IllustrationMY NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. A YELLOW KEY SHOWS UP ON THE DASH BOARD THAT PREVENT IT FROM STARTING. THIS PROBLEM PREVENTED ME FROM GOING TO WORK AND WOULD COST ME OVER A 1000. IMAGINE IF LOCATION MY CAR STOP WAS UNSAFE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. THIS UNSAFE AND NISSAN SHOULD COVER THE COST FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT.
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
Steering complaints
859 reportsWENT ON A TRIP WITH MY 2 GRANDDAUGHTERS, ON OUR RETURN THE CAR WOULD NOT START. A KEY LIGHT POP ON THE DISPLAY. I THOUGHT MY FOB BATTERY WAS BAD. TRIED WITH MY SECOND KEY. STILL NO STARTING. HAD TO CALL MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE. LEARNED LATER ON THAT ESCL IS THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS AN EXTENSION O…
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WENT ON A TRIP WITH MY 2 GRANDDAUGHTERS, ON OUR RETURN THE CAR WOULD NOT START. A KEY LIGHT POP ON THE DISPLAY. I THOUGHT MY FOB BATTERY WAS BAD. TRIED WITH MY SECOND KEY. STILL NO STARTING. HAD TO CALL MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE. LEARNED LATER ON THAT ESCL IS THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THIS ISSUE BUT NOBODY NOTIFIED ME OF THIS.
JUST FOUND OUT NISSAN ISSUED A TEMPORARY RECALL FOR AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL FOR THE PUSH START VEHICLES. NISSAN KNEW THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009-2010 MODELS. WHY WOULD THEY ISSUE A TEMPORARY RECALL BUT NOT INFORM THEIR COSTUMERS. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER AND TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR …
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JUST FOUND OUT NISSAN ISSUED A TEMPORARY RECALL FOR AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL FOR THE PUSH START VEHICLES. NISSAN KNEW THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009-2010 MODELS. WHY WOULD THEY ISSUE A TEMPORARY RECALL BUT NOT INFORM THEIR COSTUMERS. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER AND TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE BEFORE THE RECALL EXPIRED AND THEY DIDN'T INFORM ME EITHER. LUCKILY, THIS HAPPEN WHILE PARKED AT MY HOME... BUT WHAT IF THIS HAPPEN IN EITHER BAD WEATHER OR AN ISOLATED LOCATION? THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT CLEARLY IS. I'M ACTUALLY HERE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND A $1371.44 INVOICE. BUT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WON'T START NO OTHER WAY, I'M FORCED TO PAY FOR IT. WHAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY. I'M A SINGLE MILITARY PARENT. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSATISFACTORY SERVICE FROM NISSAN. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED INDEFINITELY, NOT TEMPORARY WHEN THE ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT GOT LOCKED IN MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. SINCE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT NISSAN SHOULD RECALL 2009 MODELS. IT COSTS ME $1065 + $87 TOWING CHARGES.
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA STEERING LOCK CAR WON'T START
NO STAR. STEERING LOCK BLOQUED
I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, AT NIGHT, TRYING TO RETURN HOME, WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T PRESS EVEN THOUGH ALL LIGHTS IN CAR WORKED. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR SYMPTOMS SHOWED ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK COLUMN IN THE 09 ALTIMA THAT LOTS & LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE FACING. …
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I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, AT NIGHT, TRYING TO RETURN HOME, WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T PRESS EVEN THOUGH ALL LIGHTS IN CAR WORKED. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR SYMPTOMS SHOWED ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK COLUMN IN THE 09 ALTIMA THAT LOTS & LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE FACING. NISSAN IS NOT OFFERING FREE REPLACEMENTS FOR THE PART. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME THEY GET HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS EVERY WEEK AND THE REPLACEMENT COST OF $1000 HAS TO BE PAID BY THE OWNER. THE CAR COMPANY KNOWS THERE IS A PART IN THEIR CAR THAT CAN MALFUNCTION ANYDAY LEAVING THE VEHICLE NOT STARTED BUT THEY ARE NOT REPLACING IT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU MIGHT BE WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START - LATE IN NIGHT AND STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT ON A RAINY DAY IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT, THE SAFETY OF OWNERS AND TRUST FACTOR WITH THEIR CAR IS AT STAKE.
THE KEY SYMBOL CAME ON AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START . I WAS STRANDED FOR AN HOUR IN A PARKING LOT WITH MY TODDLER BEFORE I GOT HELP . I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO NISSAN AND THEY SAID MY WARRANTY ENDED IN JANUARY AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1000 . TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART . THIS IS DANGEROUS . THIS COULD HAPPEN ANY…
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THE KEY SYMBOL CAME ON AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START . I WAS STRANDED FOR AN HOUR IN A PARKING LOT WITH MY TODDLER BEFORE I GOT HELP . I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO NISSAN AND THEY SAID MY WARRANTY ENDED IN JANUARY AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1000 . TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART . THIS IS DANGEROUS . THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE .
DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK IS CAUSING DISABLED PUSH START BUTTON. CAR IS NOT STARTING AT ALL.
STEERING LOCK WAS RECALLED WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFERED FOR ALL NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 VEHICLES. HOWEVER, OUR CAR LOCKED UP MARCH 15, 2016, WHICH IS AFTER NISSAN ENDED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A $1,300 REPAIR. CONTACTED NISSAN TO HAVE THEM PAY, BUT THEY DENIED AT ALL COSTS.
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.