REPLACED STEERING LOCK DECEMBER 6, 2013, AND AGAIN MARCH 7, 2017. HAS LEFT ME STRANDED TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. REPLACED WITH NISSAN PART THAT THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO REPLACE WITH SAME DEFECTIVE PART AGAIN 3 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS LATER AT MY OWN EXPENSE THE SECOND TIME.
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN PARTS RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN PARTS RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 05/10/17*LJ *CN
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START, CAN NOT MOVE GEARS, LOCK OR UNLOCK DOORS AND WINDOWS DON'T WORK. THE PART HAD A RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE REINSTATED.IF THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN RAPED OR KILLED. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY ISSUE!
THE START PUSH BUTTON IGNITION AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WILL NOT ENGAGE.. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE BRAKE PAD TO DEPRESS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I AM LEFT DEAD IN THE WATER WITH NO WAY TO START OR USE THE ACCESSORIES FUNCTION TO TURN ON THE RADIO OR ALLOW MY PHONE TO CHARGE IN THE BATTERY PORT…
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THE START PUSH BUTTON IGNITION AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WILL NOT ENGAGE.. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE BRAKE PAD TO DEPRESS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I AM LEFT DEAD IN THE WATER WITH NO WAY TO START OR USE THE ACCESSORIES FUNCTION TO TURN ON THE RADIO OR ALLOW MY PHONE TO CHARGE IN THE BATTERY PORT. I WENT TO PICK UP MY FAMILY WENT TO START THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO RECOGNITION.
STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE RENDERED THE CAR UNSTARTABLE
WHEN I LEFT THE OFFICE TO START MY CAR YESTERDAY EVENING ON 2/15/2017, I USED MY KEY FOB TO REMOTELY UNLOCK MY PARKED 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE THOUGH, THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION DID NOTHING. THE CAR DID NOT START, NOR WOULD IT SWITCH TO ACCESSORY MODE. ON THE DASH CLUSTER, AN AMBER …
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WHEN I LEFT THE OFFICE TO START MY CAR YESTERDAY EVENING ON 2/15/2017, I USED MY KEY FOB TO REMOTELY UNLOCK MY PARKED 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE THOUGH, THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION DID NOTHING. THE CAR DID NOT START, NOR WOULD IT SWITCH TO ACCESSORY MODE. ON THE DASH CLUSTER, AN AMBER COLORED "KEY" LIGHT LIT UP. THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION GLOWED ORANGE WHILE THE RING AROUND IT SAID "LOCK;" NOTHING SEEMED TO ALLOW THE CAR TO START. IT WAS AS IF THE KEY FOB WAS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE CAR. EVEN THOUGH I WAS REPEATEDLY ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS REMOTELY FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE (THE CR2025 BATTERY INSIDE WAS NOT DEAD...) AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD WORK (THE CAR BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD EITHER...), THE CAR REFUSED TO START. I CONSULTED THE MANUAL AND VERIFIED THAT THE KEY FOB WAS INSERTED CORRECTLY INTO THE SLOT TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN - STILL, THE CAR REFUSED TO START. I CALLED AAA TO REQUEST A TOW SINCE NOTHING SEEMED TO LET ME START THE CAR. FOR THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF I SAT IN BELOW-FREEZING TEMPERATURES WHILE I WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK I CALLED FOR TO ARRIVE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. MY SPOUSE MET ME AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE OTHER KEY FOB SO WE COULD TEST WHETHER MY KEY WAS THE ONLY AFFECTED FOB; UNFORTUNATELY, THE OTHER KEY FOB DID NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START EITHER. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, OTHERS HAVE BEEN STRANDED TOO: HTTPS://2009NISSANALTIMARECALL.WORDPRESS.COM/2013/04/08/VICTORY-2009-NISSAN-ALTIMA-STEERING-LOCK-VOLUNTARY-RECALL/ WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME SHE HAD SEEN MANY SIMILAR FAILURES ON OTHER 2009 ALTIMAS - SHE ALSO TOLD ME IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNLESS IT WAS FIXED FOR $1,200. NISSAN'S CARLOS GHOSN LEFT ME STRANDED WITH A BROKEN VEHICLE AND I AM NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER... I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING LOCK WAS FAULTY AND THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 LEFT ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT AT NIGHT. THE STEERING WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE CAR WOULD DO NOTHING! LUCKILY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CAR DID START. NOW A MONTH LATER, THANKFULLY, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME! I COULD HAVE BEEN MURDERED OR RAPED IN THAT PARKING LOT! I AM HEARING THERE WA…
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MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 LEFT ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT AT NIGHT. THE STEERING WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE CAR WOULD DO NOTHING! LUCKILY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CAR DID START. NOW A MONTH LATER, THANKFULLY, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME! I COULD HAVE BEEN MURDERED OR RAPED IN THAT PARKING LOT! I AM HEARING THERE WAS A RECALL THAT WAS AMENDED IN JANUARY 2016. I DON'T HAVE OVER $10000. FOR THIS REPAIR THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN MY LIFE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED AGAIN!
CAR WOULD NOT START, LOCKED UP ON ME. VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN, TOLD IT WILL COST ME CLOSE TO $1000 TO REPAIR, NOTICED OTHER COSTUMERS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 6 YEARS WHICH EXPIRED 4-25-2015. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN PLAZA PARKING LOT
WIFE DROVE CAR TO WORK, GOT READY TO LEAVE AND CAR WOULD NOT START. SECURITY LIGHTS ON DASH WAS LIT UP . I CAME HOME FROM WORK TRIED EXTRA KEY FOB AND TRIED NEW CAR BATTERY, STILL WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR TOWED 25 MILES TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY MODULE, A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 N…
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WIFE DROVE CAR TO WORK, GOT READY TO LEAVE AND CAR WOULD NOT START. SECURITY LIGHTS ON DASH WAS LIT UP . I CAME HOME FROM WORK TRIED EXTRA KEY FOB AND TRIED NEW CAR BATTERY, STILL WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR TOWED 25 MILES TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY MODULE, A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THIS COST ME 1124.00 DOLLARS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN A FACTORY RECALL. THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IS NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR ONLY HAD 68428 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT
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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