← 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 · May 2, 2018
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD IN MY NISSAN IS LITERALLY LIQUIFYING OVER THE LAST 7 MONTHS. THIS APPEARS TO BE KNOWN ISSUE THAT RESULTED IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN FL AGAINST NISSAN THAT WAS WON FOR THE PLANTIFFS. THERE IS FACEBOOK GROUP FOR NISSAN MELTING DASH BOARDS AND A NEWS STATION COVERED THE STORY: HTTPS://WWW.CLICK2HOUSTON.COM/CONSUME…

Read full complaint

THE DASHBOARD IN MY NISSAN IS LITERALLY LIQUIFYING OVER THE LAST 7 MONTHS. THIS APPEARS TO BE KNOWN ISSUE THAT RESULTED IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN FL AGAINST NISSAN THAT WAS WON FOR THE PLANTIFFS. THERE IS FACEBOOK GROUP FOR NISSAN MELTING DASH BOARDS AND A NEWS STATION COVERED THE STORY: HTTPS://WWW.CLICK2HOUSTON.COM/CONSUMER/DRIVERS-WANT-STICKY-DASHBOARDS-FIXED I CONTACTED NISSAN, WHO REFERRED ME TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND I WAS ULITMATELY REFERRED TO CAMERON, A REGIONAL NISSAN QA REPRESENTATIVE. I WAS TOLD AT THT TIME THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. I DID VERY CLEARLY (AND POLITELY) DESCRIBE THE SAFETY CONCERN AS THE MELTING DASHBOARD CAUSES A HORRIFIC GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I DO INDEED UNDERSTAND THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT GIVEN THE SAFETY HAZARD PIECE, I WAS HOPING THAT NISSAN WOULD STAND BY THIER PRODUCTS IN THIS CASE AND CONSIDER GENERATING A RECALL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. TOYOTA HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE AND OFFERED FULL REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11091454

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2018
Unknown Or Other

DASH BOARD RECALL - I BOUGHT MY ALTIMA USE BACK IN 2016. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN TO GET IT SERVICED AND ASKED ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE DASH BOARD WHICH THE AGENT FURTHER TOLD ME THAT THEIR WAS A CLAIM LAST YEAR FOR THE DASH BOARD ISSUE, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ABOUT THE ISSUE UNTIL I BROUGHT IT IN 04/13/2018. THE D…

Read full complaint

DASH BOARD RECALL - I BOUGHT MY ALTIMA USE BACK IN 2016. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN TO GET IT SERVICED AND ASKED ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE DASH BOARD WHICH THE AGENT FURTHER TOLD ME THAT THEIR WAS A CLAIM LAST YEAR FOR THE DASH BOARD ISSUE, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ABOUT THE ISSUE UNTIL I BROUGHT IT IN 04/13/2018. THE DASH BOARD AND GEAR SHIFT ARE BOTH STICKY AND CAUSING HARM WHEN DRIVING. NISSAN NOR THE THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT NEVER REACHED OUT BY SENDING S MAIL THAT THEIR PARTS WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI #11088347

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2018
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING A GLARE TO MY WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO VISIBLY SEE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING BUT IT DEFINITELY CAUSING A PROBLEM FOR ME TO SEE CLEARLY.

NHTSA ODI #11078466

115,000 miles · Jan 2, 2018
Unknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL MY STEERING LOCK JUST WENT OUT ON MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR LAST YEAR HOWEVER I DID NOT KNOW IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP UNTIL 2015 FOR THE STEERING LOCK IF THIS CAR IS STILL BEING SOLD THROUGH DEALERSHIPS IT SHOULD BE TOLD TO THE BUYER OF ANY RECALL ISSUES THAT HAVE WENT ON PRIOR HOWEVER I…

Read full complaint

TAKATA RECALL MY STEERING LOCK JUST WENT OUT ON MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR LAST YEAR HOWEVER I DID NOT KNOW IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP UNTIL 2015 FOR THE STEERING LOCK IF THIS CAR IS STILL BEING SOLD THROUGH DEALERSHIPS IT SHOULD BE TOLD TO THE BUYER OF ANY RECALL ISSUES THAT HAVE WENT ON PRIOR HOWEVER I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND I HAVE A $1,200 PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR ONE YEAR AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS UP IFILE TO HAVE TO PAY ALL THESE EXPENSES OUT OF MY POCKET WHICH IS NOWHERE RIGHT

NHTSA ODI #11058029

100,000 miles · Dec 26, 2017
Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or OtherFire

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE COMPLETELY TOTALED. IT WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 2 MILES PARKED AND SHUT OFF. WITHIN 15 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI #11056679

65,000 miles · Dec 10, 2017
Air BagsSeatsUnknown Or Other

I LOVE MY ALTIMA. BUT RECENTLY IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PAIN IN THE NECK. RECENTLY MY AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID MY AIRBAG SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING. SINCE THE SENSORS IS IN THE SEAT, I HAVE TO PAY $3,100 TO REPLACE THE BOTTOM CUAHION IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. MY HAS WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WAS…

Read full complaint

I LOVE MY ALTIMA. BUT RECENTLY IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PAIN IN THE NECK. RECENTLY MY AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID MY AIRBAG SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING. SINCE THE SENSORS IS IN THE SEAT, I HAVE TO PAY $3,100 TO REPLACE THE BOTTOM CUAHION IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. MY HAS WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO MOISTURE IN MY CAR TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ALTIMAS HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. THIS IS NOT A CHEAP FIX AND THERE'S TOO MANY NISSAN OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR 2009 NISAAN ALTIMAS PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR FAILURE. NISSAN NEED TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

NHTSA ODI #11053797

22,000 miles · Nov 2, 2017
SteeringUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND IT'S VERY STICKY.. THE GLARE IS A MAJOR CONCERN THAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S DAY OR NIGHT IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #11042824

142,956 miles · Oct 8, 2017
SteeringUnknown Or Other

CAR WILL NOT START AND KEY LOCK IS ON AS WELL AS THE RED LIGHT WITH THE CAR FLASHING INSIDE OF THE CAR. I LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP AND IT STATED SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEING A STEERING MECHANISM. I WAS PARKED IN A RESTAURANT GOT OUT TO GET MY FOOD AND CAME BACK TO THE CAR AND CAR WOULDN'T START.

NHTSA ODI #11032287

75,000 miles · Oct 6, 2017
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

I HAVE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA AND IT HAS A VERY STICKY, SHINY DASHBOARD. SOME PART OF THE DASHBOARD IS SO SHINY THAT IT CREATES A GLARE ON WINDSHIELD DURING DAYTIME WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUTSIDE AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE OTHER CARS, PEDESTRIANS ETC.DURING DRIVING. THIS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE TAKE CARE OF BY NI…

Read full complaint

I HAVE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA AND IT HAS A VERY STICKY, SHINY DASHBOARD. SOME PART OF THE DASHBOARD IS SO SHINY THAT IT CREATES A GLARE ON WINDSHIELD DURING DAYTIME WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUTSIDE AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE OTHER CARS, PEDESTRIANS ETC.DURING DRIVING. THIS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE TAKE CARE OF BY NISSAN ASAP.

NHTSA ODI #11032130

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2017
Unknown Or Other

KEY LOCKING MECHANISM STALLED ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #11014827

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