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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, Hydraulic complaints

14 reports
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57,000 miles · Feb 23, 2013
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

PARKED CAN IN FRONT OF STORE AND ATTMPTED TO START IT BUT IT WOULD NOT START. YELLOW "KEY MISSING" LIGHT COMES ON BUT IT WON'T START. KEY BATTERY IS NEW, CAR BATTERY IS NEW, WON'T JUMP START. CAR IS DEAD. TURNS OUT TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. ONLY 57, 000 MILES AND THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY ISSUES WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS C…

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PARKED CAN IN FRONT OF STORE AND ATTMPTED TO START IT BUT IT WOULD NOT START. YELLOW "KEY MISSING" LIGHT COMES ON BUT IT WON'T START. KEY BATTERY IS NEW, CAR BATTERY IS NEW, WON'T JUMP START. CAR IS DEAD. TURNS OUT TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. ONLY 57, 000 MILES AND THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY ISSUES WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. NEW BATTERY (2) NEW BRAKE SWITCH NEW ALTERNATOR NEW A/C PUMP NEW FRONT ROTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499777

7,500 miles · Feb 17, 2013
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOME LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID WITH NO APPARENT LEAKS. SUSPECT MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING INTO VACUUM BOOSTER, JUST AS MANY OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW, AND I DON'T WANT TO BUY ANOTHER MASTER CYLINDER OUT-OF-POCKET FROM NISSAN SINCE I HAVE READ O…

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BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOME LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID WITH NO APPARENT LEAKS. SUSPECT MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING INTO VACUUM BOOSTER, JUST AS MANY OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW, AND I DON'T WANT TO BUY ANOTHER MASTER CYLINDER OUT-OF-POCKET FROM NISSAN SINCE I HAVE READ ON THE NET WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD REPLACEMENT UNIT FAILURES (SUCH AS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE11020). WHAT AM I TO DO? NISSAN SHOULD PAY FOR A PERMANENT REPAIR FOR THIS OBVIOUS PRODUCT DEFECT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10498426

60,340 miles · Jan 30, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

WENT TO START VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR $90. WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY AND MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 2 MONTHS. ADVISED TO CALL CONSUMER AFFAIRS. WAITED 13 DAYS WITH REPEATED PHONE CALLS JUST TO BE TOLD THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE REPAIR WITH NO WRITTEN EXPLANATION. R…

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WENT TO START VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT START. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR $90. WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY AND MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 2 MONTHS. ADVISED TO CALL CONSUMER AFFAIRS. WAITED 13 DAYS WITH REPEATED PHONE CALLS JUST TO BE TOLD THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE REPAIR WITH NO WRITTEN EXPLANATION. REPAIR COST $757 AND IS ONLY WARRANTEED FOR 12,000 MILES. WAS TOLD REPAIR WOULD TAKE 3 DAYS BUT THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 21 DAYS BECAUSE THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. BY THE WAY, MY CAR WAS ALSO IN FOR 2 RECALL ISSUES: HEAD GASKET AND MASTER BRAKE CYLINDAR. PRETTY BIG ISSUES! I WAS ALSO TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT IF I HAD ALL MY SERVICE DONE THRU THEM INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE SOURCE THEY WOULD HAVE COVERED THE STEERING LOCK ISSUE. SOUNDS A LITTLE FISHY TO ME. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM!!! OR AT LEAST HAVE A MANUAL OVER RIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495262

45,000 miles · Feb 2, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE LOW BRAKE FLUID LIGHT CAME ON AND I FOUND OUT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS BRAKE FLUID INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THERE ARE NO LEAKS AT THE CALIPERS, HOSES, OR ANY OTHER AREAS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2007 AND 2008 AND THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR THOSE YEARS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11020, BUT IT DOES NOT THE INC…

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THE LOW BRAKE FLUID LIGHT CAME ON AND I FOUND OUT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS BRAKE FLUID INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THERE ARE NO LEAKS AT THE CALIPERS, HOSES, OR ANY OTHER AREAS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2007 AND 2008 AND THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR THOSE YEARS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11020, BUT IT DOES NOT THE INCLUDE 2009. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10446214

34,500 miles · Jan 6, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND OFF ON DASHBOARD. BRAKE OPERATION WAS NOT AFFECTED AT THE TIME. BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW, NO VISIBLE LEAKS AND BRAKE PADS WERE NOT WORN OUT. DEALER DIAGNOSED A MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING INTERNALLY INTO BRAKE BOOSTER. THIS PREMATURE FAILURE SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION FOR THE 07-08 …

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BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND OFF ON DASHBOARD. BRAKE OPERATION WAS NOT AFFECTED AT THE TIME. BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW, NO VISIBLE LEAKS AND BRAKE PADS WERE NOT WORN OUT. DEALER DIAGNOSED A MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING INTERNALLY INTO BRAKE BOOSTER. THIS PREMATURE FAILURE SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION FOR THE 07-08 ALTIMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442614

42,500 miles · Jan 5, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER INTO THE VACUUM BOOSTER. ON THIS DATE, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON. I INSPECTED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS AT THE MINIMUM LEVEL. I PURCHASED BRAKE FLUID AND FILLED THE RESERVOIR. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHA…

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I WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER INTO THE VACUUM BOOSTER. ON THIS DATE, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON. I INSPECTED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS AT THE MINIMUM LEVEL. I PURCHASED BRAKE FLUID AND FILLED THE RESERVOIR. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE TODAY (JANUARY 5, 2012, I TOLD THE DEALER WHAT I HAD DONE. THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID INTO THE VACUUM BOOSTER DUE TO A FAULTY O-RING. THE WORK WAS COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. HOWEVER, BECAUSE IT IS UNUSUAL FOR A MASTER CYLINDER TO FAIL WITH SO FEW MILES ON THE CAR, I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE BREWING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NHTSA IN MAY 2011 WAS PLANNING TO INVESTIGATE SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN 2007-08 ALTIMAS. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM MAY BE IN 2009 ATIMAS ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442603

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS TOLD THAT MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AT A SLOW RATE. MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS NEAR 45,000 MILES. I FIGURED IT WOULD COVERED BY NISSAN DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY FACTOR. INSTEAD THIS DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $450.00 FOR THIS PART, I OPTED NOT TO DO SO. ITS KIND OF DISGUSTING THAT A CAR WITH ONLY 45,000 MILE…

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I WAS TOLD THAT MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AT A SLOW RATE. MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS NEAR 45,000 MILES. I FIGURED IT WOULD COVERED BY NISSAN DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY FACTOR. INSTEAD THIS DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $450.00 FOR THIS PART, I OPTED NOT TO DO SO. ITS KIND OF DISGUSTING THAT A CAR WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES HAS ALL THESE PROBLEMS. THIS HAS NOT BEEN ON THE ONLY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. THE DRIVE BELT WENT BAD AS WELL AS MY BATTERY. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT NISSAN HAS A RECALL FOR THESE MASTER CYLINDERS ON THE NISSAN SENTRA. SHOULDN'T ALL THERE CARS HAVE THIS RECALL WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY? ## VIN PASSED ## NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 SEDAN 2.5S ##. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440177

8,000 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. ABOUT A YEAR LATER I STARTED HEARING SCREECHING WHEN I BRAKED, MOSTLY AT NIGHT OR IN COOL WEATHER. I HAD THE BRAKE PADS LOOKED AT AND THEY WERE FINE. NOW THE BRAKE LIG…

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MY BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. ABOUT A YEAR LATER I STARTED HEARING SCREECHING WHEN I BRAKED, MOSTLY AT NIGHT OR IN COOL WEATHER. I HAD THE BRAKE PADS LOOKED AT AND THEY WERE FINE. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHT IS COMING ON AGAIN, BUT I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR ANOTHER REPLACEMENT MASTER CYLINDER SINCE MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THESE DEFECTIVE BRAKE CYLINDERS AND SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND MADE TO RECALL CARS UP TO 2009 OR 2010! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433985

16,000 miles · Sep 29, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A TREE AND A METAL POLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A TREE AND A METAL POLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. UPDATED 11/29/11 *CN UPDATED 12/07/11

NHTSA ODI #10427859

11,165 miles · May 31, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING FLUID ABNORMALLY. THE SAFETY WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER INSPECTING THE FAILURE, THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING FLUID ABNORMALLY. THE SAFETY WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER INSPECTING THE FAILURE, THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,165. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED EACH TIME HE WENT TO THE DEALER, BRAKE FLUID HAD TO BE ADDED. THE MASTERY CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 07/20/11

NHTSA ODI #10403825

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