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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.

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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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Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2013
Steering

STEERING LOCK MECHANISM $1200 BUCKS NISSAN BETTER DO SOMETHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495145

32,000 miles · Jan 29, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

CAR WOULD NOT START / COMPUTER LOCK / CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495029

37,500 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

MY DAUGHTER AND 2 YEAR OLD WERE TRYING TO GET HOME UNDER AN ICE STORM WARNING. THE PUSH BUTTON START DID NOT OPERATE. THEY WERE STRANDED IN THE COLD UNDER A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. NISSAN SAYS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROLLER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY FOB AND START BUTTON. THERE I…

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MY DAUGHTER AND 2 YEAR OLD WERE TRYING TO GET HOME UNDER AN ICE STORM WARNING. THE PUSH BUTTON START DID NOT OPERATE. THEY WERE STRANDED IN THE COLD UNDER A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. NISSAN SAYS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROLLER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY FOB AND START BUTTON. THERE IS NOT A METHOD TO OVERRIDE THE PUSH BUTTON WITH A MECHANICAL KEY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE 2009 ALTIMA. MY ALTIMA HAS ONLY 37,500 MILES BUT IS PAST THE 3-YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. THE REPAIR WAS $803. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE EXPECTS A RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THEY SEE THIS FAULTY MODULE. THE PART WAS CHANGED IN 2010 BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE BAD ONES IN THE 2008-2009 MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494962

59,000 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Steering

I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND CAME OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SO THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. SENT IT TO THE DEALER AND $1100. THIS IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM SO WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED? I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE …

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I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND CAME OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SO THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. SENT IT TO THE DEALER AND $1100. THIS IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM SO WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED? I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE IN 13 DEGREE WEATHER WITH MY INFANT SON AND THEY SAY IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS ABOUT TO TRADE IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494934

75,000 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Steering

STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED LEAVING CAR STRANDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494919

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

CAR WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE KEY IN IT, BUT COULD UNLOCK DOORS AND TRUNK, AND WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS TOWED TO NISSAN AND THEY FOUND THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH IKEY READER. TECH INSTALLED NEW IKEY READER AND CLEARED THEFT CODES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494891

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

DROPPED MY SON OFF AT SCHOOL, WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE CAR RECOGNIZED MY KEY WAS PRESENT BUT PUSH BUTTON DID NOTHING. MANUALLY USING THE KEY SLOT WOULD NOT START THE CAR EITHER. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM BEING TOLD THAT WILL COST $800-1100 TO FIX STEERING LOCK AND THAT PARTS ARE ON BACK…

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DROPPED MY SON OFF AT SCHOOL, WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE CAR RECOGNIZED MY KEY WAS PRESENT BUT PUSH BUTTON DID NOTHING. MANUALLY USING THE KEY SLOT WOULD NOT START THE CAR EITHER. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM BEING TOLD THAT WILL COST $800-1100 TO FIX STEERING LOCK AND THAT PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH I HAVE FOUND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME DEFECT OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS. THIS DID OCCUR ON A VERY COLD DAY, ABOUT 10 DEGREES AT THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494768

30,500 miles · Jan 25, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

AMBER 'INTELLIGENT KEY' LIGHT STARTED APPEARING ON AND OFF. FINALLY VEHICLE REFUSED TO ENGAGE STARTER AND WHIRRING NOISE INDICATING STEERING LOCK IS FUNCTIONAL NO LONGER HAPPENS. VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TOWED AND RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS COMMON IN 2009 ALTIMAS AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES. REPAIR QUOTES ONLINE APPEAR TO BE …

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AMBER 'INTELLIGENT KEY' LIGHT STARTED APPEARING ON AND OFF. FINALLY VEHICLE REFUSED TO ENGAGE STARTER AND WHIRRING NOISE INDICATING STEERING LOCK IS FUNCTIONAL NO LONGER HAPPENS. VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TOWED AND RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS COMMON IN 2009 ALTIMAS AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES. REPAIR QUOTES ONLINE APPEAR TO BE IN THE $900 RANGE. NISSAN NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494743

86,000 miles · Jan 25, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A REPEAT OCCURRENCE. THE COMPUTER WAS PREVIOUSLY RESET TO C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A REPEAT OCCURRENCE. THE COMPUTER WAS PREVIOUSLY RESET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #10494725

45,400 miles · Jan 25, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,400. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494693

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