REPLACED BATTERY IN FOD STILL WANT CRANK SAYS NO KEY. *TR
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
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.
Electrical System complaints
466 reportsTHIS PAST SATURDAY 2/8/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM I RAN TO THE STORE. AFTER SHOPPING WHEN GETTING BACK INTO MY CAR IT WOULD NOT CRANK; IT'S LIKE THE CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, BRAKE WAS STIFF AND RED KEY LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. I TRIED EVERYTHING, NOTHING. I HAD TO CALL MY HUSBAND, TO COME GET ME…
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
I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE ER AND WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR THE WORD "KEY" FLASHED ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT START!!! I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 98K MILES..NOW I AM STRANDED AND MATHEWS NISSAN IN CLARKSVILLE, TN SAYS THEY WILL BE GLAD TO HELP FOR A PRICE. I EXPLAINED TO THEM IT WAS AN EMERGENCY A…
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I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE ER AND WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR THE WORD "KEY" FLASHED ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT START!!! I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 98K MILES..NOW I AM STRANDED AND MATHEWS NISSAN IN CLARKSVILLE, TN SAYS THEY WILL BE GLAD TO HELP FOR A PRICE. I EXPLAINED TO THEM IT WAS AN EMERGENCY AND THEY SUGGESTED " I CALL A FRIEND".. SAID THEY DIDN'T BUILD IT AND I WASN'T PAYING THEM FOR THE CAR, I WAS PAYING THE BANK AND TO CALL NISSAN IF I HAD A PROBLEM WITH HOW THEY WERE BUILT!!! TERRIBLE SERVICE AND UNRELIABLE CAR!!! STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN MEDICAL ATTENTION!!!! THANKS ALOT NISSAN!!!!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AS THE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE COLDEST DAY WE HAVE HAD IN EAST TEXAS THIS WINTER ESPECIALLY WHEN INCLUDING THE WINDCHILL FACTOR. I CAME HOME AT 5:45, PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE, AND WENT INSIDE. WHEN MY SON WHEN TO START THE CAR AT 9:30, IT WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE HIS KEY, HE WOKE ME UP AND WE TRIED MINE, IT STILL WILL…
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THIS IS PROBABLY THE COLDEST DAY WE HAVE HAD IN EAST TEXAS THIS WINTER ESPECIALLY WHEN INCLUDING THE WINDCHILL FACTOR. I CAME HOME AT 5:45, PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE, AND WENT INSIDE. WHEN MY SON WHEN TO START THE CAR AT 9:30, IT WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE HIS KEY, HE WOKE ME UP AND WE TRIED MINE, IT STILL WILL NOT START. WE SPENT THE NEXT FOUR HOURS DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, MANUALLY MOVING THE CAR IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGE, AND EVEN TRIED TO JUMP START IT AS SUGGESTED ON THIS SITE. NOTHING WORKED. THE CAR WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND HAS THE KEY LIGHT FLASHING IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I AM GRATEFUL AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE THAT IT WENT OUT IN MY GARAGE. WE HAVE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE STEERING LOCK MODULE FAILURE. THE BATTERY IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND ALL THE LIGHTS WORK, THE CAR JUST WON'T START BECAUSE IT WON'T RECOGNIZE THE KEY FOB. I'M GOING TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THIS CAR THIS MORNING BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF THIS PART AND HOW I AM GOING TO GET ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS PART AND WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY WHICH WAS EXTENDED FOR UNLIMITED MILES FOR THIS PART ONLY. CURRENTLY, THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO HIGH LEVEL OF FAILURES ACROSS THE US. PART IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HIGHER FAILURE IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER. NISSAN YOU NEED TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS OR IT WILL BE THE LAST CAR MANY OF US WILL BUY FROM YOU. *TR
I WENT TO RUN AN ERRAND AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT TO MY CAR FROM THE STORE, IT WOULDN'T START. I FOUND THAT THE "NO KEY" WARNING LIGHT WAS LIT ON THE DASH AND THE VEHICLE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT WOULD TURN ON WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON, NOTHING HAPPENED, IT STAYED IN THE "LOCK" SETTING. AFTER…
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I WENT TO RUN AN ERRAND AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT TO MY CAR FROM THE STORE, IT WOULDN'T START. I FOUND THAT THE "NO KEY" WARNING LIGHT WAS LIT ON THE DASH AND THE VEHICLE SECURITY WARNING LIGHT WOULD TURN ON WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON, NOTHING HAPPENED, IT STAYED IN THE "LOCK" SETTING. AFTER TRYING EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF (WITH NO TOOLS AVAILABLE), INCLUDING USING BOTH KEYS, TO GET THE CAR TO START AND READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT GOING TO START. I WAS ABLE TO GET A RIDE HOME AND RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WHERE I FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, ALONG WITH THREADS ON FORUMS DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE NISSAN KNOWS THAT THIS IS A FAILED PART AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS AS THIS FAILURE RENDERS THE CAR INCAPABLE OF STARTING AND SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT PAYING FOR MY TOWING BILL SINCE, IF THERE WAS A RECALL, I COULD HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE IT WAS STILL WORKING TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED PROACTIVELY INSTEAD OF HAVING TO BE STRANDED AND CHARGED FOR A TOWING BILL. *TR
TRYING TO START MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA, IT WOULD NOT START!!! THE BRAKES WERE ALMOST STUCK AND THE CAR SIMPLY WOULD NOT START! THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR TURNED ON WITH OUT A PROBLEM SO I KNOW IT WASN'T THE BATTERY, PLUS I CHANGED IT 2 YEARS AGO. AFTER READING MANY MANY REVIEWS, 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE START BU…
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TRYING TO START MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA, IT WOULD NOT START!!! THE BRAKES WERE ALMOST STUCK AND THE CAR SIMPLY WOULD NOT START! THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR TURNED ON WITH OUT A PROBLEM SO I KNOW IT WASN'T THE BATTERY, PLUS I CHANGED IT 2 YEARS AGO. AFTER READING MANY MANY REVIEWS, 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE START BUTTON, NOW I HAVE TO PAY TOW COMPANY TO TAKE TO DEALER AND PAY SO MUCH MONEY. PLEASE PLEASE NISSAN HELP REPLACE THIS!! *TR
ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00PM I TRIED TO START MY CAR (WHICH WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY) VIA PUSH START AND A LOCK AND KEY SYMBOL APPEARED AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I LOOKED UP THE SYMBOLS IN MY MANUAL AND IT STATED THAT THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE START. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER IN MY AR…
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ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00PM I TRIED TO START MY CAR (WHICH WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY) VIA PUSH START AND A LOCK AND KEY SYMBOL APPEARED AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I LOOKED UP THE SYMBOLS IN MY MANUAL AND IT STATED THAT THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE START. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER IN MY AREA HERE IN PA AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TO BE DIAGNOSED. WHICH I WILL BE DOING TODAY 02/06/14. *TR
2009 ALTIMA SEDAN WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY THIS MORNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. THE ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED AND THE CAR WAS RENDERED USELESS. AFTER CONTACT WITH THE DEALER, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR ISSUES, THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND "THEY WILL CONTACT ME THE PART BECOMES AVAILABLE …
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2009 ALTIMA SEDAN WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY THIS MORNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. THE ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED AND THE CAR WAS RENDERED USELESS. AFTER CONTACT WITH THE DEALER, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR ISSUES, THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND "THEY WILL CONTACT ME THE PART BECOMES AVAILABLE AND WHEN NISSAN CORPORATE DETERMINES HOW THEY ARE GOING TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM". MEANWHILE THE CONSUMER IS WITHOUT A VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND IT HAS BEEN EXCELLENT UP UNTIL THIS POINT WITH NO MECHANICAL ISSUES BUT THIS IS SOMETHING NISSAN SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. HUGE INCONVENIENCE! *TR
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WITH 63,200 MILES WOULD NOT START LAST SATURDAY, 2/1. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED, THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED, AND THE PUSH TO START BUTTON WOULD NOT LIGHT UP OR START THE CAR. THE RED LIGHT FOR THE KEY WAS FLASHING AND THE CAR COULD NEVER BE STARTED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEITH NISSAN IN CARY, NC WH…
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MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WITH 63,200 MILES WOULD NOT START LAST SATURDAY, 2/1. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED, THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED, AND THE PUSH TO START BUTTON WOULD NOT LIGHT UP OR START THE CAR. THE RED LIGHT FOR THE KEY WAS FLASHING AND THE CAR COULD NEVER BE STARTED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEITH NISSAN IN CARY, NC WHERE SERVICE MEMBERS THERE SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND CURRENTLY HAVE TWO OTHER VEHICLES IN LINE FOR THE SAME PART. THE ELECTRICAL PART FOR THE START BUTTON IS ON SERIOUS BACKORDER AND THE COMPANY HAS SUCH A HIGH DEMAND FOR IT THAT EVEN NISSAN CORPORATE IS SAYING IT WILL BE A FEW WEEKS TO GET THE PART IN. THE SERVICE STAFF AT LEITH NISSAN IN CARY, NC SAID THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN COMMON AND THAT NISSAN WAS NOT RECALLING THIS PART THOUGH THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE THIS A SERIOUS ISSUE AFFECTING MANY NISSAN CAR OWNERS FOR A SOME TIME NOW. LEITH NISSAN TOLD ME TO CALL CORPORATE AND ANYONE ELSE I COULD TO RAISE THIS CONCERN AND THAT MAYBE SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE. HUNDREDS OF OTHER NISSAN OWNERS HAVE POSTED THIS EXACT PROBLEM ONLINE AND FILED CLAIMS AS WELL. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THE PART AND REIMBURSE THOSE AFFECTED FOR RENTAL CARS AND OTHER EXPENSES. I CALLED THE NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICE DEMANDING REIMBURSEMENT FOR RENTAL CAR FEES. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO PUT A STOP TO THIS AND ENFORCE NISSAN TO RECALL THIS PART ON ALL ALTIMA'S. APPARENTLY THIS EXACT PART HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES.
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.
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