IllustrationATTEMPTED TO START CAR, AND RECEIVED "STEERING WHEEL LOCK" LIGHT - DESPITE TRYING WITH BOTH FOBS (IT WAS NOT A FAULTY FOB). AFTER HALF HOUR OF TRYING, STILL CAN NOT TURN CAR ON DUE TO LOCKED STEERING WHEEL. ENGINE WON'T TURN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL NOT TURN ON, AND CAR IS STUCK. HAVE YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *TR
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 reportsI WENT TO GO START MY CAR AND IT DIDNT START I THOUGHT I HAD TO JUMP START ITBUT THAT DIDINT WORK. THEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID YOUR STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAS FAILED. I LOOK UP ONLINE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND NOW I HATE NISSAN NEVER GOING TO BUY NISSAN AGAIN, BECAUSE I HAD A TRANSMISSION FALIURE AS WE…
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I WENT TO GO START MY CAR AND IT DIDNT START I THOUGHT I HAD TO JUMP START ITBUT THAT DIDINT WORK. THEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID YOUR STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAS FAILED. I LOOK UP ONLINE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND NOW I HATE NISSAN NEVER GOING TO BUY NISSAN AGAIN, BECAUSE I HAD A TRANSMISSION FALIURE AS WELL A YEAR. *TR
GOT HOME TURNED MY CAR OFF WENT INSIDE TO GET GIFT CARDS CAME BACK OUTSIDE TRYING TO START MY CAR, BUT IT WOULDN'T START, ALL I SAW WAS A YELLOW KEY LIGHT. LIGHTS WORKED FINE I TRIED MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL AND PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND TRYING TO START BUT NOTHING. *TR
WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED UP AND BREAKS WERE HARD TO PUSH. AFTER TRYING A FEW TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE AUTO-THEFT MUST BE ON. I TRIED TO PUT THE FOB IN THE MANUAL IGNITION, BUT THE FOB GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, THE FOB FINALLY CAME OUT…
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WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED UP AND BREAKS WERE HARD TO PUSH. AFTER TRYING A FEW TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE AUTO-THEFT MUST BE ON. I TRIED TO PUT THE FOB IN THE MANUAL IGNITION, BUT THE FOB GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, THE FOB FINALLY CAME OUT. THE CAR STILL DOES NOT START AND THE AUTO-THEFT IS STILL ON. THE BATTERY IS NOT BAD BECAUSE THE CAR BEEPS WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN AND THE LIGHTS WORK. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO TOW THE VEHICLE IN TO GET IT REPAIRED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SHUTDOWN. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. *TR
I GOT INTO MY CAR TO START IT TO REALIZE IT WAS LOCKED DOWN. I COULDN'T START IT OR EVEN ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN ! IT ENDED UP BEING THE STEERING LOCK BOX AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE. I DON'T HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON IT AND HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL OTHERS BEING RECALLED BUT NOT 2009 .... IT NEEDS TO BE !!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL FAILED AND PREVENTED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM BEING MANEUVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN T THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL FAILED AND PREVENTED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM BEING MANEUVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN T THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE, SE. WHILE MAKING TURNS (WITHOUT STOPPING), THE CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS OCTOBER 14, 2013, AND WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A BUSY STREET AND ONTO A BUSY STREET, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ANOTHER CAR…
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2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE, SE. WHILE MAKING TURNS (WITHOUT STOPPING), THE CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS OCTOBER 14, 2013, AND WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A BUSY STREET AND ONTO A BUSY STREET, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ANOTHER CAR MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. NISSAN HAS A CURRENT RECALL ON SEVERAL MODELS REGARDING THIS HAPPENING DUE TO A FAULTY ACCELERATOR SENSOR, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE (MAKE, MODEL, YEAR) ARE NOT IN THE RECALL, AND I SUSPECT IT SHOULD BE. COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 10 TIMES. *TR
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.