← 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
50,000 miles · Dec 9, 2016
Steering

CAR WOULDN'T START OUT OF NOWHERE. NO ELECTRICITY OR ANYTHING NOW I'M OUT OF TWO GRAND FOR A NISSAN DEFECT WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. I WANT MY MONEY BACK. STRANDED MYSELF AND THREE KIDS AT MIDNIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A DARK PARKWAY IN TEN DEGREES WEATHER!!! I HAD NO MONEY FOR TOWING. WHAT NERVE OF NISSAN. U NEED TO RECALL THIS C…

Read full complaint

CAR WOULDN'T START OUT OF NOWHERE. NO ELECTRICITY OR ANYTHING NOW I'M OUT OF TWO GRAND FOR A NISSAN DEFECT WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. I WANT MY MONEY BACK. STRANDED MYSELF AND THREE KIDS AT MIDNIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A DARK PARKWAY IN TEN DEGREES WEATHER!!! I HAD NO MONEY FOR TOWING. WHAT NERVE OF NISSAN. U NEED TO RECALL THIS CRAP

NHTSA ODI #10934138

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2016
Electrical System

WHEN LEAVING TO GO HOME FROM AN EVENT FOR MY KIDS, THE CAR WOULD NOT AND COULD NOT START. THE KEY LOCK SYMBOL (RED) AND LOCK SYMBOL (YELLOW) WERE LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WHICH MANY HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL WITH ALL THE PROB…

Read full complaint

WHEN LEAVING TO GO HOME FROM AN EVENT FOR MY KIDS, THE CAR WOULD NOT AND COULD NOT START. THE KEY LOCK SYMBOL (RED) AND LOCK SYMBOL (YELLOW) WERE LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WHICH MANY HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10933954

60,000 miles · Dec 8, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

THE CAR DOESNT START BECAUSE THE CAR'S STARTING SYSTEM IS FAULTY. IT IS CALLED ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILURE. ONLY NISSAN DEALERS CAN FIX THIS ISSUE AND THEY CHARGE EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR REPLACING A SMALL PART AND FOR LABOR. THIS IS NOT CAUSED BY A USER ERROR BUT BECAUSE OF A DEFECT WITH THIS MODEL ITSE…

Read full complaint

THE CAR DOESNT START BECAUSE THE CAR'S STARTING SYSTEM IS FAULTY. IT IS CALLED ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILURE. ONLY NISSAN DEALERS CAN FIX THIS ISSUE AND THEY CHARGE EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR REPLACING A SMALL PART AND FOR LABOR. THIS IS NOT CAUSED BY A USER ERROR BUT BECAUSE OF A DEFECT WITH THIS MODEL ITSELF. THERE ARE MANY SUCH COMPLAINS ONLINE AND HAPPENS TO PEOPLE RANDOMLY. THIS IS A SEVERE HEALTH AND LIFE HAZARD. ME AND MY WIFE WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR REMOTE PLACES WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENED AND IF THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A HUGE MESS! NISSAN DOES NOT EVEN HAVE THE COURTESY TO REIMBURSE THE FULL REPAIR AMOUNT. I DIDN'T EVEN ASK FOR THE HOTEL AND TRIP CANCELLATION REIMBURSEMENT BUT STILL THEY ARE NOT READY TO BUDGE. I ESCALATED IT TO THREE LEVELS BUT TO NO EFFECT. THIS IS SAD. THERE MUST BE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL. MY CAR JUST HAS 60K MILES ON IT AND I FEEL CHEATED TO HAVE TO PAY $1100 FOR NISSAN'S FAULT JUST FOR THE REPAIR, LET ALONE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES I HAD TO INCUR TO BOOK HOTEL LAST MINUTE FOR TWO DAYS AND INCUR CHARGES FOR THE HOTEL STAYS FOR THE REST OF MY TRIP. MY HONEYMOON TRIP WAS SCREWED UP BECAUSE OF NISSAN AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY CAN ONLY REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PART WHICH IS ONLY HALF THE COST. I WILL SELL THIS CAR AS SOON AS I CAN AND WILL NEVER EVER BUY A NISSAN CAR AGAIN. BUT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS CAR RECALLED ASAP BEFORE IT LEADS TO SOMEONE'S DEATH.

NHTSA ODI #10933923

78,000 miles · Dec 8, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH TO START FEATURE FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE AP…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH TO START FEATURE FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. ..UPDATED 03/29/17 *BF UPDATED 08/03/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI #10933887

110,000 miles · Dec 8, 2016
EngineSteering

THE STEERING LOCK BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT IN A PARKING LOT, FORCING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE 10 MONTH OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS AND THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON A MAIN ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND GOING AT A FASTER SPEED. SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2009 NISSAN ALT…

Read full complaint

THE STEERING LOCK BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT IN A PARKING LOT, FORCING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE 10 MONTH OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS AND THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON A MAIN ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND GOING AT A FASTER SPEED. SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S (AND OTHER YEAR MODELS AS WELL). INSTEAD OF A RECALL, NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART BY ONE YEAR. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED IN AUGUST 2015, SO I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET. THE ESTIMATED COST IS BETWEEN $1,100 AND $1,300. THE CAR DOESN'T START AT ALL, AND APPARENTLY ONLY NISSAN DEALERS CAN FIX IT. THIS IS VERY WORRISOME THAT NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10933826

49,000 miles · Dec 7, 2016
Steering

STERLING LOCKED, CANNOT OPERATE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #10933769

107,000 miles · Dec 7, 2016
Electrical System

THE DATE WAS 12/7/2016. MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED TO START AT THE END OF MY SHIFT AT WORK. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT WHAT I HAD WAS A FAULTY ESCL. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL CAR. THE CAR FAILS TO EVEN TURN ON THE TO THE ACC MODE. NISSAN KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRAN…

Read full complaint

THE DATE WAS 12/7/2016. MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED TO START AT THE END OF MY SHIFT AT WORK. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT WHAT I HAD WAS A FAULTY ESCL. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL CAR. THE CAR FAILS TO EVEN TURN ON THE TO THE ACC MODE. NISSAN KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR ONLY 72 MONTHS AND HAS REFUSED TO MAKE A RECALL SINCE IT INVOLVES A PARKED CAR. THE TEMPERATURE FOR TODAY WAS 26 DEGREES AND HAD I BEEN SOMEWHERE FAR FROM HOME WHERE MY FATHER COULDN'T PICK ME UP THEN I'D BE STRANDED IN THE COLD TO FREEZE. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE CAR MAY FAIL TO START IN AN UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOOD OR OTHER UNSAFE CONDITIONS. NISSAN NEEDS TO EITHER RECALL OR EXTEND THEIR WARRANTY ON THE ESCL.

NHTSA ODI #10933767

118,000 miles · Dec 6, 2016
Electrical System

THE ESCL DIED TODAY, AT NIGHT HERE IN MAINE. SEARCHING THE FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN, WHICH DID NOTHING TO PREVENT MY TEENAGER FROM BEING STRANDED, AT NIGHT. I SEE THE PART IS ON AMAZON FOR ONLY $400, AND TAKES ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO INSTALL. WHY DOES A DEALER WANT $1000 FOR A REPAIR OF TH…

Read full complaint

THE ESCL DIED TODAY, AT NIGHT HERE IN MAINE. SEARCHING THE FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN, WHICH DID NOTHING TO PREVENT MY TEENAGER FROM BEING STRANDED, AT NIGHT. I SEE THE PART IS ON AMAZON FOR ONLY $400, AND TAKES ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO INSTALL. WHY DOES A DEALER WANT $1000 FOR A REPAIR OF THIS SORT? THIS IS CRAZY - CONSIDERING THAT NISSAN EVEN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 6 YEARS - I JUST MISSED THE DEADLINE.

NHTSA ODI #10930313

70,000 miles · Dec 6, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM. DOES NOT ALLOW CAR TO START AT ALL. CAR WAS PARKED AND AFTER SCHOOL, WAS NOT ABLE TO START.

NHTSA ODI #10930100

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I GOT IN MY CAR THE OTHER DAY TO RUN TO THE STORE AND THE CARS PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WOULD NOT START THE CAR, THE LLGHT ON THE DASH SUGGESTS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT LOCKED, BUT IT IS LOCKED. VEHICLE IS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY

NHTSA ODI #10930036

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