← New search

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
42,475 miles · May 20, 2017
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON REGULAR ROADS ABOUT TO GET ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY ISSUE WITH ALL FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY WORKING. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE BY THE TOGGLE SWITCH, HOWEVER THE HAZARD BUTTON WOULD ACTIVATE THEM. THEN MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF ON THEIR OWN(THIS WAS AT 2 AM IN PITCH DARK AREA AND RA…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON REGULAR ROADS ABOUT TO GET ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY ISSUE WITH ALL FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY WORKING. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE BY THE TOGGLE SWITCH, HOWEVER THE HAZARD BUTTON WOULD ACTIVATE THEM. THEN MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF ON THEIR OWN(THIS WAS AT 2 AM IN PITCH DARK AREA AND RAINING). I TRIED TURNING THE SWITCH ALL THE WAY OFF THEN BACK ON AFTER PULLING OVER, NOTHING WORKED EVEN WITH TURNING MY CAR OFF ENTIRELY THEN BACK ON. MY HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK, BLINKERS NOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY OTHER FAILURES. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DONE AS AN OPERATOR. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WENT WRONG AT THE FACTORY WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT. I AM ONLY WRITING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN AS I HAD TO FIND MY WAY HOME WITH ONLY MY HAZARD LIGHTS BLINKING EVERY OTHER SECOND. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART THAT FAILED WAS A "BODY CONTROL MODULE IS $919.35, PART, LABOR" WHICH IS AN INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR 1 PART. HOWEVER IT IS SO EXPENSIVE BECAUSE ONCE REPLACED THE ENTIRE CAR AND KEY FOBS NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED BY NISSAN AND ONLY A AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER CAN ACQUIRE SAID PROGRAMMING TOOLS/SOFTWARE. SURE MY CAR IS A 2009 HOWEVER THE DEALER SAID THIS IS VERY UNCOMMON TO RANDOMLY SHORT OUT IN GENERAL BUT ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF HOW DANGEROUS THE EFFECTS CAN BE EVEN WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I LOVE MY CAR BUT ADDING THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY THAT CONTROLS ALL THESE FUNCTIONS WITHOUT A FAIL SAFE IS AN AWFUL METHOD OF PRODUCTION. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE I FELT THE NEED TO SHARE IT WITH THE NISSAN OWNER COMMUNITY.

NHTSA ODI #10990750

96,229 miles · May 15, 2017
Structure

DASH BOARD IS MELTING

NHTSA ODI #10985843

132,000 miles · May 13, 2017
Steering

"TAKATA RECALL" ON THURSDAY, MAY 11TH, 2017, I LEFT FOR AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER THE APPOINTMENT, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A BIT STIFF. I TRIED THE BATTERY, BUT NO RELIEF. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED. AFTER MUCH READING, I REALIZE…

Read full complaint

"TAKATA RECALL" ON THURSDAY, MAY 11TH, 2017, I LEFT FOR AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER THE APPOINTMENT, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A BIT STIFF. I TRIED THE BATTERY, BUT NO RELIEF. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED. AFTER MUCH READING, I REALIZED THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH NISSAN.

NHTSA ODI #10985524

95,000 miles · May 13, 2017
Steering

STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED

NHTSA ODI #10985477

139,000 miles · May 11, 2017
Electrical SystemSteering

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THE STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT. VEHICLE WILL NOT START, SEEMS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #10984804

Mileage unknown · May 10, 2017
Unknown Or Other

CPSC:MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN LITTLE OVER 2 MINUTES. WHOLE CAR BURNED. *BF UPDATED 05/10/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI #10985309

135,000 miles · May 10, 2017
Steering

THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON THE CAR AND I COULDNT GET IT UNLOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED TO GET REPLACED SO I DID HOWEVER I FOUND OUT LATER THIS WAS A RECALL

NHTSA ODI #10984719

115,000 miles · May 8, 2017
EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD (1 HOUR+) IN WARM WEATHER (80 DEGREES+). VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOSES POWER, WITH RPMS NEVER REACHING ABOVE 2000, DRASTICALLY REDUCING ACCELERATION AND SPEED. DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THIS CREATES A SERIOUS DANGER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER TWO YEAR…

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD (1 HOUR+) IN WARM WEATHER (80 DEGREES+). VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOSES POWER, WITH RPMS NEVER REACHING ABOVE 2000, DRASTICALLY REDUCING ACCELERATION AND SPEED. DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THIS CREATES A SERIOUS DANGER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW.

NHTSA ODI #10984396

96,000 miles · May 5, 2017
Steering

AFTER LEAVING THE HOUSE FOR WORK MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I PAID TO HAVE SOME COME OUT THINKING IT COULD POSSIBLY BE BATTERY OR STARTER RELATED. COM TO FIND OUT NISSAN HAS ISSUED A ESCL SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON LIKE VEHICLES. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AND THAT IT NEED TO BE FIXED. THANK GOD I WAS AT HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED OTHER…

Read full complaint

AFTER LEAVING THE HOUSE FOR WORK MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I PAID TO HAVE SOME COME OUT THINKING IT COULD POSSIBLY BE BATTERY OR STARTER RELATED. COM TO FIND OUT NISSAN HAS ISSUED A ESCL SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON LIKE VEHICLES. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AND THAT IT NEED TO BE FIXED. THANK GOD I WAS AT HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED OTHERWISE THEIR NEGLIGENCE COULD'VE LEFT ME IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. I NOW HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET FIXED BUT I'M NOW LEFT WONDERING WHAT ELSE COULD THEY BE HIDING. MY MOTHER HAS THE SAME CAR AND SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10983780

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2017
Steering

STEERING IS LOCK AND IT DOES TURN ON AND IT NEVER DID THIS IT WORK GOOD

NHTSA ODI #10983581

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