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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
42,000 miles · Jan 16, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A "SMART" KEY-LOCKING SYSTEM AS WELL AS A "SMART" IGNITION SYSTEM. THE KEY FOR THE CAR IS A WIRELESS FOB THAT WHEN AROUND THE VEHICLE WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO BE UNLOCKED AND STARTED. THE KEY WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO START, WHEN THE KEY IS DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ISSUE THAT AROSE WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCT…

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THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A "SMART" KEY-LOCKING SYSTEM AS WELL AS A "SMART" IGNITION SYSTEM. THE KEY FOR THE CAR IS A WIRELESS FOB THAT WHEN AROUND THE VEHICLE WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO BE UNLOCKED AND STARTED. THE KEY WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO START, WHEN THE KEY IS DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ISSUE THAT AROSE WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING PART, THE PART WAS AN: ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. THE PART FAILED DURING A SPELL OF COLD DAYS THAT AFFECTED MY STATE. DURING THE FIRST FEW DAYS BEFORE THE PART ULTIMATELY MALFUNCTIONED THE CAR BEGAN SHOWING ERROR LIGHTS FOR MANY SYSTEMS. THE CAR INDICATED THAT DOORS WERE OPEN, THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE APPLIED (WHEN THEY CLEARLY WERE NOT), THE INTERIOR LIGHTS IN THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY COME ON WHEN DRIVING (AS IF DOORS WERE OPENING) AND FINALLY THE INDICATED THAT THE SMART KEY SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CAR ULTIMATELY FAILED ON A COLD NIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE CAR, BUT THAT WAS IT. THE CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY AND THE CAR WAS RENDERED USELESS. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR ON, OR EVEN SWITCH IT TO ANY STANDBY MODE. BECAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE A TRADITIONAL KEY YOU ARE UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND PUSH IT IN NEUTRAL. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, AND DEPENDING ON HOW THE TIRES WERE LOCKED INITIALLY DETERMINES THE ONLY DIRECTION THAT THE CAR WILL MOVE. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THE ISSUE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE ISSUED A "WARRANTY EXTENSION" ON THAT SPECIFIC PART ONLY. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY KNOW A PROBLEM EXISTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT I WAS ALSO TOLD BY NISSAN THAT THE PART IS ON BACKORDER AND ON RESTRICTED RELEASE. THEY HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT THEY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND. THIS ISSUE IS VERY REAL AND DANGEROUS. PEOPLE WILL BE LEFT STRANDED IN THEIR CAR. UNLESS THE PART FAILS THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE PART WILL GO WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560272

68,000 miles · Jan 15, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

ATTEMPTED TO START CAR, AND RECEIVED "STEERING WHEEL LOCK" LIGHT - DESPITE TRYING WITH BOTH FOBS (IT WAS NOT A FAULTY FOB). AFTER HALF HOUR OF TRYING, STILL CAN NOT TURN CAR ON DUE TO LOCKED STEERING WHEEL. ENGINE WON'T TURN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL NOT TURN ON, AND CAR IS STUCK. HAVE YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560032

130,000 miles · Jan 14, 2014
Steering

I WENT TO GO START MY CAR AND IT DIDNT START I THOUGHT I HAD TO JUMP START ITBUT THAT DIDINT WORK. THEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID YOUR STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAS FAILED. I LOOK UP ONLINE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND NOW I HATE NISSAN NEVER GOING TO BUY NISSAN AGAIN, BECAUSE I HAD A TRANSMISSION FALIURE AS WE…

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I WENT TO GO START MY CAR AND IT DIDNT START I THOUGHT I HAD TO JUMP START ITBUT THAT DIDINT WORK. THEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID YOUR STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAS FAILED. I LOOK UP ONLINE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND NOW I HATE NISSAN NEVER GOING TO BUY NISSAN AGAIN, BECAUSE I HAD A TRANSMISSION FALIURE AS WELL A YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559982

98,000 miles · Jan 9, 2014
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD BECAME CRACKED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10559231

83,000 miles · Jan 4, 2014
Electrical System

DROVE MY CAR EARLY THIS AM WITH NO PROBLEM. WHEN I RETURNED ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE BRAKE WAS VERY HARD. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKS, HORN, AND HEADLIGHTS. HOWEVER ONLY THE KEY FOB INDICATOR AND PUSH BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS IN DASH. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD FOB. I HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN AND THE FOB WAS NOT BAD. …

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DROVE MY CAR EARLY THIS AM WITH NO PROBLEM. WHEN I RETURNED ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE BRAKE WAS VERY HARD. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKS, HORN, AND HEADLIGHTS. HOWEVER ONLY THE KEY FOB INDICATOR AND PUSH BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS IN DASH. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD FOB. I HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN AND THE FOB WAS NOT BAD. NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE MAIN COMPUTER. THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANY MORE RESEARCH UNTIL MONDAY. I AM SEEING A LOT OF THIS SAME PROBLEM IN HERE. I AM VERY NERVOUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558484

85,000 miles · Jan 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

GOT HOME TURNED MY CAR OFF WENT INSIDE TO GET GIFT CARDS CAME BACK OUTSIDE TRYING TO START MY CAR, BUT IT WOULDN'T START, ALL I SAW WAS A YELLOW KEY LIGHT. LIGHTS WORKED FINE I TRIED MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL AND PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND TRYING TO START BUT NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558432

91,000 miles · Jan 4, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED UP AND BREAKS WERE HARD TO PUSH. AFTER TRYING A FEW TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE AUTO-THEFT MUST BE ON. I TRIED TO PUT THE FOB IN THE MANUAL IGNITION, BUT THE FOB GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, THE FOB FINALLY CAME OUT…

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WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED UP AND BREAKS WERE HARD TO PUSH. AFTER TRYING A FEW TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE AUTO-THEFT MUST BE ON. I TRIED TO PUT THE FOB IN THE MANUAL IGNITION, BUT THE FOB GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, THE FOB FINALLY CAME OUT. THE CAR STILL DOES NOT START AND THE AUTO-THEFT IS STILL ON. THE BATTERY IS NOT BAD BECAUSE THE CAR BEEPS WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN AND THE LIGHTS WORK. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO TOW THE VEHICLE IN TO GET IT REPAIRED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558423

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

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2013
Electrical System

I WENT TO THE SUPERMARKET YESTERDAY. WHEN I CAME OUT, I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK MY DOORS AND POP THE TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE ELECTRICAL ICONS APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. I CALLED AAA AND THEY STATED THEY BELIEVE IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MY CAR LIGHTS , HORN, WINDOWS AND DOORS WORK I JUST CANNOT STAR…

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I WENT TO THE SUPERMARKET YESTERDAY. WHEN I CAME OUT, I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK MY DOORS AND POP THE TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE ELECTRICAL ICONS APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. I CALLED AAA AND THEY STATED THEY BELIEVE IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. MY CAR LIGHTS , HORN, WINDOWS AND DOORS WORK I JUST CANNOT START MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556101

25,000 miles · Dec 13, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ODI #10555970

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