IllustrationI WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SHUTDOWN. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
890–25K
17025–50K
30750–75K
29375–100K
306100–150K
74150K+
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 reportsON MONDAY NIGHT 11/25/13 I DROVE TO MY LOCAL SUPERMARKET AND WHEN I WENT BACK TO MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START AFTER PUSHING THE START BUTTON. SEVERAL LIGHTS LIT UP; SERVICE ENGINE SOON, BATTERY, OIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT ETC. I TRIED IT A FEW TIMES WITH NO LUCK. I THEN TRIED SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK. TRIED TO S…
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ON MONDAY NIGHT 11/25/13 I DROVE TO MY LOCAL SUPERMARKET AND WHEN I WENT BACK TO MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START AFTER PUSHING THE START BUTTON. SEVERAL LIGHTS LIT UP; SERVICE ENGINE SOON, BATTERY, OIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT ETC. I TRIED IT A FEW TIMES WITH NO LUCK. I THEN TRIED SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK. TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND NO LUCK. AFTER WAITING ABOUT A MINUTE I TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT FINALLY STARTED. IT HAS BEEN STARTING SINCE THEN (TODAY IS 11/29/13) BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY NERVOUS AND CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND I WON'T BE NEAR HOME. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BY NISSAN AND A RECALL ISSUED SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO MANY OWNERS.. MY BROTHER ALSO OWNS A 2009 ALTIMA AND THIS HAPPENED TO HIM LAST YEAR AND HE HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON FAILED TO ENGAGE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TWO INCIDENTS ON SAME DAY: FIRST INCIDENT AT 7:15AM: ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV WITHOUT ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING PUSHED. BRAKING DISTANCE MUCH LONGER THAN NORMAL. WHEN CAR DID STOP, ENGINE SPEED RETURNED TO NORMAL. SECOND INCIDENCE AT 10:45AM (HAD STOPPED/STARTED CAR 5 TIMES, AND DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES SINCE FIRST OCCURR…
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TWO INCIDENTS ON SAME DAY: FIRST INCIDENT AT 7:15AM: ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV WITHOUT ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING PUSHED. BRAKING DISTANCE MUCH LONGER THAN NORMAL. WHEN CAR DID STOP, ENGINE SPEED RETURNED TO NORMAL. SECOND INCIDENCE AT 10:45AM (HAD STOPPED/STARTED CAR 5 TIMES, AND DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES SINCE FIRST OCCURRENCE): SAME ENGINE OVER-REV ISSUE WHILE BRAKING (ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT PUSHED). AFTER STOPPING (DISTANCE REQUIRED MUCH LONGER THAN NORMAL), ENGINE SPEED DID NOT RETURN TO NORMAL. WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, THEN PARK, TO KEEP ENGINE FROM PROPELLING CAR, ENGINE SPEED WENT TO 6000RPM, WITHOUT ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING PUSHED. HAD TO TURN ENGINE OFF, THEN START AGAIN TO GET ENGINE TO RESPOND NORMALLY. *TR
I GOT INTO MY CAR TO START IT TO REALIZE IT WAS LOCKED DOWN. I COULDN'T START IT OR EVEN ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN ! IT ENDED UP BEING THE STEERING LOCK BOX AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE. I DON'T HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON IT AND HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL OTHERS BEING RECALLED BUT NOT 2009 .... IT NEEDS TO BE !!! *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON RT.190 NORTHBOUND IN LEOMINSTER, MA TO PICK UP MY 2 1/2 YEAR OLD SON AT DAYCARE. AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER. EVERYTHING LIGHT STARTED TO GO ON, CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, GAS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. SMOKE THEN STARTED TO COME FROM THE HOOD. I THOUGHT IT WAS OVERHEATING. THEN ANOTHER CAR PULLED O…
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I WAS DRIVING ON RT.190 NORTHBOUND IN LEOMINSTER, MA TO PICK UP MY 2 1/2 YEAR OLD SON AT DAYCARE. AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER. EVERYTHING LIGHT STARTED TO GO ON, CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, GAS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. SMOKE THEN STARTED TO COME FROM THE HOOD. I THOUGHT IT WAS OVERHEATING. THEN ANOTHER CAR PULLED OVER IN FRONT OF ME AND TOLD ME TO GET OUT THE CAR. I GRABBED MY PURSE AND GOT OUT OF MY CAR. WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW FIRE INSIDE IN MY HOOD. LESS THAN 2 MINUTES MY ENTIRE FRONT END WAS ON FIRE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL FAILED AND PREVENTED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM BEING MANEUVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN T THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL FAILED AND PREVENTED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM BEING MANEUVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN T THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EXCEPT FOR THE INTELLIGENT KEY AND SECURITY INDICATOR LIGHTS. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT EVEN START TO TURN OVER. I NOTICED ALL OF THE LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS STILL WORKED SO I KNEW IT WAS NOT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTI…
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WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EXCEPT FOR THE INTELLIGENT KEY AND SECURITY INDICATOR LIGHTS. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT EVEN START TO TURN OVER. I NOTICED ALL OF THE LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS STILL WORKED SO I KNEW IT WAS NOT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START DUE TO KEY ERROR MESSAGE. AFTER MY RESEARCH COME TO FIND OUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO LOTS OF ALTIMA OWNERS. I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER A SHORT STOP AND THE KEY MESSAGE WAS ON AND NOTHING. IT WOULD NOT START. MY WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND THEY WOULD NOT GO UP. I TRIED EVERYTHING. DISCONNECTED MY BATTER, DID THE NEUTRAL THING. SHOOK STEERING WHEEL. ETC...OF COURSE IT HAPPENS ON A SUNDAY WHEN EVERYTHING IS CLOSED. *TR
TL
Official recalls
410V401000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.