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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
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98,000 miles · Jun 9, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITY INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITY INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10724224

62,000 miles · Jun 4, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10723433

18,250 miles · May 26, 2015
Electrical System

ENGINE WITH PUSH BUTTON START WOULD NOT TURN OVER AFTER 3HR STOP AND A LONG DRIVE PREVIOUS TO STOP. BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DEAD, BUT AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO JUMP START IT DID TURN OVER. THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL DRAW ON BATTERY DURING STOP EITHER. STOPPED AT NISSAN DEALER TO CHECK THE STARTING SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT NORMAL…

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ENGINE WITH PUSH BUTTON START WOULD NOT TURN OVER AFTER 3HR STOP AND A LONG DRIVE PREVIOUS TO STOP. BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DEAD, BUT AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO JUMP START IT DID TURN OVER. THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL DRAW ON BATTERY DURING STOP EITHER. STOPPED AT NISSAN DEALER TO CHECK THE STARTING SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT NORMAL. SERVICE TECH RECALLED THIS PROBLEM WITH MY PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL, AND SAID A BRAKE SWITCH AND SUB HARNESS ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE REPLACED, BUT AT $800+ COST I DECLINED OFFER. PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY LATER AND AS OF THIS DATE I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM, BUT EVERY TIME I START IT I CROSS MY FINGERS.

NHTSA ODI #10724004

76,237 miles · May 18, 2015
Electrical System

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 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.

NHTSA ODI #10717108

128,000 miles · May 14, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

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.

NHTSA ODI #10716590

94,000 miles · May 13, 2015
Electrical System

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.

NHTSA ODI #10716207

99,000 miles · May 11, 2015
Electrical System

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.

NHTSA ODI #10715693

125,000 miles · May 8, 2015
Electrical System

GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO RUN IN TO THE STORE, GOT BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START.

NHTSA ODI #10715335

87,000 miles · May 6, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

AFTER STOPPING AT THE STORE MY CAR NO LONGER WOULD START. I LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE IT IS HOT, THIS IS A DANGER TO BE STUCK AND NO WAY TO FIX IT. THE KEY LIGHT POPPED ON. APPARENTLY AFTER RESEARCH IT IS NOTED NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. IF THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES WHY NOT RECALL THE PART INSTEAD OF LEAVI…

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AFTER STOPPING AT THE STORE MY CAR NO LONGER WOULD START. I LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE IT IS HOT, THIS IS A DANGER TO BE STUCK AND NO WAY TO FIX IT. THE KEY LIGHT POPPED ON. APPARENTLY AFTER RESEARCH IT IS NOTED NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. IF THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES WHY NOT RECALL THE PART INSTEAD OF LEAVING MOTORIST STRANDED. IF THE PART MALFUNCTIONS THERE IS NO WAY TO MOVE THE CAR. I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT IS OK TO CHARGE 1200 DOLLARS KNOWING YOUR PART IS DEFECTIVE. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10714914

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

ON MAY 1, 2015 MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER. MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) SYSTEM FAILED 4 MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EXPIRED.THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT ACCORDING TO NISSAN "HAPPENING TO ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES". IF THE NUMBER IS SO …

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ON MAY 1, 2015 MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER. MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) SYSTEM FAILED 4 MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EXPIRED.THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT ACCORDING TO NISSAN "HAPPENING TO ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES". IF THE NUMBER IS SO MINISCULE THEN WHY NOT ISSUE A RECALL?? I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT I WOULD BE DEALING WITH IF I EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE AWAY FROM HOME OR TRAVELING. I THANK GOD THAT MY FAMILY AND I WERE AT HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10714532

Official recalls

4

10V401000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems