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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

What owners actually said

1,547 reports
57,514 miles · Apr 24, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

I WENT TO START MY CAR AND AN AMBER LIGHT WITH A KEY CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE ESCL(ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK). THE REPAIR COST ME 893.90. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS SO NISSAN NEW IT WAS A PROB…

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I WENT TO START MY CAR AND AN AMBER LIGHT WITH A KEY CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE ESCL(ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK). THE REPAIR COST ME 893.90. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS SO NISSAN NEW IT WAS A PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY ENDED 3 MONTHS AGO. NISSAN WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS MY 4TH NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712713

39,000 miles · Apr 21, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD MELTED WITH A STICKY SUBSTANCE AND CAUSED A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH DISTORTED THE VISION WHENEVER DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VIN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD MELTED WITH A STICKY SUBSTANCE AND CAUSED A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH DISTORTED THE VISION WHENEVER DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 6/3/15*CN UPDATED 10/06/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10711954

102,000 miles · Apr 20, 2015
Steering

MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA DID NOT START ONE MORNING AS I NEEDED TO GO IN TO WORK. I CALLED NISSAN IN LIBERTYVILLE IL AND I WAS TOLD THE IT WAS PROBABLY THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. I PROVIDED THEM THE VIN NUMBER AND THEY SAID IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WOULD BE COVERED 100% IF THAT WAS THE IS…

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MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA DID NOT START ONE MORNING AS I NEEDED TO GO IN TO WORK. I CALLED NISSAN IN LIBERTYVILLE IL AND I WAS TOLD THE IT WAS PROBABLY THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. I PROVIDED THEM THE VIN NUMBER AND THEY SAID IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WOULD BE COVERED 100% IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE. ONCE AT THEIR SHOP THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING ISSUE BUT SWITCHED THEIR STORY AND SAID IT NO LONGER WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY CONFIRMED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF MY NISSAN BREAKING DOWN. AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS TO NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE PART WHICH COST ME $850 IN REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706681

55,000 miles · Apr 17, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

MY CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER WORK AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, UNTIL I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SOME HELP, AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALTIMA'S FROM 2009 2010. I CONTACTED CORPORATE NISSAN, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED TWO MONTHS AGO, EXACTLY, AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY A NI…

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MY CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER WORK AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, UNTIL I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SOME HELP, AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALTIMA'S FROM 2009 2010. I CONTACTED CORPORATE NISSAN, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED TWO MONTHS AGO, EXACTLY, AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY A NISSAN BEFORE THEY CONSIDER COVERING FAULTY PARTS. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NISSAN REPAIR, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING LOCK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1020.00. NISSAN MECHANIC SAID THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA'S. I REPORTED BACK TO CORPORATE, WHO SAID THEY WOULD "INVESTIGATE" MY CLAIM, AND ASSURED I WOULD BE CONTACTED TWO DAYS AGO. NEVER RECEIVED A CALL, DESPITE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REACH THEM, AND CONVENIENT FOR NISSAN THAT THE DEPARTMENT I NEED DOESN'T HAVE AN AVAILABLE TELEPHONE NUMBER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706322

55,000 miles · Apr 17, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

MY CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER LEAVING WORK, COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, UNTIL I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH. I CONTACTED CORPORATE NISSAN, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED TWO MONTHS AGO, EXACTLY, AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY A NISSAN REPAIR BEFORE THEY CONSIDER COVERING FAULTY PARTS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO T…

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MY CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER LEAVING WORK, COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, UNTIL I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH. I CONTACTED CORPORATE NISSAN, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED TWO MONTHS AGO, EXACTLY, AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY A NISSAN REPAIR BEFORE THEY CONSIDER COVERING FAULTY PARTS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NISSAN REPAIR, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING LOCK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1020.00. NISSAN MECHANIC SAID THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA'S. I REPORTED BACK TO CORPORATE, WHO SAID THEY WOULD "INVESTIGATE" MY CLAIM, AND ASSURED I WOULD BE CONTACTED TWO DAYS AGO. NEVER RECEIVED A CALL, DESPITE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REACH THEM, AND CONVENIENT FOR NISSAN THAT THE DEPARTMENT I NEED DOESN'T HAVE AN AVAILABLE TELEPHONE NUMBER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706309

20,000 miles · Apr 17, 2015
Visibility/wiper

DRIVING HOME AT 4PM, THE GLARE FROM MY DASHBOARD AFFECTED MY VISION. WHEN I TOUCHED THE DASHBOARD, IT WAS MELTING AND STICKY. THIS WAS CAUSING THE GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD AFFECTING MY OUTWARD VISION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706203

94,444 miles · Apr 16, 2015
Electrical System

AIRBAGS LIGHT FOR BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE CAME ON INDICATING THAT THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706168

94,444 miles · Apr 16, 2015
Electrical System

STEERING LOCK - NOT ABLE TO START VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706160

67,000 miles · Apr 16, 2015
Structure

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING AND THE SUN HIT MY DASHBOARD WHICH HAS BEEN MELTING AND HAS A GLARE REFLECTION ON MY WINDSHIELD. A PEDESTRIAN WAS CROSSING THE STREET, I ALMOST HIT THEM BECAUSE I WAS BLINDED BY THE GLARE FROM THE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE HAVE A RECALL ON THAT ISSUE SO NISSAN CAN FIX THAT UNSAFE AND ANNOYING ISSUE. …

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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING AND THE SUN HIT MY DASHBOARD WHICH HAS BEEN MELTING AND HAS A GLARE REFLECTION ON MY WINDSHIELD. A PEDESTRIAN WAS CROSSING THE STREET, I ALMOST HIT THEM BECAUSE I WAS BLINDED BY THE GLARE FROM THE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE HAVE A RECALL ON THAT ISSUE SO NISSAN CAN FIX THAT UNSAFE AND ANNOYING ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706103

95,524 miles · Apr 12, 2015
Electrical System

I WAS AT THE STORAGE UNIT CLEANING IT OUT WHEN I CAME OUT AND THE CAR WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK, BUT THE BRAKE WAS HARD TO PUSH DOWN, AND WITH YOU PUSHED THE START BUTTON IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE LOCK POSITION. THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK UP AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705159

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.

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