Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
725–50K
1550–75K
1275–100K
10100–150K
3150K+
52 reports with mileage · 2 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 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
54 reports
3,000 miles · Feb 12, 2010
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
I BOUGHT MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID ON JULY 30, 2009. ON OCTOBER 3RD, EVENING, IT LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY 99 CALIFORNIA. DASH BOARD LIGHT ARE ON, ENGINE HAS NO POWER OUTPUT. THE VEHICLE DROPPED SPEED QUICKLY. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. ONE MINUTE LATER, I TURNED ENGINE ON AGAIN. IT…
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I BOUGHT MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID ON JULY 30, 2009. ON OCTOBER 3RD, EVENING, IT LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY 99 CALIFORNIA. DASH BOARD LIGHT ARE ON, ENGINE HAS NO POWER OUTPUT. THE VEHICLE DROPPED SPEED QUICKLY. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. ONE MINUTE LATER, I TURNED ENGINE ON AGAIN. IT BACKED TO WORK. HOWEVER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES AGAIN LATER IN ONE WEEK. IT MADE ME REALLY THINK ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING IT. ON OCT 7,2009, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY CANNOT BE STARTED ANYMORE AND IT WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING FOR A FULL CHECK UP AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY CHECKED ALL THE WIRES AND RE-WIRED ALL THE CONNECTION CORDS. IT BACK TO WORK AND WORK ALRIGHT NOW. AFTER ABOUT 5000 MILES DRIVING, IT SEEMS THERE ARE NO SAME PROBLEMS APPEARED. BUT LOSE POWER WITHOUT ANY REASON ON FREEWAY IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, I HOPE THE MANUFACTURER CAN FIND THE REAL PROBLEMS AND AVOID IT'S HAPPENINGS IN ALL VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310058
10,897 miles · Jan 14, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
ON A SUNNY COLD AFTERNOON IN AVON CT, DOING 35 MPH, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME ON MY DASH OF 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID WITH 10897 MILES. AN AUDIBLE CONTINUOUS ALARM WAS ON IN THE CAR. THE BRAKES WERE TOTALLY INOPERABLE. IT WAS A TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND NISSAN CLAIM…
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ON A SUNNY COLD AFTERNOON IN AVON CT, DOING 35 MPH, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME ON MY DASH OF 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID WITH 10897 MILES. AN AUDIBLE CONTINUOUS ALARM WAS ON IN THE CAR. THE BRAKES WERE TOTALLY INOPERABLE. IT WAS A TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND NISSAN CLAIMS IT WAS A FAULTY ABS ACTUATOR THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10299718
9,500 miles · Dec 22, 2009
Power Train
CAR WHEN I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR TWO HRS, HAD TOO START CAR AND AFTER STARTING THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE IT WOULD ONLY GO INTO REVERSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10296702
1 miles · Nov 3, 2009
Air Bags
I PURCHASED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IN SEPT. 2009. I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG REMAINS OFF 50% OF THE TIME WHEN MY GIRLFRIEND (APPROX. 100 POUNDS) SITS IN IT. I TRIED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND A SEPARATE DEALER AS WELL. MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TOLD ME I…
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I PURCHASED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IN SEPT. 2009. I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG REMAINS OFF 50% OF THE TIME WHEN MY GIRLFRIEND (APPROX. 100 POUNDS) SITS IN IT. I TRIED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND A SEPARATE DEALER AS WELL. MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO LEAVE THE AIRBAG ON OR TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY. HE ALSO STATED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I TRIED BRINGING IT IN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME THAT AT LEAST 2 OR 3 PEOPLE HAD BROUGHT THEIR CARS IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND NISSAN COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM SEEMS RELATIVELY COMMON. HOW CAN SUCH A HAZARDOUS SITUATION BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH NHTSA STANDARDS? EVEN IF IT IS SAFE FOR 99% OF THE POPULATION, THE LACK OF CONTROL BY THE NHTSA IS SEVERELY ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE OTHER 1%. I AM ONLY ONE PERSON AND HOPE THAT THE NHTSA HELPS ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THE TIME AND EFFORT TO EXPLORE MEDIA OUTLETS AND AM REALLY HOPEFUL THAT THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED. I CANNOT IMAGINE THE LAWSUITS THAT WOULD RESULT FROM AN AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING WHEN I SEE THIS COMPLAINT ALL OVER MESSAGE BOARDS AND ON THE NHTSA SITE. PLEASE HELP US PROTECT OUR LOVED ONES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10290862
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1
DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
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