2009 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,547 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 36 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 21 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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.
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
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.
Campaign 10V401000 on NHTSA.gov
SuspensionSep 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.
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.
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).
Campaign 09V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, doorJan 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.
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIPS AND REMEDIED AT THE FACTORY. NO VEHICLES HAD BEEN RETAILED.
Campaign 09V006000 on NHTSA.gov
WheelsSep 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.
IF THE LUG NUTS BECOME LOOSE, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Campaign 08V464000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
91 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Mar 8, 2015
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. JFT
Steering, Air bags, Mar 1, 2015
ON FEBRUARY 21, 2015, WHILE TRAVELING 300+ MILES OUT OF TOWN MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED DUE TO THE BROADLY KNOWN ISSUE OF "STEERING COLUMN LOCKOUT," IN WHICH THE CAR WILL NOT START AND REQUIRES A TOW TO THE DEALER FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA LAUNCH OR EXPAND AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND PROVIDE A PUBLIC WARNING TO DRIVERS OF NISSAN VEHICLES. THE CAR HAD REGULAR SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 10, 2015, AT MOSSY NISSAN OCEANSIDE, CA AND I WAS TOLD "SAFE TO DRIVE" FOR MY TRIP OUT OF STATE. IT WASN'T, THE DEALER DOESN'T CHECK FOR THIS WELL KNOWN ISSUE DURING SERVICE. NISSAN REFUSES TO ISSUE A FULL RECALL, INSTEAD EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 1,000,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. IN THIS WAY NISSAN PROFITS FROM REPAIRS OF CARS FAILING AFTER 5 YEARS YET BEFORE OR AFTER 1,000,000 MILES WHEN THE CAR STRANDS DRIVERS, AND BECAUSE NOT A FULL RECALL THERE IS NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FOR AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION. NISSAN DOES NOT HAVE THE CONTROLS TO KNOW WHICH VEHICLES WILL FAIL, AS EVIDENCED BY MY AND MULTIPLE PAGES OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE NHTSA. I AND MY FAMILY DO NOT ACCEPT THE MULTIPLE APOLOGIES FROM NISSAN, AND THERE IS NO WAY FOR NISSAN TO MAKE UP FOR ME MISSING MY DAUGHTER'S EVENT. NISSAN'S ACTIONS INDICATE THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PASSENGER SAFETY. THIS NISSAN HAS STRANDED ME 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN 2009 FROM MOSSY NISSAN OCEANSIDE, AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER. REGARDING PASSENGER SAFETY, ALSO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO TURN ON TO PROTECT PASSENGERS. ON AIRBAG FAILURE, NISSAN TESTED THE AIRBAG ON MY VEHICLE WITH A MALE PASSENGER AND STATED THEY DIDN'T SEE AN ISSUE, MISLEADING MYSELF, CUSTOMERS, AND THE NHTSA BY TESTING WITH A MALE PASSENGER OVER 120 POUNDS YET PUBLISHING RESULTS AS APPLYING TO BOTH GENDERS - A FEMALE PASSENGER WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE OVER 150 POUNDS TO BE PROTECTED BY THE NISSAN PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR
Air bags, Visibility/wiper, Nov 15, 2014
ON OCTOBER 31ST THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP ON NOVEMBER 13TH TO COMPLETE A DIAGNOSTIC. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THAT THERE IS NO SIGNAL COMING FROM THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR FOR THE AIRBAG AND THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY. ALSO IT WAS NOTED ON THE INVOICE THAT THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY DAMAGE TO THE WIRING. OF COURSE MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER RECALL AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. MY DASHBOARD IS ALSO MELTING AND THE MATERIAL THAT IS USED CAUSES EXTREME GLARE. SO NOT ONLY DO I HAVE A LARGE GLARE ACROSS MY WINDOW WHICH INCREASES MY RISK OF AN ACCIDENT BUT POSSIBLY NO AIRBAG TO BOOT. I CONTACTED NISSAN SINCE THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN FOUND IN OTHER YEARS OF MY MODEL AND RECALLED. ALL NISSAN HAS CONTINUED TO DO IS SAY MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WILL FORWARD MY COMPLAINT FOR REVIEW. *TR
Air bags, Oct 23, 2014
SINCE PURCHASE AS NEW IN 2009, OCCASIONALLY WHEN MY WIFE IS IN PASSENGER SEAT, THE DISABLE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. SUGGESTING THAT MAYBE MY WIFE WAS NOT HEAVY ENOUGH FOR '(SENSOR)" TO DETECT.!!!??? MY CONCERN WITH RECENT NEWS OF DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS THAT WHEN WE TRAVEL TOGETHER THAT THE "(OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM)" IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND MY WIFE AS A PASSENGER IS NOT PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A ACCIDENT. THE DISABLED AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT LIGHT UP ALL THE TIME AND IS ONLY OCCASIONALLY, BUT THIS DOES NOT GIVE ONE A FELLING OF SECURITY AND SAFETY. WITH RECENT CNN & FOX NEWS AS WELL AS LOCAL TV NEWS CONCERNING (AIR BAGS) MAKES ONE TO WONDER ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Visibility/wiper, Aug 18, 2014
HELP, A MELTING AND SHINY STICKY DASH ON MY 2009 ALTIMA GENERATES A TREMENDOUS GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND PREVENTS ME FROM CLEARLY VIEWING THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT DURING THE DAY. IT ALSO DISTORS THE VIEWING DURING THE NIGHT DUE TO THE ON-COMMING VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS. IT IS HIGHLY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS DRIVING SAFETY HAZARD PROBLEM THAT COULD/WILL "IT IS JUST A TIMING ISSUE" CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, THE DASH CAN'T BE CLEAN AND IS MELTING. IT IS ALSO MINIMAZING THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS SOLUTION OR RECALL FROM NISSAN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jul 17, 2014
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA DASH IS MELTING. DASH HAS CRACKS AS WELL NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS AND NEAR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. READ IN FORUMS THAT THE CAR DEALERSHIPS SAY THAT WHEN THE DASH HAS CRACKS AND IS MELTING AIR BAGS COULD NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY. NISSAN WILL NOT REPLACE DASH DUE TO THE CAR BEING OUT OF WARRANTY AND EXPECT ME TO BUY A NEW ONE WHEN THIS SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS PART OF THE DESIGN. *TR
Air bags, Jul 7, 2014
OCT 2012: PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF SYMBOL ILLUMINATED WITH ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT. DEALER DIAGNOSIS: NO CODES IN SYSTEM FOUND. DEALER RECALIBRATED THE AIR BAG. CUSTOMER COST $100 DEC 2013: PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF SYMBOL ILLUMINATED AND DASHBOARD AIR BAG SYMBOL FLASHING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CUSHION SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. CUSTOMER COST $130 FOR DIAGNOSIS, $399 FOR SENSOR. MAY 2014: BODY SHOPS REFUSE TO HANDLE AIR BAG ISSUES AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO A NISSAN DEALER. SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY WAS NOW OVER $700 BECAUSE THE ENTIRE SEAT CUSHION NEEDED REPLACING. NISSAN NO LONGER REPLACES JUST THE SENSOR. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NISSAN ASKING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPLACEMENT PART . NISSAN REQUIRED ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS TO BE WITHIN A 3 MONTH PERIOD. JULY 2014: NISSAN REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH THE COST BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *JS
Air bags, Jun 29, 2014, crash
SON WAS HIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND FRONT END AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON THE STEERING COLUMN HE WAS KILLED. *TR. UPDATED 11/03/14 *BF UPDATED 7/9/2015*JS ...UPDATED08/20/15 *BF UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT UPDATED 09/30/15 *JS UPDATED 12/30/15*LJ
Air bags, Jun 20, 2014
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES, AND NOW THIS WEEK THE SUPPLEMENTAL AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS MALFUNCTIONING. IF THE CAR WAS IN A COLLISION AND SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHILE THIS CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY WITH SAME COMPLAINT, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. FUNNY, HOW 2013-2014 ALTIMAS ARE BEING RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT THE EARLIER MODEL YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN. *TR
Air bags, May 31, 2014
I OWN 2009 ALTIMA COUPE SE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. SOMETIMES SOMETHING AS SMALL AS AN IPAD WILL ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG. AS WHERE OTHER TIMES MY 125 WIFE WILL HAVE IT TURN OFF. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS I AM SEEING THAT A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Air bags, May 25, 2014
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUP V6 EDITION FREQUENTLY TURNS OFF THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE PERSON WEIGHS OVER 125 LBS AND SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR THE SEAT TO SENSE AN ADULT IN IT. FOR SOME REASON IT INTERMITTENTLY WILL FLASH THE DASH BOARD LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT GO OFF DURING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE OCCUPANT IS TOO LIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IN INTO THE DEALER ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THE SENSOR AND AIRBAG UNIT ARE FUNCTIONING, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Air bags, Structure, May 2, 2014
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE' DASH IS MELTING. A CAR DEALERSHIP TOLD ME WHEN THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY IN A CRASH. I ALSO CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE SHINY STICKY MESS THROWS A BLINDING GLARE WHILE DRIVING. NISSAN WILL NOT HELP ME. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PRODUCT USED FOR THE DASHBOARD. *TR
Air bags, Apr 9, 2014
PASSENGERS SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR NOT WORKING. WHEN MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS 113 LBS SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN SOME ONE WHO WEIGHS 150 OR MORE SITS THERE AIR BAG IS ON. *TR
Air bags, Apr 7, 2014
WHEN MY HUSBAND GETS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES. I HAD MY HUSBAND GET OUT THE CAR, AND THEN I DID HE RESET OF THE AIRBAG, AND THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR 8 MINUTES UNTIL I HAD MY HUSBAND GET BACK IN THE CAR, AS SOON AS HE GOT IN THE CAR, BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN RESEARCHING IT, I FOUND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER NISSAN WHICH WAS RECALLED BUT NOT FOR MY YEAR OF 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR
Air bags, Apr 7, 2014
THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF OWNING THIS CAR, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL APPEAR AS "DEACTIVATED" WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT FEMALE (WEIGHING 150 LBS) SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE APPROXIMATE DATE AND VEHICLE MILEAGE ARE UNKNOWN BUT IT HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. *TR
Air bags, Mar 27, 2014
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, MEANING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DISARMED, WHILE MY WIFE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS MEANS IF THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY AND COULD CAUSE MORE INJURY OR DEATH. THERE IS A RECENT NISSAN RECALL FOR ALTIMA 2013-2014 FOR THIS SAME DEFECT. THE SAME ISSUE IS PLAGUING MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR
Air bags, Mar 26, 2014
AIR BAG DEACTIVATE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENS ON AND OFF MANY TIMES. I THINK THEY SHOULD OF RECALLED MORE YEARS. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jan 26, 2014
THE DASH ON MY ALTIMA COUPE IS "MELTING". THE DASH HAS NEVER BEEN CLEANED WITH ANY CHEMICALS AND IS VERY TACKY TO THE TOUCH AROUND THE VENTS AND SEAMS. DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE MELTED COMPONENTS, IT CREATES A VERY BLINDING GLARE THAT IMPAIRS MY FORWARD VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME ALTHOUGH THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. NISSAN HAS ALREADY HAD A REPLACEMENT DASH MADE WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS WHICH USES A DIFFERENT PART # THAN THE ORIGINAL DASH. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AS I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO ACCIDENTS DUE TO BEING BLINDED BY THE GLARE. *TR
Air bags, Engine, May 8, 2013
I WENT TO SHOP-RITE AT 6 AM TO PURCHASE LUNCH MEAT FOR MY DAUGHTERS SCHOOL LUNCH. WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO I READ THE CAR MANUAL ON HOW TO JUMP A CAR BATTERY. IN THE CAR MANUAL ON PAGE 0-12, THE WARNING /INDICATOR LIGHTS, PAGE.I SAW A PICTURE OF THE WARNING INDICATOR THAT WAS ON MY DASH BOARD AND IT HAD A PAGE NUMBER 2-26. ON THE PAGE IT READ" IT IS A SECURITY INDICATOR LIGHT, TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP" THE CAR WOULD NOT START WITH THE PUSH BUTTON.THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE A BACK UP KEY ENTRY EITHER. SO I WAS STRANDED AT THE SUPERMARKET.I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET HOME. I HAD THE COMPANY WHO TOWED THE CAR AND WHO HAS BEEN SERVICING OUR FAMILY CARS FOR YEARS CALL NISSAN TO SEE HOW NISSAN CAN FIX THE CAR. NISSAN ADVISED THAT THIS PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR UNDER ANY RECALL AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. THEY SAID IT WILL CAUSE ME AN ESTIMATED $3000 DOLLARS TO GET THE CAR FIXED. MIND YOU THE CAR IS ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND I AM STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS. [XXX] WHO TOWED AND FIXED THE CAR DOUBLED CHECKED FOR ME TO SEE IF THIS PART WAS UNDER A NISSAN RECALL OR IF THIS PART IS UNDER WARRANTY, TO MY SURPRISE IT IS NOT.I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT A PUSH BUTTON CAR DOES NOT HAVE A BACK UP TO START A CAR WHEN THE PUSH BUTTON MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO ALTERNATE WAY OF STARTING A CAR WHEN A PUSH BUTTON DOES NOT WORK. THANK GOODNESS THAT THIS HAPPENED CLOSE TO HOME AND NOT WHILE I WAS OUT WITH MY DAUGHTERS. HOW CAN A CAR BE BUILT WITH OUT ANY BACK UP PLAN. BETTER YET HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN TO A 3 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 70297 MILES. ALSO MY TIRES HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND THE ENGINE WAS RECALLED AND LASTLY MY PASSENGER AIR BAG GOES ON WHEN IT WANTS TO. I AM PAYING SO MUCH MONEY FOR A LEMON AND NO ONE CAN HELP ME. I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, Apr 22, 2013, crash
I WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN A CHEVROLET SILVERADO TRUCK CUT INTO MY LANE AND STOPPED ABRUPTLY. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REACT AND REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE. MY CAR ENDED UP UNDER HIS BUMPER WITH MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE. MY BUMPER WAS DRAGGING WHEN I PULLED TO THE SIDE, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE BROKEN, THE HOOD WAS DAMAGED, AND THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION WERE LEAKING. THE GRILL WAS SMASHED IN AND WAS BEHIND THE FRONT BUMPER. I WAS TRAVELING AT LEAST 40 MILES PER HOUR. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2009 AND IT HAD LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS THE FIRST ACCIDENT I HAVE EVER BEEN IN. THE OTHER VEHICLE LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE, FIRE, AND TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALL SAID THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR
Air bags, Apr 13, 2013
I WAS NOT AWARE OF YOUR AGENCY UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT IS WHY I AM SENDING THIS E-MAIL TO YOU. MY 2009 ALTIMA WAS APPROXIMATELY 3-4 MONTHS OLD WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT (MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING) THE NO AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR ME. I NOTIFIED ALHAMBRA NISSAN, ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED FOR 3 YEARS AND EVERY TIME I ADVISED ALHAMBRA NISSAN AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG (I HAVE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING ALL THE TIMES THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP). IN 2013 I ADVISED ALHAMBRA NISSAN I WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR, THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE NISSAN CORPORATION. I PLACED SEVERAL CALLS WITH THEM AND ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME THAT IF NISSAN TOOK EVERY SILLY COMPLAINT OF A CUSTOMER THEY WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS. FINALLY A REPORT WAS MADE WITH THEM. I WAS ADVISED BY THEM THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP SEE IT WHEN IT OCCURRED. WHEN IT OCCURRED MY HUSBAND DROVE ME TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOOK PICTURES AND RAN SOME TYPE OF TEST WITH A LAPTOP. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME WHEN TO RETURN VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE SEAT ON THE PASSENGER FRONT WERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SENSOR WAS LOCATED. WHEN THE REPLACEMENT WAS DONE I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE. I DROVE IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO SIT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TO TEST IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN. WHEN I DID IT OCCURRED AGAIN MY HUSBAND DROVE ME BACK THEY TOOK PICTURES AGAIN AND DID TESTING WITH A LAPTOP AND SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME. WHEN THEY DID I WAS TOLD THAT PER THE NISSAN CORPORATION MY VEHICLE IS FUNCTIONING AS IT SHOULD. I SEE THAT THE 2013 ALTIMA IS RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE THAT I HAVE HAD FOR 4 YEARS. I ALSO SEE THAT 2003-08 HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR SAME REASON. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Air bags, Seats, Mar 16, 2013
WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT RIDING WITH MY WIFE, I NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIT MEANING I WAS NOT PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND I WEIGH 180 LBS. I DON'T SEE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT I AM GOING TO CALL DEALER MONDAY AND CHECK ON THIS. MY SON HAS ALSO REPORTED THIS TO ME AS WELL AND HE WEIGHS ABOUT 160 LBS. *TR
Air bags, Dec 14, 2011, crash
WAS IN A WRECK AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT COME OUT. *TR
Air bags, Seats, Nov 21, 2011
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S SEDAN, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON, MEANING THAT THE AIRBAG WAS DISARMED, WHILE A FULL SIZED ADULT WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ON THE MOST CURRENT OCCASION, MY WIFE WAS SITTING PROPERLY WITH ONLY HER LEGS EXTENDED WHEN THIS OCCURRED (SEATBELT WAS ON PROPERLY TOO). I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE WARNING LIGHT, MY WIFE SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH MY CAMERA PHONE TO SHOW TO A NISSAN SERVICE CENTER, AS I HAD HOPED THEY WOULD FIX THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE THE WARNING LIGHT, SO THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. DOING SOME RESEARCH BOTH HERE AND ON OTHER SOURCES, THERE WAS A MAJOR RECALL OF SOME 200,000 NISSAN ALTIMAS IN 2007 AND 2008 FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. THE WORRY THAT I HAVE IS THAT GOD FORBID WE ARE EVER IN A COLLISION, THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT BE THERE WHEN WE NEED IT MOST. THE FEATURE IS ADDED IN THE NISSAN ALTIMA TO GUARD AGAINST SMALL CHILDREN OR PRETEENS WHO ARE SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FROM AIRBAG-INFLATION RELATED INJURIES. WHAT IT HAS DONE IS PUT THE LIVES OF MANY NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS IN JEOPARDY. SHAME ON NISSAN FOR NOT DESIGNING THIS FEATURE POORLY OR NOT REMOVING IT FROM THEIR DESIGN ENTIRELY WITH THE PREVIOUS HISTORY OF RECALLS IN PRIOR YEARS. THIS DEFECTIVE SEAT SENSOR SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, RECALLED, OR FIXED IN MY OPINION. *TR
Air bags, Sep 30, 2011, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BATTERY AREA, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 12/13/11*LJ