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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
12 miles · Oct 3, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

THE PUSH BUTTON START WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY "FOB". I CAN STILL UNLOCK AND LOCK MY DOORS WITH THE FOB, POP OPEN MY TRUNK, BUT THE SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO RECOGNIZE MY KEY AND UNLOCK MY STEERING WHEEL IS FAULTY. READING UP THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY '09 ALTIMAS AND NISSAN EVEN EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON THIS PART, UNFOR…

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THE PUSH BUTTON START WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY "FOB". I CAN STILL UNLOCK AND LOCK MY DOORS WITH THE FOB, POP OPEN MY TRUNK, BUT THE SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO RECOGNIZE MY KEY AND UNLOCK MY STEERING WHEEL IS FAULTY. READING UP THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY '09 ALTIMAS AND NISSAN EVEN EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON THIS PART, UNFORTUNATELY THAT WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND MY CAR NOW HAS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10911161

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2016
Steering

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAIL. COMMON WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S

NHTSA ODI #10911121

96,000 miles · Oct 3, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

THE ELECTRICAL STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILURE WHICH WOULDN'T ALLOW THE CAR TO START IS THE MOST STUPID THING I'VE EVER HEARD. AND THAT NISSAN WOULDN'T RECALL IT IS A BIG SHAME ON THE MANUFACTURER. ON TOP OF THAT, THEY CHARGE RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED ($600+LABOR)??!! THIS IS SUPER UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS …

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THE ELECTRICAL STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILURE WHICH WOULDN'T ALLOW THE CAR TO START IS THE MOST STUPID THING I'VE EVER HEARD. AND THAT NISSAN WOULDN'T RECALL IT IS A BIG SHAME ON THE MANUFACTURER. ON TOP OF THAT, THEY CHARGE RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED ($600+LABOR)??!! THIS IS SUPER UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS IN THE NORTHEAST AS WE MAY GET STUCK IN A COLD WINTER FREEZING TO DEATH FOR WHAT? THERE IS EVEN NO MECHANIC PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. JUST A LITTLE WEDGE-LIKE THING THAT WOULDN'T DROP TO WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE???? RIDICULOUS!!

NHTSA ODI #10911080

75,000 miles · Sep 30, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND THE SPEED WOULD REDUCE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND THE SPEED WOULD REDUCE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10910819

90,000 miles · Sep 27, 2016
Electrical System

WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING WHAT SO MANY NISSAN OWNERS HAVE NOTED ONLINE... THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAS MALFUNCTIONED. (THE KEY LIGHT IS ON, THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T LOCK, DOORS STILL LOCK/ UNLOCK). THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION ONLINE. IT IS ELECTRICAL, S…

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WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING WHAT SO MANY NISSAN OWNERS HAVE NOTED ONLINE... THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAS MALFUNCTIONED. (THE KEY LIGHT IS ON, THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T LOCK, DOORS STILL LOCK/ UNLOCK). THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION ONLINE. IT IS ELECTRICAL, SO ALL OUR PROPER MAINTENANCE PERFORMED MEANS NOTHING. OUR SITUATION WAS THE 90 YEAR OLD GRANDFATHER STRANDED AT THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT FOR 2.5 HOURS. ONCE HE RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT CRANK. THE CAR IS JUST NOW TO 90,000 MILES, AND NOW WE LEARN THAT NISSAN WAS AWARE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR A TIME, AND NOW IT HAS EXPIRED. THERE WAS NO NOTICE SENT OUT NOR WAS THERE AN OFFICIAL RECALL. OUR $1000 REPAIR BILL FOR A COMMON PROBLEM SPANNING SEVERAL YEARS AND SEVERAL MODELS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. PLEASE FORCE THEM TO DO A RECALL!!! IT'S A WIDESPREAD, KNOWN ISSUE THAT THEY ARE ALREADY AWARE OF.

NHTSA ODI #10910106

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2016
Steering

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED AS, ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE. *SMD

NHTSA ODI #10909153

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

ECSL WENT OUT AND MY HIGH SCHOOL DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME AS WE WERE OUT OF TOWN, THIS COULD REALLY BE A HAZARD AND DEFINITELY WAS COSTLY AS FAR AS TOWING, THANK GOD WE HAVE AN EXTRA VEHICLE BUT SHE HAD TO FIND TRANSPORTATION, HAD THE STRESS BEING 17 AND NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT TO DO, THE CAR SAT UNTIL WE GOT HOM…

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ECSL WENT OUT AND MY HIGH SCHOOL DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME AS WE WERE OUT OF TOWN, THIS COULD REALLY BE A HAZARD AND DEFINITELY WAS COSTLY AS FAR AS TOWING, THANK GOD WE HAVE AN EXTRA VEHICLE BUT SHE HAD TO FIND TRANSPORTATION, HAD THE STRESS BEING 17 AND NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT TO DO, THE CAR SAT UNTIL WE GOT HOME TO HAVE TO TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, MISSED SOME OF SCHOOL. THIS PART DEFINITELY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND PUT BACK OUT THERE INDEFINITELY TO BE WARRANTIED. I HAD HEARD NOTHING PRIOR BUT GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND THEN AFTER READING ABOUT THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE I AM PRAYING AFTER THE FIX THIS WILL BE THE ONLY TIME IT HAPPENS!

NHTSA ODI #10908459

135,000 miles · Sep 21, 2016
Steering

THE STEERING LOCK HAS NOW BECOME COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT, DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2009, 2010 MODELS. YET FOR SOME REASON I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THAT. ALSO, NOW FINDING OUT THAT THE RECALL EXTENSION WAS CUTOFF IN JANUARY OF 2016. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED A MILE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, IF …

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THE STEERING LOCK HAS NOW BECOME COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT, DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2009, 2010 MODELS. YET FOR SOME REASON I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THAT. ALSO, NOW FINDING OUT THAT THE RECALL EXTENSION WAS CUTOFF IN JANUARY OF 2016. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED A MILE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10908376

68,000 miles · Sep 20, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED IT WITH THE FOB, IT FAILED TO START UPON HER RETURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED IT WITH THE FOB, IT FAILED TO START UPON HER RETURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ESC NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 12/23/16*LJ UPDATED 02/07/17.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10908244

18,000 miles · Sep 20, 2016
Unknown Or Other

MELTING DASHBOARD. MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE. ALSO THE CRACKING AND PEELING MAY BE EFFECTING THE AIRBAG FUNCTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10908241

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