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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

49 reports
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58,000 miles · Sep 19, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WITH APPROXIMATELY 60K MILES. WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60MPH, THE CAR DECELERATES WITH NO WARNING. DURING THE FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF A SEMI TRUCK CAUGHT IN THEIR BLINDSPOT WHILE THEY WERE TRYING TO SWITCH LANES. I ATTEMPTED TO PASS THIS TRUCK O…

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I OWN A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WITH APPROXIMATELY 60K MILES. WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60MPH, THE CAR DECELERATES WITH NO WARNING. DURING THE FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF A SEMI TRUCK CAUGHT IN THEIR BLINDSPOT WHILE THEY WERE TRYING TO SWITCH LANES. I ATTEMPTED TO PASS THIS TRUCK ONLY TO HAVE MY CAR SLOW DOWN COMPLETELY, EVEN WITH GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLES BEHIND ME HAD TO CHANGE LANES SUDDENLY TO AVOID REAR ENDING ME, AND I ALMOST BECAME THE VICTIM OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS SEMI TRUCK. FEARING A SIMILAR INCIDENT ON THE TRIP BACK, I STAYED SAFELY IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE GOING JUST BELOW THE POSTED SPEED (70MPH). AS I APPROACHED AN INCLINE ON THE INTERSTATE, NOT ONLY WOULD MY CAR NOT SPEED UP, IT WOULD NOT EVEN MAINTAIN SPEED. IT QUICKLY WENT FROM 66MPH TO 55MPH. ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS COLLISION WITH THE UNSUSPECTING VEHICLES BEHIND ME. AFTER GETTING A DIAGNOSIS DONE AT MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING. NISSAN HAS ADMITTED TO KNOWING THESE ISSUES, BY AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS TO 10YR/120K. HOWEVER, THE WAY AROUND ACTUALLY PAYING TO FIX THESE DEATH TRAPS IS TO INFORM THE CONSUMER THAT THE "FIX" IS NOT A NEW TRANSMISSION, RATHER AN EXTERNAL COOLER THAT NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED. THESE ARE COMMONLY FOUND IN LARGER SUV'S AND TRUCKS TO HELP COMPENSATE FOR THE ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THE TRANSMISSION, DUE TO LARGER SIZE/WEIGHT. I DRIVE A 2-DOOR ALTIMA. I AM NOT TOWING BOATS OR PAVERS. IF MY TINY CAR NEEDS AN EXTERNAL COOLER TO HELP ITS FAULTY TRANSMISSION FUNCTION SAFELY AND PROPERLY, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT MANUFACTURING. THE OUT OF POCKET COST FOR THIS COOLER IS $1000+. NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAULTY PRODUCT THEY MANUFACTURED. THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637445

67,000 miles · Sep 17, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER NO THROTTLE ON INCLINES. HAD COMPUTER RESET.. PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. INSTALLED NEW FUEL PUMP STILL PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633849

128,000 miles · Aug 26, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED EVEN WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10628523

30,477 miles · Jul 18, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ROLLING TO A STOP WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND BEFORE I COULD LIFT MY FOOT AND REAPPLY BRAKE I HAD GONE OVER THE CURB AND INTO A BUSH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614614

32,608 miles · Dec 16, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE COASTING UPHILL, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE, BUT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE …

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE COASTING UPHILL, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE, BUT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE EXACT FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32608.- LL

NHTSA ODI #10556161

73,000 miles · Jul 3, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED OF 80 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE BUT GAS PETAL WENT TO THE GROUND. CAR STARTED TO LOSS POWER. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY WHICH CAR STAYED AT 20 MPH WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. I HAD CAR EVALUATED AND MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFOR…

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DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED OF 80 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE BUT GAS PETAL WENT TO THE GROUND. CAR STARTED TO LOSS POWER. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY WHICH CAR STAYED AT 20 MPH WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. I HAD CAR EVALUATED AND MECHANIC SAID HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE IN THE HIGH TEMPERATURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523108

30,000 miles · Nov 9, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE IN PARKING GARAGE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE. STRUCK CONCRETE PILLAR CAUSING AIRBAG TO DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435054

16,000 miles · Sep 29, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A TREE AND A METAL POLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A TREE AND A METAL POLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. UPDATED 11/29/11 *CN UPDATED 12/07/11

NHTSA ODI #10427859

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- COPY OF A LETTER TO NISSAN RE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE MERGED ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY, SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND SOON DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS DECREASING IN SPEED, INSTEAD OF INCREASING. THE CONSUMER STOPPED TO A REPAIR SHOP…

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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- COPY OF A LETTER TO NISSAN RE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE MERGED ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY, SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND SOON DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS DECREASING IN SPEED, INSTEAD OF INCREASING. THE CONSUMER STOPPED TO A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND A HALF OF DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED OF 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM RETURNED. GOING UP HILLS, WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND THE TOP SPEED OF GOING UP A HILL WAS 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THE NEXT DAY THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM AS WELL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10417530

39,000 miles · May 13, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A ROW OF BUSHES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED BODY DAMAGE YET THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE REPORTED TO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A ROW OF BUSHES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED BODY DAMAGE YET THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ODI #10400729

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