DROVE TO LUNCH IN CAR. CAME OUT 30 MINUTES LATER CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE A FAULTY STEERING COLUMN LOCK SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED. REPAIR COST WITH TOW ~ $850. *TR
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 reportsI PARKED MY VEHICLE AT MY SON'S SCHOOL TO RUN IN AND PICK HIM UP FROM THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. CAME BACK OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE START BUTTON AND BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF, LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE CAR, HOWE…
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I PARKED MY VEHICLE AT MY SON'S SCHOOL TO RUN IN AND PICK HIM UP FROM THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. CAME BACK OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE START BUTTON AND BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF, LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD OR NO SOUND WAS MADE FROM THE CAR DOORS BEING OPENED. MY MECHANIC CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PART AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL JANUARY 29TH. REPAIR COST IS AROUND $800. *TR
I CAME OFFICE ON 18TH JAN IN MY CAR AND WHEN I WAS HEADING BACK IT DIDN'T STARTED. I TOWED MY CAR TO NISSAN DEALER AND THEY SAID AFTER DIAGNOSIS THAT CAR'S STEERING LOCK CONTROLLER IS FAULTY AND IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED: FINAL CHARGES : $830, WELL CLEARLY FROM THE POSTS THAT ITS NOT ONE TIME INCIDENT AN…
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I CAME OFFICE ON 18TH JAN IN MY CAR AND WHEN I WAS HEADING BACK IT DIDN'T STARTED. I TOWED MY CAR TO NISSAN DEALER AND THEY SAID AFTER DIAGNOSIS THAT CAR'S STEERING LOCK CONTROLLER IS FAULTY AND IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED: FINAL CHARGES : $830, WELL CLEARLY FROM THE POSTS THAT ITS NOT ONE TIME INCIDENT AND NISSAN IS AWARE OF THAT . THEY SHOULD MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS . ITS JUST 3 YEARS OLD CAR AND I HAVE TO PAY SUCH A HEFTY AMOUNT WHEN I CARED MY CAR LIKE A BABY. *TR
TRYING TO START VEHICLE, YELLOW KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND I WAS STRANDED AT LUNCH 15 MINUTES FROM WORK WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK. THE STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE THE SAME PART (I'VE HEARD) WAS RECALLED ON OTHER NISSAN MODEL…
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TRYING TO START VEHICLE, YELLOW KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND I WAS STRANDED AT LUNCH 15 MINUTES FROM WORK WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK. THE STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE THE SAME PART (I'VE HEARD) WAS RECALLED ON OTHER NISSAN MODELS AND CAN LEAVE ANYONE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS I ARRIVED AT MY OFFICE ON THE MORNING OF 1/14/13. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THAT AFTERNOON, THE PUSH-START IGNITION REMAINED IN THE "LOCK" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED START ATTEMPTS. BREAK LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION CORRECTL…
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THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS I ARRIVED AT MY OFFICE ON THE MORNING OF 1/14/13. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THAT AFTERNOON, THE PUSH-START IGNITION REMAINED IN THE "LOCK" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED START ATTEMPTS. BREAK LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. CALLED LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. AFTER AN HOUR, THE NISSAN SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED ME WITH NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAD FAILED AND THEY ESTIMATED THE TOTAL REPAIR COST TO BE AT $900.00. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO WAS ABLE TO COURIER IT OVER THE FOLLOWING MORNING. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ON 1/23/13 AND THEY REFUSED TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION RELATIVE TO THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REPAIR. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AT LEAST A YEAR AGO BASED ON ITS APPARENTLY RAMPANT HISTORY OF FAILURE FOR OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS. *TR
DROVE CAR A FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD, PARKED AND WENT INSIDE FOR APROX 15 MINS. CAME BACK OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT START. NO KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON DASH BUT KEY FOB WAS IN CAR. GOT THE SPARE AS WELL AND STILL WOULD NOT WORK. PLUGGED IN FOB, DISCONNECTED CAR BATTERY. ALL WOULD NOT WORK. STUCK IN THE COLD WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD D…
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DROVE CAR A FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD, PARKED AND WENT INSIDE FOR APROX 15 MINS. CAME BACK OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT START. NO KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON DASH BUT KEY FOB WAS IN CAR. GOT THE SPARE AS WELL AND STILL WOULD NOT WORK. PLUGGED IN FOB, DISCONNECTED CAR BATTERY. ALL WOULD NOT WORK. STUCK IN THE COLD WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER! HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP ($100) AND PART WAS STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. PART WAS ON BACK ORDER! NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL THIS! IT'S RIDICULOUS. THEY NO LONGER USE THIS PART ON THEIR CARS YET REFUSE TO RECALL COSTING US A LOT OF MONEY! REPAIR BILL AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAS $753.09 PLUS $100 TOW SO $853.09!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. LUCKILY DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO GET NISSAN TO COVER MY RENTAL CAR SINCE I WENT A WEEK WITHOUT A CAR. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
WENT OUT TO MY CAR THIS MORNING AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEYLESS START FOB. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILS. THIS IS A TIME BOMB BECAUSE IT CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE CAR DO NOT MATTER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
INTELLI KEY INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING TWO DAYS AGO. LAST EVENING AFTER DINNER VEHICLE WOULD NOT SWITCH OUT OF "LOCK" STRANDED IN 15 DEGREE TEMPS WAITING FOR TOW FOR 2 HOURS. NISSAN SERVICE ADVISOR KNEW EXACTLY WHAT PROBLEM WAS. HE CALLED ME LATER TONIGHT TO CONFIRM ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDED REPLACING. $800.00…
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INTELLI KEY INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING TWO DAYS AGO. LAST EVENING AFTER DINNER VEHICLE WOULD NOT SWITCH OUT OF "LOCK" STRANDED IN 15 DEGREE TEMPS WAITING FOR TOW FOR 2 HOURS. NISSAN SERVICE ADVISOR KNEW EXACTLY WHAT PROBLEM WAS. HE CALLED ME LATER TONIGHT TO CONFIRM ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDED REPLACING. $800.00+. NISSAN SURELY WILL RECALL "FAULTY" DOOR HANDLE SPRINGS AT .50 CENTS A WHACK, BUT GIVE ME A BREAK. IT'S TIME NISSAN OWN UP TO THE NUMEROUS 2009'S THAT ARE HAVING THIS PART FAIL. *TR
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.
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