAR IS ALWAYS IN PARKED POSITIONED WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM.
2009 Nissan Altima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Altima years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Altima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 231.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1,239 reports with mileage · 308 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 859 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 466 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 107 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
466 reportsCAR WILL NOT START WITH KEY FOB . CALLED TOW ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. LAST TOW WAS TOLD TO KNOCK ON STEERING LOCK BOX TO START CAR. CAR WAS TOWED DUE TO INABILITY TO GET CAR RUNNING. UNABLE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AT DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF COST OF 100. UNABLE TO PAY FOR TOW BECAUSE OF 65 DOLLAR COST. STUCK OUT IN THE MIDDLE …
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CAR WILL NOT START WITH KEY FOB . CALLED TOW ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. LAST TOW WAS TOLD TO KNOCK ON STEERING LOCK BOX TO START CAR. CAR WAS TOWED DUE TO INABILITY TO GET CAR RUNNING. UNABLE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AT DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF COST OF 100. UNABLE TO PAY FOR TOW BECAUSE OF 65 DOLLAR COST. STUCK OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND NOW MY CAR IS USELESS . WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER NISSAN OR RECOMMEND TO ANYONE. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO LOSE MY JOB BECAUSE OF NO TRANSPORTATION THANKS TO NISSAN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
ISSUE: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CONDITIONS: 2PM/CLEAR/PARKING LOT WHILE MAKING U-TURN TO THE RIGHT, BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. STEPPED AGAIN ON BRAKES, MORE FIRMLY, BUT DID NOT SLOW CAR WHICH CONTINUED TO ROLL SLOWLY FORWARD ABOUT 7 MPH. SUDDENLY, LOUD REVVING, CAR CONTINUED FORWARD ROLL. IMMEDIATELY, ADDED LEFT FOOT TO BRAKE…
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ISSUE: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CONDITIONS: 2PM/CLEAR/PARKING LOT WHILE MAKING U-TURN TO THE RIGHT, BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. STEPPED AGAIN ON BRAKES, MORE FIRMLY, BUT DID NOT SLOW CAR WHICH CONTINUED TO ROLL SLOWLY FORWARD ABOUT 7 MPH. SUDDENLY, LOUD REVVING, CAR CONTINUED FORWARD ROLL. IMMEDIATELY, ADDED LEFT FOOT TO BRAKE, PRESSING WITH FULL WEIGHT. NO RESPONSE. ABOUT 2-3 SECOND AFTER REVVING/HARD BRAKING, THE CAR OPENED FULL THROTTLE AND HURTLED FORWARD ABOUT 1-1/2 TO 2 CAR LENGTHS; SLAMMED INTO WALL. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY MY CAR HAD ONLY 25290 MILES (ONLY ABOUT TWO YEARS OF NORMAL USAGE) AT THE TIME THE SYSTEM FAILED. MY LEFT KNEE SUSTAINED SMALL GASH FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I WAS SLAMMED BACK AFTER IMPACT THREW ME FORWARD, FOREHEAD KNOCKED THE UPPER STEERING WHEEL. NOTE: ABOUT 1 MONTH PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, THE AUDIO CONTROLS ON MY STEERING WHEEL HONKED THE HORN INSTEAD. THE NEXT DAY, THEY WERE OK. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN TESTED AT THE COLLISION CENTER AFTER ACCIDENT; IT'S ON TAPE. THE REP AT THE COLLISION CENTER WAS INFORMED OF THE SWITCH PROBLEM FROM THE START. WHEN I THEM TESTED DAYS LATER, THE AUDIO CONTROLS WORKED PROPERLY. ALSO, AN INDICATOR ON THE DASH WENT FROM SHOWING THE MPG WITH A BAR AS I ACCELERATED OR SLOWED, THEN SWITCHED TO A DIGITAL REPORT OF 18 MPG/CITY. IT KEPT SHIFTING BETWEEN THESE INDICATORS WITHOUT MY INTERFERENCE. FINALLY, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY ALTHOUGH IMPACT CLEARLY EXCEEDED 15 MPH. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A SEVERE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; THE CVT SYSTEM WITH ITS SENSORS, ETC. IS DEPENDENT ON IT. MY ACCOUNT PARALLELS REPORTS I HAVE UNCOVERED ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I NOTED THAT OFTEN AN EVENT WAS PRECIPITATED BY A SLOWING, AND A TURN. WHEN I RECENTLY TALKED TO A NISSAN TECH ABOUT THE SWITCHES, AIRBAG, INDICATOR FAILURES, HE MENTIONED PINCHED HARNESS COULD BE A POSSIBILITY.
THE BRAKE SWITCH ON THE ALTIMA HAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE NEW. THE FIRST PART WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2015 DUE TO THE CAR NOT STARTING, AND THE VEHICLE NOT RECOGNIZING THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED (REQUIREMENT FOR KEY LESS START). UPON DEALER INSPECTION, I WAS CHARGED A VERY HEFTY FEE FOR A SMALL PART AND LABOR. PART…
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THE BRAKE SWITCH ON THE ALTIMA HAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE NEW. THE FIRST PART WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2015 DUE TO THE CAR NOT STARTING, AND THE VEHICLE NOT RECOGNIZING THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED (REQUIREMENT FOR KEY LESS START). UPON DEALER INSPECTION, I WAS CHARGED A VERY HEFTY FEE FOR A SMALL PART AND LABOR. PART: 25320-AX00C SHOWED TO BE AT FAULT. AT SECOND TIME, AUGUST 2016, THE SAME PROBLEMS PERSISTED. THIS TIME, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. I FOUND THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED, OPENED IT UP, AND FOUND THE INSIDE CONNECTORS FROZEN TO THE CONTACTS AND WHAT LOOK LIKED A SMALL FLASH OR BURN HAD OCCURRED. THE CONTACTS WERE SEPARATED AND THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE BURNING SMELL REAPPEARED AND THE PART WAS NOTED TO HAVE POSSIBLY STARTED ON FIRE VERY BRIEFLY, OR BEEN SUBJECT TO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HEAT. PART HAS BEEN RETAINED. PART WAS REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET PART, AND CAR NOW STARTS WITHOUT ANY SMELLS. DEALERSHIP DENY'S PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SWITCH, DESPITE WIDESPREAD INTERNET CHATTER ABOUT SAME ISSUE HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS OF KEY LESS START NISSAN VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE KEY FAILURE AND SECURITY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MAN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE KEY FAILURE AND SECURITY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
MY CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER I PARKED IT ON A CITY STREET, I WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT! AFTER THANKFULLY BEING ABLE TO SAFELY GET A RIDE AND LEAVING MY CAR, I HAD TO GO BACK TO MY CAR THE NEXT DAY. I HAD CHANGED THE KEY BATTERY THINKING THAT COULD BE REASON, BUT THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO CALL A TOW COMPANY TO BRING MY …
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MY CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER I PARKED IT ON A CITY STREET, I WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT! AFTER THANKFULLY BEING ABLE TO SAFELY GET A RIDE AND LEAVING MY CAR, I HAD TO GO BACK TO MY CAR THE NEXT DAY. I HAD CHANGED THE KEY BATTERY THINKING THAT COULD BE REASON, BUT THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO CALL A TOW COMPANY TO BRING MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I LEARNED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 2009 ALTIMAS, BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK HAD FAILED. I NEVER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS WAS A BAFFLING AND FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AND I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, AND AN UNKNOWN KEY SYMBOL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, AND AN UNKNOWN KEY SYMBOL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PRESSING THE PUSH TO START BUTTON, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/06/16*LJ UPDATED 09/08/16.*JB
STEERING WHEEL LOCK CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL COMPLETELY.
Official recalls
410V401000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
Sep 10, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
09V358000 · Suspension
Sep 16, 2009
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE STRUT INSULATOR IS CRACKED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT ROD TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION, WHICH COULD AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).
09V006000 · Structure:body:door
Jan 9, 2009
NISSAN IS RECALLING 225 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION WELD ON THE DOOR ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIPS AND REMEDIED AT THE FACTORY. NO VEHICLES HAD BEEN RETAILED.
08V464000 · Wheels
Sep 15, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 3,403 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH ALLOY WHEELS. SOME THESE WHEELS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD CAUSE ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE LUG NUTS ATTACHING THE WHEEL TO THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LUG NUTS BECOME LOOSE, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS EQUIPPED WITH ONE OF THE AFFECTED WHEELS. IF IT IS, THE WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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