IllustrationSTEERING LOCK WAS RECALLED WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFERED FOR ALL NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 VEHICLES. HOWEVER, OUR CAR LOCKED UP MARCH 15, 2016, WHICH IS AFTER NISSAN ENDED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A $1,300 REPAIR. CONTACTED NISSAN TO HAVE THEM PAY, BUT THEY DENIED AT ALL COSTS.
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 reportsSTEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILURE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA
AROUND 90,000 MILES, MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA SE WOULDN'T START. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM THAT HAD AN ISSUE. THIS WOULDN'T ALLOW THE PUSH BUTTON START TO WORK. THIS PROBLEM COULD ONLY BE FIXED BY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND IT COST JUST OVER $1,000. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE A…
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AROUND 90,000 MILES, MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA SE WOULDN'T START. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM THAT HAD AN ISSUE. THIS WOULDN'T ALLOW THE PUSH BUTTON START TO WORK. THIS PROBLEM COULD ONLY BE FIXED BY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND IT COST JUST OVER $1,000. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS A DECENT PRICE AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NISSAN OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE PLUS PROBABLY TEN TIMES MORE THAT DIDN'T BOTHER WRITING ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS PIECE THAT NISSAN HAS PUT INTO THEIR CAR.
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT IN NEW YORK. I NEEDED TO GET TOWED TO NJ. I WAS LUCKY I WAS LUCKY I WAS ALONE IT IS A DANGEROUS. THING TO HAPPEN AND NOW 1000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START. JUST SO HAPPEN MY CAR WAS PARKED AT MY HOUSE, THANKING GOD I WAS NOT STRANDED OUT ANYWHERE OR WORST GETTING OFF WORK LATE AT NIGHT. I KEEP HEARING THIS HUMMING NOISE WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON BUT THE CAR WON'T START. WITH 3 BIOPSY PATIENTS WAITING ON MY ARRIVAL TO THE CLINIC, AND I'M WAIT…
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MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START. JUST SO HAPPEN MY CAR WAS PARKED AT MY HOUSE, THANKING GOD I WAS NOT STRANDED OUT ANYWHERE OR WORST GETTING OFF WORK LATE AT NIGHT. I KEEP HEARING THIS HUMMING NOISE WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON BUT THE CAR WON'T START. WITH 3 BIOPSY PATIENTS WAITING ON MY ARRIVAL TO THE CLINIC, AND I'M WAITING ON A RIDE TO WORK. I DECIDED TO GOOGLE THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING WITH MY CAR. I SEE OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE AS WELL. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHEN ITS A MALFUNCTION OF THERE'S. ITS A DISGRACE THAT WE AS A CONSUMER INVESTING AND ENTRUSTING THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES TO THE SAFETY OF THERE CARS AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL SINCE IT HAPPENED ON OTHER NISSAN MODELS AS WELL. MY LIVELIHOOD AS A SINGLE PARENT IS BASED ON ME GOING INTO WORK DAILY AND I CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT A CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER TO ME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR TWO OR MORE WEEKS. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE NISSAN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AT 1-800-NISSAN ASAP
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING, CREATING A SHINY, STICKY SURFACE. THE SHINE FROM THE MELTED DASH REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A GLARE THAT MAKES IT HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE.
INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WENT TO THE STORE AND THE CAR WILL NOT START.
AT ANY GIVEN TIME OR PLACE, OUR 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD LOCK UP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD AS A ROCK, OR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TOTALLY LOCK UP. SOMETIMES IT WOULD HAPPEN IN JULY ON A NICE WARM DAY, OR IN JANUARY WHEN YOUR DRIVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT 20 BELOW. THIS IS A HUGE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM, PLEASE HELP US BEFORE SOMEB…
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AT ANY GIVEN TIME OR PLACE, OUR 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD LOCK UP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD AS A ROCK, OR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TOTALLY LOCK UP. SOMETIMES IT WOULD HAPPEN IN JULY ON A NICE WARM DAY, OR IN JANUARY WHEN YOUR DRIVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT 20 BELOW. THIS IS A HUGE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM, PLEASE HELP US BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE GETS KILLED. THIS PROBLEM ALWAYS HAPPENED TO OUR CAR WHEN IT WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF.
MY ALTIMA RECENTLY HAD A STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THIS IS VERY COMMON AND A KNOWN ISSUE.
I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IN THE MORNING, WENT TO CRANK IT WHEN I LEFT WORK & THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK & THE ORANGE/YELLOWISH KEY WAS ON..THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I REPLACED BATTERY IN MY FBO & DIDN'T WORK SO COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL STEERING BOX. NOW I'M FIXING TO HAVE TO SPEND 1000$ FOR NISSANS MESS UP IN THIS PART. IT LE…
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I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IN THE MORNING, WENT TO CRANK IT WHEN I LEFT WORK & THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK & THE ORANGE/YELLOWISH KEY WAS ON..THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I REPLACED BATTERY IN MY FBO & DIDN'T WORK SO COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL STEERING BOX. NOW I'M FIXING TO HAVE TO SPEND 1000$ FOR NISSANS MESS UP IN THIS PART. IT LEFT ME STRANDED & COULDN'T GET HOME TO MY FAMILY.
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.