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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

146 reports
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30,000 miles · Jun 14, 2014
StructureUnknown Or Other

AROUND 2012 THE DASHBOARD IN THIS ALTIMA IS MELTING. IT'S TURNING INTO A GLOSSY GOO THAT IS CAUSING A EXTREME GLARE INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS ON THIS, SO THEY WONT FIX IT. I WENT TO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM AND FOUND THAT APPARENTLY THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH NISSAN,TOYOTA,MAZDA & L…

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AROUND 2012 THE DASHBOARD IN THIS ALTIMA IS MELTING. IT'S TURNING INTO A GLOSSY GOO THAT IS CAUSING A EXTREME GLARE INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS ON THIS, SO THEY WONT FIX IT. I WENT TO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM AND FOUND THAT APPARENTLY THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH NISSAN,TOYOTA,MAZDA & LEXUS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598266

110,200 miles · Dec 9, 2013
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

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

NHTSA ODI #10555387

41,000 miles · Feb 14, 2013
Unknown Or Other

AFTER SHOPPING MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO FLATBED IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK (PART 48700-9N00A). THE CAR'S MILEAGE AND TIME WAS SLIGHTLY OUT OF WARRANTY (41000 & 41 MONTHS VS 36000 & 36 MONTHS). THE NEW REDESIGNED STEERING LOCK (PART 48700-9N00B) HAS A WARRANTY FOR ONLY 1 YEAR. PER NISSAN FORUM…

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AFTER SHOPPING MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO FLATBED IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK (PART 48700-9N00A). THE CAR'S MILEAGE AND TIME WAS SLIGHTLY OUT OF WARRANTY (41000 & 41 MONTHS VS 36000 & 36 MONTHS). THE NEW REDESIGNED STEERING LOCK (PART 48700-9N00B) HAS A WARRANTY FOR ONLY 1 YEAR. PER NISSAN FORUMS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN: GT-R, 370Z & ALTIMA. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE GT-R ONLY. I WOULD EXPECT A RECALL OR EXTENSION TO THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART IN THE ALTIMA.

NHTSA ODI #10499021

90,521 miles · Dec 5, 2012
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, IGNITION WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM "LOCK" TO "ACC" OR "ON". INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LAMP WAS LIT STEADY ON DASH. STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED. ALL POWER AND OTHER FUNCTIONS WORKED (LIGHTS, DOOR LOCKS, ETC). BATTERY IS FINE. INDEPENDENT TESTING FOUND STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE PART 48700-9…

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UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, IGNITION WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM "LOCK" TO "ACC" OR "ON". INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LAMP WAS LIT STEADY ON DASH. STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED. ALL POWER AND OTHER FUNCTIONS WORKED (LIGHTS, DOOR LOCKS, ETC). BATTERY IS FINE. INDEPENDENT TESTING FOUND STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE PART 48700-9N00B FAULTY. SIMILAR/SAME PART ON NISSAN GTRS WAS RECALLED, PART NUMBER 48700-JF00A OR 48700-JF00B, BEING REPLACED BY 48700-JF00C SAME PART NUMBER IS FAILING FOR NISSAN 370ZS AS WELL, SAME YEARS AND SAME PART NUMBER 48700-JF00A OR 48700-JF00B, YET THEY ARE NOT BEING RECALLED. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO OCCURRING IN NISSAN MAXIMAS AND NISSAN MURANOS HOWEVER I COULD NOT FIND THE PART NUMBER. IN ALL MODELS OF NISSAN THIS PART WAS REMOVED IN MID 2010 DUE TO CONSISTENT FAILURE. THE PART COSTS APPROXIMATELY $500 FROM NISSAN, IS USUALLY OUT OF STOCK AND BACK ORDERED, AND ALSO COSTS ANOTHER $400-$500 TO BE INSTALLED AT A DEALER. THERE SHOULD BE A MAKE-WIDE RECALL FOR ALL MODELS FOR THIS PART, NOT JUST THE GTR BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487396

28,000 miles · Nov 27, 2012
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WAS IN PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON DASH. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY ADVISED STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART #48700-9N00B) WAS BAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON '09 ALTIMAS AS WELL AS 370Z. DEALER OFFERED 10% DISCOUNT AND ADVISED $600 TOTAL. I CALLED …

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2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WAS IN PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON DASH. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY ADVISED STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART #48700-9N00B) WAS BAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON '09 ALTIMAS AS WELL AS 370Z. DEALER OFFERED 10% DISCOUNT AND ADVISED $600 TOTAL. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE AND ESCALATED TO REGIONAL OFFICE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN YOU CAN BE STRANDED. NISSAN HAS RECALLED THIS PART ON OTHER MODELS AND DISCONTINUED THIS FEATURE ON SUBSEQUENT MODELS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486212

17,000 miles · Mar 1, 2011
Unknown Or Other

HEAT SHIELD ON EXHAUST CENTER PIPE OVERHEATED AND BROKE. PIPE AND GASKETS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT BY DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10387268

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.

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