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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

Tires complaints

10 reports
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86,500 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TL TIRES, SIZE: 215/55R17 (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE INNER AND OUTER WALLS OF ALL FOUR TIRES CRACKED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,500.

NHTSA ODI #10938655

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2015
Tires

YOKOHAMA AVID TOURING S TIRE RECALL. I AM UNABLE TO DECIPHER THE DOT CODE.

NHTSA ODI #10786836

75,000 miles · May 29, 2014
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE TIRE BECAME DEFLATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE TIRE BECAME DEFLATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10594835

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2014
Tires

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR ISSUES. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAD IT REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 174.75.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10579751

63,000 miles · Apr 18, 2013
Tires

DEAR SIRS: ON MARCH 31ST AT APROX. 2PM I WAS HEADING TO WORK IN I-4 WESTBOUND WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO WOBBLE. I WAS JUST PAST THE OFF-RAMP FOR THE B-LINE, NEAR SEA WORLD, BUT BARELY GO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE NARROWED THE ROAD. WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGN OR LIGHT,THE LEFT SIDE REAR TIRE HAD COMPL…

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DEAR SIRS: ON MARCH 31ST AT APROX. 2PM I WAS HEADING TO WORK IN I-4 WESTBOUND WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO WOBBLE. I WAS JUST PAST THE OFF-RAMP FOR THE B-LINE, NEAR SEA WORLD, BUT BARELY GO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE NARROWED THE ROAD. WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGN OR LIGHT,THE LEFT SIDE REAR TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE RIM AND WAS FLOPPING AROUND AND CAUGHT THE BUMPER TEARING IT PARTIALLY LOOSE. THROUGH MY INSURANCE, GEICO, I WAS ABLE TO GET A TOW TO UNIVERSAL NISSAN A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE MET ME BY THE CAR. WE WENT WITH THE TOW TO UNIVERSAL AND LEFT THE KEY IN THE DROP BOX. I HAD TO MISS WORK THAT DAY. THE NEXT DAY NISSAN CALLED TO TELL US THE CAR NEEDED "BODY WORK" AND WE HAD TO CALL GEICO TO GET ANOTHER TOW TO UNIVERSAL AUTOBODY. WE WERE VERY CLEAR THAT THE CAR HAD A WARRANTY AND WE THOUGHT THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED. WE HAD A GEICO REPRESENTATIVE INSPECT THE CAR ON 4-1 AND HE SAID IT WOULD BE 3 DAYS AND $443 TO FIX IT; THE TIRES WERE NOT COVERED BY GEICO AND WE DID NOT MEET OUR DEDUCTIBLE. WE SPOKE WITH UNIVERSAL SEVERAL TIMES TO HONOR THE WARRANTIES WE ARE PAYING FOR. THE PAPERS WERE IN THE CAR AND I ASSUMED OUR RECORDS WOULD BE ON FILE AT UNIVERSAL NISSAN. HE KEPT INSISTING THAT THE TIRES AND DAMAGE WERE NOT COVERED. WE WERE USING MY MOM'S AND ANOTHER OLDER CAR TO GET TO WORK, SO WE DIDN'T GO BACK TO UNIVERSAL AUTOBODY UNTIL THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, APRIL 8TH. WE AGREED ONLY TO REPLACE THE PAIR OF BACK TIRES WITH A USED RIM, AND A "WHEELHOUSE LINER" AND MOUNTING AND BALANCING. THEY SAID THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE CAR AND GO TO WORK; THE BILL WAS$725.47 WHICH WE ARE NOW DISPUTING. THE TIRES: 215/60R15 ARE INCORRECTLY BILLED. THE WARRANTY PAPERS WERE INSIDE THE CAR: ROAD HAZARD TIRE COVERAGE (5 YRS) OIL CHANGE & TIRE ROTATION PLAN, TOTAL LOSS PROTECTION ADDENDUM, ROYAL PROTECTION PLAN, ETC. WE ONLY HAD THE CAR 9 MONTHS; I'M READY TO RETURN IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508649

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2011
Tires

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. LOSING TIRE PRESSURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10408661

33,000 miles · Apr 18, 2011
Tires

THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS (TIRE VALVES) HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES IN 33,000 MILES ON MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE MATERIAL USED TO CONSTRUCT THE VALE CORRODES AND THEN FRACTURES EASILY DURING SNOW TIRE REMOVAL PROCESS. THIS CAUSES THE VALVE TO LEAK RESULTING IN FLAT TIRES. SO FAR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $110 E…

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THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS (TIRE VALVES) HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES IN 33,000 MILES ON MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE MATERIAL USED TO CONSTRUCT THE VALE CORRODES AND THEN FRACTURES EASILY DURING SNOW TIRE REMOVAL PROCESS. THIS CAUSES THE VALVE TO LEAK RESULTING IN FLAT TIRES. SO FAR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $110 EACH AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES NOT TO MENTION AAA CALLS & INCONVENIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396675

16,000 miles · Mar 25, 2010
TiresCrashInjury

MY 2009 NISSIAN ALTIMA DROVE GREAT UNLESS IT WAS RAINING. WHEN THERE WAS JUST A SLIGHT DRIZZLE MY ALTIMA WOULD HYDROPLAIN UNCONTROLLABLY. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 IN TENNESSEE AND IT STARTED TO RAIN. MY ALTIMA STARTED HYDROPLAINING REALLY BAD. I WAS DRIVING AT MOST 40 MILES AN HOUR IN A 70 MPH ZONE. IT SOUNDED LIKE SO…

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MY 2009 NISSIAN ALTIMA DROVE GREAT UNLESS IT WAS RAINING. WHEN THERE WAS JUST A SLIGHT DRIZZLE MY ALTIMA WOULD HYDROPLAIN UNCONTROLLABLY. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 IN TENNESSEE AND IT STARTED TO RAIN. MY ALTIMA STARTED HYDROPLAINING REALLY BAD. I WAS DRIVING AT MOST 40 MILES AN HOUR IN A 70 MPH ZONE. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG WITH THE REAR PART OF THE CAR. THE WATER FROM THE ROAD COMPLETELY LIFTED THE REAR END OF THE CAR OFF THE GROUND. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE TIRES THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES SIZE 215/60/R16. IT WAS SO BAD I PULLED OVER AT A REST AREA FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I START MY TRIP AGAIN. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL IT STARTED MISTING RAIN AGAIN. I WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN THE CAR HYDROPLAINED AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. I ENDED UP IN THE DITCH WITH A TOTALLED CAR. WHILE I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR A WOMAN WITH THE EXACT CAR EXCEPT FOR THE COLOR DID THE EXACT SAME THING, BUT HER CAR CAME A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE CHECKES SEVERAL NISSIAN LOTS AND NOT MANY OF THERE CARS COME OUT WITH THESE PARTICULAR TIRES. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO THE NISSIAN COMPANY, WHICH INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG THE CAR. I AM WORRIED THAT PEOPLE ARE AT RISK OF BEING HURT DRIVING THESE CARS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR DRIVE LIKE THIS BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI #10322156

250 miles · Jul 12, 2009
Tires

LOOSING AIR PRESSURE ON TIRES. MADE LIGHT ON DASH TO COME ON. FOUND OUT, USING SOAP WITH WATER THAT IT WAS LEAKING AROUND THE VALVE STEMS OF TWO TIRES DUE TO FACTORY IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND TORQUE PROCEDURES OF THE VEHICLE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORS OR BAD O-RING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276443

1,800 miles · Jun 18, 2009
Tires

4 WEEK OLD NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL, TIRES WOULD LOSE AIR PRESSURE IN 1 WEEK. WENT TO DEALER, DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND STATED THE ALL THE TIRE SENSORS WERE LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED ALL SENSORS. DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST NOTED PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274234

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