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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 →

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.

36 crash reports8 fire reports19 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

466 reports
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83,000 miles · Jan 4, 2014
Electrical System

DROVE MY CAR EARLY THIS AM WITH NO PROBLEM. WHEN I RETURNED ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE BRAKE WAS VERY HARD. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKS, HORN, AND HEADLIGHTS. HOWEVER ONLY THE KEY FOB INDICATOR AND PUSH BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS IN DASH. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD FOB. I HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN AND THE FOB WAS NOT BAD. …

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DROVE MY CAR EARLY THIS AM WITH NO PROBLEM. WHEN I RETURNED ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE BRAKE WAS VERY HARD. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKS, HORN, AND HEADLIGHTS. HOWEVER ONLY THE KEY FOB INDICATOR AND PUSH BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS IN DASH. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD FOB. I HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN AND THE FOB WAS NOT BAD. NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE MAIN COMPUTER. THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANY MORE RESEARCH UNTIL MONDAY. I AM SEEING A LOT OF THIS SAME PROBLEM IN HERE. I AM VERY NERVOUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558484

85,000 miles · Jan 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

GOT HOME TURNED MY CAR OFF WENT INSIDE TO GET GIFT CARDS CAME BACK OUTSIDE TRYING TO START MY CAR, BUT IT WOULDN'T START, ALL I SAW WAS A YELLOW KEY LIGHT. LIGHTS WORKED FINE I TRIED MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL AND PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND TRYING TO START BUT NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558432

91,000 miles · Jan 4, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED UP AND BREAKS WERE HARD TO PUSH. AFTER TRYING A FEW TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE AUTO-THEFT MUST BE ON. I TRIED TO PUT THE FOB IN THE MANUAL IGNITION, BUT THE FOB GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, THE FOB FINALLY CAME OUT…

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WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED UP AND BREAKS WERE HARD TO PUSH. AFTER TRYING A FEW TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE AUTO-THEFT MUST BE ON. I TRIED TO PUT THE FOB IN THE MANUAL IGNITION, BUT THE FOB GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, THE FOB FINALLY CAME OUT. THE CAR STILL DOES NOT START AND THE AUTO-THEFT IS STILL ON. THE BATTERY IS NOT BAD BECAUSE THE CAR BEEPS WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN AND THE LIGHTS WORK. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO TOW THE VEHICLE IN TO GET IT REPAIRED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558423

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2013
Electrical System

I WENT TO THE SUPERMARKET YESTERDAY. WHEN I CAME OUT, I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK MY DOORS AND POP THE TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE ELECTRICAL ICONS APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. I CALLED AAA AND THEY STATED THEY BELIEVE IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MY CAR LIGHTS , HORN, WINDOWS AND DOORS WORK I JUST CANNOT STAR…

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I WENT TO THE SUPERMARKET YESTERDAY. WHEN I CAME OUT, I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK MY DOORS AND POP THE TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE ELECTRICAL ICONS APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. I CALLED AAA AND THEY STATED THEY BELIEVE IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MY CAR LIGHTS , HORN, WINDOWS AND DOORS WORK I JUST CANNOT START MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556101

110,200 miles · Dec 9, 2013
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SHUTDOWN. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555387

55,000 miles · Nov 27, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10554009

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2013
Electrical System

WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EXCEPT FOR THE INTELLIGENT KEY AND SECURITY INDICATOR LIGHTS. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT EVEN START TO TURN OVER. I NOTICED ALL OF THE LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS STILL WORKED SO I KNEW IT WAS NOT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTI…

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WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EXCEPT FOR THE INTELLIGENT KEY AND SECURITY INDICATOR LIGHTS. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT EVEN START TO TURN OVER. I NOTICED ALL OF THE LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS STILL WORKED SO I KNEW IT WAS NOT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START DUE TO KEY ERROR MESSAGE. AFTER MY RESEARCH COME TO FIND OUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO LOTS OF ALTIMA OWNERS. I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER A SHORT STOP AND THE KEY MESSAGE WAS ON AND NOTHING. IT WOULD NOT START. MY WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND THEY WOULD NOT GO UP. I TRIED EVERYTHING. DISCONNECTED MY BATTER, DID THE NEUTRAL THING. SHOOK STEERING WHEEL. ETC...OF COURSE IT HAPPENS ON A SUNDAY WHEN EVERYTHING IS CLOSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549910

82,820 miles · Oct 7, 2013
Electrical SystemService Brakes

WHEN I TRIED TO TURN ON MY 2009 ALTIMA WHICH IS 4 YEARS OLD AND PURCHASED BY ME NEW FROM THE DEALER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE STARTS BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE WHILE PUSHING THE START SWITCH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE CAR, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAKE S…

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WHEN I TRIED TO TURN ON MY 2009 ALTIMA WHICH IS 4 YEARS OLD AND PURCHASED BY ME NEW FROM THE DEALER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE STARTS BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE WHILE PUSHING THE START SWITCH. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE CAR, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. ACCORDING THE SERVICED REP AT NISSAN AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING MORE AND MORE. THE CHARGE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WAS $526.81. PER THE INVOICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE SUB-HARNESS, THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY, AND THE BAND HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547106

87,003 miles · Sep 17, 2013
Electrical System

WENT TO START MY CAR AFTER A DAY OF WORK ...IT HAS THE PUSH BUTTON START, PUSHED IT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR DID NOT START SO I PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MANUAL TO START THE CAR WHEN THEIR ARE ISSUES,STILL COULD NOT GET THE CAR STARTED SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER.THIS HAPPENED ON A S…

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WENT TO START MY CAR AFTER A DAY OF WORK ...IT HAS THE PUSH BUTTON START, PUSHED IT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR DID NOT START SO I PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MANUAL TO START THE CAR WHEN THEIR ARE ISSUES,STILL COULD NOT GET THE CAR STARTED SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER.THIS HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT TILL MONDAY TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAD GONE BAD $750.00 TO FIX IT.AFTER DOING SOME DIGGING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT NISSAN MODELS WITH DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS.WITH VARYING MILES.I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A FAULTY PART THAT NISSAN HAS USED,SHOULDN'T THIS PART BE A RECALL AND THE CONSUMER NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR NISSANS BAD DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10544048

60,000 miles · Sep 5, 2013
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

THE CAR FAILED TO START; I SEE LOTS OF COMPLAINS WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS IN PLACE AND SO DOES THE BRAKE AND THE CAR FAILS TO START. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TWICE ALREADY AND THE DEALER TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE KEY LESS SWITCH HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND I SEE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE KEY. AS I CAN SEE OTHERS ARE…

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THE CAR FAILED TO START; I SEE LOTS OF COMPLAINS WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS IN PLACE AND SO DOES THE BRAKE AND THE CAR FAILS TO START. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TWICE ALREADY AND THE DEALER TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE KEY LESS SWITCH HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND I SEE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE KEY. AS I CAN SEE OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES OF THE CAR LOCKING IN PLACE AND THE PROBLEM IS MORE THAN JUST THE KEY PROBLEM.. THIS SHOULD BE DEFINITELY RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541991

Official recalls

4

10V401000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems