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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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60,000 miles · Nov 10, 2015
Steering

THE STEERING LOCK ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAS FAULTY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. UNFORTUNATELY OUR CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. ENDED UP COSTING US $1300 TO REPLACE. CALL NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY DID NOTHING BUT MAKE US WAIT 5 DAYS TO TELL US THEY WILL…

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THE STEERING LOCK ACCORDING TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAS FAULTY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. UNFORTUNATELY OUR CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. ENDED UP COSTING US $1300 TO REPLACE. CALL NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY DID NOTHING BUT MAKE US WAIT 5 DAYS TO TELL US THEY WILL DO NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI #10789649

80,000 miles · Nov 10, 2015
Steering

ON 11-4-2015 AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM WORK THAT EVENING I PARKED MY 2009 NISSIAN ALTIMA IN FRONT OF MY RESIDENTS,ON THE FOLLOWING MORNING 11-5-2015 I WENT TO GET IN MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START, IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS SEARCHING FOR MY KEY FOB BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WAS ALUMINATED WITH…

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ON 11-4-2015 AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM WORK THAT EVENING I PARKED MY 2009 NISSIAN ALTIMA IN FRONT OF MY RESIDENTS,ON THE FOLLOWING MORNING 11-5-2015 I WENT TO GET IN MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START, IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS SEARCHING FOR MY KEY FOB BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WAS ALUMINATED WITH THE PICTURE OF THE KEY ENCIRCLED,AFTER TRYING FOR ABOUT 30-45 MINUTES I GAVE UP AND HAD TO CALL MY EMPLOYER TO INFORM THEM THAT I WOULD BE LATE NOT ONLY WAS I LATE FOR WORK BUT I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC TO FIND OUT AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILURE WAS THE PROBLEM, AFTER SPEAKING WITH A SERVICE ADVISER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND GETTING NO RESOLVE AND 750.00 LATER I'M OUT OF POCKET FOR A FAULTY MECHANICAL STEERING LOCK MECHANISM.AS I RESEARCHED ALL THE POSSIBILTIES AND REALIZED THAT THIS PART IS KNOWN TO BE A FAULTY PART IT'S VERY APPARENT THAT NISSIAN IS AWARE OF THE ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10789648

70,000 miles · Nov 9, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING KEY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10789312

121,000 miles · Nov 9, 2015
Steering

I HAD A FAILURE IN THE STEERING COLUMN SENSOR FOR MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA RESULTING IN MY CAR BEING UNABLE TO START. MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED WHILE I WAS AT WORK AND THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD ENOUGH FOR NISSAN TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY, WHICH ENDED OCT 2014. MY ISSUE OCCURR…

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I HAD A FAILURE IN THE STEERING COLUMN SENSOR FOR MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA RESULTING IN MY CAR BEING UNABLE TO START. MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED WHILE I WAS AT WORK AND THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD ENOUGH FOR NISSAN TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY, WHICH ENDED OCT 2014. MY ISSUE OCCURRED 11/1/15. I PAID OUT OF POCKET TO TAKE A CAB, GET MY VEHICLE TOWED, AND THEN FIXED. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT (CASE # 20709999) AND WAS INFORMED NISSAN WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT RICART NISSAN IN COLUMBUS, OH.

NHTSA ODI #10789307

66,900 miles · Nov 4, 2015
Steering

STRANDED AT NIGHT IN PARKING LOT 10/30 DUE TO CAR NOT STARTING. HAD CAR TOWED TO NISSAN AND REPAIRED 10/31 (STEERING WHEEL LOCK COLUMN MALFUNCTION). COST 800+$. NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THE WARRANTY EXTENSION LETTER STATES: "NISSAN BELIEVES MAJORITY OF ITS OWNERS WILL NOT EXPERIENCE THIS UNIQUE CONDITION" CONTRADICTORY,…

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STRANDED AT NIGHT IN PARKING LOT 10/30 DUE TO CAR NOT STARTING. HAD CAR TOWED TO NISSAN AND REPAIRED 10/31 (STEERING WHEEL LOCK COLUMN MALFUNCTION). COST 800+$. NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THE WARRANTY EXTENSION LETTER STATES: "NISSAN BELIEVES MAJORITY OF ITS OWNERS WILL NOT EXPERIENCE THIS UNIQUE CONDITION" CONTRADICTORY, IF YOU ASK ME. THE NEXT DAY (OCTOBER 31) THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO NISSAN DEALER, WHERE THEY SAID I WAS MISSING A TRANSMISSION FUSE? DID NOT CHARGE ME TO REPLACE SAID MISSING FUSE.

NHTSA ODI #10788362

111,900 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Steering

I COULDNOT ABLE TO START THE CAR , IT WAS SHOWING THE LOCK LIGHT AND KEY MALFUNCTION LIGHTS ARE DISPLAYING. IT WOULD BE BASICALLY A STEERING LOCK ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10788116

98,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM BEING STUCK. WENT TO NISSAN USA'S WEBSITE AND SAW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS ISSUE, AND IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE NISSAN EXTENDED A WAR…

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2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM BEING STUCK. WENT TO NISSAN USA'S WEBSITE AND SAW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS ISSUE, AND IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE NISSAN EXTENDED A WARRANTY COVERING THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF THIS HAPPENED TO YOUR VEHICLE. THE CAVEAT, THEY ONLY EXTENDED THIS BY 6 YEARS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK. I CALLED NISSAN, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I MISSED THE COVERAGE BY TWO MONTHS. IF THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS VERY ISSUE, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. IT'S A CLEAR PRODUCT DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #10788077

116,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10788017

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK ISSUE IS PREVALENT IN NISSAN ALTIMA MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 AND NISSAN HAS FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE. I EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE CONVENIENTLY OUTSIDE OF NISSAN'S "EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIM PERIOD" AND AS A RESULT I AM STUCK WITH A $1000 REPAIR THAT I HAVE TAKEN FULL FINANCIAL…

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THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK ISSUE IS PREVALENT IN NISSAN ALTIMA MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 AND NISSAN HAS FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE. I EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE CONVENIENTLY OUTSIDE OF NISSAN'S "EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIM PERIOD" AND AS A RESULT I AM STUCK WITH A $1000 REPAIR THAT I HAVE TAKEN FULL FINANCIAL BURDEN FROM. THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY NISSAN UNDER A RECALL AS THIS IS IN FACT A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE NOBODY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CAR NOT STARTING ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION AND NEED TO GET TO SAFETY QUICKLY. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THAT BY NO MEANS EXCUSES IT FROM BEING A SAFETY CONCERN, BECAUSE IT IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY CONCERN. HTTP://WWW.NISSANPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/STEERING-WHEEL-LOCKS/

NHTSA ODI #10787981

80,000 miles · Nov 2, 2015
EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10787703

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