IllustrationTHE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN AND MAKES A WHINING SOUND WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY AND ON THE HIGHWAY.
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
49 reportsIN THE WARM WEATHER 80 AND ABOVE THE CAR MAKES A WHINING NOISE AND STARTS TO LOSE ACCELERATION WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS THERE IS NO POWER WHICH IS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAYS LOSE ACCELERATION WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS THERE IS NO POWER WHICH HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAYS
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 70 MPH, SPEED DROPPED TO APPROX 30-40 MPH. I HAD THE PEDAL TO THE MAT AND IT WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN 30-40 MPH. TOOK IT OFF CRUISE CONTROL, IT STILL WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED WITH THE PEDAL TO THE MAT. SUDDENLY CAR ACCELERATED TO APPROX 80-90 MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN…
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DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 70 MPH, SPEED DROPPED TO APPROX 30-40 MPH. I HAD THE PEDAL TO THE MAT AND IT WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN 30-40 MPH. TOOK IT OFF CRUISE CONTROL, IT STILL WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED WITH THE PEDAL TO THE MAT. SUDDENLY CAR ACCELERATED TO APPROX 80-90 MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL FOR AT LEAST 30-60 SECONDS. THE SPEED THEN DROPPED AGAIN TO 30-40 MPH FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES UNTIL IT WOULD TAKE OFF AGAIN. IT WOULD ACCELERATE FOR ONLY ABOUT 30-60 SECONDS THEN WOULD LOSE POWER AGAIN AND WOULDN'T GO ABOVE 30-40 MPH. TRIED TO RESET CRUISE CONTROL AND STILL WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. IF TRAVELLING ON THE INTERSTATE IN NORMAL TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT VERY EASILY. THIS HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT WITH NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME.
TAKATA RECALL : VEHICLE JERKS UNEXPECTEDLY AND ABRUPTLY SLOWS DOWN. 35/MH...CITY STREET.
COMING HOME FROM FLORIDA IN 2013, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. ONCE WE STOPPED AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES, WE WERE ABLE TO GO ANOTHER 100-150 MILES BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED T…
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COMING HOME FROM FLORIDA IN 2013, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. ONCE WE STOPPED AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES, WE WERE ABLE TO GO ANOTHER 100-150 MILES BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TWICE DRIVING HOME FROM MURFREESBORO. WE WENT TO FLORIDA FOR VACATION THIS YEAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY THERE AND ON THE WAY HOME. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND TALKING TO SOME MECHANICS, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM
CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOT WORKING CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIVE INEFFECTIVELY, CAR SPEED DECLINES AND SOMETIMES THE CAR RPMS STAY AT 3000 AND WON'T ACCELERATE.
TRAVELING UP HILL MY CAR LOSES POWER AND GOES TO SOME KIND OF SAFTY MODE AND ITS VERT SCARY IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN' IN THE CAR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE ONCE THE ENGINE GETS HOT THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER. NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND ONCE YOU STOP THE CAR AND LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN IT RUNS FINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED IT WITH THE FOB, IT FAILED TO START UPON HER RETURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED IT WITH THE FOB, IT FAILED TO START UPON HER RETURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 12/23/16*LJ UPDATED 02/07/17.*JB
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR NO REASON THE ENGINE SLOWS DOWN AND WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE BY PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO THE ENGINE RESPONDS AND SPEEDS UP. THERE IS ALSO A WHIRRING SOUND WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS …
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WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR NO REASON THE ENGINE SLOWS DOWN AND WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE BY PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO THE ENGINE RESPONDS AND SPEEDS UP. THERE IS ALSO A WHIRRING SOUND WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS THE ABILITY TO CAUSE A TRAFFIC PROBLEM OR AN ACCIDENT. I THINK THE PROBLEM MAY BE IN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL.
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.