IllustrationI WAS DRIVING ON THE SOUTH CONDUIT BY EXIT 23A NEAR THE BELT PARKWAY. THERE WERE SEVERAL POT HOLES ON THE LEFT LANE. I HIT THE POT HOLES AT NORMAL SPEED AND MY RIM BROKE AND MY TIRE CAME OFF. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE AND WAIT FOR MECHANIC TO HELP ME. *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
Wheels complaints
15 reportsHAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. I BOUGHT IT NOVEMBER 2012. BY FEBRUARY 2013, I REPLACED TIRES. WAS SOLD A CAR WITH INCORRECT LICENSE PLATES THAT OWED REGISTRATION FEES TO DMV. I ALMOST GOT TOWED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHY. BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND NOVEMBER 2013, I REPLACED BRAKES, ANOTHER SET OF TIRES, THIRD BRAKE …
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HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. I BOUGHT IT NOVEMBER 2012. BY FEBRUARY 2013, I REPLACED TIRES. WAS SOLD A CAR WITH INCORRECT LICENSE PLATES THAT OWED REGISTRATION FEES TO DMV. I ALMOST GOT TOWED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHY. BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND NOVEMBER 2013, I REPLACED BRAKES, ANOTHER SET OF TIRES, THIRD BRAKE LIGHT TWICE, AND BATTERY. MAY 2014, TOOK IT TO ROGERS & ROGERS DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. MAINTENANCE OTHER LIGHT AND TIRES ON. (CAR WAS BOUGHT WITH A FLASHING TIRE MAINTENANCE LIGHT ON) MOUNTS AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED AND WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE SENSORS. AUGUST 2014, CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN. STEERING LOCK UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. REAR LEFT WINDOW DOESN'T WORK EITHER. EVERYTHING ADDS UP TO OVER $3000. *TR
TPMS LIGHT BLINKS FOR A WHILE AND THEN STAYS ON. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 33022 MILES AND AGAIN AT 52033. IT APPEARS THAT THE TPMS SENSOR BATTERIES ARE DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO BE UNRELIABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE TIRES CHANGED AT A LOCAL TIRE DEALER, THE DEALER NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR VALVES STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE VALVE STEMS WHO STATED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE TIRES CHANGED AT A LOCAL TIRE DEALER, THE DEALER NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR VALVES STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE VALVE STEMS WHO STATED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE BEGAN TO FEEL VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE WHEEL MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR WHENEVER HE WOULD DRIVE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH HE BEGAN TO FEEL VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE WHEEL MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR WHENEVER HE WOULD DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND THE WHEEL RACKS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
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.