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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.

About this comparison →

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

Steering complaints

859 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2016
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK PREVENTS YOUR PUSH TO START TO OPERATE AND THIS WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR LIFETIME BUT NISSAN SINCE HAS ACTUALLY MADE IT ONLY AVAILABLE TILL JANUARY 2016 WHICH IS DEF STILL COMING UP AS AN ONGOING ISSUE TODAY

NHTSA ODI #10926214

80,000 miles · Nov 15, 2016
Steering

I WENT TO THE MALL TO DROP OFF A PAINTING AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN I LEFT AND WAS GIVING ME THE KEY INDICATOR SO AFTER A 20 SECOND SEARCH ON GOOGLE I FOUND THAT A LOT OF NISSAN OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME, WHICH WAS THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NOT RECEDING TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE IN ORDER TO LOCK THE WHEEL. I THINK ITS A…

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I WENT TO THE MALL TO DROP OFF A PAINTING AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN I LEFT AND WAS GIVING ME THE KEY INDICATOR SO AFTER A 20 SECOND SEARCH ON GOOGLE I FOUND THAT A LOT OF NISSAN OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME, WHICH WAS THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NOT RECEDING TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE IN ORDER TO LOCK THE WHEEL. I THINK ITS ABSURD THE PIECE IS 600 AT THE DEALERSHIP AND 400 ONLINE. THEN THE KEY NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED, IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT SUCH A TEDIOUS PROBLEM THAT NISSAN WAS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR, I WOULD HAVE JUST GOTTEN ANOTHER KIND OF CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10926071

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

CAR STALLED TWICE BOTH PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. BATTERY WORKS AND KEY FOB WORKS WITH DOORS. BUT ENGINE WONT START WITH PUSH BUTTON START. ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #10925908

88,888 miles · Nov 11, 2016
SteeringUnknown Or Other

"TAKATA RECALL" THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN MY ALTIMA AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE ROAD! THE BATTERY WASN'T DEAD, THE CONTROL KEY WASN'T BAD EITHER. THE DEALER SAYS IS A $1,300 REPAIR JOB! IT'S THE STEERINGG WHEEL LOCK THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH 09' AL…

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"TAKATA RECALL" THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN MY ALTIMA AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE ROAD! THE BATTERY WASN'T DEAD, THE CONTROL KEY WASN'T BAD EITHER. THE DEALER SAYS IS A $1,300 REPAIR JOB! IT'S THE STEERINGG WHEEL LOCK THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH 09' ALTIMAS!! WHY DID YOU TAKE THE MANUFACTURE REPLACEMENT IN 2015!? THIS IS SO HORRIBLE! I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE WHEELS, ENGINE OIL AND OTHER WEAR AND TEAR ITEMS, BUT HOW IN THE WORLD CAN A PART THAT IS INSIDE MY STEERING WHEEL HAVE PROBLEMS!? I DON'T EVENT HAVE A KEY! I USE "KEYLESS CONTROL". THIS IS SO UPSETTING! PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS AND HAVE IT FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURES EXPENSE!!!

NHTSA ODI #10925542

100,000 miles · Nov 11, 2016
Steering

STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED CAR WILL NOT START. NISSAN HAS KNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T REPAIR HONOR REPAIRING A DEFECTIVE PART.

NHTSA ODI #10925538

160,000 miles · Nov 11, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, LEAVING MYSELF AND TWO CHILDREN STRANDED.

NHTSA ODI #10925495

135,000 miles · Nov 10, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. LEAVES CAR DISABLED WHERE EVER YOU ARE. CAR WILL NOT START. MUST BE TOWED. NISSAN HAD AN EARLIER RECALL BUT NEVER PUBLISHED IT TO 2009 ALTIMA OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI #10925457

131,000 miles · Nov 10, 2016
SteeringUnknown Or Other

STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING CAR NOT TO START. WAS HAVING A SEVERE ASTHMA ATTACK AT THE TIME AND WAS IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. THANKFULLY OTHERS WERE AROUND THAT COULD TAKE ME TO THE ER. THIS PART WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AS EVIDENCED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PART BUT NO CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION WAS EVER ISSUED T…

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STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING CAR NOT TO START. WAS HAVING A SEVERE ASTHMA ATTACK AT THE TIME AND WAS IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. THANKFULLY OTHERS WERE AROUND THAT COULD TAKE ME TO THE ER. THIS PART WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AS EVIDENCED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PART BUT NO CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION WAS EVER ISSUED TO ME. I WAS LUCKY! TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE PANICKED AND NOT THINKING CLEARLY AND TRYING TO GET HELP ONLY TO BE HELD HOSTAGE BY A KNOWN FAULTY PART THAT WOULD NOT LET MY CAR START IS INFURIATING.

NHTSA ODI #10925392

75,000 miles · Nov 7, 2016
Steering

WHEN PARKING IN REVERSE, CAR DOES NOT START AFTER 2 MINUTES. THE ELECTRONIS STEERING COLUMN LOCK UNIT (ESCL) MALFUNCTIONS AND SHOWS ERROR SYMBOL ON DASHBOARD SHOWING THAT IMMOBILIZER IS ACTIVATED AND STEERING IS LOCKED. IT IS UNSAFE, DANGEROUS AND SCARY SITUATION. I HAVE FAMILY, WITH LITTLE KIDS IN THE CAR AND STRANDED ON SIDE …

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WHEN PARKING IN REVERSE, CAR DOES NOT START AFTER 2 MINUTES. THE ELECTRONIS STEERING COLUMN LOCK UNIT (ESCL) MALFUNCTIONS AND SHOWS ERROR SYMBOL ON DASHBOARD SHOWING THAT IMMOBILIZER IS ACTIVATED AND STEERING IS LOCKED. IT IS UNSAFE, DANGEROUS AND SCARY SITUATION. I HAVE FAMILY, WITH LITTLE KIDS IN THE CAR AND STRANDED ON SIDE OF A ROAD, WITH CAR PARKED WHILE THE TRAFFIC IS FLYING BY. NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE CENTER REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY AND NO RECALL. THE COST OF REPLACING STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM IS $1250.00. THIS CAN NOT DONE BY ANY OTHER REPAIR SHOPS AS ALL THE PARTS MUST COME FROM NISSAN. IT IS A NISSAN MONOPOLY AND RANSOM TO GET THIS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI #10924800

90,000 miles · Nov 7, 2016
Steering

TAKATA RECALL MY DAUGHTERS 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS RUNNING FINE, SHE PARKED IT AND RAN INSIDE TO GRAB HER SCHOOL LANYARD AND RIGHT BACK OUT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL WHEN IT WOULDNT START. THE KEY FOB WAS IN THE CAR, AND IT WAS AS IF THE CAR DIDNT RECOGNIZE IT. WE SEARCHED ONLINE AND DID OUR OWN TROUBLE SHOOTING AND REPLACED THE BR…

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TAKATA RECALL MY DAUGHTERS 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS RUNNING FINE, SHE PARKED IT AND RAN INSIDE TO GRAB HER SCHOOL LANYARD AND RIGHT BACK OUT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL WHEN IT WOULDNT START. THE KEY FOB WAS IN THE CAR, AND IT WAS AS IF THE CAR DIDNT RECOGNIZE IT. WE SEARCHED ONLINE AND DID OUR OWN TROUBLE SHOOTING AND REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH AND KEY FOB BATTERIES WHICH DIDNT HELP. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND IT IS THE STEERING LOCK AT THE TUNE OF $1,005 . THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY ISSUE AND THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO OTHER THAN HAVE IT TESTED AND PAY .AFTER LOOKING AT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN PAGE AND SEEING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. MY DAUGHTER COULDVE BEEN STRANDED ANYPLACE AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE NO WAY TO START THIS VEHICLE .NOW..DO WE PLAY THE WAITIN GAME TO SEE IF AND WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN? THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE FOR THE NISSANS AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. OUR FAMILY CANNOT AFFORD THIS ,AS I'M SURE NOBODYS FAMILY CAN.

NHTSA ODI #10924789

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