CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO ESCL ISSUES HEADLIGHT TURN ON DOOR LOCKS AND UNLOCK , RED AND YELLOW KEY ICON FLASHES
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
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.
What owners actually said
1,547 reportsI AM AN OWNER OF A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL IN LOUISIANA. THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR HAS BECOME VERY STICKY AND SHINY AS IF IT IS MELTING. ON A SUNNY DAY THE REFLECTION ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY RESULTING IN A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN.
NISSAN ALTIMA STEERING LOCK ISSUE I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE ON MONDAY (OCT.9) AND EXPLAIN THAT MY CAR DID NOT START. I ALREADY KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE IS, SINCE IT IS WRITTEN IN NISSAN BOOKLET(THE SYMBOL THAT ON DASHBOARD) THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO NISSAN SHOP, AND WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN GO TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. SO I WAS THINK…
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NISSAN ALTIMA STEERING LOCK ISSUE I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE ON MONDAY (OCT.9) AND EXPLAIN THAT MY CAR DID NOT START. I ALREADY KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE IS, SINCE IT IS WRITTEN IN NISSAN BOOKLET(THE SYMBOL THAT ON DASHBOARD) THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO NISSAN SHOP, AND WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN GO TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. SO I WAS THINKING THEY WILL COVER OR PARTIALLY COVER THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ON THURSDAY(OCT.13) I AM GETTING PHONE CALL FROM CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY GIVE ME THE WHOLE SPEECH. SO BASICALLY THEY TOLD ME, YOU NEED TO FIX IT YOURSELF. THE GUY NAME ROD GIVE ME EXCUSE THAT I AM NOT LOYAL CUSTOMER, SINCE LAST TIME I WENT TO NISSAN SERVICE WAS 2 YEARS. BUT I TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT I HAVE MY OWN MECHANIC IN DIFFERENT BODY SHOP AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO CALL HIM AND GET MY HISTORY OF TAKING CARE OF MY CAR. PLUS PEP BOYS CAN PULL MY HISTORY AS WELL. BUT I WAS NOT SURE WHAT LOYAL TO NISSAN HAS TO DO WITH DEFECTIVE PART. SO BOTTOM LINE I NEED TO PAY $1007 OR I AM WITHOUT CAR. ROD TOLD ME IF YOU WOULD GO MORE OFTEN TO NISSAN SERVICE, THEY WOULD CATCH THE PROBLEM EARLIER, NOT SURE HOW. I TOLD HIM THERE ARE AT LEAST 3 WAYS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME AND MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS BY PHONE, EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGE, AND MAILING ADDRESS. NO ONE LETTER CAME, SO HOW ANY OF US WITH THIS PROBLEM SHOULD KNOW ABOUT STEERING LOCK RECALLED. SO WE ARE LITTLE PEOPLE, CAN'T REALLY FIGHT WITH SUCH A BIG CORPORATION LIKE NISSAN, UNLESS GOVERNMENT CAN GET INVOLVED WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NISSAN FAULT THAT STEERING ASSEMBLY IS MALFUNCTION
DASH BOARD HAS MELTED AND GOTTEN STICKY. BECAUSE OF THE MELTING IT HAS GOTTEN VERY SHINY AND CAUSES TERRIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THUS RESTRICTING VIEW AND MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF VISION ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO VERY MESSY IF YOU TOUCH OR LAY ANYTHING ON THE DASH. I WOULD SUSPECT IT TO BE UNHEALTHY ALSO …
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DASH BOARD HAS MELTED AND GOTTEN STICKY. BECAUSE OF THE MELTING IT HAS GOTTEN VERY SHINY AND CAUSES TERRIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THUS RESTRICTING VIEW AND MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF VISION ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO VERY MESSY IF YOU TOUCH OR LAY ANYTHING ON THE DASH. I WOULD SUSPECT IT TO BE UNHEALTHY ALSO SINCE THE CHEMISTRY IN THE MATERIAL HAS CHANGED. I LIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND MY CAR IS OUT IN THE SUN AND WEATHER MOST OF THE TIME. WE DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE FOR MOST OF OUR TRANSPORTATION. THIS PROBLEM IS ALWAYS THERE, BUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE IN HOT/SUNSHINY WEATHER. IT LOOKS LIKE PUDDLE ON THE DASH AND ALSO LOOKS LIKE THE DASH IS ABOUT TO DRIP OFF. IT IS EVEN STICKY AND SHINY AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN A GRADUAL THIN THAT STARTED ABOUT 2012 AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN AND CLEANING PRODUCTS CREATED A GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN AND CLEANING PRODUCTS CREATED A GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
AFTER LEAVING A DOCTOR'S APT ON 4 OCT, I GET TO MY CAR AND IT WANT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING IS LIT UP O THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WHEN I HIT THE PUSH START BUTTON, THE LOCK LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND I CANNOT PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. THE STEERING COLUMN IS COMPLETELY LOCKED. I RECALLED GETTING A LETTER FROM NISSAN EXTE…
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AFTER LEAVING A DOCTOR'S APT ON 4 OCT, I GET TO MY CAR AND IT WANT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING IS LIT UP O THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WHEN I HIT THE PUSH START BUTTON, THE LOCK LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND I CANNOT PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. THE STEERING COLUMN IS COMPLETELY LOCKED. I RECALLED GETTING A LETTER FROM NISSAN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE ESCL FRO 6YRS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE. NEVERTHELESS, I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO NISSAN AND AS OF TODAY THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE WHEN I GOT THE LETTER A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH PAYING $900-1200 TO GET THIS FIXED. NISSAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND SHOULD DO A RECALL. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN NISSANS RESPONSE AND SERVICE AND I WAS LOOKING AT BUYING A NEW CAR AT THE END OF THE YEAR FROM THEM. BUT THEY WILL NOT GET MY BUSINESS.
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WON'T START. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,000!! I SOON FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN ALTIMAS AND THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENSION FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY FOR CARS UNDER 120,000…
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MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WON'T START. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,000!! I SOON FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN ALTIMAS AND THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENSION FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY FOR CARS UNDER 120,000 MILES. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT A 2009 CAR WILL HAVE LESS THAN 120,000 MILES; NOT VERY LIKELY! AT ONE POINT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING IN GOOD FAITH UNTIL YOU REALIZE WAIT THIS DOESN'T EVEN APPLY! I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER TO NISSAN AND HAVE REALLY LOVED MY ALTIMA UP TO THIS POINT BUT THIS IS REALLY TURNING ME INTO A CRITIC MORE SO THAN AN ENTHUSIAST VERY QUICKLY. I WOULD AT LEAST APPRECIATE NISSAN AT LEAST PAYING FOR THE PART IN GOOD FAITH AND SHOWING SOME SYMPATHY. HAD I NOT BEEN TAKING CARE OF MY CAR WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I COULD UNDERSTAND BUT THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED FOR ALL PEOPLE AFFECTED NOT JUST A CERTAIN MILEAGE GROUP OF PEOPLE. APPARENTLY NISSAN REMOVED THIS PART FROM THE 2010 ALTIMA. I ASSUME THERE WAS SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE PARTS FAILURE (APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PART IN THE NISSAN 370ZS).
I TRIED TO START MY CAR ON A RAINY COLD NIGHT& IT WAS DARK OUT. MY CAR WOULD NOT START SO I CALLED TRIPE A & WAITED AN HOUR & THEY COULD NOT START IT. IT WASN'T THE BATTERY. I WAITED FOR A RIDE & WAITED ANOTHER HOUR AFTER THEY LEFT. I WAS 45 MINS AWAY FROM HOME. I GOT A RIDE BACK THE NEXT DAY & PAID FOR A TOW. THEY TOWED …
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I TRIED TO START MY CAR ON A RAINY COLD NIGHT& IT WAS DARK OUT. MY CAR WOULD NOT START SO I CALLED TRIPE A & WAITED AN HOUR & THEY COULD NOT START IT. IT WASN'T THE BATTERY. I WAITED FOR A RIDE & WAITED ANOTHER HOUR AFTER THEY LEFT. I WAS 45 MINS AWAY FROM HOME. I GOT A RIDE BACK THE NEXT DAY & PAID FOR A TOW. THEY TOWED IT TO THE CLOSEST NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON SUNDAY. I SPENT MOST OF MY DAY WAITING & HAD TO WAIT AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO UNLOAD CARS BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK COULD PUT THE CAR THERE.THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT WOULD BE 119.95 TO DIAGNOSE THEN THAT WOULD BE PUT TOWARDS THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROLLER. I CALLED BACK AN HOUR LATER & THE PRICE WAS MORE. 1120.85. I PICKED UP THE CAR IN TEARS. I QUESTIONED THE INVOICE & THEN QUESTIONED THE DEALSHIP & THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I FEEL LIKE THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME. ALSO I ASKED WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT THE DIAGNOSE CHARGE OF 119.95 TOWARDS THE REPAIR ? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HELP ME .
ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK. HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS FOR SOMEONE TO COME GET ME.
DASHBOARD HAS A STICKY RESIDUE THAT CONTINUES TO WORSEN. THE GLARE FROM THE STICKY RESIDUE REDUCES VISIBILITY.
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.
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