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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

146 reports
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45,000 miles · Oct 11, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASH BOARD HAS MELTED AND GOTTEN STICKY. BECAUSE OF THE MELTING IT HAS GOTTEN VERY SHINY AND CAUSES TERRIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THUS RESTRICTING VIEW AND MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF VISION ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO VERY MESSY IF YOU TOUCH OR LAY ANYTHING ON THE DASH. I WOULD SUSPECT IT TO BE UNHEALTHY ALSO …

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DASH BOARD HAS MELTED AND GOTTEN STICKY. BECAUSE OF THE MELTING IT HAS GOTTEN VERY SHINY AND CAUSES TERRIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THUS RESTRICTING VIEW AND MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF VISION ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO VERY MESSY IF YOU TOUCH OR LAY ANYTHING ON THE DASH. I WOULD SUSPECT IT TO BE UNHEALTHY ALSO SINCE THE CHEMISTRY IN THE MATERIAL HAS CHANGED. I LIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND MY CAR IS OUT IN THE SUN AND WEATHER MOST OF THE TIME. WE DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE FOR MOST OF OUR TRANSPORTATION. THIS PROBLEM IS ALWAYS THERE, BUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE IN HOT/SUNSHINY WEATHER. IT LOOKS LIKE PUDDLE ON THE DASH AND ALSO LOOKS LIKE THE DASH IS ABOUT TO DRIP OFF. IT IS EVEN STICKY AND SHINY AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN A GRADUAL THIN THAT STARTED ABOUT 2012 AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE.

NHTSA ODI #10915217

67,000 miles · Oct 4, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK. HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS FOR SOMEONE TO COME GET ME.

NHTSA ODI #10913731

50,000 miles · Oct 3, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD HAS A STICKY RESIDUE THAT CONTINUES TO WORSEN. THE GLARE FROM THE STICKY RESIDUE REDUCES VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #10911179

18,000 miles · Sep 20, 2016
Unknown Or Other

MELTING DASHBOARD. MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE. ALSO THE CRACKING AND PEELING MAY BE EFFECTING THE AIRBAG FUNCTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10908241

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2016
Unknown Or Other

TAKATA RECAL: 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A FAULTY STEERING LOCK. THIS IS CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED AND NOT ABLE TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL CAR. I HAVE NO RECEIVE ANY NOTICED ABOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THIS IS UNSAFE BEING STRANDED. I AM LOOKING TO GET A RECALL ON THE PART OF HAVE A PART PROVIDED TO ME WHICH I SHOULD NOW HAVE TO PA…

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TAKATA RECAL: 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A FAULTY STEERING LOCK. THIS IS CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED AND NOT ABLE TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL CAR. I HAVE NO RECEIVE ANY NOTICED ABOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THIS IS UNSAFE BEING STRANDED. I AM LOOKING TO GET A RECALL ON THE PART OF HAVE A PART PROVIDED TO ME WHICH I SHOULD NOW HAVE TO PAY 500+ FOR THE PART AND THEN ALSO LABOR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2012 AS WELL. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT NISSAN IS MAKING ME PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A DEFECT WITH THERE CARS!

NHTSA ODI #10907578

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO RECALL THEIR FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK UNIT THAT IS NEEDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. IF IT DOES NOT LOCK THE WHEEL IN PLACE IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE PUSH START IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE, THUS LEAVING THEIR OCCUPANTS STRANDED WITH NO OPTION OTHER THAN TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP …

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NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO RECALL THEIR FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK UNIT THAT IS NEEDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. IF IT DOES NOT LOCK THE WHEEL IN PLACE IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE PUSH START IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE, THUS LEAVING THEIR OCCUPANTS STRANDED WITH NO OPTION OTHER THAN TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND FORCED TO PAY UPWARDS OF $1200 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE FACTORY PART. THEY OFFERED A EXTENDED WARRANTY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, BUT NEGLECTED TO INFORM CONSUMERS OF THIS. THEY ARE CLEARLY TRYING TO GET OUT OF PAYING FOR THEIR MISTAKES AND ARE PASSING THE COST ON TO THEIR UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ODI #10906720

130,000 miles · Sep 1, 2016
Unknown Or Other

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT, RAN IN TO TAKE CARE OF SOME ERRANDS. WHEN RETURNING TO MY CAR TO LEAVE IT WOULD NOT START. IT KEPT SAYING TO PRESS THE BRAKE WHEN I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AND TRYING TO START. IT NEVER STARTED. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. IT WILL NOT EVEN COME ON AUXILIARY TO GET MILEAGE OR ANYTHIN…

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I PARKED MY CAR IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT, RAN IN TO TAKE CARE OF SOME ERRANDS. WHEN RETURNING TO MY CAR TO LEAVE IT WOULD NOT START. IT KEPT SAYING TO PRESS THE BRAKE WHEN I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AND TRYING TO START. IT NEVER STARTED. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. IT WILL NOT EVEN COME ON AUXILIARY TO GET MILEAGE OR ANYTHING ELSE. I THEN TALKED WITH SOMEONE AT AUTOZONE TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS - HE ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK THAT HAS GONE BAD AND THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT FIX IT DUE TO THE WARRANTY RUNNING OUT. I FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND NISSAN KNEW ABOUT IT AND DID NOT FILE A RECALL. I NOW HAVE TO PAY $1200 TO HAVE THIS FIXED ON MY CAR AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS FAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10903058

210,000 miles · Aug 24, 2016
Unknown Or Other

STEERING LOCK FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO BE UNABLE TO BE STARTED. OWNER STRANDED AT WORK WITH VEHICLE IN PARKING GARAGE. NEEDED A TOW AND NOT EASY TO FIND TOW COMPANY THAT WAS WILLING TO PICK UP ON 5TH LEVEL OF PARKING GARAGE. DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS...OWNER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF EARLIER R…

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STEERING LOCK FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO BE UNABLE TO BE STARTED. OWNER STRANDED AT WORK WITH VEHICLE IN PARKING GARAGE. NEEDED A TOW AND NOT EASY TO FIND TOW COMPANY THAT WAS WILLING TO PICK UP ON 5TH LEVEL OF PARKING GARAGE. DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS...OWNER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF EARLIER RECALL. THIS RECALL SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ENDED...MANY MORE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BE PUT AT RISK!

NHTSA ODI #10898394

136,000 miles · Aug 22, 2016
Unknown Or Other

ISSUE: STEERING LOCK FAULT PREVENTING CAR FROM STARTING. DEAR SIR: I AM VERY ANGRY, FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS ONGOING ISSUE WITH MY '09 ALTIMA. I AM SURE YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW DISCONCERTING IT IS TO NOT KNOW WHEN OR IF YOUR CAR WILL START. I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY STRANDED BY THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD TO BE JUM…

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ISSUE: STEERING LOCK FAULT PREVENTING CAR FROM STARTING. DEAR SIR: I AM VERY ANGRY, FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS ONGOING ISSUE WITH MY '09 ALTIMA. I AM SURE YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW DISCONCERTING IT IS TO NOT KNOW WHEN OR IF YOUR CAR WILL START. I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY STRANDED BY THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED ON MANY OCCASIONS AND FINALLY TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HOPEFULLY FIX ONCE AND FOR ALL. THIS IS THE 2ND REPAIR I'VE HAD TO HAVE DONE ON THE SAME OR RELATED ISSUE: STEERING LOCK. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS RESOLVED BY REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FOR A TOTAL OF $177.18. THE SECOND REPAIR WAS FIXED BY REPLACING THE STEERING LOCK FOR A TOTAL OF $908.04 PLUS RENTAL OF $45.00. THE TOWING WAS INCLUDED IN MY AUTO INSURANCE POLICY. I REALIZE THIS IS NOT A NEW VEHICLE, HOWEVER IN MY MIND, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL AS THERE IS NO MANUAL/ALTERNATIVE STARTING MECHANISM. NOT TO MENTION, I'D BE FINE WITH THE 'OLD FASHIONED' KEY START. I'M NOT SURE WHY NISSAN HASN'T STEPPED UP IN A MAJOR WAY TO FIX THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL TELL YOU THIS IS NO SMALL/ISOLATED ISSUE. AS A MULTIPLE NISSAN VEHICLE OWNER AND HOPEFULLY A LONG TIME, REPEAT CUSTOMER I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING A FULL REIMBURSEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF - $1,130.22.

NHTSA ODI #10897665

210,000 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Unknown Or Other

STEERING LOCK. THE STEERING LOCK WILL FAULT AND PREVENT THE CAR TO BE STARTED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE A PERSON CAN BE STRANDED. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS MIGHT BE A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL (DEALER HAD MENTIONED THIS FACT).

NHTSA ODI #10897264

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