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: electrical system
466 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Engine, Nov 11, 2012
CAR WILL NOT START. THE IKEY LIGHT AND THE "RED KEY" SECURITY LIGHT COME ON. THE IKEY OPENS THE DOOR LOCKS, TRUNK. HOLDING THE UNLOCK KEY DOWN RESULTED IN THE WINDOWS ROLLING DOWN. COULD NOT GET THE WIDOWS TO GO BACK UP. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY FOR 10 MINUTES, REPLACING THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB, USING EITHER KEY DID NOT WORK. TOWED CAR TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 6, 2012
THIS MORNING WAS VERY COLD. I WARMED MY CAR UP, WENT TO VOTE. WHEN I LEFT THE POLL, I GET TO MY CAR AND IT WON'T START, SAYS THAT THERE IS NO FOB IN THE CAR. THE RED SECURITY LIGHT IS FLASHING. SO I PUT THE FOB IN THE "DOGHOUSE" THAT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK AS A BACK UP METHOD.. NOTHING.. STILL WON'T START.. DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, RECONNECTED AND TRIED AGAIN.. NOTHING. DID ALL MY RESEARCH TO FIND MANY MANY PAGE SO COMPLAINS ABOUT IT.. IT'S THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. SEEMS THEY DID AWAY WITH THAT FEATURE IN LATE 2010 MODELS.. GUESS THEY KNOW WHY.. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A $700 BILL FOR AN ISSUE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY CAR WAS THE SECOND 09 OF THE DAY WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. COINCIDENCE?? I THINK NOT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Oct 31, 2012
MY CAR IT WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ACTIVATION OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. AFTER FOLLOWING ALL TROUBLE SHOOTING ADVICE IN THE CAR'S MANUAL, I TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE THEY STATED AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN STEERING CONTROL UNIT IS NOT TELLING THE CONTROL UNIT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS UNLOCKED AND READY TO START. THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART# 487009N00B) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ALL PART OF THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS UNIT WAS $1,062.90. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW IN THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. 1. THIS WAS A FULLY FUNCTIONING CAR (EXCEPT FOR ANTI-THEFT GLITCH) THAT LEFT ME AND MY DAUGHTER STRANDED IN A VERY REMOTE AREA. 2. NISSAN PROMOTES HOW SAFE, RELIABLE AND ECONOMICAL THEIR CARS ARE, BUT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM CAN DISABLE THE VEHICLE LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED WITH ONLY ONE OPTION, WHICH IS, TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER BECAUSE OF ANT-THEFT SYSTEM GLITCHES. 3. THE CAR, BEING ECONOMICAL, SHOULD NOT REQUIRE AN OVER $1,000 REPAIR BECAUSE OF AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. 4. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONDITIONS THAT CAN OCCUR THAT WILL RESULT IN THE NISSAN ALTIMA BECOMING IMMOBILIZED STRANDING DRIVERS. I AM STATING ONLY ONE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY TO FEMALE DRIVERS. 5. I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD COME UP WITH AN OVERRIDE CODE OR DEVICE THAT WILL ALLOW A DRIVER TO ESCAPE FROM POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT WERE CREATED BY NISSAN'S VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY FUNCTIONAL EXCEPT FOR AN ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZING CIRCUIT FALSELY TELLING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT READY TO START. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW IN THEIR VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 13, 2012
CAR WILL NOT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND PREVENTING ME FROM STARTING THE CAR. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 8, 2012
09 NISSAN ALTIMA JUST OVER 44K MILES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. NO LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, BRAKE PEDAL VERY STIFF, THE VEHICLE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT THE KEY IS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AND IS INSERTED AT THE LOCATION ON THE LEFT SIDE ON DRIVER AND IS ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. TOWED TO DEALER AND AS I AM OVER MY 36K WARRANTY BUT NOT OVER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY I HAD TO PAY OVER $800 TO FIX FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT EVEN OVER 3 YEARS OLD. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 29, 2012
FAILURE OF CAR BATTERY 18,730 MILES I NOTED A STRONG SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS A FEW MONTHS AGO AND FOUND THAT THE POSITIVE POST ON THE BATTERY HAD CONSIDERABLE CORROSION. I CLEANED IT OFF AS BEST I COULD AND HOPED THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS HAS CONTINUED AND THE CORROSION RETURNED AND EVEN MORE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE POSITIVE POST IS NO LONGER SEALED INTO THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY IS NO LONGER A SEALED MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY AND THUS IS ALLOWING SULFURIC ACID FUMES TO LEAK OUT AROUND THE POST AND CORRODE THE TERMINAL AND ALL CONNECTING CABLES. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Sep 25, 2012
BRAKE LIGHTS NOT LIGHTING & PUSH TO START NOT WORKING AT TIMES. NISSAN SAID THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH & SUB HARNESS. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET I FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE SWITCH FAILS YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, May 11, 2012
I DROVE MY 09 ALTIMA TO THE MALL PARKED IT, AN HOUR LATER I TRIED TURNING IT ON AND IT WOULDN'T START. NO CRANK, AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN GO TO ACC. I TRIED JUMP STARTING IT AND EVEN CHANGE OUT THE BATTERY BUT NO LUCK. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 24, 2012
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INTELLIGENT KEY STARTING SYSTEM ,AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON THE DASH.HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST NISSAN DEALER. A FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART #48700-9N00B) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2008-2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES PRODUCED IN THOSE YEARS. A RECALL SHOULD BE STARTED! *TR
Electrical system, Jul 15, 2011
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S WAS BACKED INTO IN A PARKING LOT, LOW SPEED COLLISION, MINOR DAMAGE TO REAR BUMPER. A FEW DAYS AFTER THIS INCIDENT, WHEN TRYING TO START CAR WITH KEYLESS IGNITION SYSTEM, IT TOOK NEARLY 30 MINUTES TO START. IT IS REQUIRED THAT THE BRAKES BE DEPRESSED TO START CAR, BUT WHEN PUSHING ON BRAKES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON, AND WHEN IGNITION BUTTON IS PUSHED IT ONLY TURNS ON THE ACCESSORIES, WHICH IS THE NORMAL ACTION EXPECTED IF BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT BEING PRESSED. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE COLLISION OR JUST HIGHLY COINCIDENTAL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH. THIS IS NOW AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, BUT HAS MADE THE CAR UNRELIABLE WITH THE POSSIBILITY TO LEAVE A DRIVER STRANDED. *TT
Electrical system, Visibility, May 9, 2011
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA POWER WINDOWS THAT WHEN YOU USE THE REQUIRED BUTTONS TO RAISE THE WINDOW OR WINDOWS THEY RAISE THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF KEEPING YOUR FINGER ON THE UPSIDE OF THE BUTTON. SO THEY RAISE UP AUTOMATICALLY AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS OR DOGS OR SOMEONEWITH THEIR HEAD,HANDS OR FINGERS THE WINDOW DOES NOT STOP UNTIL IT REACHES THE CLOSED POSITION. MY DOG WAS CAUGHT IN ONE BUT I WAS FAST ENOUGH TO STOP AND LOWER THE WINDOW. WHAT IF A CHILD HAS ANY PART OF THEIR BODY AND ONE DOES NOT SEE THEM. THESE WINDOWS SHOULD NOT HAVE THE AUTOMATIC UP FEATURE. *TR
Electrical system, Jan 18, 2011
INTELLIGENT KEY WANING LIGHT WOULD FLASH INFREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND THIS WARNING WARNS OF BCM FAILURE AND THE END RESULT IS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED AT ANY PLACE AND TIME. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT BCM REPLACEMENT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 17, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND EXHIBIT TROUBLE MOVING FORWARD. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A FAILURE WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED (CONTACT COULD NOT RECALL THE DIAGNOSIS); AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DURING THE FAILURE, THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATED AND AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IPDM FAILED; THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 21,000. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF UPDATED 03/08/11*JB
Air bags, Electrical system, Nov 3, 2010
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WILL GO OFF AND ON WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE NISSAN DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND BOTH TIMES THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. (IT HAS ALWAYS DONE THIS - EVERY TIME A PASSENGER IS IN MY VEHICLE) MY RESEARCH INDICATES THE 2007/2008 COUPES WERE RECALLED FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE SAME ISSUE (08V521000). I CAN'T GET THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO DIE IN THE CRASH OR SOMEONE ELSE TO DIE IN A CRASH BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DIDN'T INFLATE. HELP! *TR UPDATED IVOQ 05/25/11
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Aug 19, 2009
PURCHASED NEW 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA ON JULY 31ST 2009, CAR DIED ON AUGUST 13TH 2009. DEALER STATED FUSIBLE LINK FAILURE, TO DATE (AUG 19 09) NO RESPONSE FROM DEALER PER STATUS ON THE VEHICLE. IS THERE A PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AS IT RELATES TO THIS VEHICLE ??. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR UPDATED 08/27/09 *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED ENGINE FROM THE MANUFACTURING. UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB
Electrical system, Jan 27, 2009
THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS AN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE DESIGN FLAW. THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY AFTER 5 MINUTES, APPARENTLY THE BATTERY RAPIDLY DRAINS EVEN AFTER THE AUTO-HEADLIGHT SHUTOFF WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF. I PURCHASED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2500S DECEMBER 7TH, 2008, THE CAR DIED JANUARY 23RD, 2009. I DROVE THE CAR FROM HOME TO WORK IN THE RAIN. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR AROUND 10 HOURS, AFTER RETURNING TO DRIVE HOME, THE CAR WAS DEAD - THE KEYLESS ENTRY DIDN'T WORK, USING THE MECHANICAL KEY TO ENTER THE CAR, THE START BUTTON DIDN'T WORK. AAA COULDN'T TOW THE CAR DUE TO A HEIGHT BEAM BLOCKING THE TOW TRUCK - THE CAR COULDN'T BE MOVED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS FROZEN IN PARK DUE TO THE DEAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - THE TRUNK COULDN'T BE OPENED WITH THE SWITCH ON THE TRUNK OR BY THE SWITCH ON THE DASH. AAA JUMPED THE BATTERY AND THE CAR HAS RUN FOR 3 DAYS NOW WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE BATTERY WAS SO FULLY DRAINED THAT THE RADIO NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED WITH THE TIME AND STATIONS. THIS RAISES QUESTIONS OF HOW MANY SAFETY SYSTEMS RELYING ON THE BATTERY WILL FAIL - FOR EXAMPLE THE CAR CAN ROLL AWAY IF SHUTOFF IN NEUTRAL - IF THE BATTERY DISCHARGES, IS THE SHIFT GEAR THEN FROZEN IN NEUTRAL? THE RAPID DISCHARGE OF THE BATTERY WITH THE CAR OFF IS A DESIGN FLAW WHICH LEAVES THE CONSUMER STRANDED, POTENTIALLY IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR