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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

What owners actually said

1,547 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2016
Unknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM FAILED ON ME WITH MY EIGHT MONTH YEAR OLD BABY IN THE CAR ON A COLD FALL DAY I WAS STUCK FOR 2 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK COMPANY NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT WOULD COST 1000. DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET IF IT FAILS AGAIN ANOTHER 1000 DOLLARS I MAKE 35000 A YEAR I CAN AFF…

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TAKATA RECALL THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM FAILED ON ME WITH MY EIGHT MONTH YEAR OLD BABY IN THE CAR ON A COLD FALL DAY I WAS STUCK FOR 2 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK COMPANY NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT WOULD COST 1000. DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET IF IT FAILS AGAIN ANOTHER 1000 DOLLARS I MAKE 35000 A YEAR I CAN AFFORD THIS EVERY TIME

NHTSA ODI #10928716

106,000 miles · Nov 29, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND I WAS FORCED TO SIT IN MY CAR FOR HOURS AS THE STORES HAD CLOSED AND IT TOOK OVER A HOUR TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED. THIS LEFT ME IN A SITUATION IN WHICH I COULD HAVE BEEN HARMED AS A YOUNG WOMAN IN VULNERABLE SITUATION. NISSAN STATES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER IRREGULARITY WHICH MEANS THIS IS SOMETHING THA…

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MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND I WAS FORCED TO SIT IN MY CAR FOR HOURS AS THE STORES HAD CLOSED AND IT TOOK OVER A HOUR TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED. THIS LEFT ME IN A SITUATION IN WHICH I COULD HAVE BEEN HARMED AS A YOUNG WOMAN IN VULNERABLE SITUATION. NISSAN STATES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER IRREGULARITY WHICH MEANS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING AND IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE. AFTER GETTING IT DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED NISSAN DEALER, I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ESCL. NISSAN SHOULD HONOR THEIR WORD AND FIX THE ISSUE AT NO COST SINCE IT'S A MANUFACTURE MALFUNCTIONING ISSUE IN WHICH THE CUSTOMER HAS NO CONTROL OVER.

NHTSA ODI #10928662

94,420 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringWheels

LUCKILY THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULDN'T START FOR THIS INCIDENT. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. WE'RE GLAD IT WASN'T BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME IT FAILED AND POSSIBLY LOCKED UP THE STEERING COLUMN. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THIS PART IS OUTRAG…

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LUCKILY THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULDN'T START FOR THIS INCIDENT. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. WE'RE GLAD IT WASN'T BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME IT FAILED AND POSSIBLY LOCKED UP THE STEERING COLUMN. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THIS PART IS OUTRAGEOUS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED OR REPLACED BY NISSAN. THEY'VE HAD A HISTORY OF ISSUES WITH THIS AND SHOULD REFUND US THE $1000 IT COST JUST FOR THE REPAIR BILL. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT PEOPLE KEEP GETTING TAKEN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928417

57,000 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Steering

THE VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED UP IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, LEAVING ME STRANDED, IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING LEAVING ME WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. THE SHUTTLE VAN HAD SHUT DOWN FOR THE DAY, BEING OUT OF WORK AND NOT HAVING THE FUNDS FOR A RENTAL CAR, I DID GET A LOANER CAR. THEY CALLED ON FRIDAY A…

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THE VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED UP IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, LEAVING ME STRANDED, IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING LEAVING ME WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. THE SHUTTLE VAN HAD SHUT DOWN FOR THE DAY, BEING OUT OF WORK AND NOT HAVING THE FUNDS FOR A RENTAL CAR, I DID GET A LOANER CAR. THEY CALLED ON FRIDAY AND STATED THEY DID HAVE THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR AND HOPEFULLY WOULD HAVE CAR READY BY MONDAY AFTERNOON TO THE TUNE OF $1021.00. I REVIEWED INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM SEEING THE MILEAGE OF VEHICLES STARTING AT 88,000 TO 156,000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAS 57,000 MILES. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY UNHAPPY THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN MADE A RECALL BY NISSAN AS IT CERTAINLY SHOULD. THE CAR WAS PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928308

43,000 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Steering

IN THE EVENING OF NOV 26, 2016. IT WAS A FREEZING COLD NIGHT. MY CAR COULD NOT START WITH "KEY AND KEY SIGN" LIGHT ON. IT WAS ON BRIEFLY BEFORE. BUT IT WENT AWAY AFTER CHANGING BATTERY ON THE FOB. THIS TIME I TRIED ALL TRICKS FROM INTERNET AND IT DOES NOT WORK. FINALLY I TOOK THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK FROM THE STEERING ROD. DEP…

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IN THE EVENING OF NOV 26, 2016. IT WAS A FREEZING COLD NIGHT. MY CAR COULD NOT START WITH "KEY AND KEY SIGN" LIGHT ON. IT WAS ON BRIEFLY BEFORE. BUT IT WENT AWAY AFTER CHANGING BATTERY ON THE FOB. THIS TIME I TRIED ALL TRICKS FROM INTERNET AND IT DOES NOT WORK. FINALLY I TOOK THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK FROM THE STEERING ROD. DEPRESS THE PISTON. THE CAR CAN BE TURNED ON. FROM INTERNET, THERE ARE SO MANY 2009 ALTIMA OWNER HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND NISSAN ALSO KNEW IT BECAUSE IT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO MARCH 2016. IT COULD FAIL ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE. IT IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. I SUGGEST NISSAN TO MAKE THE WARRANTY LIFETIME AND REPLACE ALL DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK.

NHTSA ODI #10928260

72,640 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOCK STEERING AND SCREW STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOCK STEERING AND SCREW STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,640.

NHTSA ODI #10928207

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2016
Electrical SystemCrash

CAR WON'T START DO TO A DEFECTIVE ESCL ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. THE CAR LEFT ME STRANDED AFTER WORK AT MIDNIGHT. THE CAR IS USELESS IT DOES NOT START. I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ESCL.

NHTSA ODI #10928172

151 miles · Nov 25, 2016
Steering

MY CAR WILL NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE. I REPLACED THE BATTERY IN THE CAR AND REPLACED THE BATTERY ON THE KEY FOB. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE STEERING CONTROL UNIT IN WHICH IS PRETTY PRICEY....I JUST REPLACED THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN WHICH COST ME $2200.00 THIS WAS ALSO RECALL B…

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MY CAR WILL NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE. I REPLACED THE BATTERY IN THE CAR AND REPLACED THE BATTERY ON THE KEY FOB. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE STEERING CONTROL UNIT IN WHICH IS PRETTY PRICEY....I JUST REPLACED THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN WHICH COST ME $2200.00 THIS WAS ALSO RECALL BUT I WAS OVER MY MILES TO HAVE THIS HONORED BY NISSAN.

NHTSA ODI #10927806

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2016
Steering

MY NISSAN ALTIMA. 2009. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK COIL THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO START SO A PERSON WALKING BY TOLD ME THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK COIL. SO I LOOKED IT UP AND IT WAS RECALLED WHEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY TOLD ME YESTERDAY WAS THE LAST DAY. AND THE PART IS $800 I …

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MY NISSAN ALTIMA. 2009. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK COIL THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO START SO A PERSON WALKING BY TOLD ME THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK COIL. SO I LOOKED IT UP AND IT WAS RECALLED WHEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY TOLD ME YESTERDAY WAS THE LAST DAY. AND THE PART IS $800 I THINK THAT IS TO MUCH FOR A LITTLE PART THAT LOCKS AND STARTS THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10927771

79,000 miles · Nov 23, 2016
Steering

TWO DAYS BEFORE MY CAR TURNED OFF AND WON'T TURN ON AGAIN THIS KEY SYMBOL AND THE WORD "KEY" SHOWED UP ON MY DASHBOARD. TWO DAYS LATER, WE WENT TO SUNDAY DINNER PARKED, I FORGOT TO ROLL THE WINDOWS UP. I GO TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN AND IT WONT START. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED ALMOST 30 MILES AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY THEM 1040 TO…

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TWO DAYS BEFORE MY CAR TURNED OFF AND WON'T TURN ON AGAIN THIS KEY SYMBOL AND THE WORD "KEY" SHOWED UP ON MY DASHBOARD. TWO DAYS LATER, WE WENT TO SUNDAY DINNER PARKED, I FORGOT TO ROLL THE WINDOWS UP. I GO TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN AND IT WONT START. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED ALMOST 30 MILES AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY THEM 1040 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED MY CAR 4 MONTHS AGO, WITH NO MENTION FROM ANYONE THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF THIS BECOMING AN ISSUE. WHICH I THINK IS FUNNY THAT THEY ARE EVEN SELLING PEOPLE THESE CARS WITH THE EXTENT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND WITH NO WORD TO THE FAX THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS UP. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT 4 MONTHS INTO OWNING THIS CAR I HAVE TO PUT ALMOST 1500 WITH TOW, PARTS, AND LABOR INTO IT ALREADY. I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THIS YEAR OR MODEL IF I KNEW THIS WAS A STANDARD ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10927704

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