IllustrationDASHBOARD IS MELTING, STICKY AND IS DISCOLORING INSIDE WINDSHIELD. THE SUN REFLECTS OFF STICKY DASH. BROWN STICKY SUBSTANCE WON'T CLEAN OFF. ELECTRICAL DISPLAY BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL GOES OFF AND ON. MOSTLY IS OFF.
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 reportsAIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY 'NO AIRBAG'. PROBLEM SINCE 2014; ALONG WITH STEERING LOCK FAILURE (FIXED), ALONG WITH MANIFOLD EXHAUST PROBLEM(FIXED). WINDSHIELD WIPERS KEEP WEARING OUT, LEFT DRIVER SIDE BECAUSE BLADE IS TOO TIGHT; BRAKES VIBRATE WHEN STOPPING,;CAR VIBRATES AT 70 MPH, AND CAR SOUNDS LIKE WIND TUNNEL WHEN DR…
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AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY 'NO AIRBAG'. PROBLEM SINCE 2014; ALONG WITH STEERING LOCK FAILURE (FIXED), ALONG WITH MANIFOLD EXHAUST PROBLEM(FIXED). WINDSHIELD WIPERS KEEP WEARING OUT, LEFT DRIVER SIDE BECAUSE BLADE IS TOO TIGHT; BRAKES VIBRATE WHEN STOPPING,;CAR VIBRATES AT 70 MPH, AND CAR SOUNDS LIKE WIND TUNNEL WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY YET WINDOWS ARE UP.
START STOP BUTTING IS STUCK IN LOCK POSITION THEREFORE NOT STARTING THE CAR. FOBS DOOR UNLOCK, LOCK, TRUNK AND PANIC BUTTONS WORK BUT CAR DOES NOT TURN ON. CAR WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN FOB IS INSERTED IN THE LEFT HAND SIDE INSERT EITHER. HAPPENED AT 67 EAST SHORE ROAD, HOLBROOK MA AFTER CAR WAS SHUT OFF FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT MORNING …
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START STOP BUTTING IS STUCK IN LOCK POSITION THEREFORE NOT STARTING THE CAR. FOBS DOOR UNLOCK, LOCK, TRUNK AND PANIC BUTTONS WORK BUT CAR DOES NOT TURN ON. CAR WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN FOB IS INSERTED IN THE LEFT HAND SIDE INSERT EITHER. HAPPENED AT 67 EAST SHORE ROAD, HOLBROOK MA AFTER CAR WAS SHUT OFF FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT MORNING IT DIDN'T READ THE KEY.
IN THE WARM WEATHER 80 AND ABOVE THE CAR MAKES A WHINING NOISE AND STARTS TO LOSE ACCELERATION WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS THERE IS NO POWER WHICH IS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAYS LOSE ACCELERATION WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS THERE IS NO POWER WHICH HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAYS
I HAVE HAD THE CAR 2-3 YEARS NOW AND THE TIRES HAVE LOOSENED UP ON ME WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND HAD TO DO SOME KIND OF STEERING COLUMN LOCK WORK, IT IS RUSTING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR PANEL, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF IT WHICH HAPPEN ON THE ROAD AT WORK WITH TWO OF MY CLIENTS. WHICH THE CLIENTS BOTH ARE DI…
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I HAVE HAD THE CAR 2-3 YEARS NOW AND THE TIRES HAVE LOOSENED UP ON ME WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND HAD TO DO SOME KIND OF STEERING COLUMN LOCK WORK, IT IS RUSTING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR PANEL, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF IT WHICH HAPPEN ON THE ROAD AT WORK WITH TWO OF MY CLIENTS. WHICH THE CLIENTS BOTH ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A DISABILITY. VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU MAKE A LEFT TURN AND YOUR CAR STOPS INFRONT OF ONCOMING CARS. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR TRADEGY.IF ONLY NADSAN WOULD HAVE FIXED THAT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM MANY YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM( MALFUNCTION) AND NISSAN WILL NOT BUDGE ONE BIT TO HELP FIX THE TRANSMISSION UNLESS I PAY DIAGNOSTICS AND A TRANSMISSION BILL OF OVER 5400.00. WHO EVER HEARD OF A TRANSMISSION COSTING THAT MUCH MONEY? THEY ARE THE WORST AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A NISSAN EVER AGAIN. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIT BELL. AND MY AIR BAG GOING OFF NO ACCIDENT I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR DAT THE RESET THAT FOR $ 125.00 THE TELL ME NEXT TIME I HAVE TO PAY $ 2745.00 TO FIX THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG, IF THE AIR BAG GOING OFF AGAIN I WONT TO NO WHY BECAUSE MY CAR NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT
STEERING LOCK FAILURE WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START UP ON 09 NISSAN ALTIMA. ELECTRICAL WORKS BUT ECSL DOESN'T ALLOW SENSOR TO START THE CAR. CAR WAS STATIONARY, IN THE PARKING LOT. FINDING NOW THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENT ISSUE WITH MANY MAKES/YEARS OF NISSAN VEHICLES.
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 70 MPH, SPEED DROPPED TO APPROX 30-40 MPH. I HAD THE PEDAL TO THE MAT AND IT WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN 30-40 MPH. TOOK IT OFF CRUISE CONTROL, IT STILL WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED WITH THE PEDAL TO THE MAT. SUDDENLY CAR ACCELERATED TO APPROX 80-90 MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN…
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DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 70 MPH, SPEED DROPPED TO APPROX 30-40 MPH. I HAD THE PEDAL TO THE MAT AND IT WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN 30-40 MPH. TOOK IT OFF CRUISE CONTROL, IT STILL WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED WITH THE PEDAL TO THE MAT. SUDDENLY CAR ACCELERATED TO APPROX 80-90 MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL FOR AT LEAST 30-60 SECONDS. THE SPEED THEN DROPPED AGAIN TO 30-40 MPH FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES UNTIL IT WOULD TAKE OFF AGAIN. IT WOULD ACCELERATE FOR ONLY ABOUT 30-60 SECONDS THEN WOULD LOSE POWER AGAIN AND WOULDN'T GO ABOVE 30-40 MPH. TRIED TO RESET CRUISE CONTROL AND STILL WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. IF TRAVELLING ON THE INTERSTATE IN NORMAL TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT VERY EASILY. THIS HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT WITH NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME.
MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS WERE STRANDED FOR A TIME DUE TO A SUDDEN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. THIS SUDDENLY MADE THE CAR INOPERABLE AND LEFT THEM OUT IN 102 TEXAS SUMMER HEAT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE. WE BOUGHT OUR CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN 2014 AND WE NOT MADE AWARE…
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MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS WERE STRANDED FOR A TIME DUE TO A SUDDEN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. THIS SUDDENLY MADE THE CAR INOPERABLE AND LEFT THEM OUT IN 102 TEXAS SUMMER HEAT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE. WE BOUGHT OUR CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN 2014 AND WE NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE OR ANY POTENTIAL WARRANTY EXTENSION. THIS IS A $500 PART (EXCLUDING LABOR AND TOWING FEES) THAT CAN AND HAS STRANDED PEOPLE WITH LITTLE TO NO NOTICE. HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CREATING A DANGEROUS GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD. I JUST HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT THIS PAST WEEK DUE TO THE GLARE BEING SO BAD THAT IT INTERFERES WITH MY EVERYDAY DRIVING. I AM LIVING WITH FEAR EVERY TIME I COMMUTE ANYWHERE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHOM I'VE OWNED EVER SINCE I BOUGHT FROM THE NISSAN DEALER.
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.