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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

Service Brakes, Electric complaints

1 reports
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1,100 miles · Jan 22, 2010
Service Brakes, ElectricCrashInjury

I'VE GOTTEN INTO A CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING 2 OTHER CARS, AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. ON OCTOBER 8, 2009, I WAS DRIVING BY CARSON BEACH, LOCATED IN SOUTH BOSTON, MA, TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT WITH A FRIEND. I HAVE SEEN THAT I WAS GOING ONLY 28 MPH'S WITH NO CARS AHEAD OF ME. HOWEVER, I KNEW THE AREA WAS NEAR THE SOUTH BOS…

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I'VE GOTTEN INTO A CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING 2 OTHER CARS, AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. ON OCTOBER 8, 2009, I WAS DRIVING BY CARSON BEACH, LOCATED IN SOUTH BOSTON, MA, TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT WITH A FRIEND. I HAVE SEEN THAT I WAS GOING ONLY 28 MPH'S WITH NO CARS AHEAD OF ME. HOWEVER, I KNEW THE AREA WAS NEAR THE SOUTH BOSTON STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, AND I DID NOT WANT ANY RELATIONS WITH A SPEEDING TICKET. I KNEW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WAS 30MPH BUT MY INTENT WAS TO GO AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THIS IS MY SAFETY MARGIN INCASE THE SPEEDOMETER GOES UP. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. WHEN I STEPPED ON IT ONCE, AND NUMEROUS TIMES TO COME, I REMEMBER THE CLUNKING NOISES AS IF SOMEONE WAS PUTTING THEIR FEET TO THE GROUND, FOLLOWING A MUSICAL BEAT. SO I LOOK UP AND SEE HOW MUCH SPACE I GOT IN FRONT OF ME AND NOTICED THERE WAS AT LEAST ANOTHER 1/4 MILE WITH NO CAR IN SIGHT. I THEN LOOK DOWN TO DEFINITELY MAKE SURE I WAS TOUCHING THE BRAKE AND THAT IT WOULD STOP. I LOOKED DOWN AND KEPT STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, AND END UP STRETCHING FORWARD MY RIGHT FOOT TO PUSH THE BRAKES. THAT DID NOT WORK. FOR FIRST THOUGHT, I WAS THINKING I SHOULD IF TURN OFF THE CAR BUT I DOUBT THAT WOULD'VE WORK; IT WOULD'VE LOCKED MY STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKING WOULD BE HARDER. I PANICKED WHEN I SAW THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SITTING AT RED, WITH 2 CARS ON THE LEFT LANE, AND ONE ON THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT LANE, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER CAR RIGHT BEHIND MY BLINDSIDE, SO I DID NOT GO INTO THE OTHER LANE. SITTING IN A BRAND NEW CAR, WITH BRAKE FAILURES, MY FRIEND AND I WERE HOPELESS AND RESULTED IN REAR-ENDING 2 COMPLETELY STOPPED VEHICLES INNOCENTLY WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. MY CAR'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT WE DIDN'T GET HURT. HOWEVER, THE PASS. DOOR WAS KEEPING MY FRIEND FROM GETTING OUT UNTIL SOMEONE OUTSIDE RIPPED THROUGH AND YANKED THE DOOR OPEN FOR HIM. AT A CRUISING RATE ~29 MPH, I CRASHED INTO THE OTHER CARS WHO WERE ALREADY STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10301920

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.

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