IllustrationDROVE CAR TO WORK WITH NO PROBLEM. REENTERED CAR 3 HRS LATER AND IT WOULDN'T START. A YELLOW KEY LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASH AND THE BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. REPLACED KEY BATTERIES BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WHICH WOULD COST $986.
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 reportsCAR WILL NOT START AND BATTERY IS FINE. APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT WITH 2009-2010 ALTIMA RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCK SENSOR AND HAPPENS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT DEEMED A "SAFETY ISSUE" THE NHTSA IS NOT MANDATING A RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MY DOG AND NIECE WERE LOCKED IN THE CAR A…
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CAR WILL NOT START AND BATTERY IS FINE. APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT WITH 2009-2010 ALTIMA RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCK SENSOR AND HAPPENS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT DEEMED A "SAFETY ISSUE" THE NHTSA IS NOT MANDATING A RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MY DOG AND NIECE WERE LOCKED IN THE CAR AND WE COULD NOT OPEN IT BECAUSE THIS DEFECT SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. MAKE NISSAN REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED.
TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WENT OFF SIGNALING THAT THERE WAS NO AIR BAG. THE NEXT DAY, IT WENT OFF SIGNALING OR INDICATING THAT THERE WAS NO AIR BAG, BUT ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. CAR WILL NOT TURN ON AT ALL. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO SLAM ME WITH A $1100 REPAIR BILL. CAR WAS BOUGHT IN FEB 2009, AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SAID SPECIFIC PART ENDED FEB 2015.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
MY DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND SHINY IN CERTAIN PARTS AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN THE SUN BECAUSE OF THE GLARE FROM THE STICKINESS. THERE'S NOTHING TO WIPE. IT'S JUST STICKY, ANYTHING I PUT ON IT, WHETHER IT'S PAPER, CLOTH, ETC WILL JUST STICK AND NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND ELECTRONIC KEY WARNING LIGHT (YELLOW) LIT. CAR WOULD NOT START AND LEFT STRANDED. RESORTED TO RAPPING ON THE ESCL BOX MOUNTED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH WORKS WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OF …
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ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND ELECTRONIC KEY WARNING LIGHT (YELLOW) LIT. CAR WOULD NOT START AND LEFT STRANDED. RESORTED TO RAPPING ON THE ESCL BOX MOUNTED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH WORKS WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OF THE PART BUT, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NEVER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT OR NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE NEED TO REPLACE THIS PART. MY WARRANTY FOR THIS PART EXPIRED IN OCTOBER 2014, BUT IT WAS UNKNOWN TO ME SINCE MY FIRST ISSUE WAS MAY 2015. NISSAN DEALER ESTIMATES $1016 TO REPAIR.
AS MY FAMILY AND I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN, THE CAR'S ACCELERATION APPEARED TO DECLINE OUT OF NO WHERE. EVEN WITH THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN SPEED. IT MADE A WHINING NOISE AS WELL. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IT HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES THAT I CAN COUNT OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. I …
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AS MY FAMILY AND I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN, THE CAR'S ACCELERATION APPEARED TO DECLINE OUT OF NO WHERE. EVEN WITH THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN SPEED. IT MADE A WHINING NOISE AS WELL. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IT HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES THAT I CAN COUNT OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE NOR GET A CODE. SO MY ISSUE STILL EXISTS. IT ONLY HAPPENS ON LONG DISTANCE TRIPS WHERE I DRIVE MORE THAN 40 MILES OR SO AT 75 MPH OR MORE, USUALLY 80MPH. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEKEND AND MY YOUNG DAUGHTER AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER SO I ONCE AGAIN TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND ONCE AGAIN THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE. IT'S PRETTY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU KNOW THERE'S AN ISSUE BUT YOU CAN'T GET A RESOLUTION. LIKE I WOULD MAKE UP AN ISSUE TO PAY FOR, THAT'S DUMB! THEY WANT YOU TO TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZE NISSAN DEALER BUT WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO WHEN THEY CAN'T FIND OR FIX THE ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY DASH BEING VERY STICKY. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CLEAN MY DASH DUE TO THE STICKINESS. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THE ISSUE SINCE THERE IS DEFINITELY REASON FOR THE DASH TO BE FIXED AND I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY NISSAN OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM.
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.