IllustrationSTEERING WHEEL LOCK WOULD NOT RELEASE TO START. THIS OCCURRED VERY FAR FROM HOME AND WITHOUT WARNING. NASSAN IS AWARE OF THIS AND DOES NOT ACT IN FAVOR OF OWNERS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM THUS ALLOWING FOR COSTLY EXPENSE AND REPAIRS.
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 reportsVEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK AFTER STEERING MECHANISM MALFUNCTION.
MY CAR WOULD NOT START. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM - ONLY IF THE CAR WAS AFFECTED - AND IT HAPPENED TO MY CAR AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE RECALL EXPIRED. I AM THE 2ND OWNER AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL DESPITE THE FACT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER. THE NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO EVEN PAY FOR…
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MY CAR WOULD NOT START. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM - ONLY IF THE CAR WAS AFFECTED - AND IT HAPPENED TO MY CAR AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE RECALL EXPIRED. I AM THE 2ND OWNER AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL DESPITE THE FACT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER. THE NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO EVEN PAY FOR THE PART - WHICH I COULD NOT PURCHASE OR GET REPAIRED ELSEWHERE. IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS AND HAVE HAD CAR MANUFACTURERS STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS AND RIGHT WAS WAS WRONG. NOT IN THIS CASE. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PAID FOR THE PART AS THERE WAS NO OTHER PLACE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AND WENT AS FAR UP THE LADDER AS POSSIBLE AND WAS FINALLY TOLD THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE COST IN ANY WAY. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS AND STAND BY A PRODUCT. I HAD A 12 YEAR OLD CAR FROM LEXUS REPLACE A CRACKED DASHBOARD FOR FREE! THE CAR IS USED BY MY SON, A COLLEGE STUDENT, WHO NEEDS IT FOR TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY WHILE AWAY AT SCHOOL. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE WAY I WAS TREATED AND HOW MY COMPLAINTS WERE NOT ADDRESSED IN ANY WAY.
THE KEY LIGHT STAYS ON. THE CAR KEEPS GIVE ME LOW BATTERY WARNING EVEN I JUST CHANGES THE BATTERY IN KEY FOB. NOW THE "🔑 /KEY" LIGHTS ON. THE CAR COULD NOT START.
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK PREVENTS YOUR PUSH TO START TO OPERATE AND THIS WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR LIFETIME BUT NISSAN SINCE HAS ACTUALLY MADE IT ONLY AVAILABLE TILL JANUARY 2016 WHICH IS DEF STILL COMING UP AS AN ONGOING ISSUE TODAY
STEERING LOCK CONTROLER IS BROKEN AND ITS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL ALTIMA AND NISSAN DOESN'T TAKE RISPONSIBILITY
I WENT TO THE MALL TO DROP OFF A PAINTING AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN I LEFT AND WAS GIVING ME THE KEY INDICATOR SO AFTER A 20 SECOND SEARCH ON GOOGLE I FOUND THAT A LOT OF NISSAN OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME, WHICH WAS THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NOT RECEDING TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE IN ORDER TO LOCK THE WHEEL. I THINK ITS A…
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I WENT TO THE MALL TO DROP OFF A PAINTING AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN I LEFT AND WAS GIVING ME THE KEY INDICATOR SO AFTER A 20 SECOND SEARCH ON GOOGLE I FOUND THAT A LOT OF NISSAN OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME, WHICH WAS THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NOT RECEDING TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE IN ORDER TO LOCK THE WHEEL. I THINK ITS ABSURD THE PIECE IS 600 AT THE DEALERSHIP AND 400 ONLINE. THEN THE KEY NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED, IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT SUCH A TEDIOUS PROBLEM THAT NISSAN WAS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR, I WOULD HAVE JUST GOTTEN ANOTHER KIND OF CAR.
CAR STALLED TWICE BOTH PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. BATTERY WORKS AND KEY FOB WORKS WITH DOORS. BUT ENGINE WONT START WITH PUSH BUTTON START. ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT.
"TAKATA RECALL" THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN MY ALTIMA AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE ROAD! THE BATTERY WASN'T DEAD, THE CONTROL KEY WASN'T BAD EITHER. THE DEALER SAYS IS A $1,300 REPAIR JOB! IT'S THE STEERINGG WHEEL LOCK THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH 09' AL…
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"TAKATA RECALL" THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN MY ALTIMA AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE ROAD! THE BATTERY WASN'T DEAD, THE CONTROL KEY WASN'T BAD EITHER. THE DEALER SAYS IS A $1,300 REPAIR JOB! IT'S THE STEERINGG WHEEL LOCK THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH 09' ALTIMAS!! WHY DID YOU TAKE THE MANUFACTURE REPLACEMENT IN 2015!? THIS IS SO HORRIBLE! I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE WHEELS, ENGINE OIL AND OTHER WEAR AND TEAR ITEMS, BUT HOW IN THE WORLD CAN A PART THAT IS INSIDE MY STEERING WHEEL HAVE PROBLEMS!? I DON'T EVENT HAVE A KEY! I USE "KEYLESS CONTROL". THIS IS SO UPSETTING! PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS AND HAVE IT FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURES EXPENSE!!!
STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED CAR WILL NOT START. NISSAN HAS KNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T REPAIR HONOR REPAIRING A DEFECTIVE PART.
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.