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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
83,000 miles · Feb 19, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

MY VEHICLE BEGIN TO NOT START PROPERLY AROUND NOVEMBER 2014. IT HAS SINCE GOT TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NOT START, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK. I FOUND THIS OUT AFTER SOME TROUBLE SHOOTING AND RESEARCH. I ALSO FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND YET A FULL RECALL WAS NEVER MADE…

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MY VEHICLE BEGIN TO NOT START PROPERLY AROUND NOVEMBER 2014. IT HAS SINCE GOT TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NOT START, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK. I FOUND THIS OUT AFTER SOME TROUBLE SHOOTING AND RESEARCH. I ALSO FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND YET A FULL RECALL WAS NEVER MADE, DUE TO IT BEING LABELED AS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WIFE AND 18 MONTH OLD SON WERE STRANDED IN 14 DEGREE WEATHER FOR OVER 3 HOURS TODAY AND THE WIND CHILL WAS BELOW ZERO. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY LIKE NISSAN CAN GET AWAY WITH SAYING THIS MALFUNCTION IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE, BUT CLAIMS IT WILL NOT BE COVERED AS OUR CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING STATING THAT THERE WAS POSSIBLY A DEFECTIVE PART ON OUR CAR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE AND I'M SURE SEVERAL HAVE ALREADY FILED COMPLAINTS HERE AS WELL. NISSAN NOW WANTS US TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DIAGNOSED, I FIND THIS TO BE AN UNACCEPTABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE, WHICH INDICATES THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH MONEY THEN THE WELFARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES THAT HAD RECALLS AND NEVER ONCE WAS I REQUIRED TO PAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10689468

40,000 miles · Feb 18, 2015
Electrical System

AFTER MOVING MY CAR TO SHOVEL SNOW, I PARKED IT. I CAME OUT 2 HOURS LATER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. ELECTRONIC KEY WORKED, INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED, HORN WORKED, ALARM WORKED BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I PRESSED THE START BUTTON AND NOTHING. WE TRIED TO JUMP START IT THINKING THE BATTERY MIGHT BE A LITTLE WEAK BUT NOTHING!!! NOW A…

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AFTER MOVING MY CAR TO SHOVEL SNOW, I PARKED IT. I CAME OUT 2 HOURS LATER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. ELECTRONIC KEY WORKED, INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED, HORN WORKED, ALARM WORKED BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I PRESSED THE START BUTTON AND NOTHING. WE TRIED TO JUMP START IT THINKING THE BATTERY MIGHT BE A LITTLE WEAK BUT NOTHING!!! NOW AFTER 2 DAYS OF RESEARCH AND MISSED WORK THE PROBLEM IS IN THE LOCK STEERING COLUMN. I NOW HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH THIS WILL COST ME. THANK HEAVEN THE CAR JUST DIDN'T DIE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT! THE CAR ISN'T EVEN PAID OFF YET AND HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES...I HOPE YOUR AGENCY WILL DO SOMETHING FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE LIKE MYSELF, THAT PAY GOOD HARD EARNED MONEY FOR SOMETHING, ONLY TO BUY A DEFECTIVE PIECE OF JUNK.IF IT WAS ONLY ME, I'D SUCK IT UP AND MOVE ON BUT ITS HUNDREDS OF US AND IF OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS AREN'T COMPLAIN NOW, DON'T WORRY THEY WILL!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10684201

90,000 miles · Feb 17, 2015
StructureVisibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD ON MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 BECOMES REALLY STICKY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS PROBLEM BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE STICKINESS TENDS TO SPREAD TO THE WINDSHIELD BLOCKING THE VISIBILITY. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683811

70,000 miles · Feb 16, 2015
Electrical System

WENT OUT THIS MORNING, STARTED MY CAR, DROVE IT TO THE SUPERMARKET, CAME OUT AND THE CAR WON?T START. ACCORDING TO THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT INFORMATION IN THE MANUAL, IT SAYS I HAVE TO CONTACT THE DEALER. LOOKING AT OTHER POSTS HERE AND OTHER SITES, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT NISSAN DOESN'T RECOGNIZE AS A RECALL PRO…

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WENT OUT THIS MORNING, STARTED MY CAR, DROVE IT TO THE SUPERMARKET, CAME OUT AND THE CAR WON?T START. ACCORDING TO THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT INFORMATION IN THE MANUAL, IT SAYS I HAVE TO CONTACT THE DEALER. LOOKING AT OTHER POSTS HERE AND OTHER SITES, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT NISSAN DOESN'T RECOGNIZE AS A RECALL PROBLEM. I JUST HOPE I DON?T GET RIPPED OFF TOO MUCH FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683608

88,758 miles · Feb 16, 2015
Steering

ON MONDAY, JAN 26, ,2015 MY NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START OR TURN OVER DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK. I CONTACTED NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET ASSISTANCE BY DESCRIBING WHAT ISSUE I WAS HAVING WITH MY CAR. I PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE; MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND THE KEY SYMBOL LIGHT IS APPEARING ON MY DASH BOAR…

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ON MONDAY, JAN 26, ,2015 MY NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START OR TURN OVER DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK. I CONTACTED NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET ASSISTANCE BY DESCRIBING WHAT ISSUE I WAS HAVING WITH MY CAR. I PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE; MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND THE KEY SYMBOL LIGHT IS APPEARING ON MY DASH BOARD. I WAS TOLD BY THE REP AT NISSAN THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP/AUTO NATION ASAP. MY CAR WAS TOWED ON MONDAY EVERNING JAN 26, 2015. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY (SO I THOUGHT), I CONTACTED MY WARRANTY SERVICE AND WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED NOV 26, 2014. ON THE AUTO NATION INVOICE IT SAYS (REPLACE STEERING LOCK AND PERFORMED REGSITION ON STEERING LOCK). MY CAR REPAIRED ON TUE, JAN 27, 2015 AND I WAS ABLE TO PICK-UP MY CAR ON WED, JAN 28, 2015.THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $1,067.47. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683583

170,000 miles · Feb 14, 2015
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 170,000 MILES ON MY NISSAN ALTIMA WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683507

75,049 miles · Feb 13, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK SUDDENLY FAILED, RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO START THE CAR. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THE ISSUE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD COST BE $900+. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH THE 2009 ALTIMA AND IT IS CLEAR THAT NISSAN I…

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THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK SUDDENLY FAILED, RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO START THE CAR. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THE ISSUE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD COST BE $900+. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH THE 2009 ALTIMA AND IT IS CLEAR THAT NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I WAS STRANDED, AWAY FROM HOME, AND HAD TO REARRANGE MY ENTIRE DAY WHILE COMING OUT OF POCKET A LARGE SUM OF MONEY WHICH I, QUITE FRANKLY, DO NOT HAVE. I SUBMITTED A WARRANTY EXTENSION REIMBURSEMENT FORM TO NISSAN WHO TURNED AROUND AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK. I WAS REFERRED TO THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHO CONFIRMED THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA, OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECAME A PROBLEM. I AM ONLY 3 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683291

68,000 miles · Feb 11, 2015
Structure

AFTER OWNING THIS CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS I HAVE NOTICED MY DASHBOARD MELTING AND CAUSING A TERRIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD IN LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. THIS HAS LED TO ME ALMOST HITTING A FEW PEOPLE AND OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO LACK OF VISIBILITY. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERNED NOT ONLY AS A DRIVER BUT FOR PEDESTRIANS AN…

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AFTER OWNING THIS CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS I HAVE NOTICED MY DASHBOARD MELTING AND CAUSING A TERRIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD IN LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. THIS HAS LED TO ME ALMOST HITTING A FEW PEOPLE AND OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO LACK OF VISIBILITY. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERNED NOT ONLY AS A DRIVER BUT FOR PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682856

30,000 miles · Feb 11, 2015
Electrical System

WENT OUT TO START CAR, AND WOULD NOT START. KEY FOB ALLOWS ME TO OPEN AND LOCK CAR, BUT I AM UNABLE TO GET MY CAR STARTED. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THE 2009 ALTIMAS, WHAT WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO START. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND STILL NO RECALL. I WILL HA…

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WENT OUT TO START CAR, AND WOULD NOT START. KEY FOB ALLOWS ME TO OPEN AND LOCK CAR, BUT I AM UNABLE TO GET MY CAR STARTED. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THE 2009 ALTIMAS, WHAT WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO START. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND STILL NO RECALL. I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE TOWED, AND POSSIBLY HAVE TO PAY OVER $1000.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED. THIS ISSUE USUALLY OCCURS AFTER 55,000 MILES, BUT I AM JUST AT 33,000. PLEASE WONT YOU HELP THOSE OF US WITH THIS ISSUE WITH A RECALL ! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682691

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2015
Structure

THE DASHBOARD APPEARS TO BE MELTING, STICKY AND SHINY. IT CREATES A VISUAL PROBLEM. IT CANNOT BE TOUCHED OR CLEANED AND IT ALMOST APPEARS TO BE DISINTEGRATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682574

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