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: steering
859 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 3, 2016
THE PUSH BUTTON START WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY "FOB". I CAN STILL UNLOCK AND LOCK MY DOORS WITH THE FOB, POP OPEN MY TRUNK, BUT THE SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO RECOGNIZE MY KEY AND UNLOCK MY STEERING WHEEL IS FAULTY. READING UP THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY '09 ALTIMAS AND NISSAN EVEN EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON THIS PART, UNFORTUNATELY THAT WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND MY CAR NOW HAS THE PROBLEM.
Steering, Oct 3, 2016
IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAIL. COMMON WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 3, 2016
THE ELECTRICAL STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILURE WHICH WOULDN'T ALLOW THE CAR TO START IS THE MOST STUPID THING I'VE EVER HEARD. AND THAT NISSAN WOULDN'T RECALL IT IS A BIG SHAME ON THE MANUFACTURER. ON TOP OF THAT, THEY CHARGE RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED ($600+LABOR)??!! THIS IS SUPER UNSAFE FOR DRIVERS IN THE NORTHEAST AS WE MAY GET STUCK IN A COLD WINTER FREEZING TO DEATH FOR WHAT? THERE IS EVEN NO MECHANIC PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. JUST A LITTLE WEDGE-LIKE THING THAT WOULDN'T DROP TO WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE???? RIDICULOUS!!
Steering, Sep 27, 2016
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED AS, ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE. *SMD
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 21, 2016
ECSL WENT OUT AND MY HIGH SCHOOL DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME AS WE WERE OUT OF TOWN, THIS COULD REALLY BE A HAZARD AND DEFINITELY WAS COSTLY AS FAR AS TOWING, THANK GOD WE HAVE AN EXTRA VEHICLE BUT SHE HAD TO FIND TRANSPORTATION, HAD THE STRESS BEING 17 AND NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT TO DO, THE CAR SAT UNTIL WE GOT HOME TO HAVE TO TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, MISSED SOME OF SCHOOL. THIS PART DEFINITELY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND PUT BACK OUT THERE INDEFINITELY TO BE WARRANTIED. I HAD HEARD NOTHING PRIOR BUT GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND THEN AFTER READING ABOUT THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE I AM PRAYING AFTER THE FIX THIS WILL BE THE ONLY TIME IT HAPPENS!
Steering, Sep 21, 2016
THE STEERING LOCK HAS NOW BECOME COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT, DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2009, 2010 MODELS. YET FOR SOME REASON I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THAT. ALSO, NOW FINDING OUT THAT THE RECALL EXTENSION WAS CUTOFF IN JANUARY OF 2016. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED A MILE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE ISSUE.
Steering, Sep 20, 2016
A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT WORK, HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. A YELLOW KEY APPEARED ON DASH BOARD AS IF THE CAR WAS NOT SENSING THE KEY FOB EVIDENT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TURNS OUT TO BE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART HOWEVER I PURCHASED THE CAR USED, AND WAS NEVER SENT A RECALL NOTICE. I CALLED NISSAN CORPORATION BUT WAS NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. I NEED THE VEHICLE FIX AND THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I AM EVER STRANDED IN A REMOTE AREA.
Steering, Engine, Sep 16, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Steering, Sep 16, 2016
I WAS DRIVING THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND A "KEY" INDICATOR CAME ON. AFTER I DROPPED THEM OFF AND WENT TO LEAVE AGAIN, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I COULD LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY SENSOR; BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD WORK. I HAD AAA CHECK THE BATTERY AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED INTO THE OFFICE AND LEARNED THAT THIS MODEL IS ONE OF TWO CARS THAT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A $979 REPAIR. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR TWO CARS WHILE THIS WAS FIXED. I'M A SOCIAL WORKER AND I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN TRAPPED AT A CLIENT'S HOUSE IN A BAD SITUATION AND HAD NO WAY TO LEAVE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAULT THAT SHOULD BE AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURER AND NOT THE CUSTOMER. WHY WERE THESE VEHICLES NOT RECALLED SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT?? WE SHOULD PRACTICE PREVENTION; NOT WAIT UNTIL A "MAGIC NUMBER" OF LIVES HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED. *TR
Steering, Sep 15, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL I HAVE BEEN STRANDED 4 TIMES DO TO ME CAR NOT STARTING WITH MY CHILD IN CAR I RESEARCHED AND NISSAN HAS HAD ALIT OF COMPLAINTS ON IT JUST WANT IT FIXED BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 14, 2016
NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO RECALL THEIR FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK UNIT THAT IS NEEDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. IF IT DOES NOT LOCK THE WHEEL IN PLACE IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE PUSH START IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE, THUS LEAVING THEIR OCCUPANTS STRANDED WITH NO OPTION OTHER THAN TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND FORCED TO PAY UPWARDS OF $1200 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE FACTORY PART. THEY OFFERED A EXTENDED WARRANTY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, BUT NEGLECTED TO INFORM CONSUMERS OF THIS. THEY ARE CLEARLY TRYING TO GET OUT OF PAYING FOR THEIR MISTAKES AND ARE PASSING THE COST ON TO THEIR UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS.
Steering, Engine, Sep 14, 2016
AFTER ROUTINE DRIVE, CAR "FROZE-UP" DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, CAR WOULD NOT START, WHEEL DID NOT TURN, CAR WOULD NOT START, CAR DEAD. AFTER SOME RESEARCH FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH "STEERING / ENGINE LOCKING-UP" AND CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME WITHOUT ANY WARNING. NISSAN AT ONE POINT HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS INDEFINITELY, THEN ARBITRARILY ENDED IT IN MID 2015. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS....CAN LEAVE YOU STRANDED ANYWHERE!!!
Steering, Sep 13, 2016
ESCL - ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK I WENT TO THE STORE FAR FROM HOME AND WHEN I TRIED STARTING THE CAR IT DID NOT START. THE DOOR LOCKS WORKED BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD COME ON. I CHECKED ONLINE AND IT STATED THAT IT WAS ESCL. I PUT IN A USED ONE AND IT WORKED. I WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO REPLACE THAT PART WITH A NEW PART. I WAS STRANDED FOR HOURS AND HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR IN THE STORE PARKING LOT FOR 3 DAYS.
Steering, Sep 13, 2016
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW DROVE THE CAR TO WORK IN THE MORNING WITH NO ISSUES. WHEN SHE WENT TO LEAVE AT THE END OF HER EVENING SHIFT, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON WHEN THE PUSH BUTTON START WAS PRESSED. THANKFULLY A CO-WORKER WAS STILL WITH HER AND ABLE TO DRIVE HER HOME, OTHERWISE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT OF A BANK BRANCH (WHERE SHE WORKS). AFTER RESEARCHING THE BEHAVIOR, WE LEARNED ABOUT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE FAILURE. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CONFIRMED OUR FEARS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE REPAIR WAS GROSSLY EXPENSIVE. UPON FILING A CLAIM FOR PAYMENT ASSISTANCE OR REIMBURSEMENT WITH NISSAN, WE WERE DENIED AS THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A RECALL/SAFETY ISSUE, THEIR "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WARRANTY EXTENSION" OFFERED HAS EXPIRED, AND THE NHTSA DID NOT FEEL THE ISSUE WAS TIED TO CUSTOMER SAFETY THEREFORE IT WASN'T A RECALL. I BELIEVE THIS IS UNREASONABLE. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, OR ANY DRIVER, COULD BE STRANDED WITH A USELESS VEHICLE, UNABLE TO START THE CAR, DUE TO A KNOWN FAILURE IN A NISSAN PART. AT A MINIMUM, NISSAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS KNOWN AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING LEFT STRANDED SHOULD THE CAR FAIL TO PROPERLY TURN ON.
Steering, Sep 13, 2016
TAKATA RECALL STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTION
Steering, Sep 12, 2016
THE ALTIMA IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT THAT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF TO HELP PREVENT THEFT. ESCL MAY MALFUNCTION AFTER THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED AND COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. THIS CONDITION, SHOULD IT OCCUR, WILL ONLY OCCUR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, AND NOT WHILE DRIVING. I TURNED ON MY CAR AND TOOK MY 6 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER TO THE DOCTOR AS SHE WAS RUNNING A HIGH FEVER. UPON LEAVING THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AT 12A.M. I PUSHED MY START BUTTON TO TURN ON MY VEHICLE AND IT WAS UNRESPONSIVE. I WAS LEFT IN THE DARK UNABLE TO OPERATE MY VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH MY 6 M MONTH OLD BABY. THE PARKING I WAS IN DID NOT ALLOW FOR OVERNIGHT PARKING AND I WAS ALONE WITH MY BABY. UPON RESEARCHING NISSAN HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO THE ELECTRONICS STEERING COLUMN LOCK TO 6 YEARS UNLIMITED MILES FROM 3 YEARS 36,000 MILES WARRANTY. I NO LONGER FALL ON THAT AND I AM HAVING THIS ISSUE. NISSAN SAYS I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. ACCORDING TO THEIR ANNOUCEMENT THIS IS A 'MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITY' THAT NOW I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PAY. I HAVE NO SAVINGS TO PAY FOR SUCH PART AND THE TOWING ALREADY COST ME A HANDFUL AND PUT MY BABY IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND TRULY UPSET WITH THE SITUATION. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL! PLEASE SEE LINK: REGARDING THE WARRANTY HTTP://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20150219214832/HTTP://WWW.NISSANASSIST.COM/WEB/ESCL_WARRANTY_EXTENSION/PROGRAMDETAILS.PHP?MENU=61
Steering, Sep 11, 2016
THE STEERING LOCK IS CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED MANY TIMES AND THIS IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE BEEN AT MY HOUSE WHERE IT HASN'T WORKED, I HAVE BEEN AT WORK.
Steering, Sep 11, 2016
INTELLIGENT KEY LIGHT WOULD COME ON BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START OR DO ANYTHING, BUT THE LOCK/UNLOCK FEATURE WOULD STILL WORK. APPARENTLY THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE
Steering, Sep 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THEY WOULD GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,300.
Steering, Sep 8, 2016
MALFUNCTION WITH THE STEERING LOCK THAT WON'T ALLOW THE CAR TO START. WHEN I PUSH THE BRAKES TO START THE CAR THE CAR IT IS STATING THAT THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK.
Steering, Sep 8, 2016
THE CAR WAS SLUGGISH DRIVING IN TO THE DRIVEWAY AND WENT DEAD. IT WOULD NOT START AND COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKES THEY WERE LOCKED. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE ON THE DRIVING ON THE STREET OR FREEWAY MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND SINCE IT JUST WENT DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER 3 DAYS THE DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A 6 YEAR WARRANTY ADDED TO THIS PART ON THE CAR BUT I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY NISSAN. UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE 7TH YEAR, 1 YEAR BEYOND THE WARRANTY. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF THIS PART FAILING AND ADDED THE 6 YEAR WARRANTY BUT IF OUTSIDE OF THAT TIME PERIOD YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS A DEFECT NOT SOMETHING CAUSE BY AN OWNER FOR LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND SHOULD BE A PART OF A RECALL NOT A LIMITED WARRANTY.
Steering, Sep 7, 2016
AFTER SITTING I CANNOT START MY CAR,STEERING SEEMS TO BE STUCK AND BRAKE IS VERY HARD TO PRESS DOWN.CAR HAS ONLY 50.000 MI.
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 2, 2016
CAR WILL NOT START. STEERING LOCK MECHANISM MALFUNCTION. CAR PARKED ON STREET IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. AT LEAST I'M NOT ON A TRIP. NISSAN WON'T FIX UNDER A RECALL. THEY HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT EXPIRED. OWNERS OF PRE-OWNED CARS WERE NEVER NOTIFIED.
Steering, Sep 2, 2016
MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS DEFECTIVE, MY SISTER GOT STUCK AFTER A PIT STOP TRAVELING FROM BOSTON TO NEW YORK. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I CAME ACROSS INFORMATIONS SHOWING IT WAS A FACTORY DEFAULT. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2013 AND WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 2, 2016
NOTICE A KEY INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH... VEHICLE WOULDN'T START! I WAS IN A VERY DARK AREA BY MYSELF AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! I WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE I WAS ALONE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!!