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
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 22, 2020
MY 2009 ALTIMA, WHILE PARKED, WILL NOT START, AND APPARENTLY, AFTER INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM, THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEVICE IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS DEVICE BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY OF ITS OCCURENCE.
Suspension, Electrical system, Structure, Jun 24, 2020
THE CAR SHAKES BADLY WHEN ON REVERSE AND I CAN SMELL A BURNT WIRE BUT HARD TO LOCATE WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. *TR
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 8, 2020
THE CAR WON'T START, EVEN IF I PUT THE KEY FOB IN THE KEY HOLE NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK HAD A LOCKSMITH TRY TO REPROGRAM, BUT HE SAID THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THEY'RE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 5, 2019
LEAVING FROM WORK I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A YELLOW KEY INDICATOR LIGHT. I PROCEEDED TO STEP ON MY BRAKE TO START MY ENGINE AND MY CAR DID NOT START. ONCE DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM I BEGAN TO SEE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. I THEN LEARNED THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START DUE A FAULTY STEERING COLUMN LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS STOPPED ME FROM PUTTING MY CAR IN THE ON POSITION OR CONTROLLING MY GEAR SHIFT. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS IN A SAFE PARKING LOT BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM COULD'VE CAUSED A HUGE INCONVENIENCE OR PUT ME IN DANGER. NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL THIS PART AND CONTINUES TO PUT MANY NISSAN OWNERS IN THIS UNSAFE SITUATION.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Oct 3, 2019
SEVERAL THINGS ARE WRONG OR GONE BAD. NISSAN SUPPOSE TO BE AWESOME VEHICLES WITH GOOD REPUTATION BUT TELL YOU IF I HAD KNOWN OR COULD HAVE FOR SEEN ALL THE TROUBLE, WOW. 1. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING, OK THAT WAS FIXED IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. MODULE IS BAD. 2. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION VERY COSTLY 3000, AND WAS TOLD THAT IN A COUPLE YRS WOULD NEED IT AGAIN. PUSH BUTTON START IS PART OF THE LOCKING ISSUE SO WHY IS THIS NOT FIXED FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM, ACTUALLY THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY 2009 ALTIMA IS EXACTLY WHAT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH, WHY IS THIS NOT FIXED WHY ARE WE ALL STILL HAVING THESE PROBLEMS, MY CAR IS TAKEN ALL THE WAY TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN LOUISVILLE KY. OH ABOUT 45-TO AN HOUR AWAY, FOR ALL REGULAR MAINTAINING, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE OIL CHANGES. LIKE I SAID NISSAN SUPPOSE TO BE SUPERIOR VEHICLES THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE PRICE OF FIXING THE CAR EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND. TRADE IN ON IT SUCKS, RESALE PRIVATELY DOES TOO. SOMETHING NEEDS DONE, HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ALTIMA
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 13, 2019
THE CAR LOSSES ACCELERATION WHILE IN THE HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT'S HOT AND THERE'S NO WARNING AND THUS COULD BE FATAL.
Power train, Electrical system, Wheels, Apr 6, 2019
I HAVE A NISSAN ALTIMA JUST BOUGHT 2016. WHEN DRIVING 20 MIN OR MORE WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP ABOUT 3 SECONDS AFTER. YOU FEEL A SHIFT OR JOLT, IN THE ENGINE THE HARMONIC BALANCER OR TIMING CHAIN. I WAS DRIVING 70 DOWN I45 BUSY TRAFFIC, AS AUDIAL AND ALL A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTS LOOSING POWER AND I WAS ALMOST HIT IN THE REAR BY A MAC TRUCK. WHEN I WAS SAFELY AT A STOP, I KILLED IT AND IT CRANKED BACK UP WITH HALF THE POWER. 1500 RPMS
Electrical system, Feb 16, 2019
STALLED AT INTERECTION WOULD NOT TURN ON. HAD TO BE TOUGHED TO DEALER.DEFECTIVE SREERING LOCK. SECOND TIME THIS PART REPLACED. NUMBEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS WITH PETITION SUBMITTED TO SENIOR VP SALES MARKETING BRIAN CAROLIN. DANGEROUS IN REMOTE OR DANGEROUS AREAS. NO RESPONSE.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 15, 2018
TAKATA RECALL . NISSAN ALTIMA WHILE PARKED AT A GAS STATION, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED. KEY FOB WAS STILL WORKING AND COULD OPEN AND LOCK THE CAR BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED THE KEY ALERT. I TRIED PUTTING THE KEY IN THE SLOT WHILE DOOR WAS OPEN, NOTHING HAPPENED. CAME TO FIND OUT IT' A DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCK. REPLACED IT BUT SCARED TO DRIVE IT AS IT IS STILL SHOWING THE KEY ALERT AND MIGHT LEAVE ME STRANDED LIKE IT DID THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME. A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART THAT NISSAN IS NOT COVERING FOR ALL 09 ALTIMAS. THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND NISSAN WANTS UP TO 1200$ TO REPLACE IT. EXPENSIVE COST FOR AN OLDER CAR AND FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S NISSAN'S FAULT FOR SELLING A CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE PART.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 10, 2018
STEERING LOCK MODULE KEEPS LOCK AND I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 6, 2018
THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE "STEERING LOCK" WHICH CAUSES OWNERS TO BE UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. THIS DEFECT CAN AFFECT OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CAUSE. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE IS TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK REPLACED. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED AT ALL. THUS, OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA CONTINUOUSLY FIND THEMSELVES STUCK IN VERY INCONVENIANT CIRCUMSTANCES WITH NO ABILITY TO DRIVE THEIR CAR. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS WHO ARE IN REMOTE OR DANGEROUS AREAS. THIS SAME OCCURANCE HAPPEN TO FOLLOW ME THIS WEEK WHEN AT WORK. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND AFTER SWAPPING REMOTE KEYS PLUS LOOKING AT ONLINE FORUMS, I REALIZED THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. THE STREERING LOCK WAS SWAPPED IN 2010 BY NISSAN. HOPEFULLY THIS CAN HELP A LARGE GROUP BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO SPEND MONEY ON REPARIING MY VEHICLE AND THIS COULD COST APPROX MORE THAN 500.00 IN PARTS ALONE. MY CAR IS STILL NOT STARTING AFTER 4 DAYS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN IT ON.
Electrical system, Sep 4, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICE, THE MESSAGE "NO KEY" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFFERY NISSAN (LOCATED AT 30800 GRATIOT AVE, ROSEVILLE, MI 48066, (586) 510-1378) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM THAT RECEIVED THE SIGNAL FROM THE KEYS FOR THE TOUCH START NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Structure, Sep 1, 2018
DASHBOARD IS MELTING, STICKY AND IS DISCOLORING INSIDE WINDSHIELD. THE SUN REFLECTS OFF STICKY DASH. BROWN STICKY SUBSTANCE WON'T CLEAN OFF. ELECTRICAL DISPLAY BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL GOES OFF AND ON. MOSTLY IS OFF.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 22, 2018
START STOP BUTTING IS STUCK IN LOCK POSITION THEREFORE NOT STARTING THE CAR. FOBS DOOR UNLOCK, LOCK, TRUNK AND PANIC BUTTONS WORK BUT CAR DOES NOT TURN ON. CAR WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN FOB IS INSERTED IN THE LEFT HAND SIDE INSERT EITHER. HAPPENED AT 67 EAST SHORE ROAD, HOLBROOK MA AFTER CAR WAS SHUT OFF FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT MORNING IT DIDN'T READ THE KEY.
Electrical system, Jul 22, 2018
STEERING LOCK FAILURE WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START UP ON 09 NISSAN ALTIMA. ELECTRICAL WORKS BUT ECSL DOESN'T ALLOW SENSOR TO START THE CAR. CAR WAS STATIONARY, IN THE PARKING LOT. FINDING NOW THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENT ISSUE WITH MANY MAKES/YEARS OF NISSAN VEHICLES.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jul 17, 2018
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 70 MPH, SPEED DROPPED TO APPROX 30-40 MPH. I HAD THE PEDAL TO THE MAT AND IT WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN 30-40 MPH. TOOK IT OFF CRUISE CONTROL, IT STILL WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED WITH THE PEDAL TO THE MAT. SUDDENLY CAR ACCELERATED TO APPROX 80-90 MPH AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL FOR AT LEAST 30-60 SECONDS. THE SPEED THEN DROPPED AGAIN TO 30-40 MPH FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES UNTIL IT WOULD TAKE OFF AGAIN. IT WOULD ACCELERATE FOR ONLY ABOUT 30-60 SECONDS THEN WOULD LOSE POWER AGAIN AND WOULDN'T GO ABOVE 30-40 MPH. TRIED TO RESET CRUISE CONTROL AND STILL WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP. IF TRAVELLING ON THE INTERSTATE IN NORMAL TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT VERY EASILY. THIS HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT WITH NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 17, 2018
MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS WERE STRANDED FOR A TIME DUE TO A SUDDEN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. THIS SUDDENLY MADE THE CAR INOPERABLE AND LEFT THEM OUT IN 102 TEXAS SUMMER HEAT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE. WE BOUGHT OUR CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN 2014 AND WE NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE OR ANY POTENTIAL WARRANTY EXTENSION. THIS IS A $500 PART (EXCLUDING LABOR AND TOWING FEES) THAT CAN AND HAS STRANDED PEOPLE WITH LITTLE TO NO NOTICE. HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 31, 2018
MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE ESCL BOX LOCKED UP FOR 3 DAYS! NOW I HAVE TO PAY $150 TO HAVE IT FIXED PER MY WARRANTY COMPANY. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR 60 WHOLE DAYS, AND IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES WITH VERY LITTLE SUCCESS AND A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AND TIME LOST! PLEASE CALL ME. WILL YOU PAY FOR THE $150 WARRANTY FEE? I HAD IT TOWED TO CARMAX NORCROSS MONDAY MORNING. IT'S WEDNESDAY. I'VE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR 5 DAYS NOW!!! [XXX] SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 18, 2018
WON'T START ESLC STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE. PURCHASED CAR THEN STOPPED AT GAS STATION TURNED OFF CAR WON'T START AGAIN. SHOWED YELLOW KEY FLASHINGS LIGHT ON DASH.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Jan 18, 2018
TAKATA RECALL - ALTHOUGH MY CAR HAS NOT YET BEEN AFFECTED BY HE RECALL I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY WHICH AFFECTS THE AMBER DASHBOARD PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT FROM WORKING PROPERLY WHICH THEREFORE WILL NOT ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT. OR MORE SO ALLOWING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SENSOR DISARMS THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM FROM WORKING PROPERLY WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.
Electrical system, Jan 8, 2018
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WOULD NOT START. STRANDING WIFE IN 0 DEGREE TEMPERATURES.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 26, 2017, fire
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE COMPLETELY TOTALED. IT WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 2 MILES PARKED AND SHUT OFF. WITHIN 15 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
Electrical system, Jul 25, 2017
THE PUSH-BUTTON STARTER SYSTEM FAILED, LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS IS A STEERING LOCK ISSUE VERY COMMON TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
Steering, Electrical system, May 11, 2017
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THE STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT. VEHICLE WILL NOT START, SEEMS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT HAPPENED.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 26, 2017
I BOUGHT THE CAR AT ROUGHLY 54K MILES. APPROXIMATELY AROUND 62K, THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. I WORK ON RESIDENTIAL AC UNITS. MY PRESSURES ARE EQUALIZED. I BYPASSED THE PRESSURE SWITCH TEMPORARILY DURING DIAGNOSTICS TO SEE IF THE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED WHEN BYPASSED.THE ISSUE IS EITHER THE CLUTCH SPECIFICALLY OR THE COMPRESSOR IS BAD. HERE RECENTLY, I HAVE NOTICED A "JERKING" MOTION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WILL BE THE SHIFT SOLENOID OR THE CVT. CVT FLUID IS GOOD. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH 2009 ALTIMAS FOR OVER 8 YEARS NOW. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? WHAT IS REQUIRED TO GET A RECALL IN EFFECT? THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING CVTS, START/STOP PROCEDURES, AND AC PROBLEMS, BUT NOT ONE RECALL CONCERNING THIS HAS HAPPENED. NISSAN REFUSES TO HELP.