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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
73,000 miles · Mar 18, 2013
Steering

MY HUSBAND CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON WHEN HE GOT OUT OF WORK. I WAS CURRENTLY TRAINING ACROSS THE STATE SO WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST I TOLD HIM TO CALL THE CAR INSURANCE IF GETTING A JUMP OR CHANGING THE KEY FOB BATTERIES DIDN'T WORK. $85 LATER AND A TOW I WAS TOLD THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL LOCK UNIT NEEDED …

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MY HUSBAND CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON WHEN HE GOT OUT OF WORK. I WAS CURRENTLY TRAINING ACROSS THE STATE SO WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST I TOLD HIM TO CALL THE CAR INSURANCE IF GETTING A JUMP OR CHANGING THE KEY FOB BATTERIES DIDN'T WORK. $85 LATER AND A TOW I WAS TOLD THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL LOCK UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND WHEN IT DID COME BACK IN STOCK THE PART IS GOING TO COST ME $1200!!!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN AND THE LAST 5 CARS I HAVE PURCHASED HAVE BEEN A NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503394

54,000 miles · Mar 16, 2013
Air BagsSeats

WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT RIDING WITH MY WIFE, I NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIT MEANING I WAS NOT PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND I WEIGH 180 LBS. I DON'T SEE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT I AM GOING TO CALL DEALER MONDAY AND CHECK ON THIS. MY SON HAS ALSO REPORTED THIS TO ME AS WELL AND HE WEIGHS ABOUT 160 LBS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503288

88,150 miles · Mar 15, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

DROVE MY CAR TO LOCATION, TURNED CAR OFF, RETURNED TO CAR 5 MINUTES LATER WOULD NOT START. THOUGHT IT WAS BATTERY, FUSE, OR DEAD KEY FOB BATTERY. CALLED DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER STATED OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AND PUSH IGNITION BUTTON...DIDN'T WORK. ON MY DASH PANEL I NOTICED TH…

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DROVE MY CAR TO LOCATION, TURNED CAR OFF, RETURNED TO CAR 5 MINUTES LATER WOULD NOT START. THOUGHT IT WAS BATTERY, FUSE, OR DEAD KEY FOB BATTERY. CALLED DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER STATED OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AND PUSH IGNITION BUTTON...DIDN'T WORK. ON MY DASH PANEL I NOTICED THE KEY LIGHT SYMBOL WAS LIT UP, WHEN I TRIED TO START CAR WITH THE KEYFOB THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND AT DEALERSHIP TO CHANGE THE STEERING LOCK. IT MALFUNCTIONED AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PART HAS BEEN ORDERED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ON 03/21/2013. ESTIMATE IS 914.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503212

63,000 miles · Mar 14, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

ON 3/13/2013 I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 8:55AM AND PARKED EVERYTHING IN CAR WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. AT 6:30PM I APPROACHED MY VEHICLE UNLOCKED THE DOOR USING MY KEY FOB, ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO PRESS THE IGNITION BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENS. AFTER SWITCHING ON THE HEADLIGHTS A…

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ON 3/13/2013 I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 8:55AM AND PARKED EVERYTHING IN CAR WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. AT 6:30PM I APPROACHED MY VEHICLE UNLOCKED THE DOOR USING MY KEY FOB, ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO PRESS THE IGNITION BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENS. AFTER SWITCHING ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND NOTICING NO POWER ISSUES I NOTICED A FLASHING INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE DASH THAT SAID NO KEY PRESENT. AFTER BEING THE ONLY CAR LEFT IN THE DARK SECLUDED PARKING LOT I STARTED OFF ON A JOURNEY TO PURCHASE A BATTERY FOR THE KEY FOB AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PHENOMENON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH IS ABOUT 60 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME. THE DEALER AFTER INVESTIGATING FOR A MATTER OF MINUTES WERE QUICKLY ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS A STEERING LOCK MODULE THAT WAS VERY COSTLY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF ALTIMA'S AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLE THAT ARE INFECTED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK DEVICES THAT CAUSES YOU TO RANDOMLY BE STRANDED IN SECLUDED AREAS WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THIS I FIND HIGHLY UNETHICAL FOR NISSAN TO BE TOTALLY AWARE OF SUCH DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND NOT HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF IT'S CUSTOMERS NOR THEIR CHILDREN. IM HOPING THAT THE NHTSA CAN PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM BULLIES LIKE NISSAN AND HELP US GET THE RECALL WE DESERVE. ALL WE WANT IS A RELIABLE PRODUCT THAT CAN PERFORM THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED TO PERFORM. SO LET'S DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO HOLD NISSAN UP TO THE AMERICAN STANDARD OF PUTTING OUT QUALITY RELIABLE PRODUCTS AND NOT RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503065

41,000 miles · Mar 14, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

AS WITH DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA (WHICH HAD BEEN SITTING WITH ITS ENGINE OFF FOR NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES), THE KEY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE STEERING AND BRAKES FELT UNRESPONSIVE, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. LATE, COLD, AND RAINY THE NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT, THE…

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AS WITH DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA (WHICH HAD BEEN SITTING WITH ITS ENGINE OFF FOR NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES), THE KEY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE STEERING AND BRAKES FELT UNRESPONSIVE, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. LATE, COLD, AND RAINY THE NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED STEERING LOCK UNIT--A RESULT THAT IS UNSURPRISING TO ANYONE WHO TYPES THOSE SYMPTOMS INTO A GOOGLE SEARCH. FOR THE SMALL FEE OF $900, MY CAR WAS BACK ON THE ROAD TWO DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT. GIVEN THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THIS APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS, THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY SHOULD THE CAR NOT START IN A REMOTE AREA OR IN THE PATH OF TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502789

71,000 miles · Mar 12, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

DROVE CAR TO WORK. AFTER WORK WENT OUT TO VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH LEARNED THIS HAS HAPPEN TO MANY NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS. THERE IS NO WARNING. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAS BEEN FAILING LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED - I AM ONE OF THEM. THE PART CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED AT A N…

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DROVE CAR TO WORK. AFTER WORK WENT OUT TO VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH LEARNED THIS HAS HAPPEN TO MANY NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS. THERE IS NO WARNING. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAS BEEN FAILING LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED - I AM ONE OF THEM. THE PART CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED AT A NISSAN DEALER. THE COST IS $1000.00. NO WARNING. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS I LIVE IN MN. WE HAVE EXTREMELY COLD WINTER. IF I WENT ICE FISHING IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND CAME BACK TO MY VEHICLE I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH NO SOURCE OF HEAT. MY ONLY HOPE WOULD BE A CELL PHONE, PROVIDING I HAVE ONE. THE SECOND PART IS A LOCAL GARAGE WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. IT CAN ONLY BE REPAIRED BY NISSAN. I HOPE YOU RECOGNIZE MY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502575

58,000 miles · Mar 12, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10502525

26,500 miles · Mar 11, 2013
Steering

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA-26,500 MILES WHEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. KEY LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. COST $900 TO REPAIR WITH NO GUARANTEE NEW PART ISN'T DEFECTIVE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTUR…

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2009 NISSAN ALTIMA-26,500 MILES WHEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. KEY LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. COST $900 TO REPAIR WITH NO GUARANTEE NEW PART ISN'T DEFECTIVE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL AND REFUND EVERYONE WHO HAS PAID TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECTIVE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502418

42,000 miles · Mar 11, 2013
Seats

I WAS WASHING MY CAR AND THEN WANTED TO VACUUM IT OUT. I MOVED THE DRIVER SEAT FORWARD AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT DETACHED AND FELL IN THE BACK SEAT. I COULD NOT FIX IT SO I TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO INITIALLY WANTED $ 1,200.00 TO REPAIR. THEY EVENTUALLY PUT THE SEAT IN PLACE AND TOLD ME NEVER TO MOVE IT AGAIN. THIS …

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I WAS WASHING MY CAR AND THEN WANTED TO VACUUM IT OUT. I MOVED THE DRIVER SEAT FORWARD AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT DETACHED AND FELL IN THE BACK SEAT. I COULD NOT FIX IT SO I TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO INITIALLY WANTED $ 1,200.00 TO REPAIR. THEY EVENTUALLY PUT THE SEAT IN PLACE AND TOLD ME NEVER TO MOVE IT AGAIN. THIS IS CRAZY IT IS A POWER SEAT. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT FROM FACTORY. HAD I BEEN DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING UP THRU THE ROOF AND MOST LIKELY HAVE WRECKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502325

32,800 miles · Mar 10, 2013
Steering

I WENT TO DRIVE HOME AFTER WORK AND 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 E…

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I WENT TO DRIVE HOME AFTER WORK AND 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. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN THE DAYTIME AND I WAS NOT LEFT, STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND/OR I HARSH CONDITIONS, THOUGH I HAVE READ ON FORUMS ABOUT OTHERS WHO WERE NOT SO LUCKY. UPON CALLING THE TOW TRUCK AND BEING TAKEN TO THE NISSAN SERVICE STATION, I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THERE THAT MY CAR PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSED BY EITHER A MALFUNCTION TO THE KEY FOB OR WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT IT SOUNDED EXACTLY LIKE PROBLEMS THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD WITH THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT IT WAS INDEED THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL (PART #48700-9N00B) WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE OF THE CAR NOT WORKING. MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND LOOKING AT THE ACCUMULATED MILEAGE, HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN EXTENSIVELY. THIS, COMPOUNDED WITH THE FACT THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF NISSAN CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PART MALFUNCTION ON THE SAME EXACT YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR WITH THE EXACT OR CLOSE MILEAGE IS VERY TELLING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE PART. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A CAR AS YOUNG AS MINE/THE OTHERS INVOLVED SHOULD BE HAVING A MAJOR AND EXTREMELY COSTLY MALFUNCTION SUCH AS THIS ONE. CLEARLY THIS PART IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502251

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