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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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106,000 miles · Sep 1, 2015
Steering

I WAS PARKED AT A STORE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I LOOKED UP A TEMPORARY FIX AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. ONCE I GOT HOME, I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT NISSAN KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS: THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE OR ANY T…

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I WAS PARKED AT A STORE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I LOOKED UP A TEMPORARY FIX AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. ONCE I GOT HOME, I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT NISSAN KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS: THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE OR ANY TIME. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY (JUST FOR THAT PART) 6 YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULDN'T HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY UNLESS THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE FAULT...AND THEY WOULD CHARGE AN $80.00 FEE...JUST FOR A MECHANIC SITTING IN THE CAR AND STARTING IT. AND IF I WANTED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE ANYWAY, IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1200.00. OBVIOUSLY, I DIDN'T LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH THEM SINCE I KNEW IT WOULD START AT THAT TIME. THE PROBLEM IS, FROM EVERY COMMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON NISSAN BOARDS, FROM WHAT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ITSELF SAID, THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. SO THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS I COULD BE AT WORK LATE AT NIGHT. I COULD BE DRIVING ACROSS TEXAS AND STOP FOR GAS, THEN I'M STUCK AT A GAS PUMP UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO MOVE THE CAR. I (OR MY WIFE) COULD GET STUCK ANYWHERE WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10760893

96,000 miles · Aug 21, 2015
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITH THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITH THE KEY FOB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. MA 10/25/15 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10750413

74,000 miles · Aug 14, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER OPENING THE DOOR WITH THE KEY FOB, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AS THE KEY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER OPENING THE DOOR WITH THE KEY FOB, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AS THE KEY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #10748805

121,000 miles · Aug 11, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

ON 8/3/2015 I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE DROVE MY CAR PERFECTLY WELL. WHEN I WAS READY TO GO HOME MY CAR WOULD NOT START. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED. NEXT DAY I CALL NISSAN SINCE I SAW SO MANY POSTINGS ABOUT THIS ISSUE OPENED A CLAIM, AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO T…

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ON 8/3/2015 I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE DROVE MY CAR PERFECTLY WELL. WHEN I WAS READY TO GO HOME MY CAR WOULD NOT START. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED. NEXT DAY I CALL NISSAN SINCE I SAW SO MANY POSTINGS ABOUT THIS ISSUE OPENED A CLAIM, AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO GET A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND CALL THEM BACK WITH THE FINDINGS, BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AS OF MARCH 3,2015. I TOOK THE CAR PAYED A TOW TRUCK AGAIN THEN HAD TO PAY $130 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY COULD AND WOULD DO NOTHING! I HAD TO PAY $1007. AND THEY CLAIMED I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR OVER 41 MONTHS. HOW IS IT THAT THEY KNOW ITS A MALFUNTION, AND THEY GET AWAY WITH NO RECALL! I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #10747966

92,551 miles · Aug 11, 2015
SteeringUnknown Or Other

I HAD STOPPED AT THE GROCERY STORE AND WENT TO GET BACK IN MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, IT WOULD NOT EVEN RECOGNIZE THE KEY. MY KEY FOB WOULD UNLOCK, LOCK & POP MY TRUNK BUT MY CAR ACTED LIKE IT WOULDN'T ACCEPT MY KEY FOB. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED & IT HAS BEEN TOWED AND SAT OVERNIGHT & ITS STILL NOT LOCKED, MY ELECTRO…

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I HAD STOPPED AT THE GROCERY STORE AND WENT TO GET BACK IN MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, IT WOULD NOT EVEN RECOGNIZE THE KEY. MY KEY FOB WOULD UNLOCK, LOCK & POP MY TRUNK BUT MY CAR ACTED LIKE IT WOULDN'T ACCEPT MY KEY FOB. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED & IT HAS BEEN TOWED AND SAT OVERNIGHT & ITS STILL NOT LOCKED, MY ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS GONE OUT ON MY CAR & WITH ALL THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE I FOUND OUT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 6 YEARS BUT IT SEEMS ALL THESE FAILURES ARE HAPPENING AFTER THAT 6 YEAR MARK HAS BEEN HIT. NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RELEASED A BULLETIN ON IT BUT NOT A RECALL, I BELIEVE WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT EVERYONE IS HAVING THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED I WAS QUOTED 800-1000.00 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS EVIDENTLY A FAULTY PART INSTALLED BY NISSAN AND THEY SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT

NHTSA ODI #10747774

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

STEERING LOCK DOES NOT DISENGAGE AND THE CAR DOES NOT START, SOMETHING WRONG WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT.

NHTSA ODI #10745544

79,000 miles · Jul 31, 2015
Steering

GOT IN MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA MONDAY 07/27 WOULD NOT START. HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. STEERING LOCK SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. WEDNESDAY 07/29 GOT IN MY CAR AGAIN WOULD NOT START. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN. CHANGED BRAKE PLUG. FRIDAY 07/31 CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN SO TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR THE 3RD TIME AND THEY FIXED AND SENT ME ON…

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GOT IN MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA MONDAY 07/27 WOULD NOT START. HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. STEERING LOCK SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. WEDNESDAY 07/29 GOT IN MY CAR AGAIN WOULD NOT START. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN. CHANGED BRAKE PLUG. FRIDAY 07/31 CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN SO TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR THE 3RD TIME AND THEY FIXED AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. CAR WITH KEY SYMBOL STILL BLINKING ON MY CAR SO NOT SURE IT IS FIXED YET...UPDATED 10/05/15*BF *CN

NHTSA ODI #10745416

83,500 miles · Jul 30, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

MY CAR WAS NOT STARTING. IT WAS INDICATED AS NO KEY. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE. THEY TOLD THAT MY CARS WARRENTY EXPIRED ON MARCH 2015. MY CARS FIRST REGISTRATION DATE IS NOVEMBER 2009. I HAVE HEARED THAT THE ECSL OF NISSAN ALTIMA IS HAVING 6 YEARS OF WARRENTY. BUT I AM TOLD BY THE NISSAN AUTHORISED DEALER - PINNACLE NISSAN S…

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MY CAR WAS NOT STARTING. IT WAS INDICATED AS NO KEY. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE. THEY TOLD THAT MY CARS WARRENTY EXPIRED ON MARCH 2015. MY CARS FIRST REGISTRATION DATE IS NOVEMBER 2009. I HAVE HEARED THAT THE ECSL OF NISSAN ALTIMA IS HAVING 6 YEARS OF WARRENTY. BUT I AM TOLD BY THE NISSAN AUTHORISED DEALER - PINNACLE NISSAN SCOTSDATE PHOENIX THAT MY WARRENTY EXPIRED. MY CAR HAVE NOT COMPLETED ITS 6 YEAR AND I AM WONDERING HOW THE WARRENTLY WOULD VOID. I HAVE REPLACED THE PART FROM MY POCKET AS WELL, I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF NISSAN CAN REFUND THE COST OF REPLACING THE PART. THANKS, BINU.

NHTSA ODI #10745132

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2015
Steering

ON 07/15/15 I RECEIVED A CALL THAT MY BROTHER IN LAW HAD DIED I STOP AND PULLED OVER TO REGROUP FROM CRYING I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP, LIGHT WAS FLASHING INTELLIGENT KEY AND ALSO SAYING KEY WAS NOT IN THE CAR WHICH THIS IS CALLED ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE I HAD TO HAVE TO CAR TOWED ON T…

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ON 07/15/15 I RECEIVED A CALL THAT MY BROTHER IN LAW HAD DIED I STOP AND PULLED OVER TO REGROUP FROM CRYING I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP, LIGHT WAS FLASHING INTELLIGENT KEY AND ALSO SAYING KEY WAS NOT IN THE CAR WHICH THIS IS CALLED ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE I HAD TO HAVE TO CAR TOWED ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE I WAS DEALING WITH CALL PEARSON NISSAN IN OCALA FL TOLD THEM WHAT THE CAR WAS DOING AND MENTION TO THEM ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAD RAN ACROSS AND THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. I DON'T UNDER STAND WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED BY NISSAN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I LIKE MY CAR BUT IF THIS DON'T GET RESOLVED I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER NISSAN CAR. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVERED A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND COMPLAINT

NHTSA ODI #10743533

70,000 miles · Jul 20, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK COLUMN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK COLUMN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10735115

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