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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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64,000 miles · Dec 22, 2015
Steering

MY DAUGHTER WENT TO START HER 2009 ALTIMA UPON EXITING A WALMART AND CAR WOULD NOT START OR RESPOND. CAR USES A SMART KEY TO START AND INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED KEY PROBLEM. RAINING AND COLD SHE TRIED MANY OPTIONS WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. I TOLD HER TO CALL AAA AND HAVE IT TOWED TO PREMIER NISSAN. THE NEXT DAY THEY DETERMINED IT WA…

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MY DAUGHTER WENT TO START HER 2009 ALTIMA UPON EXITING A WALMART AND CAR WOULD NOT START OR RESPOND. CAR USES A SMART KEY TO START AND INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED KEY PROBLEM. RAINING AND COLD SHE TRIED MANY OPTIONS WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. I TOLD HER TO CALL AAA AND HAVE IT TOWED TO PREMIER NISSAN. THE NEXT DAY THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL UNIT AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO FEB. 2015 AND THIS DATE HAS PASSED THEREFORE I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,093 FOR THE REPAIR. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GET STRANDED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. A COMPANY LIKE AAA CAN NOT EVEN HELP YOU EXCEPT TO TOW YOU. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL! I WOULD THINK THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING AND CAUSE THE STEERING TO LOCK.

NHTSA ODI #10811831

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2015
Steering

I LEFT CHURCH TODAY TO GET IN MY CAR ONLY TO FIND THAT MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO INCUR TOWING EXPENSES FOR A DEFECT THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THAT STOPS WORKING WITH NO WARNING, LEAVING NISSAN CUSTOMERS STRANDED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK COLUMN IS THE PROBLEM. THE STEERING LOCK COLUMN HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE A DEF…

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I LEFT CHURCH TODAY TO GET IN MY CAR ONLY TO FIND THAT MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO INCUR TOWING EXPENSES FOR A DEFECT THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THAT STOPS WORKING WITH NO WARNING, LEAVING NISSAN CUSTOMERS STRANDED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK COLUMN IS THE PROBLEM. THE STEERING LOCK COLUMN HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH IS CAUSING THOUSANDS OF NISSAN CUSTOMERS TO BE STRANDED AND EXPENSIVE OUT OF POCKET COST. THE PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BUT INSTEAD WAS EXTENDED TO SIX YEARS ONLY, WHICH DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE PART TO BE REPLACED UNLESS IT WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF BEING BROKEN. THIS PART COSTS $650.00 AND LABOR RUNS ABOUT $350.00. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART FOR 09 NISSAN ALTIMAS. THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE FOR 2009 AND 2010 NISSAN OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI #10811338

81,000 miles · Dec 19, 2015
Steering

STEERING LOCK FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10811279

145,000 miles · Dec 16, 2015
Steering

I WENT OUT TO START MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT HAS A PUSH TO START BUTTON. IT WOULDN'T START. TO MUCH AVAIL WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CONFIRMED OUR THOUGHTS, IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK THAT WENT BAD. NISSAN APPARENTLY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 6 YEARS U…

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I WENT OUT TO START MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT HAS A PUSH TO START BUTTON. IT WOULDN'T START. TO MUCH AVAIL WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CONFIRMED OUR THOUGHTS, IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK THAT WENT BAD. NISSAN APPARENTLY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 6 YEARS UNLIMITED MILES. MINE WENT OUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS ISSUE IF YOU WERE STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO GET YOUR CAR STARTED. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10810697

74,900 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Steering

WE UNFORTUNATELY ARE JOINING THE GROWING RANKS OF 2009-10 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED FAILURE IN THE STEERING CONTROL UNIT. WE WERE FORTUNATE IT HAPPENED IN OUR OWN ALLEY. I'D STOPPED THE CAR TO UNLOAD GROCERIES AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, IT ONLY LET ME OPEN AND LOCK THE DOORS. OTHERWISE, IT WAS FROZEN AND BL…

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WE UNFORTUNATELY ARE JOINING THE GROWING RANKS OF 2009-10 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED FAILURE IN THE STEERING CONTROL UNIT. WE WERE FORTUNATE IT HAPPENED IN OUR OWN ALLEY. I'D STOPPED THE CAR TO UNLOAD GROCERIES AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, IT ONLY LET ME OPEN AND LOCK THE DOORS. OTHERWISE, IT WAS FROZEN AND BLOCKING THE ALLEY TO ALL OUR NEIGHBORS. WE'D BEEN ON A TRIP IN JANUARY 2015 THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF IT HAPPENED THEN. (LESS THAN 36 HOURS AFTER THE LONG ROAD TRIP MY HUSBAND HAD A HEART ATTACK. IF THIS FAILURE HAPPENED DURING THAT DRIVE, HE WOULDN'T BE ALIVE TODAY.) WE HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH OUR 2009 NISSAN UNTIL IT HAPPENED. THIS CAR (AND TWO OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES) HAD BEEN TOTALLY RELIABLE. NISSAN RESPONDED SAYING OUR WARRANTY EXPIRED IN FEB 2015 AND DIDN'T COVER THE ALMOST $1200 COST IN ANY WAY. WE FEEL ROBBED AND ABANDONED BY NISSAN. ONCE WE RESEARCHED THIS, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY 2009-10 OWNERS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL! WE WERE LOOKING AT ANOTHER NISSAN AND ARE DOING BETTER RESEARCH INTO COMPETITORS BEFORE WE TAKE THAT STEP.

NHTSA ODI #10809514

68,164 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

DEC 7, 2015 CLIMBED IN CAR AT 8 AM, WOULD NOT START. THE KEY LIGHT WAS ON BUT THE DASH DID NOT LIGHT UP AS NORMAL WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSH THE START BUTTON. COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF THE "LOCKED" POSITION. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND HE OFFERED NO HELP, NOR IDEAS OF WHAT COULD BE WRONG. TOLD ME TO "BRING IT IN"…

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DEC 7, 2015 CLIMBED IN CAR AT 8 AM, WOULD NOT START. THE KEY LIGHT WAS ON BUT THE DASH DID NOT LIGHT UP AS NORMAL WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSH THE START BUTTON. COULD NOT GET IT OUT OF THE "LOCKED" POSITION. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND HE OFFERED NO HELP, NOR IDEAS OF WHAT COULD BE WRONG. TOLD ME TO "BRING IT IN". DIDN'T EVEN TELL NE HOW TO UNLOCK THE GEAR SO I COULD PUSH CAR OUT OF GARAGE. TOOK 2 CALLS TO GET THIS INFO. CHECKED ONLINE FOR ISSUES, FOUND ESCL PROBLEM, CALLED DEALER BACK. ONLY THEN DID HE REMEMBER SOMETHING ABOUT THAT ISSUE. MY CAR IS 7 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY, GREAT SHAPE, 68164 MILES. CALLED NISSAN AND SPOKE WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FILED COMPLAINT. RECEIVED A CALL THE NEXT DAY THAT THEY WERE "CONSIDERING" MY ISSUE/CONCERN/COMPLAINT. TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE AN ANSWER IN 3 DAYS. WHY NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER WHEN THEY CALLED?

NHTSA ODI #10809410

60,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Steering

STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. THOUGH VEHICLE IS IN GOOD CONDITION THIS IS DEFAULT FROM NISSAN SIDE WHERE THE SYSTEM IS UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE ITS OWN KEY. DUE TO THE SOFTWARE FAILURE AND LOCK DOWN OF STEERING, CAR CANNOT START AND WE ARE FORCED TO GO TO DEALER WHO WILL JUST RIP OFF CUSTOMER $1000 JUST TO RECTIFY THERE MISTAK…

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STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. THOUGH VEHICLE IS IN GOOD CONDITION THIS IS DEFAULT FROM NISSAN SIDE WHERE THE SYSTEM IS UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE ITS OWN KEY. DUE TO THE SOFTWARE FAILURE AND LOCK DOWN OF STEERING, CAR CANNOT START AND WE ARE FORCED TO GO TO DEALER WHO WILL JUST RIP OFF CUSTOMER $1000 JUST TO RECTIFY THERE MISTAKE DURING MANUFACTURING.

NHTSA ODI #10809382

91,000 miles · Dec 9, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING (THE CAR DROVE FINE 1 HOUR BEFORE). I WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS THE INFAMOUS ESCL UNIT (ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK). I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDE…

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MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING (THE CAR DROVE FINE 1 HOUR BEFORE). I WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS THE INFAMOUS ESCL UNIT (ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK). I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO UNLIMITED MILES AND 5 YEARS...AND EXPIRED 6 MONTHS AGO. $1028 WORTH OF REPAIRS LATER THE CAR WILL START AGAIN. NO HELP FROM NISSAN.

NHTSA ODI #10809359

42,000 miles · Dec 9, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

MY FAMILY AND I WERE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT LAST WEEK FOR SEVERAL HOURS FOR MY CAR TO BE TOWED CAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND JUMP START THE BATTERY DID NOT WORK. AFTER TOWED IT HOME AND RESEARCH / DIAGNOSTIC, FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A WELL KNOW THAT THE STEERING LOCK BOX IS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, CALLING NISSAN …

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MY FAMILY AND I WERE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT LAST WEEK FOR SEVERAL HOURS FOR MY CAR TO BE TOWED CAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND JUMP START THE BATTERY DID NOT WORK. AFTER TOWED IT HOME AND RESEARCH / DIAGNOSTIC, FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A WELL KNOW THAT THE STEERING LOCK BOX IS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, CALLING NISSAN DEALER ABOUT IT AND WILL NOT MAKE THE RECALL ON THE PART. MY CAR JUST DIE AFTER 5 YEARS. 3 MONTHS AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT AND NISSAN WILL NOT ASSIST TO GET IT FIX EITHER. THEY KEEP WANTING ME TO BRING IT TO THE DEAL FOR DIAGNOSTIC, WHEN IN-FACT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE STEERING LOCK BOCK IS DISABLED THE CAR FROM STARTING. I BROUGHT IT IN, AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME NO RECALL AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT (ALMOST $1,000), YET RECOMMENDING ME TO FIX OTHER ISSUES SAYING IT COULD HAVE BEEN TUNE UP NEEDED THAT WHY MY CAR WOULD NOT START.. UGH!!!

NHTSA ODI #10809326

66,265 miles · Dec 8, 2015
Steering

HE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE "STEERING LOCK" WHICH CAUSES OWNERS TO BE UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. THIS DEFECT CAN AFFECT OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CAUSE. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE IS TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE FAULTY S…

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HE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE "STEERING LOCK" WHICH CAUSES OWNERS TO BE UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. THIS DEFECT CAN AFFECT OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CAUSE. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE IS TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK REPLACED. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED AT ALL. THUS, OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA CONTINUOUSLY FIND THEMSELVES STUCK IN VERY INCONVENIANT CIRCUMSTANCES WITH NO ABILITY TO DRIVE THEIR CAR. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS WHO ARE IN REMOTE OR DANGEROUS AREAS. NISSAN IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA STEERING LOCK TO 6 YEARS WITH INFINITE MILES. THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED MAY 2015. NISSAN SAYS THEY MAILED NOTICES, BUT CANNOT PRODUCE A COPY FOR ME TO SEE, NOR CAN THEY PROVIDE THE DATE IT TO ME OR PROOF THAT THEY INDEED DID MAIL IT. DUE TO THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND DEFECT, I WAS STRANDED, HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER, PAID $1167 FOR THE REPAIR, AND NISSAN WONT REIMBURSE ME.

NHTSA ODI #10809144

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