NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
107 reportsClear category filter25,000 miles · Oct 21, 2016
EngineSuspensionWheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE, WHICH FLATTENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A SPARE WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE, WHICH FLATTENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A SPARE WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, THE NOISE GREW LOUDER. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE ALLOY WHEEL, REAR DRIVER SIDE ALLOY WHEEL, LK2 ENGINE CRADLE 2.5, BOTH TOP CONTROL ARMS AND KNUCKLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
NHTSA ODI #10917837
68,000 miles · Sep 16, 2016
EngineSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA ODI #10907208
120,000 miles · Sep 14, 2016
EngineSteering
AFTER ROUTINE DRIVE, CAR "FROZE-UP" DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, CAR WOULD NOT START, WHEEL DID NOT TURN, CAR WOULD NOT START, CAR DEAD. AFTER SOME RESEARCH FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH "STEERING / ENGINE LOCKING-UP" AND CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME WITHOUT ANY WARNING. NISSAN AT ONE POINT HAD EXTEND…
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AFTER ROUTINE DRIVE, CAR "FROZE-UP" DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, CAR WOULD NOT START, WHEEL DID NOT TURN, CAR WOULD NOT START, CAR DEAD. AFTER SOME RESEARCH FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH "STEERING / ENGINE LOCKING-UP" AND CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME WITHOUT ANY WARNING. NISSAN AT ONE POINT HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS INDEFINITELY, THEN ARBITRARILY ENDED IT IN MID 2015. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS....CAN LEAVE YOU STRANDED ANYWHERE!!!
NHTSA ODI #10906431
90,000 miles · Aug 15, 2016
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUT INSULATOR WAS CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTABLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER S…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUT INSULATOR WAS CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTABLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA ODI #10895905
210,000 miles · Aug 5, 2016
EnginePower TrainService BrakesCrash
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA VIN NUMBER [XXX] HAS MANY SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING REPORTED WITH MY VIN NUMBER. THE STRUTS, STEERING LOCK BOX{WHICH I PAID 900.00 TO REPAIR], ABS SPEED CONTROL SENSOR,ENGINE OIL COOLANT AND MOST OF ALL THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAVE WENT OUT ON MY CAR AND NISSAN WILL NOT HELP ME REPAIR. SO I AM FORCED TO…
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MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA VIN NUMBER [XXX] HAS MANY SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING REPORTED WITH MY VIN NUMBER. THE STRUTS, STEERING LOCK BOX{WHICH I PAID 900.00 TO REPAIR], ABS SPEED CONTROL SENSOR,ENGINE OIL COOLANT AND MOST OF ALL THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAVE WENT OUT ON MY CAR AND NISSAN WILL NOT HELP ME REPAIR. SO I AM FORCED TO ATTEMPT THIS LAST TRY BEFORE JOINING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 2 YEARS AND NOW I AM OUT 9000.00 AND THE REPAIRS ARE MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO GIVE DETAIL ABOUT ALL THE EVENTS SO I PRAY SOMEONE AT NISSAN IS DECENT ENOUGH TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND MAKE THIS RIGHT I AM A SINGLE MOM OF THREE AND RIDE LESS . I HAVE CONTACTED ATT. GENERAL [XXX] AND BBB. MY CAR IS AT [XXX] MY NUMBER IS [XXX] MY NAME IS [XXX] I HAVE OPENED 5 CASES AND BEEN DENIED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10893349
130,000 miles · Jul 31, 2016
EnginePower Train
FIRST PROBLEM IS STATIONARY WHILE PARKED. CAR WAS BUMPED BY ANOTHER WHILE PARKED AND STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT BEING BUMPED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. HAD TO TOW TO GARAGE TO UNLOCK. HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW. EXPENSIVE TO FIX . SECOND PROBLEM IS WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAYS. ON HOT DAY, DURING LONGER TRIPS WHERE…
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FIRST PROBLEM IS STATIONARY WHILE PARKED. CAR WAS BUMPED BY ANOTHER WHILE PARKED AND STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT BEING BUMPED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. HAD TO TOW TO GARAGE TO UNLOCK. HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW. EXPENSIVE TO FIX . SECOND PROBLEM IS WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAYS. ON HOT DAY, DURING LONGER TRIPS WHERE UPHILL CLIMBING IS PRESENT, THE ENGINE STARTS TO LOSE POWER GOING UP HILL AND MANUAL STATES IT IS A BUILT IN SAFETY FEATURE TO PROTECT ENGINE HOWEVER THIS IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN FOR A WHILE BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY 3 TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #10891865
107,000 miles · Jul 14, 2016
Engine
ON JULY 11TH I WENT TO THE STORE TO PICK UP SOME ITEMS. WHEN I LEFT THE STORE TO GET IN MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. I DRIVE A TWO DOOR NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 2009. THE STEERING LOCK HAD MALFUNCTIONED LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT WHILE IT WAS 95 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAD A LOCK SMITH COME AND USE HIS COMPUTER ON MY VEHICLE, UNF…
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ON JULY 11TH I WENT TO THE STORE TO PICK UP SOME ITEMS. WHEN I LEFT THE STORE TO GET IN MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. I DRIVE A TWO DOOR NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 2009. THE STEERING LOCK HAD MALFUNCTIONED LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT WHILE IT WAS 95 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAD A LOCK SMITH COME AND USE HIS COMPUTER ON MY VEHICLE, UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS IN HIJACK MODE AND MY ENGINE WILL NOT ALLOW HIS COMPUTER TO TALK TO IT. ONLY NISSAN HAS A COMPUTER THAT CAN BYPASS THIS AND REPLACE MY STEERING LOCK. WITH THAT, NISSAN KNOWS THE 2009 MODEL HAS A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK BUT HAS YET TO RECALL IT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. NISSAN ALSO WENT AS FAR AS REPLACING THE PART BUT WITH A DIFFERENT PART # AS THEY KNOW THE PART # IN THE 2009'S ARE DEFECTIVE. THE PART # THEY ARE NOW REPLACING IT WITH IS THE PART THEY PUT IN THE 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA'S. NISSAN SAYS IT'S GOING TO COST ME OVER $1200 TO GET THIS FIXED IN MY CAR. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS DEFECTIVE IN MY VEHICLE AND IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY ITSELF. I AM NOW CARLESS AS I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I AM APPALLED THAT NISSAN WOULD KNOWINGLY NOT RECALL THE PART IN THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S. IT POSES A RISK TO PEOPLE'S SAFETY AS IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE!
NHTSA ODI #10884766
92,000 miles · Jul 6, 2016
EngineSteering
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT THAT NEEDS REPLACED. $1,100. NISSAN KNEW OF THE ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ONLY UNTIL 2015. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHY WAS I NEVER TOLD ABOUT IT. I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM REPLACE IT A LONG TIME AGO. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD AND THEY SHOULD COVER T…
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2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT THAT NEEDS REPLACED. $1,100. NISSAN KNEW OF THE ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ONLY UNTIL 2015. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHY WAS I NEVER TOLD ABOUT IT. I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM REPLACE IT A LONG TIME AGO. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD AND THEY SHOULD COVER THE COST!
NHTSA ODI #10883072
134,000 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK THAT CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED ALONE LATE AT NIGHT ON JUNE 10, 2016 - NOT ABLE TO START MY CAR. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN BECAUSE I HAD NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THIS TIME IT WAS NOT TOO COLD. …
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MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK THAT CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED ALONE LATE AT NIGHT ON JUNE 10, 2016 - NOT ABLE TO START MY CAR. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN BECAUSE I HAD NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND THIS TIME IT WAS NOT TOO COLD. I WAS ABLE TO USE MY CELLPHONE TO CALL A FRIEND TO HELP. I HAD TO GET A RIDE BACK TO MY CAR THE NEXT DAY AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. I WAS WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS WAITING FOR IT TO BE SERVICED. THIS COST ME $900 TO FIX. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10875667
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2016
EngineSteering
CAR WOULD NOT START, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, DIAGNOSED AS FAILED STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT NISSAN DID NOT RECALL. THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION AT THE TIME, HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING IT TOWED SINCE EVEN IN NEUTRAL THE STEERING WAS LOCKED DOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10873467