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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
75,000 miles · Oct 6, 2017
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

I HAVE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA AND IT HAS A VERY STICKY, SHINY DASHBOARD. SOME PART OF THE DASHBOARD IS SO SHINY THAT IT CREATES A GLARE ON WINDSHIELD DURING DAYTIME WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUTSIDE AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE OTHER CARS, PEDESTRIANS ETC.DURING DRIVING. THIS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE TAKE CARE OF BY NI…

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I HAVE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA AND IT HAS A VERY STICKY, SHINY DASHBOARD. SOME PART OF THE DASHBOARD IS SO SHINY THAT IT CREATES A GLARE ON WINDSHIELD DURING DAYTIME WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUTSIDE AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE OTHER CARS, PEDESTRIANS ETC.DURING DRIVING. THIS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE TAKE CARE OF BY NISSAN ASAP.

NHTSA ODI #11032130

94,000 miles · Sep 29, 2017
Structure

TAKATA RECALL,FACTORY DASHBOARD EXPLOTION AND GLARE DEFFECT

NHTSA ODI #11030490

96,000 miles · Sep 28, 2017
Steering

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING SHUT DOWN IN PARKING LOT. DASH DISPLAY SHOWED A KEY LIGHT BUT INFORMATION CONSOLE DID NOT STATE THE PROBLEM. OCCUPANTS IN VEHICLE WERE MOTHER AND 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN 90+ DEGREE HEAT. COULD NOT OPERATE AIR CONDITIONING AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO RESIDENCE. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND STEERING …

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VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING SHUT DOWN IN PARKING LOT. DASH DISPLAY SHOWED A KEY LIGHT BUT INFORMATION CONSOLE DID NOT STATE THE PROBLEM. OCCUPANTS IN VEHICLE WERE MOTHER AND 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN 90+ DEGREE HEAT. COULD NOT OPERATE AIR CONDITIONING AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO RESIDENCE. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. SOLUTION: DISABLE MALFUNCTIONING UNIT COMPROMISING SECURITY SYSTEM WITH POSSIBILITY OF STEERING WHEEL LOCK ACTIVATING WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS VEHICLE MAY BE USED ON HIWAY OR IN LESS THAN OPTIMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. NISSAN SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THIS HAZARD WAS NOT COMPLETELY COMMUNICATED TO ALL 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS WHEN THE INITIAL RECALL WAS ISSUED THAT ENDED IN JANUARY OF 2017. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO ALL CURRENT OWNERS OF 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS AND CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ODI #11030263

155,000 miles · Sep 18, 2017
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM. I WAS FIXED ONCE BY DEALERSHIP UNDER EXTENDED WARRENTY THEY SAY. THEY TOLD ME RECALLED. NOW ONLY "CERTAIN 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA" ARE RECALLED AGAIN. MINE IS BROKE AGAIN AND COST IS APPROX $900. THEY SAID I GET NO ASSISTANCE EVEN PAYING FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON MY CAR. IT IS STILL THEIR MISTA…

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THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM. I WAS FIXED ONCE BY DEALERSHIP UNDER EXTENDED WARRENTY THEY SAY. THEY TOLD ME RECALLED. NOW ONLY "CERTAIN 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA" ARE RECALLED AGAIN. MINE IS BROKE AGAIN AND COST IS APPROX $900. THEY SAID I GET NO ASSISTANCE EVEN PAYING FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON MY CAR. IT IS STILL THEIR MISTAKE AND FAULTY PART. CAR IS NIT DRIVEABLE

NHTSA ODI #11023983

185,000 miles · Aug 31, 2017
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT FAILS TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE RPMS GO HIGHER BUT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T PICK UP IN SPEED. IT ACTUALLY DECREASES AS YOU ARE GOING UP A HILL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS THE ECM AND THAT I WAS [XXX] OUT O…

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT FAILS TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE RPMS GO HIGHER BUT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T PICK UP IN SPEED. IT ACTUALLY DECREASES AS YOU ARE GOING UP A HILL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS THE ECM AND THAT I WAS [XXX] OUT OF LUCK BECAUSE THAT MAKE/MODEL DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL ON IT. THOUGH I FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR TECHNICIANS ON HOW TO DO A ECM REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE FOR ALL 2004 AND LATER - NISSAN ALTIMAS. SO - THEY KNOW THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE AUTOMOBILE. MY MOM HAS A 2015 NISSAN ALTIMA AND IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING AND THEY RECALLED HER VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11020907

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2017
StructureVisibility

CPSC:THIS WINTER I WAS NOTICING AND HAVING EVEN MORE PROBLEMS WITH GLARE AND SUN AND LIGHTS AT NIGHT REFLECTING ON THESE SHINY "MELTED" AREAS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD IN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, MY DASH WAS ALL ORIGINALLY A BLACK MATTE FINISH AND GLARE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE DASH MATERI…

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CPSC:THIS WINTER I WAS NOTICING AND HAVING EVEN MORE PROBLEMS WITH GLARE AND SUN AND LIGHTS AT NIGHT REFLECTING ON THESE SHINY "MELTED" AREAS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD IN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, MY DASH WAS ALL ORIGINALLY A BLACK MATTE FINISH AND GLARE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE DASH MATERIAL APPEARING TO BREAK DOWN. I DECIDED TO GOOGLE "MELTING DASHBOARDS" TO SEE WHAT I COULD FIND TO FIX OR REPAIR, OR REPORTS, ETC. *BF UPDATED 08/31/2017*JS ...UPDATED 10/03/17 *BF UPDATED 10/25/17 *BF *JS *TR

NHTSA ODI #11020828

120,000 miles · Aug 28, 2017
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

COMING HOME FROM FLORIDA IN 2013, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. ONCE WE STOPPED AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES, WE WERE ABLE TO GO ANOTHER 100-150 MILES BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED T…

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COMING HOME FROM FLORIDA IN 2013, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. ONCE WE STOPPED AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES, WE WERE ABLE TO GO ANOTHER 100-150 MILES BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TWICE DRIVING HOME FROM MURFREESBORO. WE WENT TO FLORIDA FOR VACATION THIS YEAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY THERE AND ON THE WAY HOME. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND TALKING TO SOME MECHANICS, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #11020210

61,500 miles · Aug 23, 2017
Air Bags

PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED, DISARMING THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS SEAT CUSHION SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 YEARS AGO BY OWNER, AND NOW A SECOND OEM SENSOR HAS FAILED. NO INJURY HAS OCCURRED BUT WOULD HATE TO FIND OUT WHAT DEATH OR INJURY COULD BE PREVENTED IF NISSAN OR NHTSA WOULD RECALL THIS ITEM IN 200…

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PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED, DISARMING THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS SEAT CUSHION SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 YEARS AGO BY OWNER, AND NOW A SECOND OEM SENSOR HAS FAILED. NO INJURY HAS OCCURRED BUT WOULD HATE TO FIND OUT WHAT DEATH OR INJURY COULD BE PREVENTED IF NISSAN OR NHTSA WOULD RECALL THIS ITEM IN 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH ONLY 62000MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11019250

178,000 miles · Aug 16, 2017
Steering

MY CAR LEFT ME STRANDED AS I WENT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTERS FROM DAYCARE. I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, MY KEY FOB WOULD ALLOW ME TO LOCK MY DOORS AND TURN ON THE ALARM BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING IN THE COMPLAINTS COMMENTARY AND THE MAJORITY OF YOUR COMPLAINTS ARE FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. N…

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MY CAR LEFT ME STRANDED AS I WENT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTERS FROM DAYCARE. I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, MY KEY FOB WOULD ALLOW ME TO LOCK MY DOORS AND TURN ON THE ALARM BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING IN THE COMPLAINTS COMMENTARY AND THE MAJORITY OF YOUR COMPLAINTS ARE FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WAY THIS MODEL WAS BUILT. THE CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR MANUFACTURE MISTAKES.

NHTSA ODI #11015621

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2017
Unknown Or Other

KEY LOCKING MECHANISM STALLED ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #11014827

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