ITS MAKING ALOT NOISE JERKING WHEN DRIVING.
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.
Power Train complaints
95 reportsCAR IS JUMPING..TRANSMISSION. THE CAR JUMPS WHEN DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR TIME. I WAS TOLD THE CVT WAS AN "EXPERIMENTAL" TRANSMISSION
THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT OPERATE IF IT'S DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 45 MINUTES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE POWER TRAIN GOES INTO A NEUTRAL MODE. IT THEN REQUIRES A PULL OVER ONTO A FREEWAY TO ALLOW IT TO COOL DOWN FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL WORK. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS OUTSIDE. WHEN DRIVING AT …
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THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT OPERATE IF IT'S DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 45 MINUTES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE POWER TRAIN GOES INTO A NEUTRAL MODE. IT THEN REQUIRES A PULL OVER ONTO A FREEWAY TO ALLOW IT TO COOL DOWN FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL WORK. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS OUTSIDE. WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS LOWER THAN 50 MILES PER HOUR IT DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. PER THE NISSAN MECHANICS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CVT AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE CVT. WE HAVE TRIED A TRANSMISSION COOLER BUT THAT DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT REQUIRES THE VEHICLE TO BE STOPPED AND TURNED OFF FOR 20 MINUTES WHICH CAN BE A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM AS IT WOULD REQUIRE SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY OR, IF ABLE, SITTING IN THE VEHICLE IN AN UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAS GIVEN ME MAJOR PROBLEMS AFTER DRIVING FOR 60+ MILES. UP UNTIL THEN IT DOES FINE JUST AS IT HAS ALWAYS DONE AROUND TOWN DRIVING. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF OF DRIVING THE VEHICLES STOPS ALLOWING YOU TO GO OVER 40 MPH AND I FOUND THAT THIS IS CALLED 'LIMP MODE' WHICH IS TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION. THE P…
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THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAS GIVEN ME MAJOR PROBLEMS AFTER DRIVING FOR 60+ MILES. UP UNTIL THEN IT DOES FINE JUST AS IT HAS ALWAYS DONE AROUND TOWN DRIVING. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF OF DRIVING THE VEHICLES STOPS ALLOWING YOU TO GO OVER 40 MPH AND I FOUND THAT THIS IS CALLED 'LIMP MODE' WHICH IS TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR IS NOT EVEN GETTING OVER HEATED WHATSOEVER AT ALL. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED BY NISSAN AND THOUGHT THIS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE BUT NO SUCH LUCK. WHEN YOU HAVE A CAR THAT YOU GOT BRAND NEW AND HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT AND LOW MILEAGE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE THAT IS MORE THAN AN HOUR AWAY. MY CAR IS UNABLE TO BE TAKEN ON ANY ROAD TRIP WHATSOEVER. I HAVE HAD MYSELF IN SOME UNFORTUNATE SITUATIONS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS GOOD TO GO ON A ROAD TRIP THE NEXT DAY AS I HAD EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM AND WAS ASSURED THAT I COULD SAFELY MAKE THE TRIP. LOW AND BEHOLD SIXTY MILES OUT OF TOWN I COULD ONLY GO 40MPH ON A HIGHWAY WITH A 75 SPEED LIMIT. NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR ME. I WAS 100 MILES AWAY FROM ANYWHERE I COULD GET HELP WHICH IS ALL NISSAN TOLD ME TO DO WAS BRING IT IN TO A DEALERSHIP! I DID JUST THAT BEFORE MY TRIP TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND IT WASN'T FIXED. WHAT AM I TO DO?
DRIVING THE HIGHWAY 75 MILES HOUR AND HAVE THE ACCELERATOR NOT RESPONSE. WAS TOLD CVT TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING GOING INTO SAFE MOOD CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW AND ACCELERATOR NOT RESPONDING. BARELY PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAITING TO HAVE CONTROL AGAIN. WAS TOLD THAT A RADIATOR FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. SCARED TO DRIVE.
NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. HAD TO REPLACE ALL TIRE SENSORS, SPEED SENSORS, COILS, FRONT PASSENGER TIRE ROD, THE CTV TRANSMISSION, AND THE TRUNK LEAKS INTO THE TRUNK AND THE TAIL LIGHT'S. I HAVE REPAIRED ALL THESE THINGS OUT OF MY OWN POCKET.I HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT,…
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NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. HAD TO REPLACE ALL TIRE SENSORS, SPEED SENSORS, COILS, FRONT PASSENGER TIRE ROD, THE CTV TRANSMISSION, AND THE TRUNK LEAKS INTO THE TRUNK AND THE TAIL LIGHT'S. I HAVE REPAIRED ALL THESE THINGS OUT OF MY OWN POCKET.I HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED. THE DASH HAS BECOME STICKY AND EVERYTHING STICKS TO IT. IT PRODUCES A GLARE ON THE WONDOW WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO SEE.THE ENGINE EXPERIENCES LOSS OF POWER AND NO MECHANIC CAN PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT DRIVE IT MUCH SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT. THIS CAR SHOULD BE A LEMON OR RECALLED. THE PROBLEMS KEEP COMING.
SEVERAL THINGS ARE WRONG OR GONE BAD. NISSAN SUPPOSE TO BE AWESOME VEHICLES WITH GOOD REPUTATION BUT TELL YOU IF I HAD KNOWN OR COULD HAVE FOR SEEN ALL THE TROUBLE, WOW. 1. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING, OK THAT WAS FIXED IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. MODULE IS BAD. 2. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION VERY COSTLY 3000, AND WA…
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SEVERAL THINGS ARE WRONG OR GONE BAD. NISSAN SUPPOSE TO BE AWESOME VEHICLES WITH GOOD REPUTATION BUT TELL YOU IF I HAD KNOWN OR COULD HAVE FOR SEEN ALL THE TROUBLE, WOW. 1. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING, OK THAT WAS FIXED IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. MODULE IS BAD. 2. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION VERY COSTLY 3000, AND WAS TOLD THAT IN A COUPLE YRS WOULD NEED IT AGAIN. PUSH BUTTON START IS PART OF THE LOCKING ISSUE SO WHY IS THIS NOT FIXED FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM, ACTUALLY THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY 2009 ALTIMA IS EXACTLY WHAT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH, WHY IS THIS NOT FIXED WHY ARE WE ALL STILL HAVING THESE PROBLEMS, MY CAR IS TAKEN ALL THE WAY TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN LOUISVILLE KY. OH ABOUT 45-TO AN HOUR AWAY, FOR ALL REGULAR MAINTAINING, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE OIL CHANGES. LIKE I SAID NISSAN SUPPOSE TO BE SUPERIOR VEHICLES THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE PRICE OF FIXING THE CAR EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND. TRADE IN ON IT SUCKS, RESALE PRIVATELY DOES TOO. SOMETHING NEEDS DONE, HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ALTIMA
ON MORE THEN ONE OCCASION WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 45 MIN. THE ACCELERATION SPEED DROPS TO ABOUT 40 MPH. AND WHEN GOING ON HILLS ITS EVEN WORSE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW, BUT NOW I HAVE A SECOND ALTIMA THAT IS HAVING VERY SIMILAR ISSUES. AFTER SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY FOR A HOUR, THE CAR RE…
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ON MORE THEN ONE OCCASION WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 45 MIN. THE ACCELERATION SPEED DROPS TO ABOUT 40 MPH. AND WHEN GOING ON HILLS ITS EVEN WORSE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW, BUT NOW I HAVE A SECOND ALTIMA THAT IS HAVING VERY SIMILAR ISSUES. AFTER SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY FOR A HOUR, THE CAR RETURNS TO NORMAL. THIS CAN NOT BE A NORMAL PROBLEM, I HAVE SEARCHED AND FOUND THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD VERY SIMILAR ISSUES AND IN FACT I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT 2014-2018 NISSANS WHERE HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES. ( I HAVE ATTACHED THE LETTER) I HAVE 2 CARS NOW THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THEM, ESPECIALLY IF I AM NOT 100% SURE WHAT THE CORRECTION IS. I HAVE ALSO ATTACHED COPIES OF OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT SOME HAVE TRIED TO FIX BUT GET DIFFERENT RESPONSES ON THE FIX. PLEASE HELP!! THANKS
I AM EXPERIENCING TWO SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. 1. WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO GO THE SPEED LIMIT OR ACCELERATE. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT, LOSES POWER AND GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE THE FA…
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I AM EXPERIENCING TWO SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. 1. WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO GO THE SPEED LIMIT OR ACCELERATE. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT, LOSES POWER AND GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE THE FARTHER I DRIVE. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY FOR FEAR THAT SOMEONE WOULD HIT ME BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 40 MPH. 2. THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY MELTING CAUSING A BLINDING GLARE WHEN THE SUN (DURING THE DAY) OR OTHER HEADLIGHTS (DURING THE NIGHT OR RAIN) HIT IT...IT CREATES A BLINDING GLARE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES, THE TRANSMISSION AND DASH MAKE DRIVING EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS.
WHEN ON THE ROAD AND GOIN UP A SMALL HILL THE TRANSMISSION LOOSES POWER DON'T WANT TO GO, LOOSE LOTS OF POWER
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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