IllustrationPUSH TO START CARS ARE NOT STARTING. IT MUST BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE REPLACED A FAULTY BREAK SWITCH AND NOW HAVE TO REPLACE ITELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM. IN BOTH CASES THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER AND MUST BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN REPAIR THE CAR.
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
890–25K
17025–50K
30750–75K
29375–100K
306100–150K
74150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
146 reportsELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK MALFUNCTION. PARKED VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY, CAME OUT AN HOUR LATER AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. A YELLOW KEY LIGHT AND A RED VEHICLE LIGHT WITH A KEY SYMBOL INSIDE ARE THE ONLY THINGS ON THE DASH THAT WILL APPEAR. BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD AND THE PUSH TO START WILL NOT WORK.
"TAKATA RECALL"-THANKSGIVING EVE STRANDED WITH A KEY/KEYFOB UNABLE TO START CAR ON LOCK. NOVEMBER 2015-CINCINNATI, OH (HIGHLAND/RIDGE) PARKING LOT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE KEY FOB NOT WORKING. HAD A KIND WOMEN TAKE ME TO A STORE TO PURCHASE AND / REPLACE MY 2032 BATTERY WITHIN KEY FOB. STILL DID NOT WORK. READ THE MANUAL SEVERA…
Read full complaint
"TAKATA RECALL"-THANKSGIVING EVE STRANDED WITH A KEY/KEYFOB UNABLE TO START CAR ON LOCK. NOVEMBER 2015-CINCINNATI, OH (HIGHLAND/RIDGE) PARKING LOT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE KEY FOB NOT WORKING. HAD A KIND WOMEN TAKE ME TO A STORE TO PURCHASE AND / REPLACE MY 2032 BATTERY WITHIN KEY FOB. STILL DID NOT WORK. READ THE MANUAL SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP TO ASSIST IN WORKING THROUGH ANY UNKNOWN ISSUES THAT I MIGHT HAVE NOT DISCOVERED OR TRIED. CAME BACK OUT AND TRIED TO START THE CAR, A KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH, BRAKE WAS HARD TO PRESS. THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL HOURS LATER. WHILE WAITING, I GOOGLED THE RESULT, I WAS SHOCKED AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME MALFUNCTION."
DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND MELTING CAUSING A GLARE ACROSS WINDSHIELD MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING.
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS DASHBOARD GOT A SHINY STICKY SUBSTANCE WHICH I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE USED A BAD DASH CLEANER, BUT IT APPEARS IT IS ACTUALLY MELTING. IT IS STICKY TO TOUCH, AND THE REFLECTION FROM THE SUN MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING.
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM BEING STUCK. WENT TO NISSAN USA'S WEBSITE AND SAW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS ISSUE, AND IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE NISSAN EXTENDED A WAR…
Read full complaint
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM BEING STUCK. WENT TO NISSAN USA'S WEBSITE AND SAW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS ISSUE, AND IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE NISSAN EXTENDED A WARRANTY COVERING THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF THIS HAPPENED TO YOUR VEHICLE. THE CAVEAT, THEY ONLY EXTENDED THIS BY 6 YEARS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK. I CALLED NISSAN, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I MISSED THE COVERAGE BY TWO MONTHS. IF THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS VERY ISSUE, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. IT'S A CLEAR PRODUCT DEFECT.
THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK ISSUE IS PREVALENT IN NISSAN ALTIMA MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 AND NISSAN HAS FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE. I EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE CONVENIENTLY OUTSIDE OF NISSAN'S "EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIM PERIOD" AND AS A RESULT I AM STUCK WITH A $1000 REPAIR THAT I HAVE TAKEN FULL FINANCIAL…
Read full complaint
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK ISSUE IS PREVALENT IN NISSAN ALTIMA MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 AND NISSAN HAS FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE. I EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE CONVENIENTLY OUTSIDE OF NISSAN'S "EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIM PERIOD" AND AS A RESULT I AM STUCK WITH A $1000 REPAIR THAT I HAVE TAKEN FULL FINANCIAL BURDEN FROM. THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY NISSAN UNDER A RECALL AS THIS IS IN FACT A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE NOBODY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CAR NOT STARTING ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION AND NEED TO GET TO SAFETY QUICKLY. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THAT BY NO MEANS EXCUSES IT FROM BEING A SAFETY CONCERN, BECAUSE IT IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY CONCERN. HTTP://WWW.NISSANPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/STEERING-WHEEL-LOCKS/
NISSAN WILL NOT HONOR A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE STEERING LOCK DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EXTENSION FOR THE RECALL HAS ENDED EVEN THOUGH IT END ON 02/04/2015 OF THIS YEAR AND IT IS NOW OCTOBER 2015 AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL RECALLS ON THERE BRAND EVEN AFTER THE END DA…
Read full complaint
NISSAN WILL NOT HONOR A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE STEERING LOCK DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EXTENSION FOR THE RECALL HAS ENDED EVEN THOUGH IT END ON 02/04/2015 OF THIS YEAR AND IT IS NOW OCTOBER 2015 AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL RECALLS ON THERE BRAND EVEN AFTER THE END DATES.
CAR DEESN'T START, IT IS BECAUSE OF FAULTY STEERING LOCK SYSTEM. NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PART BUT DIDN'T DO RECALL. IT HAS HAPPEND TO MANY PEOPLE AND YESTERDAY I WAS STRANDED AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE REPAIR IS COSTLY AND NISSAN IS NOT PAYING FOR IT.
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.