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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.

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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

Steering complaints

859 reports
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109,167 miles · Aug 10, 2016
Steering

ON MY WAY HOME MY INTELLIGENT KEY LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS THINKING THAT I HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERY IN MY REMOTE.. ONCE I DID THAT, NOTHING CHANGED. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY CAR. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE TO WORK. WHEN I GOT OFF MY CAR WOULDN'T START AND THE KEY LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN!! I LOOKED IT UP AND IT'S THE ESCL GOING BAD!

NHTSA ODI #10894873

105,000 miles · Aug 9, 2016
Steering

TAKATA RECALL I AM EMAILING WITH HOPES THAT NISSAN WILL ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART WAS EXTENDED, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PART IS DEFECTIVE AND NOT ISSUE A RECALL. …

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TAKATA RECALL I AM EMAILING WITH HOPES THAT NISSAN WILL ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART WAS EXTENDED, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PART IS DEFECTIVE AND NOT ISSUE A RECALL. I HAD TO DISCOVER THIS ISSUE AT THE END OF MY WORK DAY IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER. IT IS NOT FAIR TO EXPECT CAR OWNERS TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET WHEN NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART.

NHTSA ODI #10894424

110,000 miles · Aug 8, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10894151

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2016
Steering

MY INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING SYSTEM IS GOING OUT AND ALSO MY STEERING LOCK SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THE PART HAS BEEN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT YET I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THAT ONE NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART MYSELF FINANCIALLY

NHTSA ODI #10893829

140,000 miles · Aug 6, 2016
Steering

THEY GOT IT DO SOMETHING WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT HAD HAPPEN TO EVERYBODY THAT OWN A 09 ALTIMA, STEERING LOCK IS REALLY EXPENSIVE TP FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #10893776

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

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IS CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH THE DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL). THE CAR JUST CUT OFF ON ME AS I WAS PARKING IN A PARKING SPOT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE GEAR IN PARK. IT DISABLED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION ON MY CAR AND LOCKED MY STEERING COLUMN. SO, I WAS STRANDED! THIS IS…

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MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IS CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH THE DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL). THE CAR JUST CUT OFF ON ME AS I WAS PARKING IN A PARKING SPOT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE GEAR IN PARK. IT DISABLED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION ON MY CAR AND LOCKED MY STEERING COLUMN. SO, I WAS STRANDED! THIS IS BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MY CAR COULD'VE JUST CONTINUED TO ROLL IF I COULDN'T GET IT INTO THE PARKED GEAR! IT'S UNFAIR THAT AS A CONSUMER OF NISSAN, I HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE AFTER THE NISSAN WARRANTY ON THE ESCL EXPIRED IN MARCH 2015 AND BE POSED WITH PAYING OVER $1000 IN REPAIR COSTS. PER NISSAN, THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC MILEAGE NUMBER THAT THIS DEFECT COULD OCCUR; SO THEY SHOULD RECALL THE ESCL SYSTEMS IN ALL AFFECTED CARS INSTEAD OF COVERING THEIR OWN BEHINDS AND GIVING A WARRANTY WITH UNLIMITED MILES AND AN END DATE OF MARCH 2015. CLEARLY NISSAN IS NOT CONCERNED WITH ITS CONSUMERS SAFETY. IT'S NOT FAIR TO CONSUMERS THAT BOUGHT NISSAN VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE THE DANGEROUS DEFECT AFTER MARCH 2015. I AM A VERY UNHAPPY CONSUMER AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10893174

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2016
SteeringUnknown Or Other

I WAS OUT HANDLING BUSINESS ALL DAY FRIDAY AND LATER THAT EVENING I HAD TO MAKE MY LAST STOP. I WENT INTO THE STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT MY CARE HAD NO POWER AND MY STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T MOVE. THE KEY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, BUT I STILL HAD NO IDEA OF HOW I WOULD GET MY CAR STARTED.. I CALLED MY HUSBAND BECAUSE IT WAS LATE AND …

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I WAS OUT HANDLING BUSINESS ALL DAY FRIDAY AND LATER THAT EVENING I HAD TO MAKE MY LAST STOP. I WENT INTO THE STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT MY CARE HAD NO POWER AND MY STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T MOVE. THE KEY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, BUT I STILL HAD NO IDEA OF HOW I WOULD GET MY CAR STARTED.. I CALLED MY HUSBAND BECAUSE IT WAS LATE AND GETTING DARK OUT (VERY DANGEROUS). I HAD TO GO THE WHOLE WEEKEND AND WEEK WITHOUT A CAR THAT I'VE HAD FOR THE PASS 6 YEARS. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PART WOULD BE $1000.00, RIDICULOUS! I WAS UNAWARE OF ANY RECALL AND TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER REGULARLY AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10892975

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2016
Steering

STEERING LOCK COLUMN FAILURE. JUST OUTSIDE OF THE SUPPOSED EXTENDED WARRANTY. CALLED NISSAN TOOK A WEEK TO HEAR BACK SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS. ABOUT A $1000 TO REPLACE!

NHTSA ODI #10892938

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2016
Steering

THE STEERING WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE THEREFORE THE CAR WILL NOT START.

NHTSA ODI #10891915

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