THE STEERING CONTROL UNIT SEIZED UP, THE VEHICLE WONT START. ...UPDATED 08/12/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE COST OF INSTALLATION AND REPROGRAMMING OF THE UNIT WAS $90.00. UPDATED 12/23/2015 *JS
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
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.
Steering complaints
859 reportsCAR WILL NOT START STEERING LOCK REPLACED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BENT INWARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SPECIFY IF A POLICE REP…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BENT INWARD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SPECIFY IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA UNEXPECTEDLY WOULD NOT START IN JUNE OF 2015 AND I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY BROTHER FROM SCHOOL. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BATTERY ISSUE. SO, I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY CAME OUT TO GIVE ME A JUMP. THAT WAS NOT THE CULPRIT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS AFTER HOURS AND I HAD TO WAIT TILL MORNING …
Read full complaint
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA UNEXPECTEDLY WOULD NOT START IN JUNE OF 2015 AND I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY BROTHER FROM SCHOOL. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BATTERY ISSUE. SO, I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY CAME OUT TO GIVE ME A JUMP. THAT WAS NOT THE CULPRIT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS AFTER HOURS AND I HAD TO WAIT TILL MORNING TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO TIRES PLUS. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. NEXT, I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN WHO WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THE ESCL IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ISSUED TO THESE VEHICLES. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED A MONTH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT (VERY INCONVENIENT) RESULTING IN A $1,000 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE THAT I DID NOT HAVE READILY AVAILABLE (I AM A GRADUATE STUDENT). I WISH THAT INSTEAD OF JUST OFFERING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PART THAT NISSAN WOULD HAVE RECALLED THE PART TO AVOID THIS HEADACHE ALL TOGETHER.
GOT INTO MY CAR & IT WOULD NOT CRANK. BRAKES WERE PRESSED & STAYED IN LOCK POSITION. AFTER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK & FORTH IT STARTED.
MY 2009 NISSAN HAS A KEY WARNING LIGHT ON IT WHICH CAN CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP WHEN I VISITED THE NISSAN ASSIST SITE IT STATED THEY HAD A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM SINCE IT IS A PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS THE 2009 ALTIMA, THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JANUARY SO THEY REFUSE TO GET IT FIXED THIS SHOULD BE A SAFE…
Read full complaint
MY 2009 NISSAN HAS A KEY WARNING LIGHT ON IT WHICH CAN CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP WHEN I VISITED THE NISSAN ASSIST SITE IT STATED THEY HAD A EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM SINCE IT IS A PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS THE 2009 ALTIMA, THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JANUARY SO THEY REFUSE TO GET IT FIXED THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE SINCE ITS A PROBLEM THEY KNOW AFFECTS THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA SAND MAXIMAS
STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA BOUGHT BRAND NEW. UNDER 36,000 THE MOTOR WAS CHANGED OUT, AROUND 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. GOOD TIMES. FRIDAY 5/22/15 WENT TO FRIENDS HOUSE AND WENT TO LEAVE AND CAR WOULD NOT START. CHECKED BATTERY AND FUSES AND THEN NOTICED A YELLOW KEY FLASHING IN GAUGE CLUSTER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOL…
Read full complaint
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA BOUGHT BRAND NEW. UNDER 36,000 THE MOTOR WAS CHANGED OUT, AROUND 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. GOOD TIMES. FRIDAY 5/22/15 WENT TO FRIENDS HOUSE AND WENT TO LEAVE AND CAR WOULD NOT START. CHECKED BATTERY AND FUSES AND THEN NOTICED A YELLOW KEY FLASHING IN GAUGE CLUSTER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT I SAW. DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO GET THE CAR TO START AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. CALLED TOW TRUCK AND WAS TOWED FROM HELMET CA, TO ONTARIO CA 60+ MILES IN THE RAIN WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN. I COULD NOT ROLL THE WINDOWS UP OR DO ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES UNLOCK AND LOCK THE DOORS. NISSAN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT STILL DENIES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I WAS 3 MONTHS LATE FOR THIS WARRANTY AND I HAVE BEEN DENIED COVERAGE FOR REPAIRS THAT WILL COST MORE THAN A $1000 DOLLARS. NISSAN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THIS PROBLEM WITCH IS WIDE SPREAD. JUST GOOGLE IT AND THEY WILL SEE. WANT TO GET THE NEWS INVOLVED. TIRED OF BEING STRANDED BY NISSAN. NISSAN STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS!!!
MY SON WENT TO WORK AND WHEN HE GOT OFF OF WORK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE AND SAID IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. THE MANAGER STATED "I SEE AT LEAST TWO OF THESE A WEEK EVERY WEEK FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM." IT WILL COST US $999.00 TO REPAIR OUR VEHICLE. THERE ARE HUNDRE…
Read full complaint
MY SON WENT TO WORK AND WHEN HE GOT OFF OF WORK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE AND SAID IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. THE MANAGER STATED "I SEE AT LEAST TWO OF THESE A WEEK EVERY WEEK FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM." IT WILL COST US $999.00 TO REPAIR OUR VEHICLE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. WHY THERE IS NO RECALL IS LAUGHABLE IF IT WEREN'T SO SAD
DROVE CAR TO WORK WITH NO PROBLEM. REENTERED CAR 3 HRS LATER AND IT WOULDN'T START. A YELLOW KEY LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASH AND THE BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. REPLACED KEY BATTERIES BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WHICH WOULD COST $986.
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.
Illustration