IllustrationSTEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION!! GOT STRANDED IN THE ARIZONA HEAT BECAUSE ESCL MALFUNCTIONED!!! NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 WOULDN'T START, HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO AUTO SHOP TO BE TOLD IT'S A STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION!! NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!! I'M DISSATISFY WITH NISSAN
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 reportsI WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT A RELATIVES, HAD TO MOVE MY VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVEWAY TO THE STREETS. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT TO START MY VEHICLE TO GO HOME SIX HOURS LATER, IT WOULD NOT START. I CONTACTED TRIPLE A, THEY WASN'T SUCCESSFUL GETTING MY VEHICLE STARTED, SO I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO PEP BOYS WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, T…
Read full complaint
I WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT A RELATIVES, HAD TO MOVE MY VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVEWAY TO THE STREETS. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT TO START MY VEHICLE TO GO HOME SIX HOURS LATER, IT WOULD NOT START. I CONTACTED TRIPLE A, THEY WASN'T SUCCESSFUL GETTING MY VEHICLE STARTED, SO I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO PEP BOYS WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, THEN I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.
WENT TO START CAR TO RUN AN ERRAND WHILE AT WORK ON LUNCH BREAK TO GET IN THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I'LL HAVE TO GET THE CAR TOWED NOT TO INCLUDE THE DAYCARE LATE FEES THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO PICK MY CHILD UP FROM DAYCARE BECAUSE THEY CLOSE, NEEDLESS TO SAY IT'S $1 PER MINUTE THAT I'M LAT…
Read full complaint
WENT TO START CAR TO RUN AN ERRAND WHILE AT WORK ON LUNCH BREAK TO GET IN THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I'LL HAVE TO GET THE CAR TOWED NOT TO INCLUDE THE DAYCARE LATE FEES THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO PICK MY CHILD UP FROM DAYCARE BECAUSE THEY CLOSE, NEEDLESS TO SAY IT'S $1 PER MINUTE THAT I'M LATE AND IT IS DUE AT THE TIME OF PICK UP. THE COST FOR THE PART IS $708.66 NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR, STRESS, AND ANXIETY THAT THIS INCONVENIENCE HAS CAUSED. I AM INFURIATED. MY OTHER 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION REPLACED JUST 2 MONTHS AGO. THE NISSAN QUALITY IS GOING DOWN THE DRAIN!
STEERING LOCK ON A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA BROKE JUNE 13,2016. 1100 DOLLARS TO FIX AT DEALER.
STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT DIED. NO SIGNS OF WEAR, CAR JUST DIDN'T START ON A RANDOM DAY. DEALERSHIP SPECIFICALLY SAID, "FOUND STEERING LOCK CONT- UNIT INTERNALLY OEPN...)" WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE GUY AT THE DEALERSHIP HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN, HIS RESPONSE WAS "IT CAN JUST HAPPEN OVER TIME".
ON 6/11/16 DROVE TO GAS STATION WENT HOME CAME OUT TO MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON SAW A YELLOW KEY LIGHT GOOGLED IT DIDN'T HAVE TO FINISH IT AUTOMATICALLY CAME UP NISSAN POWER STEERING WENT THE PLACE I'M FINANCING MY CAR FROM SAYS THAT MY FOB KEY HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO MY CAR SO NOW THE TOW COMPANY COM…
Read full complaint
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
DROVE TO WORK ON 6-4-2016. WENT OUT TO MOVE MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. LIGHTS WERE WORKING, ALARM WAS WORKING BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED A TINY KEY EMBLEM ON THE DASH THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE, COME TO FIND OUT IT IS THE STEERING LOCK WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL ON. CALLED NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT AND WAS TOLD THE…
Read full complaint
DROVE TO WORK ON 6-4-2016. WENT OUT TO MOVE MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. LIGHTS WERE WORKING, ALARM WAS WORKING BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED A TINY KEY EMBLEM ON THE DASH THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE, COME TO FIND OUT IT IS THE STEERING LOCK WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL ON. CALLED NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL EXPIRED IN JULY 2015 AND IT WOULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $900 TO FIX. I CANNOT AFFORD 900 DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD BE FIXING FOR FREE AS IT IS A NISSAN INDUCED ISSUE AND NOTHING PERSONAL. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR ALMOST A WEEK, HAVING TO BEG RIDES FROM PEOPLE JUST SO I CAN SUPPORT MY FAMILY WITH THE (2) JOBS THAT IM WORKING.
TRY TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE PUSH BUTTON START AND INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE DASH DO NOT WORK. TRIED JUMPING THE CAR AND NOTHING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A CERTIFIED GOODYEAR REPAIR FACILITY. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A NEW STEERING COLUMN MODULE. COST OF APPROXIMATELY $850.00
STEERING LOCK FAILURE...CAR BROKE DOWN AT GAS STATION, WON'T START, BRAKE WON'T WORK, CAR IS LOCKED UP. NOW I HAVE $1,000 BILL TO FIX A PROBLEM I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD IN THE FIRST PLACE.
MY 2009 NISSAN ULTIMA WAS PARKED IN MY WORK PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT START KEYLESS ENTRY PAD MOUNT FUNCTION AND HAD THE LOCK STEERING GAVE ME PROBLEMS AND IT WOULD NOT START I FELT ENDANGERED BECAUSE EVERYONE AT WORK LEFT AND I WAS ALL ALONE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK.
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.