← New search

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

146 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2020
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD DESINTEGRATING. WHERE I LIVE IS VERY HOT IN THE SUMMER YET I PARK IN THE SHADE MOST OF THE TIME. AFTER A SURGE IN TEMPERATURE AND THEN A DROP TO FREEZING I NOTICED A SHINE TO THE TOP SEEMS ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN I WENT TO WIPE IT OFF I WOULD NOT COME OFF AND WAS STICKY. FORCING IT ONLY MADE IT COME OFF LIKE A PASTE. IT…

Read full complaint

DASHBOARD DESINTEGRATING. WHERE I LIVE IS VERY HOT IN THE SUMMER YET I PARK IN THE SHADE MOST OF THE TIME. AFTER A SURGE IN TEMPERATURE AND THEN A DROP TO FREEZING I NOTICED A SHINE TO THE TOP SEEMS ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN I WENT TO WIPE IT OFF I WOULD NOT COME OFF AND WAS STICKY. FORCING IT ONLY MADE IT COME OFF LIKE A PASTE. IT CREATES A VERY UNPLEASANT GLARE AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

NHTSA ODI #11316633

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I PURCHASED THIS CAR JANUARY 2018. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. CURRENTLY, MY DASHBOARD IS SO STICKY THAT IT IS LITERALLY PEELING OFF AND HAS A TOXIC SMELL TO IT. I'VE TRIED CALL NISSAN AND THEY FIRST TOLD ME THERE WAS NO CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, THEN THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS TOO OLD, THE LATEST IS THEY SAID…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED THIS CAR JANUARY 2018. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. CURRENTLY, MY DASHBOARD IS SO STICKY THAT IT IS LITERALLY PEELING OFF AND HAS A TOXIC SMELL TO IT. I'VE TRIED CALL NISSAN AND THEY FIRST TOLD ME THERE WAS NO CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, THEN THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS TOO OLD, THE LATEST IS THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS FROM 2017. I SAID IF YOU HAVE DEFECTIVE DASH BOARDS IT SHOULDN'T MATTER HOW OLD THE CAR IS AND NISSAN SHOULD FIX IT. I AM GETTING A GLARE FROM THE REFLECTION ON WINDSHIELD SO THIS IS DANGEROUS. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE LEFT WITH THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU ASSIST ME?

NHTSA ODI #11316441

160,000 miles · Feb 26, 2020
Air BagsEngineUnknown Or Other

1. THE AIRBAG IS KEEP BLINKING AT ALL TIMES. 2. LOAD NOISE FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHEN START THE ENGINE AND ENGINE IS COLD. 3. A FEW WEEKS AFTER A RAINY DAY, WHEN THE WEATHER GETS HOT, INSIDE THE CAR SMELL VERY BAD AS IF THERE IS A ROTTEN OR DEAD ANIMAL IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11311700

145,000 miles · Sep 3, 2019
Unknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL CVT TRANSMISSION. WAS COMING ON HIGHWAY GOING 55 THE SPEED DROP WASN'T SHIFTING GEARS ANYMORE I WAS DOWN TO 10 HAD TO GONON SIDE OF ROAD MY CAR STARTS BUT WILL NOT MOVE NO MORE THEN 10 SPEED TOOK TO MY NISSAN DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY CVT TRANSMISSION THAT IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF THOSE CARS GO OUT AND WHEN…

Read full complaint

TAKATA RECALL CVT TRANSMISSION. WAS COMING ON HIGHWAY GOING 55 THE SPEED DROP WASN'T SHIFTING GEARS ANYMORE I WAS DOWN TO 10 HAD TO GONON SIDE OF ROAD MY CAR STARTS BUT WILL NOT MOVE NO MORE THEN 10 SPEED TOOK TO MY NISSAN DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY CVT TRANSMISSION THAT IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF THOSE CARS GO OUT AND WHEN THEY DO IT'S VERY COSTLY THAT WE SHOULD JUST BUY A NEW ONE I HAD JUST PURCHASED THAT VEHICLE MAYBE TWO YEARS BEFORE THIS AT HAPPEN I LEFT MY NISSAN IT'S A WELL FAMILY CAR BUT IT SUCKS THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION CAN CAUSE IT TO GO DOWN THE DRAIN I KEPT MY CAR AND WELL SHAPE WITH FLUIDS AND ALWAYS MAINTENANCE ON IT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN I STILL OWN THE CAR BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH I LOVE IT I WANT TO GET IT FIX BUT EVERYWHERE I GO EVERYONE TELLS ME NOT TO BECAUSE THE COST ITS GOING TO TAKE TO FIX IT YOUR BETTER OFF BUYING A NEW ONE .... I JUST FEEL WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR OF THIS ONE WAS UP AND RUNING GOOD AND I DIDNT EVERYTHING I COUPD TO KEEP UP ON IT FOR THE CVT TO GO OUT ON ME LIKE THIS ..... THE CAR HAS A GOOD BODY NO RUST NOT ISSUES AT ALL BESIDES THE CVT TRANSMISSION I HAD GOT THE CAR IN 2017 AND IT WENT OUT ALREADY I PAID ABOUT 7,500 FOR IT ....

NHTSA ODI #11252895

160,000 miles · Aug 30, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

ON MORE THEN ONE OCCASION WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 45 MIN. THE ACCELERATION SPEED DROPS TO ABOUT 40 MPH. AND WHEN GOING ON HILLS ITS EVEN WORSE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW, BUT NOW I HAVE A SECOND ALTIMA THAT IS HAVING VERY SIMILAR ISSUES. AFTER SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY FOR A HOUR, THE CAR RE…

Read full complaint

ON MORE THEN ONE OCCASION WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 45 MIN. THE ACCELERATION SPEED DROPS TO ABOUT 40 MPH. AND WHEN GOING ON HILLS ITS EVEN WORSE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW, BUT NOW I HAVE A SECOND ALTIMA THAT IS HAVING VERY SIMILAR ISSUES. AFTER SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY FOR A HOUR, THE CAR RETURNS TO NORMAL. THIS CAN NOT BE A NORMAL PROBLEM, I HAVE SEARCHED AND FOUND THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD VERY SIMILAR ISSUES AND IN FACT I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT 2014-2018 NISSANS WHERE HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES. ( I HAVE ATTACHED THE LETTER) I HAVE 2 CARS NOW THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THEM, ESPECIALLY IF I AM NOT 100% SURE WHAT THE CORRECTION IS. I HAVE ALSO ATTACHED COPIES OF OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT SOME HAVE TRIED TO FIX BUT GET DIFFERENT RESPONSES ON THE FIX. PLEASE HELP!! THANKS

NHTSA ODI #11252521

98,000 miles · Aug 30, 2019
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

MY GRANDSON AND I WERE TAKING A 2 AND 1/2 HOUR TRIP TO VISIT FAMILY I WAS DRIVING ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY GOING ON AN UPHILL AND I BEGAN TO HEAR A WHINING SOUND AND MY SPEED STARTED TO DECREASE FROM 70 THEN TO 60 AND IT STARTED TO DECREASE MORE SO I THEN GOT OFF THE FREEWAY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR…

Read full complaint

MY GRANDSON AND I WERE TAKING A 2 AND 1/2 HOUR TRIP TO VISIT FAMILY I WAS DRIVING ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE FREEWAY GOING ON AN UPHILL AND I BEGAN TO HEAR A WHINING SOUND AND MY SPEED STARTED TO DECREASE FROM 70 THEN TO 60 AND IT STARTED TO DECREASE MORE SO I THEN GOT OFF THE FREEWAY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR I THEN DECIDED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO CONTINUE MY TRIP BUT THE LOCATION THAT I WAS IN WAS NOT A SAFE AREA FOR ME AND MY GRANDSON TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK I THEN DECIDED TO HEAD BACK ONE EXIT DOWN WHERE THEY WOULD BE MORE LIGHTING THE CAR DROVE FINE I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP SPEED WITH NO PROBLEM BUT AGAIN I THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING SO I THEN CALL THE TOW TRUCK AND HOW DOES TOW BACK HOME WHAT I DID NOTICE WAS WHEN I ACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE DID NOT REV AT A HIGHER LEVEL NOR DID THE SPEED INCREASE BUT TO MY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE WITH CARS IT WAS TELLING ME IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, PRESSING THE ACCELERATER AND NOT HEARING YOUR ENGINE ACCELERATE BUT CAR IS STILL MOVING BUT LOWER SPEED JUST DID NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IT WAS MID AFTERNOON ON A FREEWAY THAT COMMUTERS OFTEN USE I WAS LUCKY THAT THE OFF RAMP WAS NEAR FOR ME TO EXIT.

NHTSA ODI #11252491

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE DASHBOARD ON IS MELTING.

NHTSA ODI #11246185

145,148 miles · Aug 1, 2019
Unknown Or Other

MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES DUE TO GLARE.

NHTSA ODI #11241010

150,000 miles · Aug 1, 2019
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA ARE MELTING DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE CABIN. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SUN, THE TOP SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD MELTS, AND RESTRICTS THE FORWARD VISIBILITY BY CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO T…

Read full complaint

THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA ARE MELTING DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE CABIN. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SUN, THE TOP SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD MELTS, AND RESTRICTS THE FORWARD VISIBILITY BY CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE IN THE SUN.

NHTSA ODI #11240998

206,143 miles · Jun 22, 2019
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS ON A FAMILY TRIP AND ON THE INTERSTATE MY CAR SLOWED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FROM SPEEDS OF 60 -70MPH TO BARELY NOT MOVING AT ALL. CLEARLY THIS FRIGHTEN MY ENTIRE FAMILY. AFTER RESTING ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE FOR ALMOST AN HOUR THE CAR RESUMED BUT STARTED TO REPEAT THE SAME PATTERN. IT ALS…

Read full complaint

AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS ON A FAMILY TRIP AND ON THE INTERSTATE MY CAR SLOWED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FROM SPEEDS OF 60 -70MPH TO BARELY NOT MOVING AT ALL. CLEARLY THIS FRIGHTEN MY ENTIRE FAMILY. AFTER RESTING ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE FOR ALMOST AN HOUR THE CAR RESUMED BUT STARTED TO REPEAT THE SAME PATTERN. IT ALSO BARELY PULLED UP A HILL. THIS CAR HAS DONE THIS BEFORE AND THE NISSIAN DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT COULD NEED A TUNE UP. SO BEFORE GOING ON THE FAMILY VACATION LISTED ABOVE I HAD A TUNE UP AND OIL CHANGE DONE BUT GUESS WHAT. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA ODI #11221827

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