IllustrationSTEERING WHEEL LOCK /IGNITION , CAR NOT ABLE TO START USING KEY FOB , TOTAL STEERING AND BRAKE LOCK . GOT OFF WORK AND COULD NOT START CAR , WAS RUNNING FINE PRIOR TO WORK 7AM
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
890–25K
17025–50K
30750–75K
29375–100K
306100–150K
74150K+
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 reportsTHE POWER LOCK STEERING KEEPS ON LOCKING THE START SYSTEM AND CAR CAN`T START .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK/SMART KEY LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK/SMART KEY LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS MY WIFE HAS BEEN STRANDED IN SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURE DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) NOT UNLOCKING. EACH TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN STOPPED AND DOES NOT RESTART. HAVING READ MULTIPLE REPORTS NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART AND EVEN REMOVED IT FROM 2010 MODELS HOWEVER I AM OUT OF…
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3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS MY WIFE HAS BEEN STRANDED IN SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURE DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) NOT UNLOCKING. EACH TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN STOPPED AND DOES NOT RESTART. HAVING READ MULTIPLE REPORTS NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART AND EVEN REMOVED IT FROM 2010 MODELS HOWEVER I AM OUT OF LUCK SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE PART OF A NATIONAL RECALL AND CONSUMERS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR FIXES AND TOWING COST. CURRENTLY NISSAN WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE UNTIL IT IS OCCURRING WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO BE STRANDED SOME WHERE AND HAVE IT TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE. I AM LUCKY THAT ME AND MY WIFE ARE HANDY AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART THE CARD BY LITERALLY HAMMERING ON THE ESCL UNTIL IT UNLOCKED. IF WE HAD KIDS OR WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EMERGENCY THIS WOULD BE GATHERING NATIONAL NEWS ATTENTION ON HOW NISSAN KNEW ABOUT A DEFECTIVE PIECE AND (EVEN REPLACING IT IN THE NEXT YEARS MODEL). I WOULD APPRECIATE ANYONE'S HELP IF BRINGING AWARENESS OF NISSAN'S NEGLIGENCE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
MY CAR WILL NOT START THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENS IN 2012 THEY CHANGED MY CAR BATTERY AND IN 2013 IT WOULDN'T START AFTER WORK AND I TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHANGED THE STEERING AND BREAK LOCK MECHANISM AND NOW 2016 MY CAR WON'T START AND IT IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND NOW THERE IS NO WARR…
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MY CAR WILL NOT START THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENS IN 2012 THEY CHANGED MY CAR BATTERY AND IN 2013 IT WOULDN'T START AFTER WORK AND I TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHANGED THE STEERING AND BREAK LOCK MECHANISM AND NOW 2016 MY CAR WON'T START AND IT IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND NOW THERE IS NO WARRANTY, SO IT IS COSTING ME ABOUT $900 TO 1,000 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING OR THAT SHOULD HAVE A LIFE TIME WARRANTY.
INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT LIGHT UP AND CAR WILL NOT START, IT DOESN'T CRANK, NOT EVEN A CLICK FORM THE STARTER, THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK. SEEMS TO BE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) AS I GOOGLED FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF OTHER OWNERS. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS ON THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER CAUSE THEY KN…
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INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT LIGHT UP AND CAR WILL NOT START, IT DOESN'T CRANK, NOT EVEN A CLICK FORM THE STARTER, THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK. SEEMS TO BE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) AS I GOOGLED FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF OTHER OWNERS. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS ON THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER CAUSE THEY KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. THEY SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR A WELL KNOWN DEFECT INDEFINITELY. IF THIS HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IS A VERY SERIOUS LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE. HTTP://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20150219214832/HTTP://WWW.NISSANASSIST.COM/WEB/ESCL_WARRANTY_EXTENSION/PROGRAMDETAILS.PHP?MENU=61
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE INTELLIGENT KEY MALFUNCTION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I DROVE TO WORK EVERYTHING WAS FINE WENT OUT ON BREAK TO START MY CAR AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING WINDOWS ARE LOWERED AND IT STARTED TO RAIN THE STEERING LOCK HAS WENT OUT AND LEAVES YOU KNOW WAY OF DOING ANYTHING WITH THE CAR NOW I HAVE TO MISS WORK TO GET VEHICLE PUT IN TO A DEALERSHIP I SEE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS
WENT TO WORK CAR, WILL NOT START WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE WORK. STANDARD FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. NO WARNING IT WAS GOING BAD.
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.