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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
12 miles · Oct 23, 2014
Air Bags

SINCE PURCHASE AS NEW IN 2009, OCCASIONALLY WHEN MY WIFE IS IN PASSENGER SEAT, THE DISABLE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. SUGGESTING THAT MAYBE MY WIFE WAS NOT HEAVY ENOUGH FOR '(SENSOR)" TO DETECT.!!!??? MY CONCERN WITH RECENT NEWS OF DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS THAT WHEN WE TR…

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SINCE PURCHASE AS NEW IN 2009, OCCASIONALLY WHEN MY WIFE IS IN PASSENGER SEAT, THE DISABLE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. SUGGESTING THAT MAYBE MY WIFE WAS NOT HEAVY ENOUGH FOR '(SENSOR)" TO DETECT.!!!??? MY CONCERN WITH RECENT NEWS OF DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS THAT WHEN WE TRAVEL TOGETHER THAT THE "(OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM)" IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND MY WIFE AS A PASSENGER IS NOT PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT. THE DISABLED AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT LIGHT UP ALL THE TIME AND IS ONLY OCCASIONALLY, BUT THIS DOES NOT GIVE ONE A FELLING OF SECURITY AND SAFETY. WITH RECENT CNN & FOX NEWS AS WELL AS LOCAL TV NEWS CONCERNING (AIR BAGS) MAKES ONE TO WONDER ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649491

88,569 miles · Oct 18, 2014
Structure

MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING RIGHT NOW IS A UGLY STICKY MESS, SOME HEAVY GLARE REDUCING 50% OF THE VISION IN MY WINDSHIELD AFFECTING ME WATCHING FOR PEDESTRIANS, CARS, THE ROAD., ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648596

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2014
Electrical System

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER SHORT VISIT TO CONVENIENCE STORE. PROBLEM BELIEVED TO BE "IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER" AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINANTS HAVE ALREADY ATTESTED TO. A CONTINUING SERIOUS PHYSICAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. NHTSA HAS DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643638

39,000 miles · Oct 5, 2014
Structure

DASHBOARD IS MELTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641546

65,000 miles · Oct 3, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CRANK AND CAM SHAFT. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10641262

60,000 miles · Oct 2, 2014
Structure

MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT IS VERY STICKY TO THE TOUCH AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO STOP IT. ALTHOUGH A VISUAL DEFECT, IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE MELTING PORTION IS VERY SHINY AND PROVIDES A SHARP GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD GREATLY REDUCING MY VISIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640892

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

45,000 miles · Sep 7, 2014
Unknown Or Other

THERE ARE LONG LINES OF CRACKS ALL OVER MY DASHBOARD. IT APPEARS THE MATERIAL FROM WHICH IT IS MADE, IS EXTREMELY INFERIOR. BOTH THE DEALER FROM WHICH IS WAS BOUGHT (CORAL SPRINGS NISSAN) AND THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS SECTION OF NISSAN NA TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS THE WARRANTY IS UP. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IF TH…

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THERE ARE LONG LINES OF CRACKS ALL OVER MY DASHBOARD. IT APPEARS THE MATERIAL FROM WHICH IT IS MADE, IS EXTREMELY INFERIOR. BOTH THE DEALER FROM WHICH IS WAS BOUGHT (CORAL SPRINGS NISSAN) AND THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS SECTION OF NISSAN NA TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS THE WARRANTY IS UP. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IF THE DASHBOARD FALLS APART WHILE I AM DRIVING? I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING, TO A LESSER EXTENT, THE SHINY SPOTS WHICH I HAVE ALSO READ ABOUT FROM COMMENTS ONLINE, ON THE DASHBOARD. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM AND FAIL TO SEE HOW A CAR WHICH I PURCHASED DECEMBER 2009 - NOTE EVEN 5 YEARS OLD - SHOULD BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I'M EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED THAT THE COMPANY IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN RECTIFYING THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631350

74,000 miles · Sep 5, 2014
Electrical System

WILL NOT START. LIGHTS COME ON BUT ENGINE WON'T START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631189

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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