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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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135,000 miles · Jan 26, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

DROVE CAR TO GAS STATION AND AFTER FILLING WITH GAS CAR WOULD NO LONGER START. CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE KEY FOB. THE STEERING LOCK IS BROKEN AND REQUIRES $800.00 TO REPAIR. SPOKE WITH TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY TOW A LOT OF THESE TO THE SHOP EACH WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. INCIDENT IS NOT ISOLATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678867

138,000 miles · Jan 25, 2015
Electrical System

DROVE CAR TO STORE. LEAVING THE STORE AND STARTED TO START THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT HAD A KEY LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASH BOARD AND A LOCK NOTICE ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED DOWN. THE CAR HAS A KEYLESS ENTRY. THE BATTERIES WERE GOOD IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FONT. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK …

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DROVE CAR TO STORE. LEAVING THE STORE AND STARTED TO START THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT HAD A KEY LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASH BOARD AND A LOCK NOTICE ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED DOWN. THE CAR HAS A KEYLESS ENTRY. THE BATTERIES WERE GOOD IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FONT. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP. VERY BIG INCONVENIENCE AS WIFE USES THE VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678762

108,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

CAR WON'T START DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK BEING DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676620

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

MY ORIGINAL INCIDENT DATE WAS NOT CORRECT AND I DID NOT INCLUDE THE VIN# OF THE VEHICLE SO I AM SUBMITTING AN UPDATED COMPLAINT DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 12/08/2014 COMPONENT(S): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ENGINE , STEERING DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/27/2014 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10662919 AS PREVIOUSLY STATED I DROVE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S T…

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MY ORIGINAL INCIDENT DATE WAS NOT CORRECT AND I DID NOT INCLUDE THE VIN# OF THE VEHICLE SO I AM SUBMITTING AN UPDATED COMPLAINT DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 12/08/2014 COMPONENT(S): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ENGINE , STEERING DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/27/2014 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10662919 AS PREVIOUSLY STATED I DROVE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S TO WORK ON 12/04, I DROVE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SE TO WORK AND IT STARTED UP JUST FINE. HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE WORK FOR THE DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE KEYLESS REMOTE ALLOWED ME TO LOCK AND UNLOCK MY CAR, BUT THE CAR DID NOT START. INSTEAD AN ERROR CODE SHOWS THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) MECHANISM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. ALSO, THERE IS A YELLOW KEY ICON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH THAT INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES NO KEY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING THAT THE PART WAS ABOUT TO FAIL INCLUDING ANY LIGHTS ON THE DASH PANEL. I WAS LEFT STRANDED TRYING TO FIND A WAY HOME. DUE TO BEING IN A PARKING GARAGE I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK WITH CLEARANCE TO ENTER THE GARAGE. SINCE I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE REPAIRS AT THIS TIME I HAVE BEEN A MONTH WITH NO CAR. NISSAN IS STILL REFUSING TO REPAIR MY CAR INDICATING THAT IT FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION PERIOD. WHICH IS INTERESTING CONSIDERING THERE IS A DETAILED LETTER EXPLAINING THE WARRANTY WHICH CLEARLY STATES, "NISSAN HAS DECIDED TO EXTEND THE NISSAN NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY, AS IT APPLIES TO THE ESCL UNIT, FROM 3 YEARS / 36,000 MILES TO 6 YEARS / UNLIMITED MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST." - HTTP://WWW.NISSANASSIST.COM/WEB/ESCL_WARRANTY_EXTENSION/PROGRAMDETAILS.PHP?MENU=61 BASIC MATH SHOWS THAT 6 YEARS FROM 2009 WOULD BE 2015 NOT 2014. SO I AM STILL NOT CERTAIN AS TO HOW I AM OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. SEEING AS HOW MY CLAIM WAS ORIGINALLY FILED IN 2014 THIS SHOULD MAKE ME ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIRS UNDER THE COVERED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10670371

60,000 miles · Jan 5, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

UPON ARRIVING BACK TO CAR AFTER ATTENDING CHURCH IT WOULD NOT START. STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED, IGNITION LIGHT WOULD NOT COME OFF OF LOCK, BATTERY WAS GOOD. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. LEFT US STRANDED. TALKED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN AND SAID IT WAS PROBABLY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM AS HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 200…

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UPON ARRIVING BACK TO CAR AFTER ATTENDING CHURCH IT WOULD NOT START. STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED, IGNITION LIGHT WOULD NOT COME OFF OF LOCK, BATTERY WAS GOOD. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. LEFT US STRANDED. TALKED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN AND SAID IT WAS PROBABLY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM AS HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 2009 NISSAN. SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST AROUND $1,000. UPON RESEARCHING FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM! WHY NOT A RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670310

111,000 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

I GOT INTO MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S AND I PUSHED THE START IGNITION BUTTON AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK SET THAT CONTROLS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE'S STARTING CAPABILITIES. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME TOW MY CAR WAY ACROSS TOWN TO A AUTO-NATION NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS ON THE…

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I GOT INTO MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S AND I PUSHED THE START IGNITION BUTTON AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK SET THAT CONTROLS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE'S STARTING CAPABILITIES. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME TOW MY CAR WAY ACROSS TOWN TO A AUTO-NATION NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS ON THE CORNER OF WELCH ROAD AND HIGH WAY 635. THEY SAID THAT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT HOWEVER THIS IS A RECALL ITEM THAT NISSAN SHOULD COVER THE COST FOR ALL OF THEIR CUSTOMER'S WHO PURCHASED THIS ROTTEN VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE WITH THIS BUILT IN OBSOLESCENCE OR DESIGNED TO BREAK DOWN AND SHUT DOWN ON THE OWNER AND "LEAVE THEM STRANDED" WHY WOULD YOU KNOWINGLY ALLOW THIS DEFECT ON ALL OF THESE MILLION'S OF MANUFACTURED DEFECTED "JUNK" OF A CAR WHY WOULD YOU NISSAN ALLOW THIS PIECE OF SH_ T VEHICLE TO BE MADE KNOWING THAT THIS WOULD BE A "HUGE INCONVENIENCE TO THE CUSTOMER VEHICLE OWNER? I WAS TOLD BY NISSAN AUTONATION'S [XXX] THAT THE COST FOR REPAIRING THIS PIECE OF JUNK OF A POORLY AND CHEAPLY MADE CAR WOULD COST ME $849.00 PLUS TAX. WHAT THE [XXX] IS THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668888

47,000 miles · Dec 28, 2014
Electrical System

I DROVE MY ALTIMA TO THE SHOPPING CENTER, THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. I PARKED THE CAR. WHEN I CAME OUT ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. CHANGED THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB BUT THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. APPEARS TO BE A STEERING COLUM…

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I DROVE MY ALTIMA TO THE SHOPPING CENTER, THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. I PARKED THE CAR. WHEN I CAME OUT ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. CHANGED THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB BUT THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. APPEARS TO BE A STEERING COLUMN LOCK ISSUE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER. FIVE DAYS LATER I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT. ALTHOUGH NISSAN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. IT IS REPREHENSIBLE THAT NISSAN CONTINUES LETTING PEOPLE BE STRANDED WHEN THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668606

83,041 miles · Dec 25, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S COUPE. CAR STARTED FINE IN THE MORNING, THEN FAILED TO START (DID NOT CRANK) AFTER SITTING IN PARKING LOT FOR 1 HOUR. YELLOW "INTELLIGENT KEY" AND RED "SECURITY INDICATOR" LIGHT WERE LIT ON DASH, OTHERWISE NO OTHER INDICATIONS ON THE DASH. TRIED JUMPING BATTERY AND CHANGING KEY BATTERY, NO LUCK. CALLED LO…

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2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S COUPE. CAR STARTED FINE IN THE MORNING, THEN FAILED TO START (DID NOT CRANK) AFTER SITTING IN PARKING LOT FOR 1 HOUR. YELLOW "INTELLIGENT KEY" AND RED "SECURITY INDICATOR" LIGHT WERE LIT ON DASH, OTHERWISE NO OTHER INDICATIONS ON THE DASH. TRIED JUMPING BATTERY AND CHANGING KEY BATTERY, NO LUCK. CALLED LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP, THEY SUSPECTED STEERING INTERLOCK ISSUE, STATED THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THIS. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS THE STEERING INTERLOCK AND FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY. NISSAN IS SUPPOSEDLY REIMBURSING FOR PART OF THE TOW CHARGE ALSO. FORTUNATELY, CAR WAS STILL WITHIN THE WARRANTY TIME LIMIT. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED, "NISSAN FIGURED IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, IT WOULD OCCUR WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD". I WAS LUCKY TO BE NEAR HOME AND DEALERSHIP WHEN THIS HAPPENED, COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. NOT SURE WHY THEY WOULDN'T ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668215

135,000 miles · Dec 21, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. WE JUMPED THE BATTERY AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. NO LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON IN THE CAR AND THE BRAKE WAS VERY HARD TO PUSH DOWN. WE DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING MOUNT. WE ATTEMPTED…

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THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. WE JUMPED THE BATTERY AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. NO LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON IN THE CAR AND THE BRAKE WAS VERY HARD TO PUSH DOWN. WE DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING MOUNT. WE ATTEMPTED TO GET IT STARTED THE NEXT DAY BY FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS ONLINE BUT NO LUCK. WE HAD IT TOWED AND FOUND OUT IT WAS IN FACT THE STEERING MOUNT. IT IS A LARGE EXPENSE, IMPACTED BY THE FACT THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN TO A NISSAN PLANT TO BE REPROGRAMMED, ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 280 DOLLARS. THIS PART NEEDS A MASS RECALL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667530

80,000 miles · Dec 18, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER WORK ON 12/16/14. LOCKS WORKED FINE AND DOORS UNLOCKED. TRIED JUMPING CAR BATTERY AND CHANGING BATTERIES IN KEY WITH NO SUCCESS. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT NIGHT. AFTER LOOKING AT CAR ON 12/17/14, LOCAL SHOP ADVISED THE ISSUE TO BE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. AFTER REVIEWING …

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CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER WORK ON 12/16/14. LOCKS WORKED FINE AND DOORS UNLOCKED. TRIED JUMPING CAR BATTERY AND CHANGING BATTERIES IN KEY WITH NO SUCCESS. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT NIGHT. AFTER LOOKING AT CAR ON 12/17/14, LOCAL SHOP ADVISED THE ISSUE TO BE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. AFTER REVIEWING THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE, SO COMMON NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS MODEL FOR THIS PART TO 6 YRS UNLIMITED MILES (MY CAR HAS ABOUT 80,000 MILES). I ASK THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE NISSAN DEALER WAS THERE ANY RECALL ON THIS PART BECAUSE OF ALL THE ISSUES WITH IT. I WAS TOLD NO AND IT WOULD COST $1196 TO REPAIR IT. SO I CALL NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR ANY CHANCE OF COVERING UNDER THIS WARRANTY. NISSAN STATED THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL I HAD A DEALER REVIEW THE ISSUE. DEALER CONFIRMED ISSUE. BUT I WAS FULLY DENIED WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED OCTOBER OF 2014 AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING, WITH THE LARGE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS HERE AND NISSANS OWN ADMISSION OF KNOWN ISSUE BY EXTENDING WARRANTY FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND PART, SOMETHING MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. IM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN. SINCE 2007 I HAVE PURCHASED 4 NISSAN AN AT THIS POINT I WILL NEVER SPEND MY HARD EARN MONEY ON ANOTHER NISSAN PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ON HOW NISSAN IS TREATING THEIR SO CALLED "VALUED CUSTOMERS'. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667192

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