IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PRESSING THE PUSH TO START BUTTON, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/06/16*LJ UPDATED 09/08/16.*JB
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 reportsTHE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT INDICATING THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF REMAINS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEN THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT TO FIX.
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK SENSOR FAIL UNABLE TO START CAR OR LOCK OR START. FORTUNATELY HAD JUST PARK VEHICLE.. ON CITY STREET
STEERING WHEEL LOCK CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL COMPLETELY.
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT THAT NEEDS REPLACED. $1,100. NISSAN KNEW OF THE ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ONLY UNTIL 2015. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHY WAS I NEVER TOLD ABOUT IT. I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM REPLACE IT A LONG TIME AGO. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD AND THEY SHOULD COVER T…
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2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT THAT NEEDS REPLACED. $1,100. NISSAN KNEW OF THE ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ONLY UNTIL 2015. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHY WAS I NEVER TOLD ABOUT IT. I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM REPLACE IT A LONG TIME AGO. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD AND THEY SHOULD COVER THE COST!
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. THANKFULLY I WAS AT WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENED, SO I WAS IN A LIT PARKING LOT. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS STRANDED, AS THE CAR IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE ONCE THIS OCCURS.
ELECTRONIC IGNITION WONT START THE CAR WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. MY FRIEND HAD SAME ISSUE COST HIM ALMOST 1000K TO REPAIR THE CAR. THEY TOLD HIM THAT A COMMON ISSUE ALL CARS HAVE BECAUSE ITS ONE MANUFACTURE WHO MAKES THIS KEY START
DASH BOARD MELTING VERY STICKY CAN'T CLEAN BLINDING GLARE IN WINDSHIELD WHEN IN SUN HARD TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BUT AS I HAVE READ THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN IN HOT HUMID CLIMATE ALONG WITH THE STEERING LOCK DEFECTS .SEEMS NISSAN DOESN'T CARE ABOUT SAFETY ONLY WANTS TO SELL THE VEHICLE AND TAKE THE PROFIT…
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DASH BOARD MELTING VERY STICKY CAN'T CLEAN BLINDING GLARE IN WINDSHIELD WHEN IN SUN HARD TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BUT AS I HAVE READ THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN IN HOT HUMID CLIMATE ALONG WITH THE STEERING LOCK DEFECTS .SEEMS NISSAN DOESN'T CARE ABOUT SAFETY ONLY WANTS TO SELL THE VEHICLE AND TAKE THE PROFITS
TAKATA RECALL MY STEERING IS LOCKING AND WON'T LET ME TURN ON THE CAR IT WAS STATIONARY. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AGAIN AND FIXED FOR EVERYONE.
CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. A PART THAT NISSAN HAS KNOWINGLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON MULTIPLE TIMES.
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.