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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.

About this comparison →

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

Engine complaints

107 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE....IT STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND SHIFTS SO HARD MY PASSENGERS THINK I'M SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. AND NOW THE STEERING LOCK MODULE HAS FAILED. AFTER READING 100S OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, I AM APPALLED TO FIN…

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THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE....IT STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND SHIFTS SO HARD MY PASSENGERS THINK I'M SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. AND NOW THE STEERING LOCK MODULE HAS FAILED. AFTER READING 100S OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, I AM APPALLED TO FIND THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN NOR WILL ANYONE THAT KNOWS ME AS THEY'VE WITNESSED ALL ISSUES OCCUR WITH ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY ON NISSAN'S ACCOUNT.

NHTSA ODI #10948832

105,000 miles · Jan 31, 2017
EngineUnknown Or OtherFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DID NOT START AGAIN. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE BATTERY DIED AND WENT TO GET JUMPER CABLES. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTRO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DID NOT START AGAIN. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE BATTERY DIED AND WENT TO GET JUMPER CABLES. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10948664

77,000 miles · Jan 27, 2017
EngineService BrakesSteering

CAME OUT TO GET IN THE CAR WHICH WAS PARKED, USED THE FOB TO UNLOCK THE DOOR GOT INTO THE CAR AND NOTHING. THE BRAKE WAS HARD TO PRESS, THE STEERING WAS LOCKED, COULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, THE CAR COULD NOT BE JUMPED WITH CABLES. I HAD 2 INDICATOR LIGHTS ON. I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS IS TH…

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CAME OUT TO GET IN THE CAR WHICH WAS PARKED, USED THE FOB TO UNLOCK THE DOOR GOT INTO THE CAR AND NOTHING. THE BRAKE WAS HARD TO PRESS, THE STEERING WAS LOCKED, COULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, THE CAR COULD NOT BE JUMPED WITH CABLES. I HAD 2 INDICATOR LIGHTS ON. I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS IS THE STEERING ACTUATOR. I AM BEING CHARGED ROUGHLY $1100. I DON'T YET HAVE MY DOCUMENTATION AS THE CAR IS WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE RECENTLY WITH SEVERAL 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS. NISSAN MAY WANT TO RETHINK MAKING THIS A RECALL. I WAS LUCKY TO BE IN A PUBLIC PLACE IN THE DAYTIME.

NHTSA ODI #10947911

50,000 miles · Dec 28, 2016
Engine

MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ROADSIDE AND WOULD NOT START DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK WHICH IS APPARENTLY AN ANTI THEFT DEVICE. I WAS STUCK IN DANGEROUSLY COLD WEATHER WITH NOBODY AROUND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE COMPANY ISSUED A LIMITED WARRANTY IN WHICH I COULD NOT GET THE PART FIXED UNLESS IT WAS AL…

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MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ROADSIDE AND WOULD NOT START DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK WHICH IS APPARENTLY AN ANTI THEFT DEVICE. I WAS STUCK IN DANGEROUSLY COLD WEATHER WITH NOBODY AROUND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE COMPANY ISSUED A LIMITED WARRANTY IN WHICH I COULD NOT GET THE PART FIXED UNLESS IT WAS ALREADY BROKEN. MY CAR THEN PROCEEDED TO HAVE THE ESCL PART BREAK LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AFTER THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY". THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND I FEEL I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE $1000 PART REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10938392

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

TAKATA RECALL, DEFECT STEERING LOCK UNIT, UNABLE TO START ENGINE! AFTER PARKED NISSAN 2009 ALTIMA AT A SHOPPING MALL, "NOKEY" LIGHT IS ON, CAR CAN BE LOCK AND UNLOCK THROUGH REMOTE CONTROL KEY, BUT NO DISPLAY INFORMATION VISIBLE AT THE DASH BOARD, WHEEL IS LOCKED AND UNABLE TO SWITCH GEAR. NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO THE CAR!

NHTSA ODI #10938327

110,000 miles · Dec 8, 2016
EngineSteering

THE STEERING LOCK BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT IN A PARKING LOT, FORCING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE 10 MONTH OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS AND THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON A MAIN ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND GOING AT A FASTER SPEED. SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2009 NISSAN ALT…

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THE STEERING LOCK BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT IN A PARKING LOT, FORCING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE 10 MONTH OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS AND THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON A MAIN ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND GOING AT A FASTER SPEED. SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S (AND OTHER YEAR MODELS AS WELL). INSTEAD OF A RECALL, NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART BY ONE YEAR. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED IN AUGUST 2015, SO I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET. THE ESTIMATED COST IS BETWEEN $1,100 AND $1,300. THE CAR DOESN'T START AT ALL, AND APPARENTLY ONLY NISSAN DEALERS CAN FIX IT. THIS IS VERY WORRISOME THAT NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10933826

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I GOT IN MY CAR THE OTHER DAY TO RUN TO THE STORE AND THE CARS PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WOULD NOT START THE CAR, THE LLGHT ON THE DASH SUGGESTS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT LOCKED, BUT IT IS LOCKED. VEHICLE IS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY

NHTSA ODI #10930036

76,000 miles · Nov 15, 2016
Engine

MY CAR WOULD NOT START. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM - ONLY IF THE CAR WAS AFFECTED - AND IT HAPPENED TO MY CAR AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE RECALL EXPIRED. I AM THE 2ND OWNER AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL DESPITE THE FACT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER. THE NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO EVEN PAY FOR…

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MY CAR WOULD NOT START. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM - ONLY IF THE CAR WAS AFFECTED - AND IT HAPPENED TO MY CAR AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE RECALL EXPIRED. I AM THE 2ND OWNER AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL DESPITE THE FACT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER. THE NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO EVEN PAY FOR THE PART - WHICH I COULD NOT PURCHASE OR GET REPAIRED ELSEWHERE. IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS AND HAVE HAD CAR MANUFACTURERS STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS AND RIGHT WAS WAS WRONG. NOT IN THIS CASE. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PAID FOR THE PART AS THERE WAS NO OTHER PLACE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AND WENT AS FAR UP THE LADDER AS POSSIBLE AND WAS FINALLY TOLD THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE COST IN ANY WAY. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS AND STAND BY A PRODUCT. I HAD A 12 YEAR OLD CAR FROM LEXUS REPLACE A CRACKED DASHBOARD FOR FREE! THE CAR IS USED BY MY SON, A COLLEGE STUDENT, WHO NEEDS IT FOR TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY WHILE AWAY AT SCHOOL. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE WAY I WAS TREATED AND HOW MY COMPLAINTS WERE NOT ADDRESSED IN ANY WAY.

NHTSA ODI #10926291

135,000 miles · Nov 10, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

ELECTRONIC 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.

NHTSA ODI #10925457

85,000 miles · Oct 27, 2016
EngineSteering

MY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK HAS MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS MALFUNCTION DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO RECOGNIZE THE KEY FOB, PREVENTING IGNITION. I WAS STRANDED IN A REMOTE PART OF A FOREST PRESERVE AND BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START I HAD TO HIKE OUT 6 MILES UNTIL I GOT CELL PHONE COVERAGE AND COULD CALL FOR HELP…

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MY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK HAS MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS MALFUNCTION DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO RECOGNIZE THE KEY FOB, PREVENTING IGNITION. I WAS STRANDED IN A REMOTE PART OF A FOREST PRESERVE AND BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START I HAD TO HIKE OUT 6 MILES UNTIL I GOT CELL PHONE COVERAGE AND COULD CALL FOR HELP. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME PREVIOUSLY IN 2011. AT THAT POINT NISSAN HAD COVERED THIS REPAIR AS PART OF A LIFETIME EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK, BUT THEY DECIDED IN JANUARY 2016 TO CANCEL THIS WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10919680

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