IllustrationELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. LEAVES CAR DISABLED WHERE EVER YOU ARE. CAR WILL NOT START. MUST BE TOWED. NISSAN HAD AN EARLIER RECALL BUT NEVER PUBLISHED IT TO 2009 ALTIMA OWNERS.
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
Electrical System complaints
466 reportsESCL REPLACED AFTER FAILING TO ALLOW PUSH BUTTON START AND FAILED AGAIN A FEW MONTHS LATER.
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) HAS BROKEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND MY CAR HAS BECOME A GIANT BRICK AND I CAN'T EVEN PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE IT. I WALKED OUT TO START MY CAR FOR WORK ONE DAY AND I FOUND OUT MY CAR WAS DEAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT INFORMED HER OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT INFORMED HER OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE PUSH TO START BUTTON FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, BOTH WITH THE PUSH TO START BUTTON AND THE EMERGENCY KEY SLOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, BOTH WITH THE PUSH TO START BUTTON AND THE EMERGENCY KEY SLOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
PARKED IN GARAGE, WOULDN'T START, STEERING LOCK SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING SO THE ENGINE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE PUSH BUTTON START, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO AUTO MECHANIC TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED FOR $1,000 PLUS TOWING! NISSAN STOPPED USING THIS PART IN 2010 SO THEY MUST KNOW IT WAS A BAD PART. I COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE WHEN THIS HAPP…
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PARKED IN GARAGE, WOULDN'T START, STEERING LOCK SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING SO THE ENGINE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE PUSH BUTTON START, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO AUTO MECHANIC TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED FOR $1,000 PLUS TOWING! NISSAN STOPPED USING THIS PART IN 2010 SO THEY MUST KNOW IT WAS A BAD PART. I COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND BEEN STRANDED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND "KEY FOB" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL); HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND "KEY FOB" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL); HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TODAY THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL LOCK WENT OUT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOT A RECALL TO COVER THIS DEFECTIVE PART. CLEARLY NISSAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE HAD RECALLS THAT EXPIRED. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE THAT AN OWNER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. THI…
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TODAY THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL LOCK WENT OUT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOT A RECALL TO COVER THIS DEFECTIVE PART. CLEARLY NISSAN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE HAD RECALLS THAT EXPIRED. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE THAT AN OWNER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. THIS IS STRICTLY A DEFECT IN ELECTRONICS SYSTEM. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF MY WIFE AND 4 YEAR OLD WERE STRANDED ON DAYS WHERE THE HEAT IN MEMPHIS CAN REACH INDEXES OF 115 AND IT CAN GET AS COLD AS 10 DEGREES?
ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK. HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS FOR SOMEONE TO COME GET ME.
THE PUSH BUTTON START WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY "FOB". I CAN STILL UNLOCK AND LOCK MY DOORS WITH THE FOB, POP OPEN MY TRUNK, BUT THE SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO RECOGNIZE MY KEY AND UNLOCK MY STEERING WHEEL IS FAULTY. READING UP THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY '09 ALTIMAS AND NISSAN EVEN EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON THIS PART, UNFOR…
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THE PUSH BUTTON START WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY "FOB". I CAN STILL UNLOCK AND LOCK MY DOORS WITH THE FOB, POP OPEN MY TRUNK, BUT THE SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO RECOGNIZE MY KEY AND UNLOCK MY STEERING WHEEL IS FAULTY. READING UP THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY '09 ALTIMAS AND NISSAN EVEN EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON THIS PART, UNFORTUNATELY THAT WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND MY CAR NOW HAS THE 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.