IllustrationCAR 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
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
890–25K
17025–50K
30750–75K
29375–100K
306100–150K
74150K+
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
Steering complaints
859 reportsISSUES WITH STEERING WHEEL WHICH LEADS TO THE CAR NOT TURNING ON AT ALL .
DROVE TO WORK FINE. CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR AN HOUR LATER THE CAR COULDN'T START OR ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. THE BATTERY IS BRAND NEW SO THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE. TURNS OUT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING CYLINDER LOCK IS BAD. TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET THE CAR TO START. CAR WAS STATIONARY BUT NOW I'M STRANDED.
I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR AND WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT AT WORK FOR OVER 3 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. ONCE I GOT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH MY STEERING LOCK AND IT WOULD COST $1,300. I CAME IN 4 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT DUE TO AN INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON WHICH I FOUND OUT WAS …
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I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR AND WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT AT WORK FOR OVER 3 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. ONCE I GOT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH MY STEERING LOCK AND IT WOULD COST $1,300. I CAME IN 4 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT DUE TO AN INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON WHICH I FOUND OUT WAS A WARNING ABOUT THE PROGRAMING OF MY KEY AND WAS TURNED AWAY BY THE DEALER AND TOLD THAT THE LIGHT REALLY ISN'T A BIG ISSUE BECAUSE I AM ABLE TO START THE CAR. HOWEVER, 4 DAYS LATER MY CAR WON'T START AT ALL AND NOW I AM UNABLE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK AND I AM ALSO A STUDENT. I CALLED CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AFTER 2015 AND THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.
THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL WAS REPAIRED, BUT WARRANTY WAS OFF. HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STOPPED AND RECALL ON IT WAS OFF. AUTOMOBILE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT SLOWED TO A CRAWL ON THE HIGHWAY
THE STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDS REPLACED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO LOCATION WITHOUT ANY ISSUE AND PARKED. ONCE I RETURNED TO THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START, WAS UNABLE TO JUMP START THE CAR. CAR WAS TOWED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITH NO WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AT A GAS PUMP WHEN IT FAILED TO START. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALER TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT WHICH HAD FAILED AND PREVENTED THE ENGINE TO START. NISSAN HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, 72 MONTHS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE DUE TO KNOWN MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITIES OF THE ESCL. UNF…
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MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AT A GAS PUMP WHEN IT FAILED TO START. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALER TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT WHICH HAD FAILED AND PREVENTED THE ENGINE TO START. NISSAN HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, 72 MONTHS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE DUE TO KNOWN MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITIES OF THE ESCL. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AFTER THE WARRANTY TIME HAD EXPIRED BUT I FEEL THE ISSUE IS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR ALL OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH POSSIBLE FAULTY ESCL UNITS.
MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AFTER FUELING AT A GAS PUMP.
MY NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH NO CELL SERVICE. IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SO I WAITED IN MY CAR UNTIL MORNING. I THEN WALKED 5 MILES TO THE NEAREST CONVENIENCE STORE TO CALL AAA. ONCE I GOT MY CAR TOWED HOME, I CALLED NISSAN & DESPITE ALL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS…
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MY NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH NO CELL SERVICE. IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SO I WAITED IN MY CAR UNTIL MORNING. I THEN WALKED 5 MILES TO THE NEAREST CONVENIENCE STORE TO CALL AAA. ONCE I GOT MY CAR TOWED HOME, I CALLED NISSAN & DESPITE ALL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS AS MINE, NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER THE PART EVEN THOUGH I COULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT. THE PART IS OVER 500 DOLLARS & I CANNOT AFFORD THAT. PLEASE HELP ME!
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.