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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.

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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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73,000 miles · Jan 14, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTELLIGENCE KEY MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTELLIGENCE KEY MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10492947

85,320 miles · Jan 11, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INTELLIGENCE KEY MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INTELLIGENCE KEY MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,320.

NHTSA ODI #10492301

16,501 miles · Jan 11, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO AS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,501.

NHTSA ODI #10492253

83,000 miles · Jan 10, 2013
Electrical System

PARKED CAR TURNED IT OFF THEN WHEN I RETURNED THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER DO ANYTHING. IT IS A PUSH TO START AND IS NOT CONTROLLED WITH A KEY. SO THEREFORE WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE STORE AND RETURNED TO THE CAR IT NO LONGER WORKED. IT IS SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY TO '09 ALTIMA'S YET THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PARTS TO MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492135

80,000 miles · Jan 10, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

[XXX], ATLANTA, GEORGIA MY DAUGHTER'S 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA DID THE SAME THING. SHE CAME OVER FOR A VISIT AND UPON LEAVING HER CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. MY HUSBAND AND I DID ALL OF THE TROUBLESHOOTING ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM …

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[XXX], ATLANTA, GEORGIA MY DAUGHTER'S 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA DID THE SAME THING. SHE CAME OVER FOR A VISIT AND UPON LEAVING HER CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. MY HUSBAND AND I DID ALL OF THE TROUBLESHOOTING ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE WANTED TO SELL HERE ANOTHER ALTIMA, BECAUSE NISSAN KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE, SO THEY STOPPED PUTTING THIS MECHANISM ON THE 2012 MODELS. NISSAN WHO HAS A GOOD STANDING AND HAVE MILLIONS OF CARS ON THE ROAD SHOULD DO RIGHT BY CONSUMERS WHO PURCHASED THEIR VEHICLES AND HAD THIS PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO SEND THIS COMPLAINT SITE TO MY LOCAL NEWS STATION AND TRY TO PUT SOME FIRE UNDER NISSAN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND OTHER CONSUMERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE REPAIR COST OF OUR NISSAN ALTIMA WAS $919.00. I SEE SEVERAL DIFFERENCES IN THE REPAIR COST TOO. WE CANNOT SIT BY AND LET CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO BE CHARGED SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR REPAIR COST WHEN NISSAN KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492097

47,000 miles · Jan 10, 2013
Electrical System

WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE THE CAR FAILED TO START. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN INDICATOR IN MY DASH THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN. IT WAS A RED INDICATOR THAT I WOULD LATER FIND OUT SHOWED A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE PAST THE "LOCK" STAGE AND I HAD TO PROMPTLY HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN …

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WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE THE CAR FAILED TO START. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN INDICATOR IN MY DASH THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN. IT WAS A RED INDICATOR THAT I WOULD LATER FIND OUT SHOWED A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE PAST THE "LOCK" STAGE AND I HAD TO PROMPTLY HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THIS REPAIR COST $800.00 BEFORE TAXES. I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SIMILAR CLAIMS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I WOULD JUST LIKE FOR MY CASE TO BE KNOWN WITH OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD A SIMILAR POSITION. I HOPE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS ISSUE AS ITS A OBVIOUSLY A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND NOT SOMETHING AN OWNER SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492075

65,000 miles · Jan 8, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

DROVE THE CAR INTO WORK JUST FINE. SEVEN HOURS LATER WHEN I WAS LEAVING TO GO HOME CAR WOULD NOT START. KEY LIGHT WAS ON IN DASHBOARD BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. JUMPED THE BATTERY, RESET THE BATTER, EVEN TOOK OUT THE BATTERY TO GET IT TESTED. STILL NOTHING. FINALLY PAID $70 TO GET IT TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP (LESS THAN 3 MILES)…

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DROVE THE CAR INTO WORK JUST FINE. SEVEN HOURS LATER WHEN I WAS LEAVING TO GO HOME CAR WOULD NOT START. KEY LIGHT WAS ON IN DASHBOARD BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. JUMPED THE BATTERY, RESET THE BATTER, EVEN TOOK OUT THE BATTERY TO GET IT TESTED. STILL NOTHING. FINALLY PAID $70 TO GET IT TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP (LESS THAN 3 MILES) AND IT IS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT, WHICH COST $978 TO REPLACE. APPARENTLY THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUT. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE EVERYONE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AND YOU BET I'M GOING TO TELL EVERYONE I KNOW!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491895

75,497 miles · Jan 8, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

VEH WAS DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN STOPPED TO GET GAS. VEH WOULD NOT START AGAIN. A YELLOW KEY INDICATOR CAME ON THE DASH AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491877

27,000 miles · Jan 6, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

WENT TO GO START MY CAR AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. COULDN'T START IN NEUTRAL. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE BY STOPPING AND STARTING NUMEROUS TIMES. IT APPEARS THAT THE STEERING LOCK UNIT WAS FAILING. AFTER RESE…

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WENT TO GO START MY CAR AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. COULDN'T START IN NEUTRAL. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE BY STOPPING AND STARTING NUMEROUS TIMES. IT APPEARS THAT THE STEERING LOCK UNIT WAS FAILING. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE DETERMINED THIS IS A COMMON AND COSTLY PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO RE RECALL FOR IT. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491568

78,292 miles · Jan 4, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

9:30AM - STARTED CAR. PROCEEDED TO DRIVE 35 MINUTES. STOPPED CAR, WENT IN THE HOUSE FOR 20 MINUTES. CAME OUT, GOT IN CAR. WILL NOT START. THE FOLLOWING WAS OBSERVED: 1. INTELLIGENT KEY WILL UNLOCK AND LOCK THE DOORS, TRUNK, SOUND ALARM. 2. SMALL "KEY", YELLOW IN COLOR SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. 3. START BUTTON DO…

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9:30AM - STARTED CAR. PROCEEDED TO DRIVE 35 MINUTES. STOPPED CAR, WENT IN THE HOUSE FOR 20 MINUTES. CAME OUT, GOT IN CAR. WILL NOT START. THE FOLLOWING WAS OBSERVED: 1. INTELLIGENT KEY WILL UNLOCK AND LOCK THE DOORS, TRUNK, SOUND ALARM. 2. SMALL "KEY", YELLOW IN COLOR SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. 3. START BUTTON DOES NOTHING, WILL NOT MOVE FROM THE "LOCK" POSITION. FAILURE: STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE (342.99 + TAX CND). TOOK IT APART, RESET THE GEARS, BACK IN ACTION (FOR NOW). CANADIAN CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490990

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